Halo: A franchise retrospective (Part 1)
Though the days of the steadfast argument over whether Call of Duty (2003-present) or Halo (2001-2021) was the best gaming series available on the Xbox are over, one of these two games stays at the forefront of our minds years removed: Halo. From the series’ majestic theme to its memorable weapons/maps variety, alongside several beloved campaigns featuring infamous characters like Master Chief and Cortana, the series has it all! It has been three years since this series’ last entry—Halo Infinite (2021)—was released, so Spartans, grab that energy sword and charge your shields as we take this opportunity to go down memory lane back to the prime of one of gaming's most legendary franchises.
In November 2001, the gaming scene changed forever with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved (CE), a launch title for the original Xbox, and with it came an explosion of popularity for the newfound shooter. With a in media res opening, a factor that would soon become a staple of the series, audiences were hooked as they tried to defend themselves and the crew of the “Pillar of Autumn,” a city-sized army-controlled spacecraft, as they were scuttled by an alien race called “The Covenant.” The game’s plot follows Master Chief and various survivors as they go to the unknown world of “Ring,” a halo-shaped terrestrial planet that is habitable for life.
Everything in this game, from the snappy dialogue to the fun—though generic—gameplay, alongside the expansive maps, gave audiences globally a taste of what the future of this shooter would be. From the series’ continued success it seems that only very few were displeased! Even to this day, you can find me and my friends recounting our playthroughs of the first mission of this game and the amount of times we realized we were unfit to drive on any roadway; This is a classic that has a special place in many’s hearts.
Following the global success of Halo CE (2001), Bungie, the game’s developer, knew they had to top the classic, and that they did! Halo 2 (2004) is a relatively short but action-fueled story that feels tenfold more cramped than its predecessor—offering so much in every vein of world-building and character development. Whether your favorite moment is Master Chief hand-delivering the Covenant back to their bomb, the Arbiter taking a stand with his allies while defending his ideas, contrary to the status quo of the Covenant, or brutalizing the Prophet of Regret with your bare firsts after hijacking his hoverchair, this game has so much to love. It is a classic and deserves more recognition for how much it excelled compared to the title released less than three years prior.
Halo 3 (2007) is a game that requires no introduction; this is Bungie’s masterpiece and the finale to their trilogy, concluding the war between humanity and the Covenant, led by the Arbiter and Chief at the helm. This game is the one I will always find myself coming back to when I am feeling nostalgic or just in the mood for a quality story. This game will always offer something fresh and rewarding in every playthrough. Every aspect of this game, from the missions, to the story, to the general gameplay, is a masterclass—but you already knew that.
After Halo 3 (2007) capped off arguably the greatest trilogy in gaming history, Bungie looked to move the series away from the iconic Master Chief while making the story more intense, gripping, and grounded with the release of Halo 3 ODST (2009). We follow along a prologue to the events of Halo 3 as we play as a group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs) in an attempt to flee Covenant forces and escape the city of New Mombasa.
The creative decision to follow along a group of ODSTs was brilliant, as the player has to play stealthily rather than running through Covenant forces as the Master Chief; stealth in comparison to full frontal attacking. Paired with this idea, your primary weapon is the silenced submachine gun (SMG) and the silenced pistol—both unique to this series iteration. The decision to primarily market this game off the campaign was bold, but it worked for the best as the story is excellent, which was made possible through its vast and memorable cast of ODSTs. The vibes of the rainy streets of New Mombasa are unprecedented, and to pair with this, we get arguably the best soundtrack of the series; whenever I walk in the rain, this is the first thing I think of.
Though this is the point where Halo, as a franchise, began to pick up momentum, it was also where the beloved franchise would crescendo to its peak with its next entry and Bungie’s unexpected last: Halo Reach (2010). The game went on to reshape the landscape of Halo irreparably, for better and worse, for years to come. Join us next time for a more in-depth and retrospective look at what was next for this glorious franchise, while reacquainting yourself with Halo.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons