Editing Halo: Combat Evolved

{{ExceptionalArticle}}
{{Game Info Box
|name='''Halo: Combat Evolved'''
|image=Halo_Cover.jpg
|imageSize=200
|Developer=[[Bungie Studios]]
|Publisher= [[wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]]
|US Date Released= November 11,  2001
|UK Date Released= November 11, 2001
|Genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|Game modes=[[Campaign Mode]], [[multiplayer]]
|ESRB= Mature (M)
|Platform=[[Xbox]]<BR>[[Halo PC|PC]], [[Halo Mac|Mac]]
|Media=CD, DVD
|Website=http://www.bungie.net/Projects/Halo/default.aspx
}}'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' is a video game in the [[First Person Shooter]] (FPS) genre, created by the [[Microsoft]]-owned [[Bungie Studios]]. It was released for the [[Xbox]] game console on November 15, 2001 and is backwards-compatible with [[Xbox 360]]. It is one of the most popular video games for the Xbox, with over five million copies sold, its sheer sales numbers are rivaled only by its sequel, [[Halo 2]].

'''Spoiler warning''': Plot and ending details follow.

==Gameplay==
{{realworld}}
===Summary===

''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay is characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed [[first-person shooter]] games:

* '''Storyline execution:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay and storyline have been known to be tightly interwoven, and delivered in a convincing manner which is consistent with the flow of the game.  

* '''Vehicles:''' ''Halo'' incorporates many vehicles into its single and multiplayer games, including flying ones. 

* '''Weapons system:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s weapons system is unusual in two respects.  First, it allows one to carry only two weapons at any given time, forcing the player to switch weapons often and make trade-offs when choosing which weapons to carry. Second, ''Halo'' has an independent button for throwing [[grenade|grenades]].

* '''Artificial intelligence:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s AI was quite sophisticated for its time. For example, the more cowardly types of enemies would panic when one of their superiors was killed. If a speeding vehicle came at them, they could dive out of the way, and they could take cover from explosives or suppressive fire.

===Movement and aiming===

Movement in ''Halo'' is similar to other first-person shooters, allowing the player to move forwards, backwards, and strafe left and right independently of their aim. On the Xbox, moving and aiming are normally separated between the two joysticks; and on the PC, between the mouse and the keyboard.

''Halo'' also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death. Damage from falling can be reduced or negated entirely with a well-timed crouch, right as one lands.

===Damage system===
{{main|Health}}
* '''[[Health]]:''' The player in ''Halo'' has a finite, non self-regenerating health which can be fully restored by picking up health-packs.  Running completely out of health will result in death, but having lower health does not impede player actions. A player's health can only be reduced if his shields have failed. If the player's health has one bar left (full health has 8 bars), he will hear the Chief's heartbeat.

* '''[[Shields]]:''' The player carries a shield which protects all parts of his body from damage. The shield will decrease in strength every time it is hit by a weapon, and will fail after taking enough hits, but will quickly regenerate if it is not hit for a period of time.  The shield represents a marked departure from most first-person shooters, in which one's health bar is basically augmented by picking up "armor," and it is entirely possible, in the single-player campaign at least, to simply not have enough health points to survive the next section of gameplay.  ''Halo'' players, on the other hand, have a more-or-less permanent buffer of health at their disposal (assuming they manage to find time to regenerate the shield), making it less of a disaster to take hits in combat.

===Powerups===

There are three types of powerups available in ''Halo'':

* '''[[Health Pack]]:''' Fully restores the [[health]] of the player.
* '''[[Active Camouflage]]:''' Drastically reduces the player's visibility for approximately 45 seconds, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced if the player is hit by weapons fire or if he or she fires a weapon. The player looks very similar to the [[List of fiction thought to have inspired Halo|Predator]] from the movies.
* '''[[Overshield]]:''' An enhanced, non-regenerating shield which is three times the strength of the normal one. The overshield functions on top of the regular shield - when it is active, the normal shield does not take damage. In the single player game, the overshield is reduced only when the player is hit, while in the multiplayer game, it also weakens gradually with time. In Multiplayer, one fully charged Plasma Pistol shot can weaken the Overshield entirely.

===Enemies===

Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo:

* '''[[The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant whose Fleet of Particular Justice was led by the Supreme Commander, the future [[Arbiter]], are an alliance of different species, including the cowardly [[Grunt|Grunts]], the weak [[Jackals]] with their [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|visible energy shields]], the [[Elites]] with their [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|personal energy shields]], and the huge, tough [[Hunters]] with strong armor. The Covenant mostly carry plasma weapons of varying power. They also make extensive use of vehicles.

* '''[[The Flood]]:''' The parasitic Flood are encountered in 3 forms: the lowly [[Infection Form|parasitic spores]] themselves, which usually die from a single shot; combat forms of [[Combat Form|former humans and Covenant]] whose nervous systems have been taken over by the parasite, which are tough and may carry either human or Covenant weapons; and exploding [[Carrier Form|carriers]], which cause splash damage and release spores.

* '''[[Forerunner]] [[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Sentinels, led by the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], are hovering robotic drones, and will attack Flood, Covenant, and (after the level [[Two Betrayals]]) the [[John-117|Master Chief]]. Although possessing a powerful [[Sentinel Beam|beam weapon]], they are not particularly resistant to damage.

===Weapons===
{{main|Weapons}}
All usable weapons in ''Halo'' belong to either the Covenant or the UNSC (humans).  The player can only carry two weapons at a time, in addition to up to 8 grenades (four [[Frag Grenade|fragmentation grenades]] and four [[Plasma Grenade|plasma grenades]]).  

Covenant weapons are better suited for reducing shields, and typically fire faster than their human counterparts.  With the exception of the ''needler'', they do not require ammunition or reloading; instead, each weapon comes with its own battery. Once this battery is depleted, the weapon must be discarded. Covenant weapons can also overheat (except the needler) if fired too often, after which, they must be given time to cool down before they can be used again.

Human weapons, on the other hand, require both ammunition and constant reloading.  They are better suited to reducing health, and do not overheat. However, on easy, and normal difficulty level settings, the difference is often negligible.

====Human Weapons====

*[[Pistol|M6D Pistol]]
*[[MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle|MA5B Assault Rifle]]
*[[Shotgun|M90 Shotgun]]
*[[Sniper Rifle|S2 AM Sniper Rifle]] (SRS99C)
*[[Rocket Launcher|M19 SSM Rocket Launcher]]
*[[M9 HE-DP Grenade]]
*[[M41 LAAG|Warthog's AA/chain gun]]

====Covenant Weapons====

*[[Plasma Pistol]]
*[[Plasma Rifle]]
*[[Needler]]
*[[Shade]]
*[[Plasma Grenade]]
*[[Fuel Rod Gun]] (unusable in single or multiplayer gameplay)

===Vehicles===

The vehicles available to the player are listed below:

*[[Warthog]] - UNSC Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
*[[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion]] - UNSC Battle tank
*[[Ghost]] - Covenant Reconnaissance and Rapid Attack Vehicle
*[[Banshee]] - Covenant Aerial Assault Aircraft

Note that the Banshee is unavailable in multiplayer in the Xbox version.

There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC [[Pelican|Pelican dropship]], and the Covenant [[Spirit]] dropship. The only tactically interesting of these vehicles is the Covenant [[Wraith|Wraith Mortar tank]], which fires large 'plasma bombs' in parabolic arcs towards its enemies. These bombs, if they score a direct hit, will often destroy vehicles or kill if the [[spartan]] is not equipped with an [[overshield]]. They can be taken down most effectively with explosive weapons such as the [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion's]] main cannon, the [[Rocket Launcher|rocket launcher]], or the [[Banshee|Banshee's]] [[Fuel Rod Cannon|fuel rod cannon]].

===Environments===

''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments in which combat occurs, including the human starship ''[[Pillar of Autumn Level|Pillar of Autumn]]'', the Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'' and the Flood-infested versions of the ships in [[Keyes]] and [[The Maw]], the ancient buildings on Halo itself, such as the ''[[Library]]'', and vast outdoor expanses of varying climates, including the temperate lands of the levels ''[[Silent Cartographer Level|The Silent Cartographer]]'' and ''[[Halo Level|Halo]]'', the desert in the first half of the level ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'', the winter wasteland of the levels ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'' and ''[[Two Betrayals]]'', and the spooky forests and swamps of the level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''. Six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.

===Multiplayer===

Up to 16 players can play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[wikipedia:LAN|local area network]], using four Xbox's that have been connected through a [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub, but also can be played on xbox connect which is a way of tunneling a connection via a pc. The game's seamless support for this type of play, as well as a few large maps that can comfortably hold up to 16 combatants, is a first for console games. The PC version of ''Halo'' officially adds online play and also new vehicles (the [[Banshee]] which previously only featured in single-player, and a version of the [[Warthog]] which features a tri-barrel rocket launcher) and weapons (the [[Fuel Rod Cannon]], sported by the spec-ops grunts on the last level, and the never seen before [[Flamethrower]]) for multiplayer.

'''[[Blood Gulch]]''' is one of the most commonly played multiplayer levels. The level contains two buildings at either end of the level, with open desert in between. Some of the features include a cave, in which experienced players may store vehicles, and cliffs that players can use to snipe their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy [[Red vs Blue]]. A revamped version of [[Blood Gulch]] reappears in the sequel, [[Halo 2]] under the name [[Coagulation]], and there are some similarities, but the general map size is increased, with added use of caves, under ground sections of the bases, new hills and mounds to make the terrain more interesting, and the inclusion of the Banshee.

==Storyline==

''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s storyline is linear; there is only one ending (in contrast to other first person shooters such as ''[[wikipedia:Deus Ex|Deus Ex]]'').  It is presented to the player through an instruction manual, scripted events and conversations during the game, and a number of cut-scenes rendered using the game's graphics engine.  This method of storyline delivery is common among modern video games. 
[[Image:Halo.gif|thumb|Halo Art]]
===Brief summary===

A very brief summary of the story goes something like this: aliens, explosions, save humanity. This plot was inspired by the chantings of a choir of monks that lived near Bungie Studios. Bungie thanked the monks by dedicating the game to a scatman (who, as the previous writer of this article stated, is cool).

If you are confused by this short summary, here is a more detailed summary.

The game begins when Master Chief leaves his coon woogie bone town (know as 'Wisconsin') to enter the highly competitive world of beat-boxing. A hilarious mistake in Texas forces him to join the army instead, so he makes the best of things and becomes a Spartan. After aiding his fellow Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae with cool grainy backgrounds, Master Chief goes on to conquer the desert planet of Arrakis with naught but a Banshee. Or [[something]].

Mid way through the campaign, the player is introduced to the aliens known as (*Cough, Cough* Headcrabs *Cough, Cough*) the Flood, and the game then turns into Half-Life. The Flood's natural habitat consists of the same corridor lit by an annoying blue light, fifty times over. They don't really do much other than killing all of the tards you worked your ass off in the first part of the game to [[dead|fucking keep alive]].

