If you grew up in the late 1990s to mid-2000s and owned an Xbox and/or Xbox 360, there’s a very good chance that you played at least one game from the “Halo” series of video games.
Well, for all you nostalgic gamers out there, here comes a major treat: 343 Industries, the company that replaced Bungie, Inc. as the developer of the “Halo” franchise after “Halo 3,” has recently released “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” for Xbox One. The collection comes on a single disc and contains “Halo: Combat Evolved,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4,” as well as access to the “Halo 5” multiplayer beta in December.
One of the main reasons that the collection is of interest is that it contains the remastered versions of “Halo: Combat Evolved” and “Halo 2.” “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” came out in 2011, but a remake of “Halo 2” is included only in the collection. Considering the fact that “Halo 2” is thought by many to be the initial great first-person-shooter game, it is understandable that people would buy the collection for the sole purpose of playing the “Halo 2” remake. What makes the remake amazing is the fact that all of the cutscenes are completely redone and in full HD quality. This makes playing the campaign all over again seem like something brand new, as you don’t know what to expect anymore.
Adding to the allure of the collection is the ability to cycle back and forth between the old and new versions of the game at the push of a button, showing off the advanced graphics and exhibiting the difference that a decade can make (the remake was released 10 years and two days after the release of “Halo 2”). This adds an interesting component to the game, making it fun to cycle between the two to see certain differences.
“Halo: The Master Chief Collection” also contains the online multiplayer from all four games, making it a must-have for fans of the series that want to relive their glory days of fighting in matchmaking. This is probably the ultimate reason that people will buy the game, and who can blame them? Having the ability to play any of four versions of online games at the press of a button is nothing to sniff at.
The game retails at $60, which may seem like a steep price to pay for a college student on a budget. However, if it makes you feel any better, you are getting four (and eventually five) games for the price of one. I am genuinely shocked that the collection is not more expensive considering how much content it has, but I am not complaining.
All in all, “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” is an excellent game, despite a few bugs that were reported at launch. Whether you feel like discovering the terrifying, parasitic Flood in “Halo: Combat Evolved,” learning of the Prophets’ betrayal in “Halo 2,” finding the Ark in “Halo 3,” or fighting the Didact in “Halo 4,” “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” has it all.
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