A franchise that was there on the first day of the Xbox's existence and quickly defined the original console whilst becoming synonymous with the entire platform lineage:
Halo
Mainline Entry 01 - Halo
Formats: Xbox, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The original game arrived on Microsofts new green led platform with its own green clad lead, Master Chief. The Spartan soldier awakes on board the Pillar of Autumn just before it's attacked by the Covenant race as it arrives alongside the enormous Halo that the series takes its name from. With that begins a mission into the Halo and then to escape it as a new additional enemy thread, the Flood, is released leading up to a tense escape from the Pillar of Autumn via Warthog. The game won immediate popularity and praise for its handling of enemy AI, multiplayer and open approach to gun and vehicular battles.
Mainline Entry 02 - Halo 2
Formats: Xbox, PC and Xbox One
After the huge success of the first game a sequel was inevitable and the second game presented a sequel of two mixed half. Whilst received alright enough, the single player drew some criticism for its structure that included some poorly thought of boss fights. This was countered by the multiplayer and its Forge elements that made use of the newly minted Xbox Live service and really saw the series dig its claws into many.
Mainline Entry 03 - Halo 3
Formats: Xbox and Xbox One
The third game brought the series to its second generation and its storyline arc to a close with the battle against the Flood and Covenant coming to an end. The title brought up an air of the original with a focus on refining the experiences presented in the previous games.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Halo Wars
Formats: Xbox 360, PC and Xbox One
Eager to capitalise on the franchises huge popularity, this RTS title was released as a prequel to the original game. Whilst the game was successful considering its genre, it had much less impact than the FPS entries with some criticisms of shallowness levied against the title.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Halo 3: ODST
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The first FPS spin-off followed a side story to the main third entry and had the player exploring the city of Mombasa as a member of the ODST team. The key difference with the spin-off being more restrained movement explained by being standard soldiers and the co-op campaign.
Spin Off Entry 03 - Halo Reach
Formats: Xbox 360
Bungie's final entry into the Halo series, this prequel covered some plot holes that led up to the opening of the original game. Building on the foundations of ODST there is once again a co-op campaign and features some new elements that would remain limited to this instalment such as space based dog fights.
Remaster Entry 01 - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Mainline Entry 04 - Halo 4
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The final entry on Xbox 360 saw the reigns of power handed over to the newly created studio 343. Starting a new trilogy storyline the game once again Master Chief return to face off the new threat of the Prometheans. 343 used their first released as an opportunity to update many long standing elements of the game and to give it a visual overhaul bringing the series much more in line with the visual standards possible late in the systems life cycle. In the end the game was only slightly lower than Bungie's entries in terms of critical response marking a solid step forward by the new studio.
Spin Off Entry 04 - Halo: Spartan Assault
Formats: Xbox 360, PC and Xbox One
Remaster Entry 02 - Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Formats: Xbox One
Spin Off Entry 05 - Halo: Spartan Strike
Formats: PC
Mainline Entry 05 - Halo 5
Formats: Xbox One
The first Halo of the current generation continued the new storyline and ironically repeated its similar mid-entry Halo 2 brother by splitting play away from Master Chief to a similarly negative response. The further updates to the gameplay continued to provide positive responses but this time the single player drew criticism with many not taking to the split narrative, storyline and short length.
Spin Off Entry 06 - Halo Wars 2
Formats: PC and Xbox One
Share your thoughts and memories of the Halo series
Halo
Mainline Entry 01 - Halo
Formats: Xbox, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The original game arrived on Microsofts new green led platform with its own green clad lead, Master Chief. The Spartan soldier awakes on board the Pillar of Autumn just before it's attacked by the Covenant race as it arrives alongside the enormous Halo that the series takes its name from. With that begins a mission into the Halo and then to escape it as a new additional enemy thread, the Flood, is released leading up to a tense escape from the Pillar of Autumn via Warthog. The game won immediate popularity and praise for its handling of enemy AI, multiplayer and open approach to gun and vehicular battles.
Mainline Entry 02 - Halo 2
Formats: Xbox, PC and Xbox One
After the huge success of the first game a sequel was inevitable and the second game presented a sequel of two mixed half. Whilst received alright enough, the single player drew some criticism for its structure that included some poorly thought of boss fights. This was countered by the multiplayer and its Forge elements that made use of the newly minted Xbox Live service and really saw the series dig its claws into many.
Mainline Entry 03 - Halo 3
Formats: Xbox and Xbox One
The third game brought the series to its second generation and its storyline arc to a close with the battle against the Flood and Covenant coming to an end. The title brought up an air of the original with a focus on refining the experiences presented in the previous games.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Halo Wars
Formats: Xbox 360, PC and Xbox One
Eager to capitalise on the franchises huge popularity, this RTS title was released as a prequel to the original game. Whilst the game was successful considering its genre, it had much less impact than the FPS entries with some criticisms of shallowness levied against the title.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Halo 3: ODST
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The first FPS spin-off followed a side story to the main third entry and had the player exploring the city of Mombasa as a member of the ODST team. The key difference with the spin-off being more restrained movement explained by being standard soldiers and the co-op campaign.
Spin Off Entry 03 - Halo Reach
Formats: Xbox 360
Bungie's final entry into the Halo series, this prequel covered some plot holes that led up to the opening of the original game. Building on the foundations of ODST there is once again a co-op campaign and features some new elements that would remain limited to this instalment such as space based dog fights.
Remaster Entry 01 - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Mainline Entry 04 - Halo 4
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The final entry on Xbox 360 saw the reigns of power handed over to the newly created studio 343. Starting a new trilogy storyline the game once again Master Chief return to face off the new threat of the Prometheans. 343 used their first released as an opportunity to update many long standing elements of the game and to give it a visual overhaul bringing the series much more in line with the visual standards possible late in the systems life cycle. In the end the game was only slightly lower than Bungie's entries in terms of critical response marking a solid step forward by the new studio.
Spin Off Entry 04 - Halo: Spartan Assault
Formats: Xbox 360, PC and Xbox One
Remaster Entry 02 - Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Formats: Xbox One
Spin Off Entry 05 - Halo: Spartan Strike
Formats: PC
Mainline Entry 05 - Halo 5
Formats: Xbox One
The first Halo of the current generation continued the new storyline and ironically repeated its similar mid-entry Halo 2 brother by splitting play away from Master Chief to a similarly negative response. The further updates to the gameplay continued to provide positive responses but this time the single player drew criticism with many not taking to the split narrative, storyline and short length.
Spin Off Entry 06 - Halo Wars 2
Formats: PC and Xbox One
Share your thoughts and memories of the Halo series
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