The game was also praised for its lengthy single player campaign, which featured jumping pigs, blasting frogs, caves that are not natural formations and a hidden nude picture of some random girl named Cortana, doing the Macarana. In fact, the single-player campaign is so long that if it was stretched out, it would go around the Earth eleven times. If that makes any sense to [[you]]. 

Master Chief ends up learning the value of morality in the modern workplace. He then rides off into the sunset.

===Backstory===

The events which transpire in ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay must be understood in the context of its backstory, created by Bungie and elaborated in several novels written after the release of the game.  A summary of this backstory is presented below.

====Early Conflicts====
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
2160-2200: This is a period of brutal unrest in Human history in which Governments and Factions fight for control of Earth and its colonies.

As overpopulation and unrest mounted on Earth, a number of new political movements were formed including the left wing '''Koslovics''' led by Vladimir Koslov and the neofascist Jovian '''Frieden''' (which attacked the UN Colonial Advisors on the moon) and UN-sponsored military forces begin a pattern of massive buildups which culminated in the first Interplanetary and Rain Forest Wars of the Jovian Moons Campaign. After the successful Marine attack on Mars, recruitment drives and propaganda tactics strongly bolstered UNSC forces. They defeat the Koslovics and the Frieden on Earth and crush their remnants throughout the Solar System: both factions were defeated in the face of massive, unified UN military.

====The Human Colonization of the Orion Arm====
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully develop humanity's first [[Slipspace]] drive, the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine.  For the first time in history, the rapid colonization of other worlds is made possible.  By 2390, 210 worlds have been occupied by humans, and are being actively terraformed to suit man's needs.  These worlds are to become known as the Inner Colonies.  By 2490, the UNSC's fledging interstellar empire has expanded to over 800 planets throughout the [[wikipedia:orion arm|Orion Arm]] of the [[wikipedia:milky way galaxy|Milky Way Galaxy]].  During this period, the planet Reach becomes the headquarters of the UNSC military, and is destined to become the most heavily fortified world under human control.

====The Fall of the Outer Colonies====
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
Cole's fleet manages a victory at Harvest, but at a high cost - two thirds of his ships are destroyed.  Despite significant tactical brilliance on the part of Human commanders, Covenant technology guarantees a four to one kill/loss ratio in most battles.  One by one, the Outer Colonies fall below the onslaught, and by 2535, virtually all have been destroyed.

====The Spartan Project====
{{main|Spartans}}
By 2517, several years before contact with the Covenant was made, the UNSC military embarked on a secret project to create a group of elite soldiers that would deal with occasional unrest in the Colonies.  Codenamed SPARTANs, these [[Spartans#Augmentation_Procedures|genetically enhanced]] troops were trained from the age of 6 into a life of battle, and became a great asset against the Covenant.  While humans suffered defeat after defeat in space, they could almost always prevail with the help of the SPARTANs in ground engagements.  The main character of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay, the Master Chief, is a veteran SPARTAN. All SPARTANS were given special armor designated MJOLNIR, which can increase their strength and speed. They were the only ones who could wear it as those without special genetic enhancements (like the SPARTAN upgrades) killed themselves with strength enhanced convulsions.

====The Battle of Reach====
{{main|The Battle of Reach}}
By 2552, many of Humanity's Inner Colonies have been destroyed by the Covenant.  In a move of desperation, UNSC orders a secret plan to capture a Covenant ship using a SPARTAN task force and find the coordinates of their home planet.  A group of SPARTANs, led by the Master Chief, are chosen for this mission, and board a specially outfitted ship known as the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'' (under the command of Captain Jacob Keyes).  This plan, however, is interrupted when the Covenant launch a surprise attack on the fortress world of Reach.

During this battle, Reach is overrun and glassed, and the human fleet is obliterated.  Worse still, the Master Chief thinks that all of the SPARTANs but himself are killed on the surface of the planet.  The (supposedly) last remaining SPARTAN, the Master Chief, escapes with the ''Pillar of Autumn''.  In accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]], the ''Autumn'' makes a blind slipspace jump, and emerges in the vicinity of an unexplored and remarkable world.

====Arrival at Halo====
{{main|Alpha Halo}}
The [[Pillar of Autumn]] exits [[slipspace]] to find a mysterious ring shaped space station orbiting a [[Threshold|gas giant]].  The ring, quickly named "Halo", is obviously artificial and teeming with life.  A [[Covenant]] fleet, however, is also present, and a subsequent battle heavily damages the [[Pillar of Autumn]].  [[Captain Keyes]] initiates the Cole protocol - all records of Earth's location are erased, and the Autumn is crash landed onto Halo.  The ship's [[AI]] construct, [[Cortana]], leaves the ''Autumn'' with the [[John-117|Master Chief]] in a [[Bumblebee]] escape pod which also crash lands on Halo.  

Gameplay begins in earnest with the Master Chief's escape from the ''Autumn'', and continues upon landing.  The player will soon discover the origins and purpose of this world - and uncover a threat that forces even the Covenant into retreat.

As a literary sidenote, the ring, "Halo", borrows heavily from the [[Ringworld]] of [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]] and the [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]]s of [[wikipedia:Iain M. Banks|Iain M. Banks]].

===Main Characters===
{{main|Characters}}
* The '''[[John-117|Master Chief]]:''' The only [[SPARTAN-II]] thought to have survived the battle of [[Reach]].  He is the character the player assumes during gameplay.

* '''[[Cortana]]:''' The [[Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn's]] [[AI]] construct, removed from the ship by the Master Chief in accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]].  During most of the game, Cortana is connected directly to the Master Chief's neural interface, and acts to deliver tactical information and mission objectives.

* '''[[Captain Keyes|Captain Jacob Keyes]]:''' The distinguished Captain of the ''Pillar of Autumn'', renowned for his tactical brilliance in key battles prior to the fall of Reach. He was also part of the expedition to find candidates for the SPARTAN project, the first of which was the Master Chief, subject/candidate 117.

* '''[[343 Guilty Spark]]:''' The [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 04]].

* '''[[Marine|The Marines]]:''' The Marines of the [[UNSC]] are the best, but are struggling and fighting a losing war against the [[Covenant]]. The marines are your allies in the game.

*'''[[Sergeant Johnson]] :''' Sergent Johnson commands [[Marines]] during the game. He also provides comic relief and is the only human besides the Master Chief and Spartans Fred, Will and Linda to make it back to Earth alive.

===In-game plot===

The first levels of the game deal with an attempt to reach Halo's control center to uncover its purpose. It is soon discovered that the Covenant have accidentally released [[The Flood]], a parasitic race which gets its name from the way it devastates potential hosts with sheer numbers. The Flood then sweep across Halo and devastate human and Covenant forces positioned on it. The release of the Flood prompts [[343 Guilty Spark]], an eccentric Artificial Intelligence, to try to activate Halo's defense system, a pulse weapon that, when fired, would wipe out all life in the galaxy large enough to be hosts for the Flood. Technically, that installation only has a maximum effective radius of 25,000 light years, but the pulse would trigger other installations as well, effectively killing all life in the galaxy. This system is designed to stop the Flood from spreading through the universe if they escape confinement from Halo by the only way possible: starving the Flood of any life source large enough to sustain them.

Naturally, this would wipe out Humanity as well, and so the final levels of the game revolve around the Master Chief's attempts to destroy Halo before it fires.

The game leaves the story open to further developments, with the revelation that there are several Halo ringworlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered "Installation 04" by [[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[Monitor]] of the installation. It is revealed in [[Halo 2]] that there were seven (Bungie's [[List of "Seven" references in Halo|favorite number]]) Halos before [[Installation 04]]'s destruction.

==[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]==
[[Image:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|right|thumb|Cover Art]]
Halo Original Soundtrack, composed and produced by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] for the video game Halo: Combat Evolved, is one CD comprising 26 tracks. Some editions include a bonus DVD with game trailers for Halo 2. Most of the music from Halo: Combat Evolved is present on the CD, although some songs are remixed and some tracks are intermixed with others in medley form. It was released in 2001.

==Future developments==

The next episode in the ''Halo'' story, ''[[Halo 2]]'', was released on November 9, 2004. [http://www.bungie.net/News/Story.aspx?link=5B522E9E-A265-409E-9267-EB2EDCFD50B4] Like the previous fan-beloved ''[[Marathon]]'', ''Halo 2'' has a return of old characters and new technology in attempt to further a complicated plot line, the object of which is to be deciphered by the end.

A free [[wikipedia:modification|mod]] for the computer game series [[wikipedia:Battlefield 1942|Battlefield 1942]]/[[wikipedia:Battlefield Vietnam|Vietnam]] called [[wikipedia:Homefront (game)|Homefront]] features ''Halo''-esque and original content for online multiplayer games with up to 64 players. [http://www.planetbattlefield.com/homefront/]

Not only this mod, but many, can be found at various sites on the Internet at places like [http://www.halomods.com halomods.com], [http://www.halocity.org halocity.org] and more.  The customizable map option has become quite popular with the downloadable custom edition of the PC version, many maps can be found on these sites, ready to be opened and played.  These maps can be made with 3D Studio MAX and the Halo Editing Kit.

==Trailers==
In 2000 at E3, Bungie showed off a trailer of the upcoming game to the public. This trailer featured [[Marines]] along with the [[John-117|Master Chief]] scouting out a [[Forerunner]] structure and the [[Covenant]] fighting them. This trailer was before the conversion to the Xbox as an FPS. Originally the game was to be a RTS as a computer game.

*[[Halo E3 2000 Trailer]]

==Trivia==
The game was codenamed "[[Blam]]!" This phrase is now used to censor swear words on the [[Bungie]] forums. It was used to replace the original codename, "monkey nuts," which was used to ensure that the working name was not the name for the final game. "Blam" was used because project lead, [[Jason Jones]], couldn't say "monkey nuts" to his mother.<ref>[[Art Of Halo]], page ix</ref>

==Sources==
<references/>

==Related Links==
'''Internal'''
*[[Halo: Combat Evolved Credits]]
*[[Action Figures]]
*[[Halo: Combat Evolved Walkthroughs]]
*[[Halo Glitches and Tricks]]
*[[Halo PC]]
*[[Halo Cache Editor 0.7]]

