Greetings Soldiers, it is time for you few to give your best in this conflict with the “Covenant” forces. The survival of the human race is crucial if we’re ever to have a future, I know that many of you lost comrades during this campaign. I for one know that they will not have died in vain. With your strength, you will be able to bring down this plague that has mercilessly destroyed many people. The battle has now been brought to our home world “Reach”. I raise my arm up with pride asking you all to join me in this last effort to bring down this force as THE UNSC MILITARY WE SHALL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT TAKING MANY COVENANT WITH US, WHAT SAY YOU?!? Rise up and grab whatever weapons and get ready for this review of Halo: Reach right after jump!
As many of you might already know, Halo Reach is the prequel to the Halo series. This would be considered the last documented story of the noble team, based on the six Spartans that went on suicide missions trying to stop the “Covenant”. The role of Master Chief is replaced by another faceless warrior named “Noble 6”. The other difference is now you are a team member not just a solo super soldier that needs no assistance. But does humanizing the Spartans give what gamers need or does it fall short?
The game differs from the other titles; as a game on its own by giving players a more team based combat unlike the other titles where you were a one man army. In the same sense you are not as invincible as before, since ODST came out last year Bungie has decided to keep some of the features. If you are damaged when your shields go down you will have to get a health pack to restore lost health, instead of it just regenerating. It would be wise to take cover from time to time and frankly this kind of game play welcomes that. I did enjoy that is was more focused on the human storyline progressing instead of jumping back and forth through covenant cut-scenes. Halo Reach gives you a deeper meaning on what went on and why you should care about these “Spartans”.
It is time to enter the game play mechanics, which gives the player the felling that they really are a Spartan. In Halo Reach, Bungie added armor abilities that consist of jet pack, armor lock (AKA uber shield), stealth, and my personal favorite sprint. However, I felt that Bungie could have made a sprint button to use because it should have been a standard ability not an add-on. The covenant forces also have armor abilities that you will see in campaign as well as in multiplayer. The new melee kill feature is a nice touch but too flashy for my taste. The idea is to get in and out as quickly as possible in FPS games, but the more animated stealth kills take up too much time, even though they do look cool when successfully done.
Time to enter the armory and Halo is known for having interesting guns. The arsenal of Halo is very vast and many of the weapons received a nice upgrade. The newly upgraded DMR M392 assault rifle shoots a lot better and is more comfortable with a slight kick back. New to the weaponary is the M319 Grenade Launcher when held after shooting can be manually detonated after releasing the trigger. The covenant has some upgrades as well with the Concussion rifle, which is a new version of the brute shot without the bounce and blade. My all-time favorite Plasma Launcher that shoots out (when held on a target) four plasma sticky grenades that will track down the opponent. Needless to say, the results end up with a mop and someone cleaning up aisle 12.
The customization in Reach is vaster than the other titles and thankfully they improved it from Halo 3. In Reach, you can change not only your helmet this time but add extra features to each individual part all the way down to the knee guards. The more you rank up in the game, you will unlock other armors. The down side is that its only for show and does not enhance your character in anyway male or female Spartan.
The campaign is one thing, but we all know we all like to get in on some multiplayer matches. As always Bungie never disappoints, with a variety of mutliplayer games. The newest in the matches is Firefight, where you take on hordes of Covenant forces in rounds either alone or with teammates. The match making system has improved, instead of vetoing matches, as a group you will vote individually, which is much easier and a lot less bitching from other players.
I wanted to find things wrong with Halo Reach, but there are not much to complain about. The Halo franchise gives gamers what they want with addicting game-play and massive replay value. It is sad how most people bitch about the game because it has been going on for so long and don’t understand how or why it is so popular….simple it is fun and a simple FPS with an interesting storyline.
In the end Halo Reach is a definite BUY and even better buy if you get the special editions that are actually worth the money. The game is out now so if you have the means pick it up and join us in battle. All right gamers thanks for stopping by and checking out my take on Halo Reach, as always stay frosty!
