Get Your Best Green Suit On
by Alex McIntosh

In 2001, I was a pretty strict PC gamer. In fact, I didn’t believe a shooter could be fun on a console, simply because of the control system that was allowed for. However, there is no denying the impact that Halo: Combat Evolved had on shooters, introducing a defining series in the genre. Fortunately for me, the release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary allows me to play this masterpiece of a system gone by, for the first time, with a fresh lick of paint and a few improvements that are well worth taking a look at.

Halo revolves around plenty of strategy for a shooter. Rather than just guns blazing, the player is tasked with combating a situation with a fairly robust strategic plan. The range of enemies you encounter is really thorough. From the seemingly disposable forces of the Grunts, all the way through to the difficult to penetrate Hunters, when all these are combined thinking on your feet is a must. Combining this with the weapons at your disposal, combat in Halo is a fun but tough affair. Many will rejoice at the simplicity and accuracy of the original pistol making a triumphant return and the assault rifle feels much beefier in combat, than in the sequels the game has. The needler also seems to track far more easier with the enemies. This goes both ways, as many grunts use this weapon. The charge up blast from the plasma pistol feels far more rewarding, with a wad of plasma sticking to the enemy, if your efforts didn’t take them down in the first place.