Editing Halo: Combat Evolved

<!-- begin WikiProject Computer and Video Games infobox-->{| cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2 align=right width=256px style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; padding: 6px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 10px; background-color: #f7f8ff; border:1px solid #8888aa;"
|- style=background:#ccccff
| align=center colspan=2|<font size="2">'''''Halo: Combat Evolved'''''</font>
|-
| align=center colspan=2|[[Image:halobox.jpg|185px|center|]]
|- style=background:#ccccff
| style=width:80px|[[Video game developer|Developer]]:
|[[Bungie Studios]]
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|-
|Publisher:
|[[Microsoft Game Studios]]
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|Release date:
|2001
|-
|Genre:
|[[First-person shooter]]
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|Game modes:
|[[Single player]], [[multiplayer]]
|-
|[[ESRB]] rating:
|Mature (M)
|- style=background:#ccccff
|Platform:
|[[Xbox]], [[Personal Computer|PC]]
|- 
|Media:
|CD, DVD
|}

'''''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]] [[wikipedia:video game console|game console]] on November 15, 2001.

{{spoiler}}

==Introduction==

''Halo'' is a bestselling game for the [[Xbox]], considered by many to be that platform's "must-have" game. Many consider ''Halo'' to be one of the best first-person shooters of all time. For example, the usually harsh [[Edge]] magazine gave it a full score of ten out of ten. Nevertheless, ''Halo'' has its weaknesses; some criticise its gameplay as too repetitive.

Prior to [[Bungie Studios|Bungie]]'s takeover by [[Microsoft]], the initial release of ''Halo'' was planned for the [[wikipedia:Mac OS|Mac OS]] and [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Windows]] platforms; in fact, the game was first previewed at the [[wikipedia:Macworld Conference & Expo|Macworld Conference & Expo]], New York, in 1999. It was also originally planned as a [[wikipedia:real-time strategy game|real-time strategy game]].

Following the takeover, ''Halo'' was released exclusively for Microsoft's [[Xbox]] [[wikipedia:video game console|game console]] on November 15, 2001.

Almost two years later on September 30, 2003 a port of ''Halo'' for Windows was released, followed by a release for [[wikipedia:Mac OS X|Mac OS X]] on December 11, 2003.

In the Windows version, however, some problems existed, largely stemming from its [[wikipedia:porting|porting]]. While the plot and content remained the same, certain segments of the population had trouble with framerate issues. Most of the issues, however, were caused by users who used detail settings from other games as a starting point for ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s settings. When detail settings (many barely noticeable when active) were removed or lessened, framerates typically rose to acceptable levels.

==Gameplay==

===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 [[Artificial Intelligence|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, strafing and aiming are normally separated between the two [[joystick]]s; 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 system===

* '''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.

* '''Shields:''' The player carries a [[Shields|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 packs:''' Fully restore the health of the player.
* '''Active camouflage:''' Drastically reduces the player's visibility for a period of time, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced if the player is hit by weapons fire, if he or she fires a weapon or throws a grenade, or in some cases if he or she switches weapons.
* '''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.

===Enemies===

Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo: the Covenant, the Flood, and the Sentinels.

* '''[[The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant appear to be an alliance of different species, including the cowardly Grunts, the weak Jackals with their visible energy shields, the Elites with their personal energy shields, and the huge, tough Hunters with strong armour. 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 parasitic spores themselves, which usually die from a single shot; walking forms of 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 carriers, which cause splash damage and release spores.

* '''[[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Sentinels, led by the probe [[343 Guilty Spark]], are hovering robotic drones, and will attack Flood, Covenant, and (depending on the point in the story) the Master Chief. Although possessing a powerful beam weapon, they are not particularly resistant to damage.

===Weapons===

'''NOTE''': The below discussion of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s weapons pertains to specifically to gameplay; ie, how and when the weapons are to be used.  For a more general discussion, see [[UNSC]] and [[The Covenant]].

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 fragmentation grenades and four 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 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.


====Human weapons====

=====M6D  Pistol=====

  Rate of Fire  : Average, semi-automatic (3.5 rounds per second)
  Damage per Hit: High
  Range         : Medium to long
  Accuracy      : High
  Magazine Size : 12 rounds
  Maximum Ammo  : 132 rounds (including a fully loaded magazine)

'''Advantages'''

The Pistol&#8217;s accuracy and high damage per hit make it ideal for eliminating Covenant Grunts and Jackals. The pistol is also extremely effective against Hunters, killing it with one shot to the exposed skin. It can also be used against the Flood, especially to take out the large, exploding kind; however, many players consider using the pistol against the Flood to be a waste of ammunition.
  
