Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review

[Okysho]

When did Mr. Pitts return?! Oh I love his reviews! Whether I agree with him or not he does such a good job. These new guys.... neeeiiirrrr.....

OT: I knew this game was going to be a flop from the start. Anyone who makes a 10th aniversary remake is mishandling their IP I think (Yes pokemon too!!) while I don't think there's anything wrong with remakes in general, it should go through and fix the stuff that didn't work in addition to it's graphical upgrades. To be fair this was 2001 so it kind of did need one, but what got me most when I saw this in the e3 trailer was their boasting about how you could hit select and it'd change instantly back to how it looked TEN YEARS AGO!

I... I just... ugh!!! It's one of the worst premises for re-making a game I've ever heard. If nothing has truly changed as Mr. Pitts has said, then this isn't work a hair on my dwarven beard!

(Now go take your job back, Russ we miss you)

 

[VoidWanderer]

Ironically, Halo was the game that got me into PC gaming back then (along with Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, awesome game), I can't remember how many times I finished this game and how many hours I spent playing multiplayer online (a huge advantage that the PC version had over the original Xbox game). I know that the game feels incredibly slow and clunky to be played on a PC these days, but I just loved it back then, even when I already played such PC classics, like Half-Life 1/2, Max Payne and others.

If I hadn't already sold my Xbox 360, I'd buy this game in a flash.

What is truly ironic is that Halo was supposed to be an Xbox exclusive.

 

[legendp]

Well I believe a lot of people will get it because anyone who never got Halo 1 they can buy it now and not have to deal with out-dated graphics when you can get it with modern graphics, after all it is still a full game. Also anyone that is a halo fan and is buying this game probably already have the original game still

Persoanlly I can't justify paying $60 for a graphics update and a multipler map pack I will never use, even if it is to guy a great game.

Actually, it only costs about $40.

it's $60 in australia (granted the average game is a $110)
Good memories of first time on PC and co-op with friends on xbox (although I would like a anniverasary PC release). personally I think this looks great. I am not a fan of realistic shooters wich is why I like halo so much and plan on getting this. it's not that the halo franchise has not advanced as a FPS massively, it's that the whole FPS genre has not, the only games I can think of that tried to really push the industry recently was crysis 1, mirrors edge and portal 2 (which the last 2 are not really shooters) (and I never really liked half life 2 before someone mentions it)

 

[Arronax]

What does this review tell us about all the games to date?

 

[intheweeds]

Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review

The game that started a legacy looks better than ever.

Read Full Article

Was it really necessary to dig on android? What was the point of that? Have you ever even an android? 'Cause mine works perfectly with no effort.

 

[Speakercone]

You defy me to name any other game which feels as fresh now as it did on release? Ignoring the obvious fact that games released very recently (like, this year) will have this quality, I'd be willing to nominate a few:

Team Fortress 2
Half life 2
Portal
Beyond Good and Evil
Zelda: Wind Waker
Mario Galaxy
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario World 2
Gears of War
God of War
Dota

Halo also makes the list, but it's far from the only one. Also, I've never had a problem making my droid 'just work'. Perhaps you should try rebooting yourself?

None of them really re-defined or had a great an impact of there genera of games they are apart of. While portal and Half life 2 had great story telling with amazing stories but neither really re-defined the way in which a First person shooter is played.

Well maybe God of War and Mario Galaxy but I can't say anything about Beyond Good and Evil and Zelda: Wind Waker because I haven't played them.

You're moving the goalposts. The challenge was to find games that "feel as fresh now as they did on release." (paraphrased). Games which were gamechangers in their genre is a different thing. As you've kindly pointed out though, there are a few games in my above post which belong on both lists. Thus, Halo is not singular in this distinction.

Once again I'd like to point out that Halo CE was on release and remains today a really good game. It's just not the only really good game.

 

[repeating integers]

Ironically, Halo was the game that got me into PC gaming back then (along with Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, awesome game), I can't remember how many times I finished this game and how many hours I spent playing multiplayer online (a huge advantage that the PC version had over the original Xbox game). I know that the game feels incredibly slow and clunky to be played on a PC these days, but I just loved it back then, even when I already played such PC classics, like Half-Life 1/2, Max Payne and others.