'''External'''
* [http://halo.bungie.net Official site]
* [http://www.haloeastereggs.co.nr Halo Easter Eggs]-For Halo 1, 2 and 3 Easter Eggs
* [http://www.xbox.com/en-us/halo/default.htm Official Xbox.com site]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,5368/ MobyGames' entry on ''Halo'']
* [http://halo.bungie.org Halo.Bungie.Org] ''Halo'' fansite and resource center
* [http://www.subnova.com/halopc/ Subnova.com] ''Halo'' information & FAQs
* [http://www.tazzy.nwactc.com/klikgamers/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=26 Klik Gamers' ''Halo'' review]
* [http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2003/11/halo/ ''Halo'' for Mac OS X]
* [http://www.haloplanet.com/ Halo Planet]
* [http://www.halomaps.org/ Halomaps.org] One of many Custom Edition resources
[[Category:Games|Halo 1]]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Title|''Halo: Combat Evolved''}}
+{{ExceptionalArticle}}
-{{Disambig header|the game|the [[Halo 5: Guardians]] and [[Halo Infinite]] medal|Combat Evolved (medal)}}
+{{Game Info Box
-{{Status|RealWorld}}
+|name='''Halo: Combat Evolved'''
-{{Game infobox
+|image=Halo_Cover.jpg
-|name= ''Halo: Combat Evolved''
+|imageSize=200
-|image= [[File:Halo Combat Evolved cover.png|250px]]
+|Developer=[[Bungie Studios]]
-|developer= [[Bungie|Bungie Studios]]<br> [[Gearbox Software]] (PC)<br> Westlake Interactive (Mac)
+|Publisher= [[wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]]
-|writer=[[Joseph Staten]]
+|US Date Released= November 11,  2001
-|composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]]<br>[[Michael Salvatori]]
+|UK Date Released= November 11, 2001
-|publisher= [[Microsoft Game Studios]]<br> [[Gearbox Software]] (PC)<br> MacSoft (Mac)
+|Genre= [[First-person shooter]]
-|engine=[[Blam engine]]
+|Game modes=[[Campaign Mode]], [[multiplayer]]
-|platform= [[Xbox]], PC, Mac
+|ESRB= Mature (M)
-|releasedate= '''Xbox:'''<br> '''US''': November 15, 2001<br />
+|Platform=[[Xbox]]<BR>[[Halo PC|PC]], [[Halo Mac|Mac]]
-'''UK''': March 14, 2002<br>'''PC:'''<br> '''US''': September 30, 2003<br />
+|Media=CD, DVD
-'''UK''': October 10, 2003<br>'''Mac:'''<br> '''US''': December 3, 2003
+|Website=http://www.bungie.net/Projects/Halo/default.aspx
-|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
+}}'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' is a video game in the [[First Person Shooter]] (FPS) genre, created by the [[Microsoft]]-owned [[Bungie Studios]]. It was released for the [[Xbox]] game console on November 15, 2001 and is backwards-compatible with [[Xbox 360]]. It is one of the most popular video games for the Xbox, with over five million copies sold, its sheer sales numbers are rivaled only by its sequel, [[Halo 2]].
-|modes= [[Campaign]]<br>[[Multiplayer]]
-|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood, Gore, and Violence<br>
-[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only post-2003)<br>
-[[Wikipedia:The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment|ELSPA]]: 15+ (Europe only pre-2003)<br>
-[[Wikipedia:Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle|USK]]: 18 (Germany only)<br>
-[[Wikipedia:Australian Classification Board|ACB]]: 15+ Restricted (R15+) for Medium Level Animated Violence
-}}
-{{Quote|Halo: Combat Evolved! Buy one! Heck, buy two! That's an order, soldier!|[[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] upon completion of the [[Halo: Combat Evolved Trial|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' demo]]}}
-'''''Halo: Combat Evolved''''' is a [[2001]] [[first-person shooter]] science-fiction video game developed by [[Bungie|Bungie Studios]] and published by [[Microsoft|Microsoft Game Studios]]. It is the first game in the ''[[Halo (disambiguation)|Halo]]'' series. It focuses on [[John-117]] and the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} who, fleeing from the [[Fall of Reach]], stumble on the [[Forerunner]] [[Halo]] [[Installation 04]], only to be forced into a [[Battle of Installation 04|desperate battle]] against the [[Covenant]] and the [[Flood]]. Considered a classic, ''Combat Evolved'' is one of the most popular video games for the Xbox with eight million copies sold. Its sales are rivaled only by its sequels, ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''.
-''Halo: Combat Evolved'' was made available as an ''Xbox Original'' game title for Xbox 360 on December 4, 2007 for download on [[Xbox LIVE|Xbox Live Marketplace]] for 1200 Microsoft Points.<ref>[http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d53084c/ '''Xbox Marketplace''': ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']</ref> It was also [[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|released for PC and Mac]]. The game was remastered as ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' and was released on the original game's tenth anniversary on November 15, 2011 for the Xbox 360. Along with ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', and ''[[Halo 4]]'', ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' was released on the [[Xbox One]] as part of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' on November 11, [[2014]]. ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' also features the multiplayer component of ''Combat Evolved'', with online play enabled on dedicated servers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-the-master-chief-collection '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'']</ref> All versions of the game besides ''The Master Chief Collection'' were removed from digital sale in 2020.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/sunsetting-halo-xbox-360-game-services-in-2021 '''Halo Waypoint''': Sunsetting Halo Xbox 360 Game Services in 2021]</ref>
+'''Spoiler warning''': Plot and ending details follow.
-== Synopsis ==
+==Gameplay==
-=== Characters and setting ===
+{{realworld}}
-''Halo''<nowiki />'s storyline is linear; there is a single ending in contrast to other first person shooters such as ''[[wikipedia:Deus Ex|Deus Ex]]'' that could have several different endings. The storyline is presented to the player through an instruction manual, scripted events and conversations during the game, and a number of cut-scenes rendered using the game's graphics engine. This method of storyline delivery is common among modern video games. The Xbox version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' allows one player to play the campaign alone, as well as allowing two players to play through the campaign in split screen. The [[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|PC version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']] allows only one player to play through the campaign.
+===Summary===
-=== Plot synopsis ===
+''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay is characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed [[first-person shooter]] games:
-<onlyinclude>{{Spoiler/begin}}
-<!-- Synopsis means keeping the minor details out and just focus on the big picture! Don't elaborate! -->
-''Halo: Combat Evolved'' begins with the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} emerging out of [[slipstream space|slipspace]] after the [[Fall of Reach]], only to find [[Installation 04|a huge ring world]]—a "[[Halo Array|Halo]]"—floating in space. [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] (although his name is never mentioned throughout the game), a [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]], is aboard the ''Pillar of Autumn'' when the ship comes under attack by the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], a religious alliance of aliens and the archenemy of humanity.
-With the ship about to be overrun, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]], the commander of the ''Autumn'', orders John-117 to protect the ship's [[artificial intelligence]], [[Cortana]]. She carries highly sensitive information about the [[United Nations Space Command]], including the location of [[Earth]], which would prove disastrous if captured by the Covenant. John-117 evacuates the doomed ship to the surface of Halo in order to protect Cortana. With the UNSC Marines by his side, Cortana providing direction, and his [[MA5B assault rifle|assault rifle]] ready and loaded, John-117 sets out to uncover the mysteries of Halo and fight the Covenant.
+* '''Storyline execution:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay and storyline have been known to be tightly interwoven, and delivered in a convincing manner which is consistent with the flow of the game.
-After meeting up with surviving UNSC forces under [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]], John-117 participates in a mission to rescue Captain Keyes from the Covenant battlecruiser ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. After rescuing the Captain, Cortana learns that [[Installation 04|Halo]] appears to be a weapon that holds great religious significance to the Covenant. Realizing that the Covenant cannot be allowed to control Halo, Keyes dispatches John-117 to secure Halo's control room while he leaves with Johnson to secure a Covenant weapons cache.
+* '''Vehicles:''' ''Halo'' incorporates many vehicles into its single and multiplayer games, including flying ones.
-With UNSC Marines as support, John-117 leads an assault on the [[Cartographer#Installation 04|Silent Cartographer]], a map room which holds information on every location on the ring, including the control room. Heading to the ring's control room, Cortana is inserted into the ring's computer system and learns that Halo was made by the [[Forerunner]]s, an ancient alien race that the Covenant worship as gods. However, Cortana soon learns that there is something else on Halo, something that terrifies the Covenant. Frightened, she says that John has to stop Keyes from accessing the "weapons cache" before it is too late. John-117 leaves for the last spot where Captain Keyes and Sergeant Johnson's squad were seen, an underground facility in a swamp. He finds evidence of battle all over the facility, and soon finds a recording of [[Wallace A. Jenkins|one Marine]], which details Keyes' squad encountering a new threat: the [[Flood]].
+* '''Weapons system:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s weapons system is unusual in two respects.  First, it allows one to carry only two weapons at any given time, forcing the player to switch weapons often and make trade-offs when choosing which weapons to carry. Second, ''Halo'' has an independent button for throwing [[grenade|grenades]].
-The Flood is a parasitic species which received their name due to the way they assimilate all resistance with overwhelming numbers. Free for the first time in a hundred thousand years, the Flood sweeps across Halo, devastating Human and Covenant forces alike. The release of the Flood prompts [[343 Guilty Spark]], the eccentric AI [[Monitor]] of the ring, to activate Halo's defense systems. The AI instructs the SPARTAN-II to activate Halo by obtaining the [[Activation Index]] from the Installation's [[Library]]. The Chief does so, battling hordes of Flood along the way, and returns to the control room. Before Halo initiates its systems, Cortana intervenes and tells John the truth about the Forerunner structure and its purpose- Halo was designed to eliminate the Flood threat by starving the Flood of any life source large enough to sustain them; when fired, it would essentially wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy. Realizing the threat of Halo, Cortana instructs John-117 to detonate the ''Autumn''<nowiki />'s fusion reactor. This detonation would result in the destruction of Halo, which was against 343 Guilty Spark's protocol.
+* '''Artificial intelligence:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s AI was quite sophisticated for its time. For example, the more cowardly types of enemies would panic when one of their superiors was killed. If a speeding vehicle came at them, they could dive out of the way, and they could take cover from explosives or suppressive fire.