'''Disadvantages'''

The pistol performs poorly against Covenant shields; so taking on Elites with only this weapon is ineffective.  However, the pistol can easily kill an Elite whose shield has already failed.  In addition, the pistol performs poorly against Covenant tanks and other fully armored vehicles.
   
'''Multiplayer Role'''

Many consider the pistol to be the best multiplayer weapon due to its flexibility.  The pistol works well at medium and long ranges, and in the hands of a skilled player can even be effective when the target is close.  Three shots can yield a [[frag]] in a multiplayer game &#8211; two to disable the shield, and one headshot to kill.  This feat can be difficult to achieve due to lag.

=====MA5B Assault Rifle=====

  Rate of Fire  : High, fully automatic (15 rounds per second)
  Damage per Hit: Low
  Range         : Short to medium
  Accuracy      : Low
  Magazine Size : 60 rounds
  Maximum Ammo  : 660 rounds (including fully loaded magazine)

'''Advantages'''

When fired in short bursts to increase accuracy, the assault rifle is effective at killing unshielded opponents, even large groups of them.  This includes Covenant grunts and all variety of Flood.  The assault rifle is also effective at destroying Banshees, Ghosts and other Covenant vehicles.
  
'''Disadvantages'''

Like the pistol, the assault rifle performs poorly against shields.  Unlike the pistol, the assault rifle is inaccurate, preventing it from being effective against both Jackals and Elites.  In addition, the assault rifle&#8217;s high rate of fire necessitates constant reloading.
   
'''Multiplayer Role'''

Since players in ''Halo'' multiplayer normally spawn with shields, the assault rifle&#8217;s effectiveness is limited.  Normally, it is used because more specialized weapons are not available, or to destroy vehicles.  However, when combined with the plasma pistol (which can destroy shields quickly), the assault rifle can be a powerful medium- and short-range option.

=====M90  Shotgun=====

  Rate of Fire  : Low, semi-automatic (1 round per second)
  Damage per Hit: High
  Range         : Point-blank to Short
  Accuracy      : Low
  Magazine Size : 12 rounds 
  Maximum Ammo  : 72 rounds (including fully loaded magazine)

'''Advantages'''

Since the shotgun fires 15 spreading slugs per shot, and since each slug does a significant amount of damage, this weapon can be devastating at short range.  Its high damage potential makes it effective against any Covenant unit except the Hunter &#8211; if the player can get close enough to render the gun effective.  The shotgun can also be used against all manner of vehicles, and many players consider it the ideal weapon with which to destroy Banshees.  In addition, this weapon is extremely effective against all forms of Flood at the short and medium range.

'''Disadvantages'''

The shotgun&#8217;s greatest limiting factor is its range, making it useless in many wide, open terrains.  Ammunition for this gun is also sometimes difficult to come by.
   
'''Multiplayer Role'''

The shotgun&#8217;s effectiveness in multiplayer games varies depending on the terrain &#8211; indoors and in tight spaces, it is considered by many to be the best weapon.  In the PC version of the game, it also serves to balance the flying Banshee.  Many players carry the shotgun and a long range weapon such as the pistol, thus making for a more flexible arsenal.

=====S2 AM Sniper Rifle=====

  Rate of Fire  : Average, semi-automatic (2 rounds per second)
  Damage per Hit: Very high
  Range         : Medium to very long
  Accuracy      : Very high
  Magazine Size : 4 rounds
  Maximum Ammo  : 28 rounds (including fully loaded magazine)

'''Advantages'''

The sniper rifle is designed to be used at medium to long ranges, and is equipped with a scope and night vision for precisely this purpose.  With its 10x zoom (8x on the PC) and ability to penetrate Covenant shields, the sniper is useful against distant Elites.  A headshot against any Covenant infantry results in an instant kill.

'''Disadvantages'''

The sniper rifle is ineffective at the short range, and has a fairly small magazine.  It also has a steeper learning curve than most weapons, taking significant practice to master.  Ammunition for this gun is also quite rare. It is ineffective against the larger forms of the Flood and against Sentinels.

'''Multiplayer Role'''

Sniping, both moving and from a fixed location ([[camping (computer gaming)|camping]]), is very popular in ''Halo'' multiplayer (although it must be noted that, in multiplayer, the sniper rifle can only zoom 8x).  Uses for the sniper rifle include base defense, teleport denial, and picking off enemy players in Warthogs and Scorpion tanks.  Network [[lag]] is a serious problem for this weapon, as even a small error makes the difference between a hit and a miss.