If I hadn't already sold my Xbox 360, I'd buy this game in a flash.

What is truly ironic is that Halo was supposed to be an Xbox exclusive.

Actually, it was originally supposed to be a mac exclusive. And an RTS. Yeah, this game had a troubled childhood.

 

[Erttheking]

I have to say, for a game that is ten years old I had quite a fun time playing it. I only got it last night and I only finished the first level (Mainly because I also got Skyrim) but for some reason the new graphics and the old engine...it just feels right. I find it oddly fun to keep switching the graphics and say "wow...we came this far"

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Less is more my friend, less is more.

Look at games like Dead Island for example.

I will never say that returning to the basics is a bad idea. More games should follow that kind of lead.

But it is not an innovation and should not be lauded as such.

 

[Erttheking]

if 343 had the decency to make games in the Halo Universe, and not recycle S-117 as a protaganist character maybe. I would like to see a Halo Wars 2, or a Tactical Espionage Action game surrounding the Arbiter, more ODST titles, explore an Ace Combat like Flight Sim or a Mass Effect Esque Rolepalyer 343. this forerunner trilogy idea is garbage.

I actually like what they did with Halo Anniversary. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. You see, I came into the series during 3, and it was nice getting a nice new package with some nice extras with it and being able to play it with some updates.

I actually wish that they would also do a Halo 2 Anniversary, so that I can have Reach, 1, 2, ODST, and 3 all on one system. I'm also very interested in Halo 4 and I'm glad it will also be on the 360.

But as you said, it would be nice for them to branch out, I loved ODST, and Reach too with all it's changes(love the armor abilities, because they've actually leveled the playing field so that it is also a strategy of using abilities along with shooting skills).

I had the same thought about the flight game, because of the space flight level in Reach, which was one of my favorite parts of that game. I've really only played that campaign all the way through 4 times(2 Normal, 1 Heroic, 1 Legendary), but I do pick out single missions on occasion to play by themselves, and that flight mission is the one I play the most.

They could make a game Halo: Sabre, or whatever other type of spacecraft that the UNSC used. Then when you beat the game you unlock Covenant Mode, where you fly Covenant ships and play the missions with a different take where the Covenant win instead of the Humans.

While we're talking about ideas for a new Halo game, I saw a (Fan made) box art cover for when you control a Haylcon class cruiser. How awesome would that be? You could change things around from manuvering the ship and firing the MAC and Archers and switching to a gun turret, maybe take control of a Marine if you get boarded and thrown in a Saber/Longsword mission here and there.

 

[klasbo]

I will never forgive Microsoft for refusing to let me play this on my PC...

after Battlefield 3 fails (which it will, because DICE has absolutely no interest in the competitive community), I think CS:GO will be where things start happening again. Though to be honest, I prefer the wide-open respawn- & positioning-based gameplay of 5v5 BF2, over the SnD variations CS and CoD4 promod gives.

I've played Tf2 competitive for 4 years now... Tournament? you mean season? There's signups every 3 months etf2l and esea have taken over since cal is dead and cevo is on it's way out.

I did not know... The only things I found was an almost completely inactive forum on ESL, and a really old article on Cadred. There was also some results from EMS season 7 where epsilon won (who else? Team Rush doesn't play TF2, so they beat epsilon at the 4players BF3 tournament instead ).

I think moving into a whole other community is maybe a bit big of a commitment, so for now I'm rather gonna see where vitalGaming (my former BF2 team) and Team Rush (where a bunch of my other friends played) will go with BF3 or other games first. I was initially thinking about switching to Starcraft when BF3 fails, but if TF2 really is as active as you say.. I might have to change that.

But I still want the latest Halo games for PC. Seriously.

 

[mariofan1000]

Well, the XBOX classics version of Halo is a pile of shit, so...

 

[DonTsetsi]

Don't see how it can get such a high score. Halo had a huge problem: it was very repetitive. I still remember slogging through what seemed like hundreds of identical corridors, killing hundreds of identical enemies and then having to get out the same way I got in. I know the reason was the tiny amount of RAM on the original Xbox, but I don't know why the same problem on the newer Xbox 360 doesn't detract heavily from the score.