-Before doing so, the two sabotage three generators needed to power Halo, which buys them enough time to locate Captain Keyes, now succumbed to the Flood, and steal his neural implants to operate the ''Autumn''. After battling his way through scattered and disorganized Covenant forces, the spreading Flood, and the Sentinels under direct command of 343 Guilty Spark, John-117 successfully overloads the ship's engine, and he and Cortana evacuate from Halo in a [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] before the ''Autumn''<nowiki />'s engine detonates and destroys Halo. The pair appears to be the only survivors, and John-117 realizes that they are simply beginning a harrowing battle.
+===Movement and aiming===
-{{Spoiler/end}}</onlyinclude>
-==Appearances==
+Movement in ''Halo'' is similar to other first-person shooters, allowing the player to move forwards, backwards, and strafe left and right independently of their aim. On the Xbox, moving and aiming are normally separated between the two joysticks; and on the PC, between the mouse and the keyboard.
-{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
-|title-1=Characters|
-;Human
-*[[Avery Johnson]]
-*[[Bisenti]]
-*[[Carol Rawley|Carol "Foehammer" Rawley]] {{1st}}
-*[[Chips Dubbo]] {{1st}}
-*[[Jacob Keyes]]
-*[[John-117]]
-*[[Kappus]] {{1st}}
-*[[Lovik]] {{1st}}
-*[[M. Fitzgerald]] {{1st}}
-*[[Manuel Mendoza]] {{1st}}
-*[[Marcus Stacker]] {{1st}}
-*[[Riley]] {{1st}}
-*[[Samuel Marcus]] {{1st}}
-*[[Thom Shepard]] {{1st}}
-*[[Wallace Jenkins]]
-;AI
+''Halo'' also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death. Damage from falling can be reduced or negated entirely with a well-timed crouch, right as one lands.
-*[[343 Guilty Spark]] {{1st}}
-*[[Cortana]]
-;Sangheili
+===Damage system===
-*[[Lat 'Ravamee]] {{1st}}
+{{main|Health}}
-*[[Zuka 'Zamamee]] {{1st}}
+* '''[[Health]]:''' The player in ''Halo'' has a finite, non self-regenerating health which can be fully restored by picking up health-packs.  Running completely out of health will result in death, but having lower health does not impede player actions. A player's health can only be reduced if his shields have failed. If the player's health has one bar left (full health has 8 bars), he will hear the Chief's heartbeat.
-;Mgalekgolo
+* '''[[Shields]]:''' The player carries a shield which protects all parts of his body from damage. The shield will decrease in strength every time it is hit by a weapon, and will fail after taking enough hits, but will quickly regenerate if it is not hit for a period of time.  The shield represents a marked departure from most first-person shooters, in which one's health bar is basically augmented by picking up "armor," and it is entirely possible, in the single-player campaign at least, to simply not have enough health points to survive the next section of gameplay.  ''Halo'' players, on the other hand, have a more-or-less permanent buffer of health at their disposal (assuming they manage to find time to regenerate the shield), making it less of a disaster to take hits in combat.
-*[[Igido Nosa Hurru]] {{1st}}
-*[[Ogada Nosa Fasu]] {{1st}}
-;Forerunner
+===Powerups===
-*[[IsoDidact]] {{Fm}} {{Im}}
-|title-2=Species and entities|
+There are three types of powerups available in ''Halo'':
-*[[Flood]] {{1st}}
-**[[Pod infector]] {{1st}}
-**[[Flood combat form]] {{1st}}
-**[[Flood carrier form]] {{1st}}
-*[[Human]]
-**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
-***[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
-*[[Kig-Yar]] (''Ruuhtian'')
-**[[Kig-Yar Minor|Minor]] {{1st}}
-**[[Kig-Yar Major|Major]] {{1st}}
-*[[Lekgolo]]
-**[[Mgalekgolo]]
-*[[Sangheili]]
-**[[Field Master]] {{1st}}
-**[[Sangheili Major|Major]] {{1st}}
-**[[Sangheili Minor|Minor]]
-**[[Special Operations Sangheili|SpecOps]] {{1st}}
-**[[Stealth Sangheili|Stealth]] {{1st}}
-**[[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] {{1st}}
-*[[Sentinel]] {{1st}}
-**[[Aggressor Sentinel]] {{1st}}
-*[[Unggoy]]
-**[[Special Operations Unggoy|SpecOps]] {{1st}}
-**[[Unggoy Major|Major]]
-**[[Unggoy Minor|Minor]]
-|title-3=Organizations|
+* '''[[Health Pack]]:''' Fully restores the [[health]] of the player.
-*[[Covenant]]
+* '''[[Active Camouflage]]:''' Drastically reduces the player's visibility for approximately 45 seconds, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced if the player is hit by weapons fire or if he or she fires a weapon. The player looks very similar to the [[List of fiction thought to have inspired Halo|Predator]] from the movies.
-**[[Covenant military]]
+* '''[[Overshield]]:''' An enhanced, non-regenerating shield which is three times the strength of the normal one. The overshield functions on top of the regular shield - when it is active, the normal shield does not take damage. In the single player game, the overshield is reduced only when the player is hit, while in the multiplayer game, it also weakens gradually with time. In Multiplayer, one fully charged Plasma Pistol shot can weaken the Overshield entirely.
-***[[Covenant Special Operations]]
-**[[Covenant fleet]]
-***[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
-*[[Unified Earth Government]]
-**[[United Nations Space Command]]
-***[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
-***[[UNSC Navy]]
-****[[Naval Special Warfare Command]]
-*****[[SPARTAN-II program]]
-|title-4=Locations|
+===Enemies===
-*[[Sol system]]
-**[[Earth]] {{Mo}}
-*[[Epsilon Eridani system]]
-**[[Reach]] {{Mo}}
-*[[Soell system]]
-**[[Threshold]]
-***[[Installation 04]]
-****[[Cartographer]] {{1st}}
-****[[Control Room (Installation 04)|Control Room]] {{1st}}
-****[[Index chamber]] {{1st}}
-****[[Library]] {{1st}}
-***[[Basis]]
-|title-5=Events|
+Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo:
-*[[Human-Covenant War]]
-**[[Battle of Installation 04]] {{1st}}
-**[[Fall of Reach]] {{Mo}}
-|title-6=Weapons|
+* '''[[The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant whose Fleet of Particular Justice was led by the Supreme Commander, the future [[Arbiter]], are an alliance of different species, including the cowardly [[Grunt|Grunts]], the weak [[Jackals]] with their [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|visible energy shields]], the [[Elites]] with their [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|personal energy shields]], and the huge, tough [[Hunters]] with strong armor. The Covenant mostly carry plasma weapons of varying power. They also make extensive use of vehicles.
-====UNSC====
-;Usable
-*[[M231 machine gun]]
-*[[M41 rocket launcher]]
-*[[M41 Vulcan]]
-*[[M512 smooth-bore high-velocity cannon]]
-*[[M6D magnum]]
-*[[M7057 flamethrower]] {{C|''Halo PC'' and ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' only}}
-*[[M9 fragmentation grenade]]
-*[[M90 shotgun]]
-*[[MA5B assault rifle]]
-*[[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]]
-;Unusable
+* '''[[The Flood]]:''' The parasitic Flood are encountered in 3 forms: the lowly [[Infection Form|parasitic spores]] themselves, which usually die from a single shot; combat forms of [[Combat Form|former humans and Covenant]] whose nervous systems have been taken over by the parasite, which are tough and may carry either human or Covenant weapons; and exploding [[Carrier Form|carriers]], which cause splash damage and release spores.
-*[[110mm rotary cannon]] {{1st}}
-*[[120mm ventral gun]] {{1st}}
-*[[M370 autocannon]]
-*[[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]
-*[[Point-defense gun]]
-**[[M910 point defense network]]
-====Covenant====
+* '''[[Forerunner]] [[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Sentinels, led by the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], are hovering robotic drones, and will attack Flood, Covenant, and (after the level [[Two Betrayals]]) the [[John-117|Master Chief]]. Although possessing a powerful [[Sentinel Beam|beam weapon]], they are not particularly resistant to damage.
-;Usable
-*[[Class-2 directed energy cannon]]
-*[[Fuel rod gun]]
-**{{Pattern|Zasqi|fuel rod gun}}
-*[[Plasma grenade]]
-**{{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}
-*[[Plasma pistol]]
-**{{Pattern|Eos'Mak|plasma pistol}}
-*[[Plasma rifle]]
-**{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}
-*[[Shade]]
-**{{Pattern|Mamua'uda|Shade}} {{1st}}
-*[[Needler]]
-**[[Type-33 needler]]
-;Unusable
+===Weapons===
-*[[Energy projector]]
+{{main|Weapons}}
-*[[Heavy plasma cannon]]
+All usable weapons in ''Halo'' belong to either the Covenant or the UNSC (humans).  The player can only carry two weapons at a time, in addition to up to 8 grenades (four [[Frag Grenade|fragmentation grenades]] and four [[Plasma Grenade|plasma grenades]]).
-*[[Class-1 directed energy cannon#Medium plasma cannon (Wraith)|Medium plasma cannon]]
-*[[Plasma cannon (starship)|Plasma cannon]]
-*[[Pulse laser turret]]
-*[[Energy sword]]
-**[[Type-1 energy sword]] {{1st}}
-*[[Plasma mortar#Type-26 35cm Directed-Energy Mortar|Type-26 Directed-Energy Mortar]]
-*[[Unidentified fuel rod gun]] {{1st}} {{C|Usable in ''Halo PC'' and ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''}}
-====Forerunner====
+Covenant weapons are better suited for reducing shields, and typically fire faster than their human counterparts.  With the exception of the ''needler'', they do not require ammunition or reloading; instead, each weapon comes with its own battery. Once this battery is depleted, the weapon must be discarded. Covenant weapons can also overheat (except the needler) if fired too often, after which, they must be given time to cool down before they can be used again.
-;Unusable
-*[[Sentinel beam]] {{1st}}
-|title-7=Vehicles|
+Human weapons, on the other hand, require both ammunition and constant reloading.  They are better suited to reducing health, and do not overheat. However, on easy, and normal difficulty level settings, the difference is often negligible.
-====United Nations Space Command====
-;Usable
-*[[M12 Warthog]]
-**[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]
-**[[M12A1 Rocket Warthog]] {{C|''Halo PC'' and ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' only}}
-*[[M808B Scorpion]]
-;Unusable
+====Human Weapons====
-*[[GA-TL1 Longsword]] {{c|C709 variant}}
-*[[D77-TC Pelican]]
-*{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}
-**{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}
-*[[Class-3 Bumblebee]]
-====Covenant====
+*[[Pistol|M6D Pistol]]
-;Usable
+*[[MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle|MA5B Assault Rifle]]
-*[[Banshee]]
+*[[Shotgun|M90 Shotgun]]
-**{{Pattern|Oghal|Banshee}}
+*[[Sniper Rifle|S2 AM Sniper Rifle]] (SRS99C)
-*[[Ghost]]
+*[[Rocket Launcher|M19 SSM Rocket Launcher]]
-**{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}
+*[[M9 HE-DP Grenade]]
+*[[M41 LAAG|Warthog's AA/chain gun]]
-;Unusable
+====Covenant Weapons====
-*[[Wraith]]
-**{{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}
-*{{Pattern|Brhi Xur|Leech}} {{1st}}
-*[[Covenant cruiser|Cruiser]]
-**{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} {{1st}}
-***''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' {{1st}}
-*[[Spirit]]
-**{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}
-|title-8=Technology and equipment|
+*[[Plasma Pistol]]
-;[[Power-up]]s
+*[[Plasma Rifle]]
-*[[Active camouflage]]
+*[[Needler]]
-*[[Overshield]] {{1st}}
+*[[Shade]]
+*[[Plasma Grenade]]
-;Armor
+*[[Fuel Rod Gun]] (unusable in single or multiplayer gameplay)
-*[[Kig-Yar combat harness]]
-*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
-**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V]]
-*[[Sangheili harness]]
-**[[Combat harness]]
-**[[Sangheili Zealot#Ceremonial battle harness|Ceremonial battle harness]]
-*[[Unggoy combat harness]]
-;Other
-*[[Artificial intelligence]]
-**[[Smart AI]]
-**[[Monitor]] {{1st}}
-*[[Covenant portable shield]] {{1st}}
-*[[Covenant storage device]] {{1st}}
-*[[Energy shielding]]
-**[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
-*[[Fusion drive]]
-*[[Fusion reactor]]
-*[[Identification friend or foe]] {{1st}}
-*[[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet]]
-*[[Methane tank]]
-*[[Repulsor engine]]
-*[[Sentinel]] {{1st}}
-**[[Aggressor Sentinel]] {{1st}}
-*[[Spoofer]] {{1st}}
-*[[Stim-pack]] {{Fm}}
-*[[Methane tank]]
-*[[Data crystal chip]]
-*[[M4 field disk]]
-*[[Health pack]]
-*[[Unggoy combat harness]]
-*[[UNSC Navy uniforms]]
-**[[UNSC Navy Service Uniform]]
-**[[UNSC Navy working uniform]]
-}}
-== Gameplay ==
+===Vehicles===
-''Halo: Combat Evolved''<nowiki />'s gameplay was characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed first-person shooter games of its time.
-* '''Storyline execution:''' ''Halo: Combat Evolved''<nowiki />'s gameplay and storyline are tightly interwoven, delivered in a convincing manner consistent with the flow of the game.
