Halo: Combat Evolved
2001
- shooter
- action
- science fiction
- warfare
- single player
- multiplayer
- co-operative
- split screen
The story
Bent on Humankind's extermination, a powerful fellowship of alien races known as the Covenant is wiping out Earth's fledgling interstellar empire. Climb into the boots of Master Chief, a biologically altered super-soldier, as you and the other surviving defenders of a devastated colony-world make a desperate attempt to lure the alien fleet away from earth. Shot down and marooned on the ancient ring-world Halo, you begin a guerilla-war against the Covenant. Fight for humanity against an alien onslaught as you race to uncover the mysteries of Halo.
What it’s like
Wide, sun-bleached alien landscapes under a hard blue sky, with the green-gold grass of a ring-world stretching to a curved horizon, and interiors lit in cold blue and sickly violet glow of Forerunner corridors. The look is chunky and early-2000s, with bold silhouettes, glossy metal and bright plasma bolts cutting through dusty air. The soundtrack is a swelling orchestral score that drops out to hollow wind and distant gunfire, and the Covenant's chattering, guttural voices give every firefight a feverish edge. Vibe: lonely, expansive, grimly heroic, sun-bleached unease. It suits a long weekend session on the couch, a sprawling evening of exploration, or a focused run through a level with the sound turned up. Pacing alternates between open, vehicle-driven stretches that let you breathe and tight, frantic skirmishes that demand quick reflexes. Tone is earnest and militaristic, with a steady undercurrent of mystery as a lone super-soldier fights his way through a hostile world. Violence is frequent and bloody, with alien and human deaths, but it is stylised rather than gratuitous, and there is no sexual content. For players who want a classic, action-heavy shooter with big vistas, sci-fi intrigue, and a satisfying sense of momentum.
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