Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review

[repeating integers]

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

343 Guilty Spark IS a maze - it took me a while to figure out where to go, getting more and more stressed as the time went on. Ravenholm from Half-Life 2 was also like this. I think the point is to make you feel like you're trapped in a complex with these horrible monsters and are never going to get out - in the end, you feel so much more relieved than usual when you actually do manage to get out.

 

[Alandoril]

The fact that you can pick this up and play without it feeling outdated, isn't really testament to the excellence of the design and more to do with the fact that the modern shooter hasn't really progressed all that much.

 

[Stoneface]

I'm sorry...why are they charging full price for a mod?! Bungie seems to be trying to have their cake and eat it, saying that they've not changed the original physics engine (a selling point apparently!)so we can all experience the wonders of the original, whilst changing the graphics enough to attempt to justify asking money for it. Seriously this is a cynical attempt to do as little work as possible. If you find Halo still that awesome, play the original. End of.

 

[Zer_]

Defy me to name any other game ehhhhh?

Half Life 2. Done...

Hell, Quake III Arena feels damn fresh. Just a straight up good deathmatch shooter.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

You may have done this all before but it feels just as fresh and new as it did 10 years ago and I defy you to say the same about any other game ever made.

Challenge accepted good sir.



I could probably think a bit and come up with more but the first thing that instantly popped to my mind is more than enough to showcase my point.



Castlevania: Symphony of the Night



This game achieves what you say without any need for enhanced graphics or music mind you, it's low-tech 2D sprites made in 1997 and the amazing soundtrack it possesses were enough for the job. It also is arguably the pioneer of action games with RPG elements attached to them, which is equal if not superior of an impact to that halo had with FPSs.

 

[Srs bzns]

How long do you think the Halo Franchise will stay relevant?
Its been 10 years now, but I can't really see us 15 years in the future celebrating its 25th anniversary.

I dunno, maybe 343 will pull a Halo CE with Halo 4.

I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of CE:A though.

 

[bdcjacko]

A 4.5 stars! I hate the escapist, they're just a bunch of mainstream tools. Yahzee is the only good reviewer on this website, because he tells it like it is. I was glad I gave him money for his trip to PAX, even though tickets ran out and I didn't receive my money back.

Halo is a game for twelve year-old boys, it's the video game equivalent of Justin Bieber. It's the same shit, wrapped up with nice graphics.

Also, the graphics look like shit. Anybody who disagrees is a blind, Halo fanboy.

4.5 stars? You're officially an idiot Mr. Puss Pitts.

That's ok. We hate you, too. Buh-bye, now!

Was that the infamous "Halo Guy" we heard about in the last podcast?

You know, I did wonder.

Halo killed my dog and punched my mom. So I agree with the halo guy's rant.

 

[repeating integers]

I'm sorry...why are they charging full price for a mod?! Bungie seems to be trying to have their cake and eat it, saying that they've not changed the original physics engine (a selling point apparently!)so we can all experience the wonders of the original, whilst changing the graphics enough to attempt to justify asking money for it. Seriously this is a cynical attempt to do as little work as possible. If you find Halo still that awesome, play the original. End of.

It wasn't full price. It cost about $20 less.

Halo Anniversary was never meant to be a full game, it's a souvenir. A curio. Celebrating the 10 year anniversary, an "optional" purchase if you will (needs a better word). Personally, I found it very useful for reasons I've already outlined in the thread (go look for them, on page 2 or something).

 

[beefpelican]

This is literally the same game with different graphics. I can't really see what warrants the score and glowing review. I understand that you liked the first halo, but still, shouldn't at least part of the score be based on the level of innovation?

 

[duchaked]

Russ Pitt's profile still has him labeled as the Editor-in-Chief :0

anyway, had a blast with Anniversary. real sweet to have good ol' Halo CE looking all shiny :}

 

[duchaked]

I'm sorry...why are they charging full price for a mod?! Bungie seems to be trying to have their cake and eat it, saying that they've not changed the original physics engine (a selling point apparently!)so we can all experience the wonders of the original, whilst changing the graphics enough to attempt to justify asking money for it. Seriously this is a cynical attempt to do as little work as possible. If you find Halo still that awesome, play the original. End of.

not Bungie anymore, it's Microsoft/343 Industries

 

[Gormers1]

The main reason for me perhaps getting this, is that my copy of halo runs like shit on my 360, much worse than on the regular xbox even.

 

[BoredAussieGamer]

Why the hell does this game exist?

No really, I can think of a hundred games deserving of a HD remake. This ain't one of them.

 

[Titan Buttons]

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.

Oh sorry I thought we were talking about games which were gamechangers in their genre, as he did say that(paraphrased), so I'd agree with you on most of those games.

 

[Titan Buttons]

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.

Then you got it cheap.

 

[repeating integers]

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.

Then you got it cheap.

No, it just doesn't cost full price, from any retailer. I got it for under £30 from Amazon new, by preorder (here the normal cost for a game is £40, because the pound is a bit stronger than the dollar).

 

[Titan Buttons]

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.

Then you got it cheap.

No, it just doesn't cost full price, from any retailer. I got it for under £30 from Amazon new, by preorder (here the normal cost for a game is £40, because the pound is a bit stronger than the dollar).

I believe this is a difference in currancy sine the noraml full price for a game where I live is $100, $110 for a big main stream title, so $60 is still cheap here but I still can't justify paying that much for the game.

 

[Balkan]

Why the hell does this game exist?

No really, I can think of a hundred games deserving of a HD remake. This ain't one of them.

Money .Halo fangirls love to trow their parents money for games like that .
I played it on xbox 1 and it was shit , wasnt anything fun about it .