-* '''Vehicular incorporation:''' ''Halo: Combat Evolved''<nowiki /> includes the option for players to control multiple land and air based vehicles in third-person view. This vantage brings a welcomed sense of immersion and enhances specific points of gameplay, again setting Halo apart from contemporary first person shooters.
-* '''Weapons system:''' ''Halo: Combat Evolved''<nowiki />'s new weapons system is unique in two major respects. The first is only allowing players to carry two weapons at a time, thus forcing the player to make trade-offs as they progress throughout the game. The second is a single, separate button for throwing grenades, making them much more significant in both campaign and multiplayer games.
-* '''Artificial intelligence:''' ''Halo: Combat Evolved''<nowiki />'s AI is quite sophisticated for its era. With a brand new advanced AI system, actions performed by the AI such as panicking after the death of a superior, diving out of the way of an oncoming vehicle, or taking cover from explosives and suppressive fire, helped ''Halo'' stand out from the rest of the first-person shooters being released at the time.
-Movement in ''Halo'' is similar to other first-person shooters, allowing the player to move forwards, backwards, and strafe left and right (including diagonally) and jumping independently of their aim. On the Xbox, moving and aiming are normally separated between the two analogue sticks, and on the [[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|PC]], between the keyboard and the mouse. ''Halo'' also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death, or at least major fall damage. Damage from falling can be reduced or negated entirely with a well-timed crouch right as one lands. Additionally, if the player [[crouch jumping|crouches at the peak of his jump]], he will be able to land on something slightly taller than if he were to jump without crouching. Also, if the player is jumping from a cliff he can make sure he is touching the wall periodically while he is falling. This will count as if he is touching floor, and every time the player touches the wall, the damage counter goes to zero (there is no visible damage counter during gameplay).
+The vehicles available to the player are listed below:
-=== Environment ===
+*[[Warthog]] - UNSC Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
-''Halo: Combat Evolved'' features a wide variety of environments including human and Covenant starships, ancient buildings on [[Installation 04|Halo]] itself, and expansive outdoor climates. The first level, ''Pillar of Autumn'', is fought entirely on the human starship of the same name. The next level, ''Halo'', takes place in a temperate highland climate with open-air Forerunner structures scattered about. This level also contains the famous "Blue Beam Towers". ''Truth and Reconciliation'' begin in a rocky desert, but the setting changes to the titular Covenant cruiser about one-third of the way through. ''The Silent Cartographer'' occurs on a tropical island, with substantial combat both outdoors and inside futuristic Forerunner installations. ''Assault on the Control Room'' takes place in a snowy, icy area of towering cliffs and underground tunnels as well as high-tech suspension bridges and oft-repeated Forerunner structures built into and through cliff walls.
+*[[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion]] - UNSC Battle tank
+*[[Ghost]] - Covenant Reconnaissance and Rapid Attack Vehicle
+*[[Banshee]] - Covenant Aerial Assault Aircraft
-''343 Guilty Spark'' is a significant departure from these majestic environments, with combat in gloomy, exotic swamps and equally gloomy underground complexes that host the player's introduction to the Flood. The player is then teleported to the second of three entirely indoor levels, ''The Library'', encountering repetitive, forbidding hallways and massive elevators. Master Chief returns to the snowy climate of Assault on the Control Room for ''Two Betrayals'', visiting almost no new areas but, interestingly, travelling in the opposite direction. ''Keyes'' occurs in the same Covenant ship from ''Truth and Reconciliation'', albeit now heavily damaged, but this time the Flood are present in huge numbers. Finally, ''The Maw'' is set on the Pillar of Autumn with three major differences: the presence of the Flood, the heavy structural damage, and access to the Engineering section and service corridors of the ship, which were previously off-limits. In total, six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.
+Note that the Banshee is unavailable in multiplayer in the Xbox version.
-=== Player damage system ===
+There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC [[Pelican|Pelican dropship]], and the Covenant [[Spirit]] dropship. The only tactically interesting of these vehicles is the Covenant [[Wraith|Wraith Mortar tank]], which fires large 'plasma bombs' in parabolic arcs towards its enemies. These bombs, if they score a direct hit, will often destroy vehicles or kill if the [[spartan]] is not equipped with an [[overshield]]. They can be taken down most effectively with explosive weapons such as the [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion's]] main cannon, the [[Rocket Launcher|rocket launcher]], or the [[Banshee|Banshee's]] [[Fuel Rod Cannon|fuel rod cannon]].
-In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the player has a limited, non-regenerating [[health]], which can be fully restored by picking up [[health pack]]s. Running completely out of health will result in death, but having lower health does not impede player actions.  A player's health can be reduced only if his shields have been depleted. If the player's health is at minimal levels they will faintly hear John-117's heartbeat.
-Serving as the first layer of protection is the shielding system specially built for the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR Mk. V armor]]. The shield will decrease in strength every time it is hit by a weapon and will fail after taking too many hits or freefall from certain altitude. The amount of shield drain depends on the attacker's weapon but will quickly regenerate if it is not hit for a brief period of time. The shield represents a marked departure from most first-person shooters, in which one's health bar is basically augmented by picking up "armor".
+===Environments===
-=== Damage Environment Mechanics ===
+''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments in which combat occurs, including the human starship ''[[Pillar of Autumn Level|Pillar of Autumn]]'', the Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'' and the Flood-infested versions of the ships in [[Keyes]] and [[The Maw]], the ancient buildings on Halo itself, such as the ''[[Library]]'', and vast outdoor expanses of varying climates, including the temperate lands of the levels ''[[Silent Cartographer Level|The Silent Cartographer]]'' and ''[[Halo Level|Halo]]'', the desert in the first half of the level ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'', the winter wasteland of the levels ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'' and ''[[Two Betrayals]]'', and the spooky forests and swamps of the level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''. Six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.
-In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', splatter kills are an easy task for all vehicles. With a simple touch, most characters, including John-117 and [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]] can die instantly. This also includes the Shade Turret; if the Turret moves and hits someone, the victim will die instantly. Fall damage also has limits; if falling speed exceeds the maximum shield and health cap, the player will be killed instantly, regardless of whether they are touching a wall in the environment, though the damage can be nullified if player is using vehicles, unless out of bounds. Scorpion tanks and Warthogs are invulnerable to any attack, with damage taken to either vehicles will instead be applied to the driver. Ghosts and Banshees, however, can be destroyed if the pilot is mounting it.
-=== Campaign ===
+===Multiplayer===
-The campaign in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' can be played by single-player or cooperatively. In [[cooperative play]], the second player takes control of an identical copy of the Master Chief. This second player, however, will not appear in any cutscene in the game.
-The game's campaign consists of ten levels:
+Up to 16 players can play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[wikipedia:LAN|local area network]], using four Xbox's that have been connected through a [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub, but also can be played on xbox connect which is a way of tunneling a connection via a pc. The game's seamless support for this type of play, as well as a few large maps that can comfortably hold up to 16 combatants, is a first for console games. The PC version of ''Halo'' officially adds online play and also new vehicles (the [[Banshee]] which previously only featured in single-player, and a version of the [[Warthog]] which features a tri-barrel rocket launcher) and weapons (the [[Fuel Rod Cannon]], sported by the spec-ops grunts on the last level, and the never seen before [[Flamethrower]]) for multiplayer.
-#[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]] - ''"Escape intact as Covenant forces board your ship."''
-#[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]] - ''"Seek out surviving Marines and help them fight the Covenant."''
-#[[The Truth and Reconciliation]] - ''"Board a Covenant ship in an attempt to rescue Captain Keyes."''
-#[[The Silent Cartographer]] - ''"Search for the map room that will lead you to the secrets of Halo."''
-#[[Assault on the Control Room]] - ''"Defend the Control Room against wave after wave of Covenant troops."''
-#[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]] - ''"Creep through a swamp to meet the only enemy the Covenant fear."''
-#[[The Library]] - ''"Fight your way through an ancient security facility in search of the Index."''
-#[[Two Betrayals]] - ''"Re-activate the weapon at the heart of Halo... and learn the truth."''
-#[[Keyes]] - ''"Stage a one-cyborg assault on a Covenant ship and bring back the Captain."''
-#[[The Maw]] - ''"Destroy Halo before Halo destroys all life in the galaxy."''
-=== Multiplayer ===
+'''[[Blood Gulch]]''' is one of the most commonly played multiplayer levels. The level contains two buildings at either end of the level, with open desert in between. Some of the features include a cave, in which experienced players may store vehicles, and cliffs that players can use to snipe their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy [[Red vs Blue]]. A revamped version of [[Blood Gulch]] reappears in the sequel, [[Halo 2]] under the name [[Coagulation]], and there are some similarities, but the general map size is increased, with added use of caves, under ground sections of the bases, new hills and mounds to make the terrain more interesting, and the inclusion of the Banshee.
-Up to four players can play together using the same-console splitscreen mode. It is also possible for up to 16 players to play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[wikipedia:LAN|local area network]], using Xbox and/or Xbox 360 consoles that have been connected through an [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub, or via XB Connect. The game's seamless support for this type of play, and a few large maps that can accommodate up to 16 combatants, is a first for console games. Since the game was released before the launch of Xbox Live, mainstream online play was not available for this title.
-A total of 13 multiplayer maps are available:
+==Storyline==
-*[[Battle Creek]]
-*[[Sidewinder]]
-*[[Damnation]]
-*[[Rat Race]]
-*[[Prisoner]]
-*[[Hang 'Em High]]
-*[[Chill Out]]
-*[[Derelict]]
-*[[Boarding Action]]
-*[[Chiron TL-34]]
-*[[Blood Gulch]]
-*[[Wizard]]
-*[[Longest]]
-== Development ==
+''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s storyline is linear; there is only one ending (in contrast to other first person shooters such as ''[[wikipedia:Deus Ex|Deus Ex]]'').  It is presented to the player through an instruction manual, scripted events and conversations during the game, and a number of cut-scenes rendered using the game's graphics engine.  This method of storyline delivery is common among modern video games.
