• Control a character during massive firefights as you eliminate as many Covenant soldiers as possible
• Engage in guerilla warfare against the enemy, using whatever is at your disposal on the station
• Use your tactics skills to command squads and eliminate the enemy
• Role-based team & multiplayer combat with over 25 characters onscreen at a time
• A wide variety of vehicles & locations designed in perfect detail

• The Halo Graphic Novel
• The Official Xbox Magazine [1-year]
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play

Bent on humankind's extermination, a powerful fellowship of alien races known as the Covenant is wiping out the Earth's fledgling interstellar empire. You and the other surviving defenders of a devastated colony-world make a desperate attempt to lure the alien fleet away from Earth. Shot down and marooned on the ancient ring-world, Halo, you begin a guerilla-war against the Covenant. Fight for humanity against an alien onslaught as you race to uncover the mysteries of Halo.
Halo takes you deep into the future, with the fate of planet Earth hanging on your shooting skills. After a massive battle, only one ship is left and its crew is stranded on an abandoned space station. You must do whatever it takes to keep the Covenant from reaching Earth.

Experience the ultimate Halo challenge with all-new online multiplayer for up to 16 players. Take on the world in any of the 15 multiplayer maps including 6 brand new maps never before seen. Unleash destruction with incredible weapons and vehicles including brand new armaments for intense online multiplayer games. Voted Game Of The Year by IGN.com, Electonic Gaming Monthly, and Xbox Magazine.
More often than not, when a game is in development for more than three years, it does not live up to the hype. Bungie's Halo is the exception. Not only does it meet expectations, it greatly exceeds them. This sci-fi first-person shooter is a nearly perfect blend of gameplay, graphics, and sound.

The story revolves around the conflict between humans and an alien race known as the Covenant. The aliens have discovered a powerful artifact--on the ring-shaped planet called Halo--that will shift the balance of power, and it's up to the player to stop them. In addition to several first-person-shooter levels, the game offers numerous opportunities to engage in vehicular combat. Both the enemy and allied artificial intelligence are extremely impressive. Enemies will use the terrain and layout to put you in tight spots. Allies will know when to cover and aid you. For instance, if you hop into a jeep, an ally will know to jump in and man the turret on the back of it.

The graphics are exquisitely detailed, but only move at 30 frames per second rather than 60. The sound effects and voice acting are superb. The level design is among the best ever; most of the game is engaging and challenging without being frustrating. There's also high replay value thanks to the built-in single-player, cooperative, and deathmatch modes.

Much like the outstanding GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64, Halo raises the bar for console first-person shooters. All console action games will be measured against Halo for years to come. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Outstanding game design
• High replay value
• Impressive AI

Cons:

• Several maps are used multiple times
• Save functions could have been better implemented
• Graphics move at 30 frames per second, not 60

This action shooter takes place on a mysterious alien world. It offers a combination of team-based first-person-shooter gameplay (reminiscent of Tribes) and third-person vehicle combat elements. Gameplay kicks off with the player heading down to the planet's surface in a troop carrier, à la Aliens. As the player and fellow marines exit, the remaining troopers form a flank in reaction to an oncoming onslaught of human and alien enemies.

It's this smart AI system that makes for a noticeably unique gameplay feel. Another very nice feature is the seamless transition into vehicular elements. As you venture through mission objectives, a variety of enemy flyers and on-ground buggies are yours for the taking. Come across a vehicle and the camera will pull back to a third-person view as you strap in and motor through crossfire. A co-op mode allows a friend to join you in the single-player missions. For chaotic fighting action, up to four players can duel in split-screen deathmatch mode or link systems for LAN play. However you choose to hero your way through Halo: Combat Evolved, the action should break in your new Xbox in explosive style.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Comment: I played HALO a few weeks back and it's still fun to play. coop is still fun. and multiplayer also.

I didn't think I would spend 10 minutes with it! yet I played it to the end with a friend and we had lots of fun. then we decided to contintue halo 2 & 3 campaign the day after, which we never did.. we went straight to matchmaking :)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A standard-setter
Comment: Much like the N64's Goldeneye and the PC's Half-Life and Rainbow Six, Halo is one of those yardstick first-person shooters that people will be comparing games to for years to come.

That's not to say the game is without its faults. Some levels are very repetitive - gee, I've only been down this corridor or one that looks just like it FIFTEEN TIMES! - and the allied AI is downright frustrating sometimes. There are some other minor things that get on my nerves, but they're relatively minor.

That said, Halo is one of my favorite shooters ever. Enemy AI is top-notch, especially on the harder difficulties, and the outdoor environments are amazing, particularly the beach level and the snow valley. The weapons are varied and, amazingly, are all useful. Also, the plot, while a little on the thin side, is engaging. I especially love Cortana, the wisecracking AI that accompanies the player throughout the game (truly, the little voice inside your head).

If you're looking for a very good first-person shooter, Halo is a great choice.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Comment: What more could I say about this game that hasn't been said. If you like shooting games, you will like this game.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Halo
Comment: Halo is by far the best game ever made.
I'm not really into video games at all, but now I'm in Iraq so I got little else to do. But I just wanted to let everyone else know even with all the new games and systems, this one shouldnt be forgotten

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Halo Forever!
Comment: Halo is perhaps one of the best games in history! At first I played it at a friend's house and then I decided to buy it. Halo is not as good as Halo 2, but has some advantages that Halo 2 doesn't, such as weapons. The Graphics are very realistic and it feels very intense. Lots of Weapons such as, Assault Rifles, Snipers, Rocket Launchers, Pistols, Plasma Pistols, Plasma Rifles, Needlers and Grenades! And lots of Enemies such as, Grunts, Elites, Jackles, Hunters, and the Flood! Halo is just really fun!

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