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Eye-catching and action-packed FPS title that is set in the iconic Halo universe

Eye-catching and action-packed FPS title that is set in the iconic Halo universe

Vote: (25 votes)

Program license: Paid

Developer: 343 Industries

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(25 votes)

Paid

Developer

343 Industries

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Beautiful aesthetics and a world-class soundtrack
  • Improved enemy AI within the game
  • New options for online gameplay

Cons

  • Civilian AI can be quirky
  • Gameplay lags in certain areas
  • Online matches are dwindling

Halo: Reach is a massively popular first-person shooter that was first released in 2010, and it quickly became an iconic title within the gaming industry.

It should come to no surprise to any gaming fan that the Halo franchise completely revolutionized the FPS genre. Since the release of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, all other first-person shooters have been compared to these iconic games. Halo: Reach was the sixth game that was released under the franchise, and it was a prequel to the original title. Here is a quick look at just a few of the reasons why this game has continued to remain so popular over the years.

When Halo: Reach was first released, players immediately recognized that it would be a story-driven game that dove into the lore of the Halo universe. The campaign focuses on a group of combatants known as Noble Team, and you will play as Noble 6, the newest member of the unit. At the start of the game, your team is dispatched to a secret military base to protect a scientist who is developing a new generation of power armor that could tip the battle between humans and the Covenant. While the humans were able to hold off the Covenant for a short period of time, they quickly realized that they needed new technology if they wanted to avoid extermination.

The first thing that you are going to notice when you start the campaign are the beautiful graphics. From vivid shots of space battles to panoramic views of Reach itself, the world is fully developed and eye-catching. Just as with many of the other Halo titles, the score for Reach is a masterpiece as well. The team over at Bungie decided to veer away from the guitar riffs of previous titles and switch back to somber piano pieces.

Another major change in this game is the AI that controls all of the computer enemies. Even though the previous Halo titles did have some excellent AI opponents, glitches happened quite frequently. In Halo: Reach, every single enemy that you come across is going to have revamped tactics and strategies. Instead of charging directly at your enemies, you will need to use quick movements and your jet pack to get into advantageous positions.

After you have beaten the extraordinary campaign, you might want to take a closer look at the multiplayer matches. Halo: Combat Evolved revolutionized the competitive FPS genre, and Reach continued further down that same path. When you first enter matchmaking, you can adjust a variety of filters in order to find players who want to engage in the exact same matches as you. You can then team up with those individuals or simply let the games continue to auto-load so that you stay within the same parameters. Online combat in Halo: Reach is fast-paced, competitive, and very well-balanced.

Halo: Reach has nearly infinite replayability, and it continues to be one of the best Halo titles around. Now that it has been added to the Master Chief Collection on Xbox One, a whole new generation of gamers are now falling in love with this iconic piece of gaming history. While there are a few quirks with the AI in the campaign, the online gameplay is sure to keep you coming back for more. If you are a fan of the FPS genre or the Halo universe, then this is a title that you need to have in your library.

Pros

  • Beautiful aesthetics and a world-class soundtrack
  • Improved enemy AI within the game
  • New options for online gameplay

Cons

  • Civilian AI can be quirky
  • Gameplay lags in certain areas
  • Online matches are dwindling