-{{Main|Development of Halo: Combat Evolved}}
+[[Image:Halo.gif|thumb|Halo Art]]
-=== Design ===
+===Brief summary===
-{{Main|Pre-Xbox Halo}}
-[[File:PXH FirstOfficial Screenshot.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The first official screenshot of Halo.]]
-[[File:PreXbox Ring.jpg|thumb|200px|The old heads-up display and a Halo that has fallen under disrepair. This design was eventually [[Installation 08|incorporated]] into [[Halo 3]].]]
-On July 21, 1999, during the Macworld Conference & Expo, Steve Jobs announced that ''Halo'' would be released for Mac OS and Windows simultaneously.<ref>[http://pc.ign.com/articles/068/068975p1.html '''IGN''': ''Heavenly "Halo"'']</ref> Before this public announcement, game industry journalists under a non-disclosure agreement had previewed the game in a private showing during [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 1999]], and were reportedly amazed.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=pcgamerusoct99 '''PC Gamer''': ''Your first look at... "Halo"'']</ref> Bungie Studios later stated an even earlier development build of the game centered on [[real-time strategy]] and was "basically ''[[Myth]]'' in a sci-fi universe."<ref>[http://bungie.net/Inside/CustomPage.aspx?section=History&subsection=Main&page=6 '''Bungie.net''': ''Inside Bungie: History'']</ref>
-At [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2000]], the first trailer of ''Halo'' was well-received.<ref>[http://www.bluesnews.com/a/38 '''Blue's News''': ''Blue's News Best of E3 2000'']</ref> The version shown there differed greatly from the one exhibited previously, marking the first major overhaul in the game's development.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/faq/media.html '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Frequently Asked Questions about "Halo"'']</ref> At this point, ''Halo'' was a third-person action game, in which a transport starship crashlands on a mysterious ring world that orbits a star. Early versions of Covenant aliens appear in great numbers and loot what they can, and war erupts between them and the humans. Unable to match the technologically advanced alien race, the humans on the ring world resort to guerrilla warfare.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=cgw1199 '''Computer Gaming World''': ''Games That Will Change Gaming'']</ref> This version of the game featured ''Halo''-specific fauna, which were later dropped because of design difficulties and the creatures' "detract from the surprise, drama and impact of the Flood."<ref>[https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=630 '''Bungie.net''': ''One Million Years B.X. (Before Xbox)'']</ref>
+A very brief summary of the story goes something like this: aliens, explosions, save humanity. This plot was inspired by the chantings of a choir of monks that lived near Bungie Studios. Bungie thanked the monks by dedicating the game to a scatman (who, as the previous writer of this article stated, is cool).
-[[Microsoft]] announced on June 19, 2000 that it had acquired Bungie Studios.<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Jun00/BungiePR.mspx '''Microsoft''': ''Microsoft to Acquire Bungie Software'']</ref> ''Halo'' became an exclusive game for Microsoft's [[Xbox]], and Bungie Studios rewrote the game's engine, heavily altering its presentation and turning it into a [[first-person shooter]].<ref>[http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/preview/halo_xbox/page01.php '''GameCritics''': ''"Halo" (Xbox) Preview'']</ref> Originally a key element, the game's online multiplayer component was dropped because [[Xbox Live]] would be unfinished at the time of ''Halo''<nowiki />'s release. While a playable demonstration of the game at Gamestock 2001 was well-received,<ref>[http://xbox.ign.com/articles/098/098271p1.html '''IGN''': ''Playable "Halo" at GameStock'']</ref> critics had mixed reactions to its exhibition at E3 2001.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=nextgen.0501 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''"Next Generation Magazine"'']</ref><ref>[http://www.firingsquad.com/features/2001e3part1/ '''FiringSquad''': ''2001 E3 Part 1''']</ref><ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=gamepro.0501 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''"GamePro"'']</ref> Roughly 90% of the final product was developed in just nine months of development, with team members working 16–20 hours a day for six days per week between January and October 2001.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Dr_Abominable/status/1061172229990481920 Paul Russel on Twitter]</ref>
+If you are confused by this short summary, here is a more detailed summary.
-The novel ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' by [[Eric Nylund]] was commissioned by Microsoft to serve as a prequel to ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. During the writing of ''The Fall of Reach'', Bungie reportedly almost cancelled the novel but was convinced by [[Eric S. Trautmann]] to approve it in exchange for himself, [[Matt Soell]] and [[Brannon Boren]] writing an estimated "80 percent" of the in-game dialogue of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. The dysfunctional relationship between Bungie and the Microsoft team working on the game created some disconnect - the notorious "this cave is not a natural formation" line was caused by Bungie promising that the environment would not be immediately obvious as an artificial formation. According to Trautmann, a number of Bungie employees resented the presence of Microsoft employees.<ref>[http://scifishow.libsyn.com/005-dc-reboot-trautmann-interview-round-2-of-our-quiz '''The Sci Fi Show''': ''Episode 005: DC Reboot/Eric Trautmann'']</ref>
+The game begins when Master Chief leaves his coon woogie bone town (know as 'Wisconsin') to enter the highly competitive world of beat-boxing. A hilarious mistake in Texas forces him to join the army instead, so he makes the best of things and becomes a Spartan. After aiding his fellow Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae with cool grainy backgrounds, Master Chief goes on to conquer the desert planet of Arrakis with naught but a Banshee. Or [[something]].
-The game was released in North America simultaneously with the Xbox, on November 15, 2001; the "Combat Evolved" subtitle was an addition by marketers at Microsoft, who felt that ''Halo'' alone was not a descriptive enough title to compete with other military-themed games.<ref>'''Edge''': ''A Space Odyssey'' (''"Quote"'' '''Jaime Griesemer''': At the time, Microsoft marketing thought ''Halo'' was not a good name for a videogame brand. It wasn't descriptive like all the military games we were competing with. We told them ''Halo'' was the name. The compromise was they could add a subtitle. Everyone at Bungie hated it. But it turned out to be a very sticky label and has now entered the gaming lexicon… so I guess in hindsight it was a good compromise. But the real name of the game is just ''Halo''.)</ref>
+Mid way through the campaign, the player is introduced to the aliens known as (*Cough, Cough* Headcrabs *Cough, Cough*) the Flood, and the game then turns into Half-Life. The Flood's natural habitat consists of the same corridor lit by an annoying blue light, fifty times over. They don't really do much other than killing all of the tards you worked your ass off in the first part of the game to [[dead|fucking keep alive]].
-=== Audio ===
+The game was also praised for its lengthy single player campaign, which featured jumping pigs, blasting frogs, caves that are not natural formations and a hidden nude picture of some random girl named Cortana, doing the Macarana. In fact, the single-player campaign is so long that if it was stretched out, it would go around the Earth eleven times. If that makes any sense to [[you]].
-{{Main|Music of Halo: Combat Evolved}}
-[[File:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|200px|thumb|Cover art.]]
-''Halo''<nowiki />'s soundtrack was created by [[Bungie Studios]]' audio director, [[Martin O'Donnell]], and received a large amount of praise from many critics. Martin O'Donnell has stated that his goal was to provide "a feeling of importance, weight, and sense of the 'ancient'."<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070301150741/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/themakers3.htm '''Xbox.com''': ''Just the Right Sense of Ancient'']</ref> He designed the music so that it "could be dissembled and remixed in such a way that would give [him] multiple, interchangeable loops that could be randomly recombined in order to keep the piece interesting as well as a variable length". Development involved the creation of "alternative middle sections that could be transitioned to if the game called for such a change (i.e. less or more intense)."<ref>[http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=24 '''Music4Games''': ''The Use and Effectiveness of Audio in "Halo": Game Music Evolved'']</ref>
-Martin O'Donnell has remarked that he "sat with the level designers and 'spotted' the level as though it was a movie, with the knowledge that the music would have to be malleable rather than static... [T]he level designer would tell me what he hoped a player would feel at certain points or after accomplishing certain tasks". Based on this information, O'Donnell would "go back and develop appropriate music cues, then have the designer script the cues into the level, and then we'd play through it to see if it worked as desired."<ref>[http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=24 '''Music4Games''': ''The Use and Effectiveness of Audio in Halo: Game Music Evolved'']</ref> He explained that the use of music in ''Halo'' is sparse because he believes that "[music] is best used in a game to quicken the emotional state of the player and it works best when used least", and that "[if] music is constantly playing it tends to become sonic wallpaper and loses its impact when it is needed to truly enhance some dramatic component of game play."<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/misc/gdc.2002.music/ '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Producing Audio for "Halo"'']</ref>
+Master Chief ends up learning the value of morality in the modern workplace. He then rides off into the sunset.
-==== Halo: Original Soundtrack ====
+===Backstory===
-{{Main|Halo: Original Soundtrack}}
-''Halo: Original Soundtrack'', composed and produced by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] for the video game ''Halo: Combat Evolved,'' is one CD comprising 26 tracks. Some editions include a bonus DVD with game trailers for ''Halo 2''. Most of the music from ''Halo: Combat Evolved ''is present on the CD, although some songs are remixed and some tracks are intermixed with others in medley form. It was released in 2001.
-== Marketing and release ==
+The events which transpire in ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay must be understood in the context of its backstory, created by Bungie and elaborated in several novels written after the release of the game.  A summary of this backstory is presented below.
-=== Demonstration ===
-{{main|Halo E3 2000 Trailer}}
-In 2000 at E3, Bungie showed off a trailer of the upcoming game to the public. This trailer featured Marines along with the Master Chief scouting out a Forerunner structure and the Covenant fighting them. During this trailer there was still no active AI so all the Covenant was actually controlled by Bungie. This trailer was before the conversion to the Xbox as an FPS.
-=== Viral campaign ===
+====Early Conflicts====
-{{Main|Cortana Letters}}
+{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
-Before ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' was released, a series of cryptic emails were sent to [http://marathon.bungie.org/ marathon.bungie.org]. The emails were supposedly written by Cortana, but the contents written were greatly out of her character. Her hacking skills, however, were shown, having some of the messages from other email accounts and even from the 1.3 version of the Bungie game ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' CD. These messages provided a small glimpse of the ''Halo'' Trilogy plot.
