Halo: Reach

In November of 2001, a launch title for the original Xbox named Halo: Combat Evolved forever changed the controls and impact of the home console first-person shooter. Nine years later, developer Bungie had grown the series into one of the most successful and recognizable franchises in the entire industry, becoming a household name nearly rivaling Mario. 2010 saw Bungie's final game in the series that they will create, crafting an origin story to Combat Evolved; appropriately ending the developer's saga where it began. The final product is by all means not perfect, but expands on attributes of the series in enough ways to be more than just satisfying.

Halo: Reach takes place on the UNSC fortress world of Reach during the weeks prior to Halo: Combat Evolved. Noble Team, a squad of Spartan super-soldiers, is ordered by Colonel Urban Holland to investigate the sudden loss of transmission from a communications outpost. The team is baffled to later discover that it is the work of the Covenant, and an invasion becomes apparent. As the Covenant begin their assault on the planet, the UNSC begin their heroic yet hopeless attempt to halt the brutal alien invaders. Players assume the role of a new addition to the team identified by the call sign Noble Six. These narrative aspects of Halo: Reach are competent in regards to the overall plot, but it isn't quite as appealing as Master Chief's story. I felt a little more disconnected with the characters of the Noble Team than I have had with others in the Halo universe, in the past. Seeing a major character meant little to nothing to me when the time came. That said, the actual story is as explosive and entertaining as ever, with the addition of a somewhat darker tone. It makes up a satisfying narrative, but the characters make it not the best in the series.

Halo: Reach features a variety of new gameplay additions to the franchise's core experience. For instance, there is a new assassination system implemented in which holding down the melee button will trigger a context-sensitive, third-person assassination animation. Fear not, as simply hitting the melee button still allows for the old-instant-kill assassination, but I feel that the new animation is entertaining enough to merit its use. Reach also utilizes an armor ability equipment system, as pieces of equipment can now be selected upon respawning (or picked up off the ground for certain game types and campaign). These armor abilities are reusable with a recharge time between uses, and include functions such as sprint and jet-packs, among other methods. Armor abilities are a great feature, whether it be in the campaign or matchmaking. It adds a layer of extra strategy to the gameplay, specifically on the campaign on Legendary. Though, let's be clear here, when you're given the choice to have a jet-pack, who would settle for anything else?

Controls in Halo: Reach are perhaps the best they have ever been. The 360's bumpers have been altered to house the armor abilities and melee functions, preserving the face buttons for the use of swapping weapons, swapping grenades, and reloading. This morphed take on the default controls is ideal to the flow of battle's fast-paced action.

Aside from the main campaign, Halo: Reach also exhibits a multitude of differing game modes. Returning fan favorites such as Slayer, Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill are present, but alongside these are new modes such as Headhunter, Stockpile, and a personal favorite of mine, Invasion. Not to mention the inclusion of Race returns, marking the first instance since Combat Evolved. Another returning mode taken from ODST is Firefight, where players fight waves of enemies.There are a total of seventeen multiplayer maps are available in Halo: Reach, with nine standard multiplayer maps and eight Firefight maps. However, despite the excellent use of matchmaking, the greatest aspect found in all of Halo: Reach is the Forge World. Essentially a wide-open sandbox for endless creativity, you'll easily find yourself lost in making your own creations or downloading others. A personal favorite of mine is the insane Avalanche.

Graphically, Halo: Reach is sufficient, but is already beginning to show its age. Granted the environments are far more detailed and the graphical effects have been drastically improved, allowing for a new atmospheric effects system and more dynamic lighting for dramatic shadows and moving light sources in interiors. However some areas and maps clearly exhibit more vacancy than others, case in point the mission titled "Exodus". Music in the game is, as the par for the course, excellent. Just like previous entries in the franchise, its sweeping orchestral score will impress you to the end.

I feel as if Halo: Reach has been forgotten a little too quickly by its community. While highly regarded and widely played at release, the franchise's most loyal audience doesn't seem to hold Bungie's last effort as high as previous iterations. Even though the title is nearing five years old at this point, the package you would be purchasing for is well worth whatever price you find it for. There may a quality debate regarding some multiplayer maps that may be bare in comparison, and some weapons like the assault rifle seem oddly ineffective. However, the sum of its parts is truly a game worth playing, no matter how late to the action you are.