Sessler's Soapbox: Halo: Reach

hayseman

I think that really sold me on Halo was it was the first FPS that gave you a sense of scope of the current situation. As everyone says that their favorite moment of the first Halo game is when they emerged from the wreckage of the drop shift and was able to see this world where there was this HUGE ring wrapped around the sky. I mean I know its a photoshoped painting but still to this day I would find myself just stopping and admiring the view of it all. Also too I think that the story arch was compelling but still somewhat of a mystery to a lot of gamers. I mean we get a lot of answers about the Rings and the Convanent and so forth but we never get the whole story. You always have that feeling that there is more. And in the game world there are clues of what the final parts of the story might be. So that sense of intrigue is a huge part of the draw of this game.

But also I am going out on a limb by saying this. I think what Halo did to FPS is similar to what Super Mario Bros did to platformers. It made a jump beyond the standard. There were a lot of new elements introduced in the Halo series and graphically it was unlike anything we have seen before (the combat was a bright and colorful feast for the eyes).

But anyway the thing that I am upset about with the Halo series is the fact of its exclusivity. I know Microsoft wrapped Bungie up so tightly to the point it couldn't breath unless Microsoft said it could. But still this game should of been spread out everywhere. Then maybe there wouldn't be so many haters of this wonderful franchise.