+-2200: This is a period of brutal unrest in Human history in which Governments and Factions fight for control of Earth and its colonies.
-=== Package ===
+As overpopulation and unrest mounted on Earth, a number of new political movements were formed including the left wing '''Koslovics''' led by Vladimir Koslov and the neofascist Jovian '''Frieden''' (which attacked the UN Colonial Advisors on the moon) and UN-sponsored military forces begin a pattern of massive buildups which culminated in the first Interplanetary and Rain Forest Wars of the Jovian Moons Campaign. After the successful Marine attack on Mars, recruitment drives and propaganda tactics strongly bolstered UNSC forces. They defeat the Koslovics and the Frieden on Earth and crush their remnants throughout the Solar System: both factions were defeated in the face of massive, unified UN military.
-The game shipped with a game disc, and a [[Halo: Combat Evolved Manual|manual]] detailing how to play the game and why everything is happening so far in the story.
-=== Reception ===
+====The Human Colonization of the Orion Arm====
-''Halo'' was the main launch title for Xbox and is said to be the game that made the Xbox what it is today. It was widely renowned for saving the fledgling Xbox platform, as the Xbox lacked any titles to compete with Sony's PlayStation 2 or Nintendo's GameCube. ''Halo'' became an overnight success and managed to drive the platform from the brink of an early death. It went on to sell 6.43 million copies; in other words, 26% of all Xbox owners also owned ''Halo''.<ref>[http://www.vgchartz.com/game/939/halo-combat-evolved/ '''VG Chartz''': ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']</ref><ref>[http://www.vgchartz.com/platforms/ '''VG Chartz''': ''Platforms'']</ref>
+{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
+In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully develop humanity's first [[Slipspace]] drive, the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine.  For the first time in history, the rapid colonization of other worlds is made possible.  By 2390, 210 worlds have been occupied by humans, and are being actively terraformed to suit man's needs.  These worlds are to become known as the Inner Colonies.  By 2490, the UNSC's fledging interstellar empire has expanded to over 800 planets throughout the [[wikipedia:orion arm|Orion Arm]] of the [[wikipedia:milky way galaxy|Milky Way Galaxy]].  During this period, the planet Reach becomes the headquarters of the UNSC military, and is destined to become the most heavily fortified world under human control.
-It was also critically acclaimed. IGN gave the game a 9.7 out of 10 and stated it to be the best Xbox game of all time. X-Play gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. The game got a perfect ten from EGM, and was 2002 Game of the Year for IGN, EGM, OXM, and AIAS. It got a 9.5 out of 10 from Game Informer, and an average meta-score of 97 out of 100, making it the most highly rated Xbox game of all time. It also got a score of 9.0 for the PC version and 9.7 for the Xbox version from Gamespot. It was also called the game that reinvented a genre. OXM rated ''Halo: CE'' Number 1 in a list of the 100 best games of recent memory, saying "''The Xbox did not create Halo, Halo made the Xbox''".
+====The Fall of the Outer Colonies====
+{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
+Cole's fleet manages a victory at Harvest, but at a high cost - two thirds of his ships are destroyed.  Despite significant tactical brilliance on the part of Human commanders, Covenant technology guarantees a four to one kill/loss ratio in most battles.  One by one, the Outer Colonies fall below the onslaught, and by 2535, virtually all have been destroyed.
-===Rereleases===
+====The Spartan Project====
-*'''2003''' - Rereleased for PC and Mac platforms as ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' for PC]]''.
+{{main|Spartans}}
-*'''2004''' - Rereleased with a special version of the Xbox in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. This version was translucent green and came with a copy of Halo: Combat Evolved and a matching translucent green Controller S. The console case featured the Halo logo and the words "Special Edition"; the controller had a jewel that had the Halo logo in place of the normal Xbox logo. The version of Halo that came with this bundle was identical to other versions of Halo, with the exception of a "NOT FOR RESALE" notice placed on the front of the game case. - <ref>[http://xfusion2010.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/xbox-halo-combat-evolved-edition.html#sthash.yxiJFJQ4.dpuf '''xfusion2010''' - '''Xbox Halo Combat Evolved edition''']</ref>
+By 2517, several years before contact with the Covenant was made, the UNSC military embarked on a secret project to create a group of elite soldiers that would deal with occasional unrest in the Colonies.  Codenamed SPARTANs, these [[Spartans#Augmentation_Procedures|genetically enhanced]] troops were trained from the age of 6 into a life of battle, and became a great asset against the Covenant.  While humans suffered defeat after defeat in space, they could almost always prevail with the help of the SPARTANs in ground engagements.  The main character of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay, the Master Chief, is a veteran SPARTAN. All SPARTANS were given special armor designated MJOLNIR, which can increase their strength and speed. They were the only ones who could wear it as those without special genetic enhancements (like the SPARTAN upgrades) killed themselves with strength enhanced convulsions.
-*'''2004''' - Rereleased as part of Action Double Pack which included ''Brute Force'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/05/04/call-it-halo-force '''IGN''' - ''Call it Halo Force'']</ref>
-*'''2005''' - Rereleased as part of the ''Halo Triple Pack'' which contained ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 2'', and ''[[Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack]]''.
-*'''2007''' - Rereleased as part of the Japan exclusive ''Halo History Pack'', which contained ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 2'', and a sneak peek of ''Halo 3'',<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/halo-history-pack/ '''Gamespot''' ''Halo History Pack'']</ref> and as part of [[Xbox LIVE]]'s Xbox Originals.
-*'''2011''' - Remade as ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' to tie in with ''Halo''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> tenth anniversary.
-*'''2014''' - Rerelease of ''Anniversary'' as part of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' on [[Xbox One]], with the original ''Halo'' multiplayer compatible for the first time ever with console [[matchmaking]].
-*'''2020''' - Rerelease of ''Anniversary'' as part of ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' on Windows 10 and Steam.
-==Original Halo team==
+====The Battle of Reach====
-{{Scrollbox
+{{main|The Battle of Reach}}
-|{{col-begin}}
+By 2552, many of Humanity's Inner Colonies have been destroyed by the Covenant.  In a move of desperation, UNSC orders a secret plan to capture a Covenant ship using a SPARTAN task force and find the coordinates of their home planet.  A group of SPARTANs, led by the Master Chief, are chosen for this mission, and board a specially outfitted ship known as the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'' (under the command of Captain Jacob Keyes).  This plan, however, is interrupted when the Covenant launch a surprise attack on the fortress world of Reach.
-{{col-2}}
-;Project Lead
-:Jason Jones
-;Lead Producer
+During this battle, Reach is overrun and glassed, and the human fleet is obliterated.  Worse still, the Master Chief thinks that all of the SPARTANs but himself are killed on the surface of the planet.  The (supposedly) last remaining SPARTAN, the Master Chief, escapes with the ''Pillar of Autumn''.  In accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]], the ''Autumn'' makes a blind slipspace jump, and emerges in the vicinity of an unexplored and remarkable world.
-:Hamilton Chu
-;Executive Producer
+====Arrival at Halo====
-:Alexander Seropian
+{{main|Alpha Halo}}
+The [[Pillar of Autumn]] exits [[slipspace]] to find a mysterious ring shaped space station orbiting a [[Threshold|gas giant]].  The ring, quickly named "Halo", is obviously artificial and teeming with life.  A [[Covenant]] fleet, however, is also present, and a subsequent battle heavily damages the [[Pillar of Autumn]].  [[Captain Keyes]] initiates the Cole protocol - all records of Earth's location are erased, and the Autumn is crash landed onto Halo.  The ship's [[AI]] construct, [[Cortana]], leaves the ''Autumn'' with the [[John-117|Master Chief]] in a [[Bumblebee]] escape pod which also crash lands on Halo.
-;Producer
+Gameplay begins in earnest with the Master Chief's escape from the ''Autumn'', and continues upon landing.  The player will soon discover the origins and purpose of this world - and uncover a threat that forces even the Covenant into retreat.
-:Rick Ryan
-;Programmers
+As a literary sidenote, the ring, "Halo", borrows heavily from the [[Ringworld]] of [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]] and the [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]]s of [[wikipedia:Iain M. Banks|Iain M. Banks]].
-:Chris Butcher
-:Bernie Freidin
-:Charlie Gough
-:Mat Noguchi
-:Matt Segur
-;Art Director
+===Main Characters===
-:Marcus Lehto
+{{main|Characters}}
+* The '''[[John-117|Master Chief]]:''' The only [[SPARTAN-II]] thought to have survived the battle of [[Reach]].  He is the character the player assumes during gameplay.
-;Assistant Art Lead
+* '''[[Cortana]]:''' The [[Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn's]] [[AI]] construct, removed from the ship by the Master Chief in accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]].  During most of the game, Cortana is connected directly to the Master Chief's neural interface, and acts to deliver tactical information and mission objectives.
-:Steve Abeyta
-;Artists
+* '''[[Captain Keyes|Captain Jacob Keyes]]:''' The distinguished Captain of the ''Pillar of Autumn'', renowned for his tactical brilliance in key battles prior to the fall of Reach. He was also part of the expedition to find candidates for the SPARTAN project, the first of which was the Master Chief, subject/candidate 117.
-:Eric Arroyo
-:Chris Barrett
-:Mark Bernal
-:David Dunn
-:Chris Hughes
-:Stephen Okasaki
-:Chris Lee
-:Robert McLees
-:Paul Russel
-:Shi Kai Wang
-:Michael Wu
-:Brian Schultz
-;Lead Designer
+* '''[[343 Guilty Spark]]:''' The [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 04]].
-:John Howard
-;Designers
+* '''[[Marine|The Marines]]:''' The Marines of the [[UNSC]] are the best, but are struggling and fighting a losing war against the [[Covenant]]. The marines are your allies in the game.
-:Paul Bertone
-:Tyson Green
-:Jaime Griesemer
-:Dan Orzulak
-;Additional Writing
+*'''[[Sergeant Johnson]] :''' Sergent Johnson commands [[Marines]] during the game. He also provides comic relief and is the only human besides the Master Chief and Spartans Fred, Will and Linda to make it back to Earth alive.
-:Brannon Boren
-:Matt Soell
-:Eric Trautmann
-;Multiplayer Lead Programmer
+===In-game plot===
-:Michael Evans
-;Multiplayer Programmers
+The first levels of the game deal with an attempt to reach Halo's control center to uncover its purpose. It is soon discovered that the Covenant have accidentally released [[The Flood]], a parasitic race which gets its name from the way it devastates potential hosts with sheer numbers. The Flood then sweep across Halo and devastate human and Covenant forces positioned on it. The release of the Flood prompts [[343 Guilty Spark]], an eccentric Artificial Intelligence, to try to activate Halo's defense system, a pulse weapon that, when fired, would wipe out all life in the galaxy large enough to be hosts for the Flood. Technically, that installation only has a maximum effective radius of 25,000 light years, but the pulse would trigger other installations as well, effectively killing all life in the galaxy. This system is designed to stop the Flood from spreading through the universe if they escape confinement from Halo by the only way possible: starving the Flood of any life source large enough to sustain them.
