Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review

Ten years after the ground breaking Halo: Combat Evolved was released on Microsoft’s console, the Xbox, developers 343 Industries bring us a revamped version of the now classic shooter. Predicted for a good while, the tenth anniversary was a fitting date to release the updated edition.

With a new look, some bonus content and the addition of online coop and multiplayer, the game seems like the ideal package for Halo fans and newcomers alike. The question is though, can the new version replicate the same sense of excitement and awe that the original did all those years ago?

HD remakes are becoming a bit of a trend at the moment with the likes of God of War, Prince of Persia as well as other gaming classics all being updated into higher resolution for the current generation of platforms. What sets Halo Anniversary apart though is that the developers went the whole hog and completely overhauled the graphics as well, making it feel like a current generation shooter. Although not quite on par with the likes of Halo Reach, the graphics are an incredible improvement, especially when compared to what they were.

The developers have also added the option to seamlessly switch between the original and current look at the touch of a button allowing one to see the vast enhancements in detail and lighting that have been made in the past ten years. As I went through the campaign, I found myself regularly hitting the button just to check the level really was taken from the original.

For the rest of the campaign section, the game is generally what it was. Other than the addition of hidden items such as the game altering skulls or Terminals that add animated snippets to the rich story, little else has been altered, for better or for worse.

The story, for those who don’t know it, follows a super-soldier named Master Chief after his ship crash lands on a strange ring planet in an attempt to escape from a religious covenant of aliens. Battles between humans and aliens ensue as both sides attempt to discover what this mysterious ring or ‘Halo’ actually is.

The setting allows for a variety of different environments from close quarter combat on the ship to larger battles in huge open expanses in forests and snow terrain. Nevertheless, on my play through, I did find myself visiting very similar places over and over again. Rooms with exactly the same decor will reappear throughout the campaign making the experience rather monotonous and signs of age did begin to creep in. Having said that I still felt the same desire to get out and explore after crash landing on the planet for the first time.

Gameplay has not seen any additions either with Master Chief still having the ability to jump ridiculously high. Weapons still suffer from a lack of recoil making you feel like a machine as you mow down alien grunts. The AI though did surprise me in its sophistication. Enemies still fare pretty well and will dive for cover if they feel too threatened. Your allies though are completely useless and in the harder levels act merely as cannon fodder to deflect the lasers away from you.

What certainly won’t disappoint though is the music, which like all Halo games is fantastic. The soundtrack fits beautifully with each campaign level always adding to the general mood. The sound effects have been modified slightly though generally for the better.

In terms of multiplayer, the game is essentially Halo Reach but with old maps remade for competitive multiplayer. Seeing as the last outing was so good, it made sense not to detract from it, though for those worried, you can still play in classic mode with gun recoil and Reach’s power-ups turned off to give it an old school feel.

All in all, it’s a decent package especially if you are yet to discover the delights of Halo. If you are a veteran like myself though, you may find sections rather dull and outdated, despite the pretty new look. The game won’t spoil your memory of this beloved game, but may just slightly taint it.