The Halo series was one of the first on the Xbox, but the gameplay remains as epic as ever. The Master Chief Collection for Xbox One puts all of the Master Chief’s adventures onto one disc, along with the classic Halo multiplayer millions of fans have fond memories of.
The Master Chief Collection is more than just a high-definition version of the previous Halo games. For fans of the old games, such as former University of Memphis student Sebastian Rostig, the old Halo games are a trip back in time.
“I first started playing Halo when I was just a kid,” Rostig said. “Now that I can come back and play all those same moments that defined my childhood in a more fresher and brisk setting, it’s just overwhelming.”
The first entry into the Halo series, Halo: Combat Evolved, was ground breaking. It changed the way people played video games and revolutionized the first person shooter genre, influencing not only later Halo titles, but also series such as Call of Duty.
The Master Chief Collection brings back everything that old players remember about the original Halo, with some fine-tuning. The campaign is redone in HD and the multiplayer is exactly like the original game but with online support, which doesn’t sound like a big change but to avid Halo players like Alex Irwen, it’s a small change that makes all the difference.
“I don’t think people realize how big of a deal this is, at least for people who played the first Halo,” Irwen said. “We could never play Halo: CE online. We would have to go to a friend’s house to play. But now I can play with people wherever, and that’s what makes it so special.”
But for many fans, including Irwen, the big draw is the rerelease of Halo 2, the most well-loved game in the series.
“Halo 2 was special, as well, in a lot of reasons,” Irwen said. “That was the first halo that you could play against people across the world from. It allowed people to sit in the comfort of their own homes and play, which revolutionized the way we play video games today.”
Not only did Halo 2 allow for players to play against each other online, it also introduced many players, such as competitive Halo player Michael Miller, to competitive gaming.
“Halo 2 made me realize I wasn’t as good as I thought,” Miller said, “It made me strive to get better, but also have fun at the same time.”
The Collection includes both the original Halo 2 as well as the newly remastered Halo 2 Anniversary, with improved graphics and gameplay. Halo 3 and Halo 4 are also included with the collection, and both those games have been revamped in the same way as the first two.
The Master Chief Collection takes what were already good games and brings them into modern gaming, and is a wonderful reminder of how things used to be, and how much better they can be today. Veterans of the Halo series will find a lot to be nostalgic about, and newer players will have the chance to experience the best versions of some of the best FPS games on the Xbox.
