Pre-Order Halo Remake, Get Exploding Grunts

[Earnest Cavalli]

Pre-Order Halo Remake, Get Exploding Grunts

Microsoft has revealed the pre-order bonuses available for dedicated fans of the company's high-definition rehash of the original Halo.

The awkwardly titled Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is scheduled to hit store shelves on November 15, 2011. It is a high-definition remake of the first title in the mega-successful Halo series, and marks the game's tenth birthday.

Earlier today, Microsoft announced a host of bonuses to be bestowed on those gamers who pre-order the title. Specifically, a set of Mjolnir armor for your Xbox Live avatar, and an in-game item that makes your foes' deaths a bit more bombastic.

The official Halo site details the bonuses:

Master Chief Avatar Armor -- Heroes Never Die, and to honor the 10th anniversary of John 117, you will finally be able to transform your Xbox LIVE Avatar into the iconic hero by outfitting it with Master Chief's signature MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.

"Grunt Funeral" Skull -- An exclusive, game-modifying skull that changes the rules of the game for an explosively humorous experience, "Grunt Funeral" sends Halo's most lowly and lovable enemy out in a blaze of glory. And plasma. And then more glory. Once the skull has been activated, every Grunt's methane tank will explode like a plasma grenade when killed. Watch out for the Grunt chain reaction!

Additionally, Microsoft uses this announcement to promote the "Halo Universe Panel" at this week's San Diego Comic Con. To wit:

Halo Universe Panel with 343 Industries
San Diego Convention Center, Room 6BCF
Friday, July 22, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Frank O'Connor, Kevin Grace, and others from 343 Industries, as well as special Halo guests Greg Bear and Karen Traviss, discuss the first 10 years of Halo and offer a sneak peek into what's next for this exciting sci-fi universe.

You can see the skull in action in the embedded clip below, though if you read the above text, you won't be incredibly surprised by the footage. Of course, it is also a chance to see the newly enhanced remake in action, and one can't deny that it looks far better than the decade-old original.


Those explosions could be fun, but I'm most giddy to see that 343 Industries has left the pistol intact. It's just not Halo without a semi-automatic handgun that doubles as the game's most effective sniping platform.

Source: Halo News [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/headline/special-halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-pre-order-bonuses/111729]

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[BrotherRool]

It's easy to forget how old Halo is. 10 years and being an industry trend-setter more than deserves an anniversary and this is a truly awesome pre-order bonus

 

[sneakypenguin]

I love that pistol, its like death becomes an extension of your hand. I'd buy 3 copies of this game if it included original multiplayer with better framerates.

 

[Irridium]

Eh, doesn't seem as fun as Halo 2's skull where they explode right when you shoot them in the head.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

WEE! Pre-order bonuses for a remake of a game that I love in spite of me living in a fucking city that will never EVER get those pre-order bonuses because Xbox Live is not available in that region in spite of the fact that PSN is available in the same region!

 

[Grey_Focks]

Oh my. That looks like a little too much fun.

But god dammit, why November!? too much stuff coming out in November for my wallet to handle.

 

[The Lawn]

HD remake? It looks more like a port of the PC version to the 360.

 

[Galaxy613]

HD remake? It looks more like a port of the PC version to the 360.

You are either saying that Halo:CEA looks old, or that the PC version of Halo look great. I disagree with both.

 

[Rainboq]

I see this blowing up in so many peoples faces....

Capathca: Harriet Jones *fan girl squees*

 

[ZeroMachine]

HD remake? It looks more like a port of the PC version to the 360.

You, good sir, need, repeat, NEED to get your eyes checked.

Seriously. The PC version was a port of the Xbox version, they looked EXACTLY the same.

EDIT: Right, should probably say something relevant...

*ehem*

AWESOME.

... Yeah, yeah... that'll do.

 

[XaVierDK]

Aaaaand, speaking of the PC version of Halo:CE.. Here's to hoping we will see this as a PC game as well! Otherwise, I'll have to buy a 360, I miss playing Halo

Best Regards

 

[Reaper195]

I do hope this doesn't come out at full game price, that would be a pretty shitty thing to do. Although I did like, from the sound of it, they haven't re-recorded all the sound effects, or the wicked Grunt and Elite noises. I miss the times when they said funny things. Now I don't think they talk at all, according to Reach.

Seriously. The PC version was a port of the Xbox version, they looked EXACTLY the same.

HA! Wrong!

My flatmate was playing it the other day on his computer (Can run Crysis, so should work with old Halo) and the only difference we noticed were the invisible Elites. The blurry thing they do when invisible doesn't show up, so there is no way to know where the fuck they are unless they are shooting you, or all in your face with their fists.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

I love that pistol, its like death becomes an extension of your hand. I'd buy 3 copies of this game if it included original multiplayer with better framerates.

it sucks that it doesn't.

the only maps i REALLY wanted were Hang 'Em High, Blood Gulch, Beaver Creek, and Sidewinder (the space ship one would be cool too) as well as firefight with the original halo weapons and AI for enemies.... or firefight with flood options.

either way, i'll get this eventually, but this isn't enough to warrant an insta-buy. until they can confirm it will have a new forge world or that all the maps are forgeable along with all the stuff i previously mentioned, i'll just wait for a price drop.

 

[XaVierDK]

The graphics are better, but I won't dish out 60 bucks for a 10 year old game I have already played.

They state in a different video that it's going to be 40 bucks, so you should be covered there ...

Regarding the original on PC, it did indeed look better than the original on the Xbox, but that was down to higher resolution, slightly higher resolution textures, and anti-aliasing... But the core-game was the same, apart from the multiplayer ...

Best Regards

 

[ZeroMachine]

I do hope this doesn't come out at full game price, that would be a pretty shitty thing to do. Although I did like, from the sound of it, they haven't re-recorded all the sound effects, or the wicked Grunt and Elite noises. I miss the times when they said funny things. Now I don't think they talk at all, according to Reach.

Seriously. The PC version was a port of the Xbox version, they looked EXACTLY the same.

HA! Wrong!

My flatmate was playing it the other day on his computer (Can run Crysis, so should work with old Halo) and the only difference we noticed were the invisible Elites. The blurry thing they do when invisible doesn't show up, so there is no way to know where the fuck they are unless they are shooting you, or all in your face with their fists.

Ok, so there was a little difference. But my point still stands, and I'm sure you can see it- the remake here looks a LOT better than the old one.

Also, price-wise? 40$. And they're keeping all the voices exactly the same. Grunt hilarity and all

 

[Arehexes]

Lets all buy re buy a 10 year old game every halo fan would have already have and you can get for cheap on PC which is better anyway. This is bad as the 3DS with Zelda OoT being the high light of the system (Kinda sad when a 10 year old game that sells for 40 bucks is the high light of a new system)....I take that take the 3DS one is worse. Still, I'm not even shocked about this news.

 

[Domehammer]

Explosion looks cool but needs more confetti. Though does this preorder bonus mean that there will be no pc version?

 

[Shoggoth2588]

It sounds pretty great but I prefer the Grunt Birthday Party skull. I'm hoping they didn't take that one out in favor of the new one e.e

 

[Hero in a half shell]

It looks brilliant, I had Halo for the original xbox, and got the free PC demo s while after the xbox died. The difference in graphical power is immense, although the gameplay and level design looks completely unchanged. Since my main fault in Halo was the same-y levels later on, maybe the graphical redesign will be enough to counter the bland corridor slog, although I would love it if they put in the engineers and the other material that was cut due to time restraints.

Mind you, all that is immaterial, as I will not be buying this game, since I do not own an Xbox 360, and there is no PC version coming out. Thanks Microsoft!