Graphics:****
Ok, I know you all are like WHAT! Graphics 4 stars, dude you gotta be kiddin' me...well im not sayin its bad, but the only thing that has better graphics is PS2 games, FFX is possibly the best I have ever seen. I didnt want to play this game, infact I was anti-Halo for a while. It took Gangsta a while to get me to finaly play this game because he was boasting about the 3 vehicles, and the 9 guns. I said to him "Dude, Operation Flashpoint has like 1000000 vehicals, and a whole lot more then 9 guns." I had no idea this wasn't a Operation Flashpoint type game. This was 007 Goldeneye Multiplayer for N64 type of game when it first came out. You can go 8 on 8, capture the flag, deathmatch, and so much more on many differnt landscapes. The maps use great 3D Technology, accept when you try to drive a Ghost or Warthog inside. The maps are 100% original as far as I see, good places to hide and snipe, and open areas to drive around and run soldiers down. The marines are very detailed, from their helmets to the guns they use, to their shins and feet, but I thought the monters looked cheesy, and rather plain. Just muscle mass, and colors. Though the battles are fun, and its great to watch your buddys body fly up and get mutalated. Or in the single player missions watch the 1/2 human 1/2 mutants limbs fly off due to your shot gun. The graphics are some of the best I have seen, and I like to sit playing multiplayer in awe..then get sniped in the head by Gangsta.
Interface:***
Although I havn't had time to really looked at the make/join game screen, I found it to be rather complicated. Andy, possibly the #1 gamer in America(He has been ranked #1 on NFL2k1 in there online scoring, and he owns possibly over 1000 games, and even owns Koreans)has even had some trouble making a game. In the game moving around is simple, just aiming is something I have a problem with, but thats just me. Using the two analogue joysticks to move and aim takes little time to get used to, and is benificial in some ways. I'd rather use analogue then the arrow pad to aim. You can't see how much heath your enemy has taken, though that would be a pro or con depending on the gamer. I think seeing the heath of your enemy in a heated close match gun fight helps one determine if they need to run away, or if they are just givin' the other guy a good ass kickin'.
Gameplay:*****
Playing Halo was a new and exiting experiance for me. It has the thing that makes you wanna play Unreal Tounry over and over again, but adds some new and interesting features that play through your mind. Halo is just putting you into the future, your a cyborg, and your packin'... GOD DAMN IT SHOOT SOMTHIN'! The world around you is being mutated and you can either ,A, play the campaign...which is kinda boring in its complexness. You run in, and try to get from point A, to point B like in most FPS games like DOOM, Duke Nukem, or Wolfenstein. Just without the keycards. The greatest thing you will see in the campaign is comming back to a planet you took over, all the men left behind are riped to streads. You see blood, guts, and ass all over the tanks and forified positions. The on this open plain you see 150 mutants rushing some Scorpion Tanks, held by your fellow marines. Man, just sit back and watch the carnage. Also, you can only fly the Banshee in the campaign, which is the only flying vehical. You could play the campaign, which you can still play co-op in it, or you can ,B, play multiplayer. Only downfall in multiplayer is the sniping. You walk to slow...and once you see your destination is sight..BAM. You is be dead nig...Playing with your own set of rules is also very fun. We have come to stacking outselves in the Warthog, which is a jeep with a chain gun on the back and seats 3, and trying to knock the other people in the other Warthog out of it and then try to run them over before one of them gets back in. Or get in the back of it and use the chain gun on their asses. There are so many more types of gameplay and triggered rules to play by that Halo offers. Im not particularly fond of Deathmatch, being im the worst player of all my friends. Capture The Flag is my game. Its tactics, and steath. Also, your enemy usualy doesn't sit in the f*ckin' mountain and snipe you! Damn I hate that. All my friends are x-pert snipers. The storyline has about as much as Utimate Doom's does to its. They can change it, and the campaign would still make sence. Its based around this big circle that positions itself around a planet like a ring of Saturn. This "Halo" is a mass distruction weapon which turns the mortal populus of the planet into mutants. Which, well my friend, you have to kill. Im not one to play a single game over and over and over, but Gangsta, and everyone I play with can. They play game...after game...after game like its the greatest thing in the world. I know its just me not wanting to play, but this is infact a great game. Somehow when they coax me to play "one last game" for the 8th time I end up having fun.
Sound FX:*****
Nothing sounds better then hearing a 3'2" alien screaming after you waste his friend.
The FX mixes in greatly with the AI. Hearing that "Oh My God! He's Coming! Run!" for the first
time from your alein enemy leaves you in awe. The vehicle FX is very detailed with every push
on the peddle changes the FX of the jeep engine to simulate slowing down/going faster. Although
my favorite FX's are from the soldiers on you're team. I love figuring which nationallity they are,
they get on your jeep and shout with either a British, Mexican, American or other European accent.
Musical Score:***
I gave the musical score 3 stars for one reason: It's original, very original. The music changes
from soft and easy to a intence tone as you approch danger. There
are many different tracks to this game, so the music never gets boring. Overall the music mixes nicely with the game elements and the action you are doing. Everyone likes to listen to feirce classical music while shooting up their enemy.
Intelligence & Difficulty:****
I've played the campaign on easy, it's like a turkey shoot, they might get lucky and think
about shooting you once or twice
but other then that it's just like you go on a killing spree. Then I played it on legendary(highest difficulty) thinking that this campaign was just some more play time for my character. Boy, was i suprised.
Taking on these aliens required a little more ingenuity in my meathods to kill them,
as my comrades were being wasted by the enemy gun platforms,
hoping the aliens wouldn't throw a grenade, praying for a chance to
make it through the enemy gun fire. Deciding to throw a grenade at a strategic angle to
confuse the enemy I wait for it to explode, as they hit the ground for cover the air is free of gun fire and my party can gain the upper hand...or run away. Making a run for my life just gets harder as the aliens get back up. The soldiers could give me some backup, but no..they are just too stupid, or im a nobody.
Finally getting to my destination, thinking im safe, a huge alien sticks a glowing sword into my back melting away flesh and bone. As
I hit the ground I hear a taunting laugh coming from the alien defender " Muahaha too easy "...damn.
Overall:****
Halo is well under-priced for it's fun factor.if you have $40-$50 this game is a must, put this game at the top of you're wish list
ecspecially if you have friends who have the same interest in the game.
This game has many faults right now, they are minor but it is enough to keep it from getting a 5.
Halo is infact the best game I have ever played and it should be the #1 game of 2001 and 2002.
Graphics/Interface/Gameplay By:Stinky
Sound FX/Music/Intelligence&Difficulty/Overall By:Gangsta