Halo (2001) (VG)

Director:

Joseph Staten

Writers:

Joseph Staten (writer) and
Brannon Boren (additional writer)

Release Date:

6 November 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Combat Evolved

Plot:

You play a space marine who must battle multiple alien menaces on a colossal ringworld.

Plot Keywords:

The Covenant | Alien | Planet | Space | Master Chief

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Jen Taylor	...	Cortana (voice)
Pete Stacker	...	Captain Jacob Keyes (voice)
Tim Dadabo	...	343 Guilty Spark (voice)
Steve Downes	...	Master Chief (voice)
Tawnya Pettiford-Wates	...	Foe Hammer (voice)
Jeff Steitzer	...	Announcer (voice)
David Scully	...	Sergeant Johnson (voice)
Mike Madeoy	...	Private Bisenti (voice)
Mark Dias	...	Private Mendoza (voice)
Chris Wicklund	...	Private Jenkins (voice)
Andrew McKaige	...	Private Chips Dubbo (voice)
Ken Boynton	...	Sergeant, Tutorial Guy, Crazy Marine (voice)
Todd Licea	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Brian Morden	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Also Known As:

Blam! (USA) (working title)
Halo: Combat Evolved (USA) (alternative title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | UK:15 | USA:M | Australia:MA

Company:

Bungie Software

Trivia:

The level 'Assault on the Control Room' features all of the pilot-able vehicles in the game. It is also the only level to feature the Scorpion Tank.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the game, the UNSC are heavily based off the US military. So assuming this is true, Echo 419 is the incorrect way of identification for herself. She says "Pelican Echo Four-Ninetenn" when she should be saying Papa Echo Four One Niner. Same applies to the other Pelicans.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Keyes: Cortana, all I need to know is did we lose them?
Cortana: I think we both know the answer to that.
Captain Keyes: We made a blind jump. How did they...
Cortana: - Get here first? The Covenant ships have always been faster. As for tracking us all the way from Reach, at lightspeed my maneuvering options were limited.
Captain Keyes: We were running dark, yes?
Cortana: Until we decelerated, no one could have missed the hole we tore in subspace. They were waiting for us on the far side of the planet.
Captain Keyes: So, where do we stand?
Cortana: Our fighters are mopping up the last of their recon picket, nothing serious. But I've located approach signatures for multiple CCS battlegroups, make it three capital ships per group.
Captain Keyes: Well, that's it then. Bring the ship back up to Combat Alert Alpha. I want everyone at their stations.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Last Laugh '05 (2005) (TV)

What a blast!

Upon first seeing Halo I thought: "No thanks!". After playing: well, I was left begging for more! The action and adrenaline level of the game is spectacular.

Whether it be blowing up alien aircraft with an anti-vehicle rocket launcher just as it's about to dive bomb you or going man to man with a battle tank Halo delivers hardcore action on every variety of level. The most realistic thing about it though, has got to be the graphics: they are red hot with realism. Every piece of grass sways with the wind, every vehicle is destructable, every man can die: the physics are amazing in detail.

The best part has got to be commandeering an alien aircraft (unfortunately, this cannot b done until the three quarter mark) and wiping all signs of life from the air. The jeep, tank and alien reconnaisance vehicle are also very good. The game also has a vast array of weaponry ranging from assault rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers, plasma rifles, pistols, sniper rifles and even grenades, making for an explosive and spectacular storyline.

All in all Halo is the one reason for getting an X-Box. Well, it was my reason anyway. Also check out my review for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Halo is definetely a ten out of ten.