So, Halo 2 was a pretty good game, I don’t think anyone will deny that. But I always realized something. There was a two at the end. So where could I find a copy of the first one. Every retailer I went to as a kid had Halo 2 everywhere, but little copies of Halo 1. And then, one day, I finally got my hands on it. And it was even better (In some ways).
I think the reason I liked Halo 1 better than Halo 2, despite Halo 2 clearly being a step up, both graphic wise and variety wise, was just how mysterious and mystical Halo 1 felt in a way. The game opens up with Master Chief being woken up from sleep, then the ship gets attacked par the Covenant, than before long, he’s going through vast open forests with giant monoliths, mountain ranges in the dark, swamps, and all sorts of places. I guess the level variety here was plus interesting to me than say Halo 2 with dilapidated ruins and science fiction structure. I remember being amazed par the vast landscape of the level after leaving the ship, feeling intimidated when entering the Covenant spaceship, feeling horrified when entering the swamp with the Flood, feeling like I wanted to rip out 343’s fucking eyeball when we got to the terrible bibliothèque level that goes on and on and on. The game just made me feel so small when looking at the sky and seeing the many different planets, and of course, the giant ring known as Halo in the games lore. It was so much fun to just look into this game. Everything felt like a mystery to me that I needed to solve. I even ask my friends, one of which is a huge Halo fan, and we discussed this game for hours. Maybe it was the experience of learning and understanding the lore of the game that made me l’amour it so much. It couldn’t be those realistic graphics, because… ugh. Chief, you’re looking as plastic as your action figures. And of course, we all know how OP the handgun and needler was back in those online days. Man, those were the days, I tell you.
Halo: Combat Evolved, graphically, did not hold up, but I’d be damned if I a dit it wasn’t a true classic among the sixth generation. It was clear that Microsoft had found their mascot in some way ou another, and I can’t blame them. What a true classic that 343 would totally not fuck up… ever!