 

[Batou667]

Playing this game on Heroic reminds me of how much easier games have gotten over the years. It's punishing me relentlessly.

Really? I've been finding the opposite, I'm breezing through on Heroic as if it was Normal. Back in Halo 1's days, I think the assumption was that you'd be playing through the game in a slow, cautious manner and they designed the enemies accordingly. The enemies in Halo Anniversary generally crumple like a pack of cards in you hit them hard and fast. You get so many grenades and so much ammo that you can really spam the life out of big groups of enemies - it almost feels unfair at times. (Not to mention you can Magnum one-shot the Hunters!) I'm playing through Legendary at the moment, which redresses the balance a little. The enemies don't seem much tougher, but I suddenly fall down dead a bit more often (damage indication really isn't this game's strong suit).

 

[repeating integers]

Playing this game on Heroic reminds me of how much easier games have gotten over the years. It's punishing me relentlessly.

Really? I've been finding the opposite, I'm breezing through on Heroic as if it was Normal. Back in Halo 1's days, I think the assumption was that you'd be playing through the game in a slow, cautious manner and they designed the enemies accordingly. The enemies in Halo Anniversary generally crumple like a pack of cards in you hit them hard and fast. You get so many grenades and so much ammo that you can really spam the life out of big groups of enemies - it almost feels unfair at times. (Not to mention you can Magnum one-shot the Hunters!) I'm playing through Legendary at the moment, which redresses the balance a little. The enemies don't seem much tougher, but I suddenly fall down dead a bit more often (damage indication really isn't this game's strong suit).

Odd. When I try and rush/spam them, I generally die to an Elite's fist - or more commonly, those fucking Needlers. I think it's because I'm used to the later Halo games, where rushing generally involves using a lot of melee - in this game, melee is much less powerful, so it's got much less use.

Also, trying to rush the Flood is like trying to rush... well, a flood.

 

[Batou667]

Odd. When I try and rush/spam them, I generally die to an Elite's fist - or more commonly, those fucking Needlers. I think it's because I'm used to the later Halo games, where rushing generally involves using a lot of melee - in this game, melee is much less powerful, so it's got much less use.

Also, trying to rush the Flood is like trying to rush... well, a flood.

The Elites are a lot more static in this game and see to have longer roaring/throwing animations so they're easier to plasma stick or pistol overcharge... also, the grunts never kamikaze so you don't have to worry about keeping your distance You're right, melee is a lot more hit-and-miss (emphasis on miss).

Against flood I certainly wouldn't recommend any rush-down tactics!

 

[laggyteabag]

I really like Anniversary, i think the graphics look great (With the occasional texture pop-in) and it reminds me of the time where if you didn't know what you were doing you would loose, instead of holding your hand through each level.

Quote from one of my friends "Fucking 343 guilty spark, how do you complete this mission?! It doesn't even tell you where to go!" Oh dear... back in 2001 they expected you to work out how you got around the level

 

[laggyteabag]

The only thing Halo started was inspire FPSs to look all grey. I feel sorry to all those who bought this cash in.

Grey shooters?
Looks like someone has never played Halo...

 

[Tupolev]

(damage indication really isn't this game's strong suit).

Sadly, that's actually Anniversary's fault, at least to a good extent. I think the original game does a pretty good job with situation awareness indicators. The red directional arrows, for instance, are much more vivid than they are in CEA. CEA also has a ton of visual and sound clutter. A lot of the awareness sounds, like fuel rod guns being fired and banshee flying sounds, have been modified and quieted and are much more difficult to hear in the new and very uneven sound balance. Similar deal in vfx with things like the green glow when jackals charge their pistols or hunters charge their FRG's, things which are very noticeable in the original game. They don't stand out much anymore. And then there's stuff like the strong gun firing rumble, which makes the damage indicator rumble less distinct.

Most of the time these things aren't an issue, but when combat gets hectic, it's a noticeable difference.

 

[Sectan]

Music at the start just punched me in the gut with nostalgia. One of my first FPS experiences.