It’s been 10 years since a little known software company named Bungie launched a masterpiece of our lifetime. Halo: Combat Evolved sparked a revolution in FPS genre and also made Microsoft’s new system “Xbox” a must own for gamers worldwide. Halo started a cultural phenomenon that very few franchises in the entertainment business are able to accomplish. Now after 10 years after creating the Halo franchise, Bungie is passing the torch to 343 Studios on all things concerning Halo. Will 343 be able to live up the standards of the game and the fans? First and foremost, the one thing 343 Studios decided when making Halo: CE Anniversary was to not change anything about how the original game plays. Whether you play Halo every night or for the first time in 8-9 years, you can pick the game up and feel right at home. What 343 decided to change was updated graphics overlay that is absolutely stunning. The coolest part of the graphic overlay is that you can switch back and forth between the original graphics and the updated graphics with a push of the back button.
343 also included several new features that were originally not found in the original Halo. Following suite of Halo 3 and Halo Reach, 343 Studios added in Skulls and Terminals hidden throughout your adventure. The Terminals add story of their own to the Halo universe and are worth spending the time to find. The Skulls add different effect to the game play element, with some making the game harder and some making the game easier. Make sure to check out our Terminal and Skull guide to you along the way. One side note, to find the Terminals and Skulls, you have to be play in the newer graphic overlay mode to see any of the new features that were not in the original game. Editor's Note: Read our official Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Skulls and Terminals Guide by clicking here. The next feature that 343 Studios brings to Halo Fans is 6 remade Multiplayer Maps from the Original Halo: CE. The six new maps include Battle Canyon (Beaver Creek), Breakneck (Headlong), High Noon (Hang ‘em High), Penance (Damnation), Ridgeline (Timberland), and Solitary (Prisoner). The remade maps all use the Halo Reach engine and can be played directly of the Halo: CE Anniversary disc or they can be played using a Halo Reach disc via a DLC code that comes in all new copies of the game.
Each of the maps features the classic version with updated graphics and a remade version that changes up things from the original. Since they use the Halo Reach engine, armor abilities can be used if the player chooses on the maps. 343 also includes a brand new Firefight map called Installation 4 in reference to the original Halo installation being #4 of 7. The only thing people need to be concerned about when it comes to Halo is how soon they're going to get it and where they're going to find the time to play. With a story good enough for a full length novel, audio and visual elements as detailed as any you've ever seen and excellent pacing, Halo is the reason for Xbox and vice versa. 343 studios have done an excellent job paying tribute to the original game and its fans. Do you remember the first time you played or witnessed Halo: Combat Evolved back in 2001? Well it’s time to relive those memories once again and this time you can do it over Xbox Live with all your friends. If you have never played Halo: CE before or just want to Pistol 3-Shot your friends once again, Halo: CE Anniversary is a must buy for all Xbox 360 owners, especially those that are fans of Master Chief in any way.
