It will have been ten years ago this September since “Halo: Combat Evolved” came out.
This game set up one of the best-selling game franchises ever, and also set the pedestal of what a first-person shooter could be, and should be.
It must be stated that if this game had came out today it would still garner the praise that it did back in 2001. It was great going back into it.
The countless hours that I had spent on this game before picking it back up didn’t affect the replay-ability one bit. The game was thoroughly enjoyable every second that I played it, and it definitely made me appreciate the whole series for what it is and can be now that “343 Industries” has taken over for “Bungie.”
Although the campaign could be at times a bit repetitive, it also provided some of the most innovative action, as well as some of the best artificial intelligence in the history of gaming.
From the vehicular gameplay, which excelled on so many levels, to the one and only M6D Magnum Sidearm that changed the way players looked at what your main firing arm could and should be.
The best level of the campaign is far and away the finale. Named that Maw, this level had everything you could want in a first-person shooter, with everything from firefights with zombie-like enemies, alien robots, and ending the game on an all-out getaway to your triumphant escape.
Althought the campaign is an all-out-awesome experience, the multiplayer mode of the game is what really made a huge impact on the genre and really raised the bar for everyone in the industry.
The high level of customization allowed players to create different experiences that fit their needs and wants, something that was never really done in the first-person shooter genre, and especially in a console game.
The best thing about the game, and every Halo game after it, is the vehicular battles that can be massive at times.
Five out of Five