-:Adrian Perez
-:Stefan Sinclair
-;Multiplayer Lead Designer
+Naturally, this would wipe out Humanity as well, and so the final levels of the game revolve around the Master Chief's attempts to destroy Halo before it fires.
-:Hardy LeBel
-;Multiplayer Artists
+The game leaves the story open to further developments, with the revelation that there are several Halo ringworlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered "Installation 04" by [[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[Monitor]] of the installation. It is revealed in [[Halo 2]] that there were seven (Bungie's [[List of "Seven" references in Halo|favorite number]]) Halos before [[Installation 04]]'s destruction.
-:Chris Carney
-:David Dunn
-:Peter Marks
-:David Moore
-:Stephen Okasaki
-;User Interface Lead
+==[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]==
-:Max Hoberman
+[[Image:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|right|thumb|Cover Art]]
+Halo Original Soundtrack, composed and produced by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] for the video game Halo: Combat Evolved, is one CD comprising 26 tracks. Some editions include a bonus DVD with game trailers for Halo 2. Most of the music from Halo: Combat Evolved is present on the CD, although some songs are remixed and some tracks are intermixed with others in medley form. It was released in 2001.
-;User Interface Designer
+==Future developments==
-:David Candland
-;User Interface Programmer
+The next episode in the ''Halo'' story, ''[[Halo 2]]'', was released on November 9, 2004. [http://www.bungie.net/News/Story.aspx?link=5B522E9E-A265-409E-9267-EB2EDCFD50B4] Like the previous fan-beloved ''[[Marathon]]'', ''Halo 2'' has a return of old characters and new technology in attempt to further a complicated plot line, the object of which is to be deciphered by the end.
-:Stefan Sinclair
-;Cinematics Director
+A free [[wikipedia:modification|mod]] for the computer game series [[wikipedia:Battlefield 1942|Battlefield 1942]]/[[wikipedia:Battlefield Vietnam|Vietnam]] called [[wikipedia:Homefront (game)|Homefront]] features ''Halo''-esque and original content for online multiplayer games with up to 64 players. [http://www.planetbattlefield.com/homefront/]
-:Joseph Staten
- {{col-2}}
+Not only this mod, but many, can be found at various sites on the Internet at places like [http://www.halomods.com halomods.com], [http://www.halocity.org halocity.org] and more.  The customizable map option has become quite popular with the downloadable custom edition of the PC version, many maps can be found on these sites, ready to be opened and played.  These maps can be made with 3D Studio MAX and the Halo Editing Kit.
-;Cinematic Artists
-:Steve Abeyta
-:Paul Clift
-:Adam Crockett
-:Lorraine McLees
-:Stephen Okasaki
-:Craig Mullins
-:Lee Wilson
-;Audio Lead/Original Music
+==Trailers==
-:Martin O'Donnell
+In 2000 at E3, Bungie showed off a trailer of the upcoming game to the public. This trailer featured [[Marines]] along with the [[John-117|Master Chief]] scouting out a [[Forerunner]] structure and the [[Covenant]] fighting them. This trailer was before the conversion to the Xbox as an FPS. Originally the game was to be a RTS as a computer game.
-;Additional Music
+*[[Halo E3 2000 Trailer]]
-:Michael Salvatori
-;Sound Designers
+==Trivia==
-:Jay Weinland
+The game was codenamed "[[Blam]]!" This phrase is now used to censor swear words on the [[Bungie]] forums. It was used to replace the original codename, "monkey nuts," which was used to ensure that the working name was not the name for the final game. "Blam" was used because project lead, [[Jason Jones]], couldn't say "monkey nuts" to his mother.<ref>[[Art Of Halo]], page ix</ref>
-:Adam Tewes
-;Test Manager
-:Harold Ryan
-;Test Leads
-:Curtis Creamer
-:Ryan Hylland
-:Keith Steury
-;Testers
-:Chris Chamberlain
-:Mike Cody
-:Chuck Cooper
-:Erik Davis
-:John Frey
-:Rick Lockyear
-:Paul Peterson
-:Zach Russel
-:Mathew Shimbaku
-:Luke Timmins
-:Jeff Wilson
-:Roger Wolfson
-;Voice Talent
-:Keny Boynton
-:Tim Dadabo
-:Mark Dias
-:Steve Downes
-:Todd Licea
-:Mike Madeoy
-:Andy Mckaige
-:Tawnya Pettiford-Waites
-:David Scully
-:Pete Stacker
-:Jeff Steitzer
-:Jen Taylor
-:Chris Wicklund
-;Additional voices
-:Folks at Bungie
-;Damage and Spin
-:Matt Soell
-;Draft Dodgers
-:Pete Demoreuille
-:Tom Gioconda
-:Joshua Grass
-:Justin Hayward
-:Jason Major
-:Juan Ramirez
-:Bob Settles
-;Product Manager
-:Steve Fowler
-;Product Planner
-:Jon Kimmch
-;Localization Program Manager
-:Ji Hong
-{{col-end}}
-}}
-==Production notes==
-*''Halo: Combat Evolved'' was not the original title made by Bungie; the original title of the game had always been intended to be simply "''Halo''". The subtitle ''"Combat Evolved"'', which Bungie has stated they "hated", was suggested by Microsoft Game Studios during the Halo's development phase in order to make the title more descriptive and indicative of a shooter game.<ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=249196 '''ComputerAndVideoGame''': ''Microsoft forced Bungie to accept 'Combat Evolved' name'']</ref>
-*There are 8,087 lines of dialog, most of them randomly triggered during combat.<ref>[http://nikon.bungie.org/news.html?item=20971 '''halo.bungie.org''', ''Halo Dialogue Statistics''] - ''November 12, 2007''</ref>
-*The ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' box art shows the Banshees in the background in their pilotless stance, yet they are still flying. Similarly, they are shown firing thin beams, rather than the bolts that they actually fire in-game.
-*''Halo: Combat Evolved ''was originally going to have most of the weapons that were introduced in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', but due to time constraint, most of the weapons were cut from the final version.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dydfehQBaGE '''Youtube''': ''Evolution of Halo Part 2: Pre-Xbox 1999 Version to 2000 Demo '']</ref>
-*In the game's manual, the {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}'s blueprint is an overlap of a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|needler]] underneath and the rifle on top.
-*''Halo'' was originally planned to have a changing weather system which was mentioned in the August 2000 issue of ''PC Gamer'' magazine.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=pcgamer.0800 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''PC Gamer August 2000'']</ref>
-==Gallery==
-===Cover art===
-<gallery>
-File:Halo - Combat Evolved Logo Huge.png|Title art.
-File:HCE BoxArt.png|Cover art.
-File: HCE Cover Art.jpg|Cover art variant used in the "Classics" and "Platinum Hits" covers for the game.
-File:HCE Cover Art Variant.jpg|Unused cover art variant.
-File:HCE Japan cover.jpg|The "Japan" cover for the game.
-File:HCEX Classics Cover Art.jpg|The "Classics" cover for the game.
-File:Halo_Combat_Evolved_(Xbox)_Platinum_Hits_box_art.JPG|The "Platinum Hits" cover for the game.
-File:HCE_FlawlessCowboy_Covermockup_PaulR.jpg|Cover art mockup created by [[Paul Russel]].
-File:HCE prerelease box art.jpg|The "Prerelease" cover for the game.
-File:HCE steel prototype case.jpg|Halo CE Steel Prototype Case.
-File:HCE steel prototype case side.jpg|Halo CE Steel Prototype Case (side).
-File:HCE steel prototype case back.jpg|Halo CE Steel Prototype Case (back).
-File:CE Artwork CoverArt-Magazine.jpg|Another version of the cover art without text and logos, used on the cover of the June [[2002]] issue of the Japanese [[Wikipedia:Famitsu|Famitsu Xbox]] magazine.{{Ref/Site|https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w396424921|Yahoo! Japan|Page=ヤフオク! - 0612g-030 ファミ通Xbox 2002.6 エンターブレイ...|Y=2020|M=Jun|D=27}}
-File:HINF - Charm icon - Halo VHS.png|A [[Weapon customization|weapon charm]] in ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' featuring the cover of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
-</gallery>
-===Concept art===
-<gallery>
-File:HCE Logos Concept.jpg|Concept sketches for the game's logo.
-File:HCE ControlRoom_Concept_1.png|Concept art for the ring's control room.
-File:HCE Elite Concept 2.png|Sangheili concept art.
-File:Early Hunter.jpg|Hunter concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 1.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 2.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 3.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 4.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 5.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 6.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 7.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 8.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 9.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE RingSurface Concept 10.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-File:HCE_CNPT_plant-group1.jpg|Installation 04 concept art.
-</gallery>
-===Promotional images===
-<gallery>
-File:Halo-combat-evolved.jpg|The Master Chief next to a Scorpion and marines.
-File:HCE-MasterChief-Wallpaper.jpg|The Master Chief leading marines.
-</gallery>
-===Screenshots===
-<gallery>
-File:HCE ChiefFiringAR.jpg|The Master Chief firing an assault rifle.
-File:HCE Chief&Shotgun.jpg|The Master Chief holding a shotgun.
-File:HCE FlamethrowerVsJackalMinors.jpg|The Master Chief uses a flamethrower.
-File:HCE Needler HUD.jpg|First-person view of the needler and a Sangheili Minor.
-File:HCE M41SPNKr HUD.jpg|First-person view of the rocket launcher.
-File:HCE BeaconTower Firing.jpg|The Master Chief watches as a beacon fires.
-File:Johnson-warthog.jpg|The marine on Master Chief's Warthog firing the mounted machine gun.
-File:HCE T&R Charging.jpg|The Master Chief and a group of marines onboard a Covenant ship.
-File:Jackals.jpg|Two Kig-Yar using plasma pistols.
-File:HCE Banshee&Spirit.jpg|The Covenant Banshee and Spirit dropship.
-File:HCE Chief Swamp.jpg|The Master Chief in a swamp.
-File:HCE ParanoidMarine.jpg|The Master Chief encounters a marine.
-File:HCE Chief&Swarm.jpg|The Flood approaches the Master Chief.
-File:HCE LibraryFight.jpg|The Master Chief fighting the Flood.
-File:Scrn 067.jpg|A Sangheili Zealot and a defeated Flood attacker form.
-File:HCE GruntMinors&Flood.jpg|Two Unggoy surrounded by the Flood.
-File:HCE Chief&Cortana.jpg|The Master Chief and Cortana.
-File:HCE Echo419 Destruction.jpg|The Master Chief watches as a damaged Pelican approach him.
-</gallery>
 ==Sources==
-{{Ref/Sources|2}}
+<references/>
-==See also==
-*[[Blam!]]
-*[[Halo: Combat Evolved credits|Halo: Combat Evolved Credits]]
-*[[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo|Archived Xbox.com portal page for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']]
-== External links ==
+==Related Links==
-*[http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/Halo/default.aspx ''Official project page'' on '''Bungie.net''']
+'''Internal'''
-*[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halocombatevolved#video_1 ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' on '''Halo Waypoint''']
+*[[Halo: Combat Evolved Credits]]
-*[https://medium.com/@Oozer3993/the-making-of-halo-how-combat-evolved-from-blam-part-1-f6b58fcc4ade#.i02dmu1px ''The Making of Halo: How Combat Evolved from Blam!— Part 1'']
+*[[Action Figures]]
+*[[Halo: Combat Evolved Walkthroughs]]
+*[[Halo Glitches and Tricks]]
+*[[Halo PC]]
+*[[Halo Cache Editor 0.7]]
-{{Navbox/Media/Games}}
+'''External'''
-{{DEFAULTSORT:1, Halo}}
+* [http://halo.bungie.net Official site]
-[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved| ]]
+* [http://www.haloeastereggs.co.nr Halo Easter Eggs]-For Halo 1, 2 and 3 Easter Eggs
-[[Category:Canon]]
+* [http://www.xbox.com/en-us/halo/default.htm Official Xbox.com site]
-[[Category:Bungie games]]
+* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,5368/ MobyGames' entry on ''Halo'']
+* [http://halo.bungie.org Halo.Bungie.Org] ''Halo'' fansite and resource center
+* [http://www.subnova.com/halopc/ Subnova.com] ''Halo'' information & FAQs
+* [http://www.tazzy.nwactc.com/klikgamers/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=26 Klik Gamers' ''Halo'' review]
+* [http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2003/11/halo/ ''Halo'' for Mac OS X]
+* [http://www.haloplanet.com/ Halo Planet]
+* [http://www.halomaps.org/ Halomaps.org] One of many Custom Edition resources
+[[Category:Games|Halo 1]]