Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (X360)
Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Genre: Action \ First-Person Shooter
Platform: X360
Price (As of 19-Feb-2012): Rs 1700 (Letsbuy.com)


Few franchises have shaped console gaming the way Halo has. So what better way to celebrate the decade old series, than to revisit it in the glory of HD? With Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (CEA), Microsoft gives the much-loved title a fresh paint job. The game has now been amped-up with remastered audio and Kinect support.


Colourful Environs
Given the fact that it has been ten years and some million changes in the the video game space, it wasn't surprising that Halo has been given a makeover. The in-game environs livened up with bright colours, which stand out especially against the snowy backdrop in most levels. Not to say that the graphics look perfect, but the visuals have improved a lot from what you saw in 2001.
 

It's bright, it's loud... it's Halo!

In case you're feeling nostalgic, pressing the Back button ensures a smooth switch between original graphics and the enhanced version. There music and sound effects have been refurbished with a new soundtrack and remastered foley effects.


Addictive Gameplay
This reimagining of Halo comes from the good folks at 343 Industries and not Bungie. However, you can feel the latter's signature throughout. Not because 343 Industries doesn’t make an impression, but because the gameplay and design have been left untouched. This essentially means that the balance of weapons and AI give you the same kick they did before.

Once in the boots of the Master Chief, the experience of discovering (or rediscovering, as the case may be) Halo is as gripping and intriguing as in the original. The campaign and multiplayer modes offer enough options to keep you hooked on for hours together. Intense fights take place across various levels, as the narrative reveals the mysteries of the planet.
 

Whatchu lookin' at, f00?!

The AI opponents in Halo were and still remain an intelligent breed. Unlike rivals in shooters such as Bodycount, the Covenant army can send you home packing, as can the Flood swarm. Take on the enemies by yourself, or accompany a friend across the world of Halo for a local \ online co-op adventure. Though there isn't a provision for online matchmaking, Xbox LIVE integration has been tuned exceptionally well.

A total of six recreated maps such as Battle Creek, Prisoner, Hang ‘Em High, and Timberland, which feature both classic and enhanced versions. In the Firefight mode, the Installation 04 map is more like a sketch from the second in-game level from the campaign. Unlike the campaign mode, the multiplayer component borrows little from CEA. In fact, playing through this mode is reminiscent of Halo: Reach. In addition to the graphics engine that was used in Reach, CEA also features Achievements.
 

Somebody tell Maruti to make a car like this!/

Skulls And Terminals
Newly-included components such as Skulls and Terminals add a big dose of excitement. Skulls, for example, challenges the player by disabling auto aim or motion tracker among other things. Terminals offers insight into characters and other back stories that help connect the dots as you progress in the campaign.

Being the first Kinect compatible Halo game, it makes little use of the motion sensor. The voice-control feature works fine, but is again too limited. For example, lobbing grenades in the middle of a fight is hilarious with voice commands, as there's a noticeable lag between barking an order and actual execution. Besides, the Analyze feature lets you scan and look into the details of enemies, vehicles, et al.


A Little Chaos
Although CEA can give any modern shooter a run for its money, a few issues continue to haunt the game. Remember, the Loading… text in the middle of the campaign that marred the original title? The problem crops up in this iteration as well; freezing the screen for a couple of seconds as you move from a level to another. Another severe problem is the Warthog drive across the planet. It is undoubtedly the least friendly vehicle. Then again, flying in the Ghost doesn’t yield a satisfying experience either.

The list of problems with Halo: CEA doesn’t end here. The game simply fails to register your progress at certain checkpoints, pushing you to grind the segments all over again. It's better to gun down every enemy in the level to avoid this. Furthermore, it's easy to get lost in the the Covenant ship, because this game has a great deal of repetitive Wolfensteinesque corridors.
 

Real men don't take cover!

Not Too Shabby For A Remake
Though not everything about the game is perfect it offers a lot, even in this day and age. The improved graphics are dainty, while gameplay and AI deliver the right amount of zest for a shooter. The limited number of maps is a shame, but the overall multiplayer experience makes up for all that's been cropped. For a Halo veteran, CEA is a blast down memory lane, whereas a newcomer will also see why Halo deserves the adulation it commands.


Gameplay And Design: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Mojo: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4/5

TAGS: Gaming, Xbox, Sanali