Halo: Reach Review

Halo: Reach, a video game for the Xbox 360 console, has been out for well over a month. Some of the more hardcore fans of the Halo series already own it, and have been playing it at the expense of things like showering and going to classes. With the holiday season coming up, is the newest Halo game worth shelling out $60 for? Yes, Halo: Reach is such a good game, that you won’t mind neglecting your friends and family for a while.

The Halo series, which includes five games and several spin-offs, has been around for the last decade. Halo: Reach combines the best aspects from all previous titles, while still adding some new components. The first part that is noticeably better than the last few installments is the single player campaign. You are no longer a lone Spartan super soldier single-handedly decimating ferocious alien hordes; you fight along side other Spartans who are just as badass as yourself. Having multiple Spartans, along with the addition of space combat, makes for some truly epic cut scenes and game play moments.

The Spartans in your squad, with the exception of yourself, actually take their helmets off. Meaning that the single player story is much more emotionally engaging, and not as convoluted as previous Halo games. But really, some people don’t even care about the single player – although they should. The reason why the Halo series has been so popular over the years is because of its multiplayer that is more addictive than candy to an eleven-year-old.

Halo: Reach’s multiplayer has achieved something that has not been done since the first Halo; it is balanced. You can no longer dual wield guns or entirely dominate with just one weapon. Everything has a specific use, and the auto-aim is toned down for a more even playing field. The original pistol is also back, albeit slightly toned down for balance, along with health-packs. There is even a new game-type called invasion, in which a team of Spartans fight against a team of Elites (aliens that are very scary looking). Oh, and did I mention there are jetpacks now?

One of the main additions to Halo: Reach’s multiplayer is armor variants. Gone are the power-ups of the previous games. Instead, the player can choose from a number of armor permutations that give them special abilities. These can include jetpacks, invisibility, sprinting, and a number of other options. The armor permutations lend even more balance to the game, because it takes away the unfair advantage in previous games when one player found a power-up and the others didn’t. Add to this the multitude of animations done while assassinating someone, and you have arguably the best multiplayer Halo experience thus far.

Halo: Reach has lots of throwbacks to the original Halo game. This both makes it more fun to play, and levels the playing field. The new additions only add to an already great game, based on a decade of Halo titles. While it is true there are some problems, such as frame rate glitches and long loading times, these are well worth the price. I give Halo: Reach a 9.7/10.