=====M19 SSM Rocket Launcher=====

  Rate of Fire  : Low (1 round per 2 seconds)
  Damage per Hit: Very high
  Range         : All (most effective at short-medium range)
  Accuracy      : Pinpoint
  Magazine Size : 2 Rockets
  Maximum Ammo  : 10 Rockets (including fully loaded magazine)

'''Advantages'''

The rocket launcher spreads huge amount of damage over a large area.  It is capable of taking out entire groups of targets at any range, and can destroy nearly any vehicle with one hit.

'''Disadvantages'''

Several things counterbalance the rocket launcher&#8217;s sheer power.  First, it fires and reloads slowly.  Second, ammunition is often unavailable, and the player can carry only 8 extra rockets at once.  Third, the rocket launcher can damage its own user if used at short ranges.  Finally, the rocket travels slow enough to be dodged.

'''Multiplayer Role'''

Acquiring the rocket launcher in the multiplayer game may prove difficult, since it rarely appears in the spawn area.  However, once acquired, this weapon can prove very effective for all the reasons mentioned above: it can take out a large group of enemies in one shot, and can painlessly eliminate vehicles. Additionally, the pinpoint accuracy of the rocket launcher makes it very effective when combined with the sniper rifle (the rocket launcher is more accurate than the sniper rifle).

====Covenant weapons====

'''Plasma pistol:''' Capable of quickly firing low-powered shots, or firing a single high-powered blast which tracks its target to some degree.  This blast is capable of immediately dissipating all types of energy shields on the target. It holds five rounds to 1% battery, and 10 overcharges to 100% battery. Overheats when more than eleven rounds are fired in one second.

'''Plasma rifle:''' Rapid fire gun which overheats slower than the plasma pistol.  The plasma rifle has a far smaller radius of fire than the assault rifle, though its accuracy degrades somewhat as it heats up. Overheats with four seconds of sustained fire.

'''Needler:''' Fires tracking needles that embed themselves in the flesh of a target.  Less effective against vehicles.  Rate of fire increases with continuous fire, up to 20 rounds per second (the whole clip).  Needles will bounce off of oblique surfaces or embed themselves, depending on angle.  If a large number of needles (seven per explosion) accumulate in the target, an explosion will occur, causing small splash damage.  Needles can penetrate the energy shields of Elites/Sentinels/Spartans (e.g. the Master Chief), but not the hand-held shields of Jackals.  Magazine fed (clip: 20, max ammo:  80 + 20 loaded).

===Vehicles===

The vehicles available to the player are the ''[[Warthog]]'' M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, the ''[[Scorpion]]'' main battle tank, the ''[[Ghost]]'' reconnaissance and rapid attack vehicle, and the ''[[Banshee]]'' ground assault aircraft. Note that the Banshee is unavailable in multiplayer in the Xbox version.

The Warthog is a human vehicle that, like other human vehicles, does not take its own damage, and holds three total people: a driver, a passenger, and a gunner. The gunner uses a large, precise gatling-style automatic gun with infinite ammunition. Like all human weapons, it is more suited to eliminating health than shields, but with its high rate of fire, high damage per hit, and high precision it can dispatch most anything relatively quickly. While the gun is precise, it is often difficult to aim, especially for beginners and especially while the Warthog is in motion. In the PC version, there is a "Rocket Warthog" which has a rocket emplacement rather than the gatling gun. The person in the passenger seat of a Warthog rides shotgun, able to use whatever weapons they currently have on them to attack enemies from the Warthog. This is somewhat ineffective, as it is often difficult to aim in a moving Warthog, though experienced drivers can line up shots for the passenger and gunner. The driver has no armaments other than the bumper of the Warthog, which can be very effective as it kills any enemy on foot instantly. Experienced players can dodge a Warthog attack effectively, however. 

The Scorpion Tank is a human vehicle so named for its shape, with its main gun resembling a scorpion's stinger. The tank can hold a total of 5 people: a driver and 4 passengers. The driver not only controls the movement of the tank, but also its two guns: a main explosive cannon and a coaxially-mounted machine gun. The main cannon fires high explosive rounds that are more powerful and much faster than the shoulder-fired rocket launchers, and are also not limited by ammunition restraints. The disadvantages to this are the long cool-down time (four seconds between shots) and that the projectiles, although very fast, are not quite instant, calling for a slight lead on the target. This gun will destroy any Covenant unit in one shot, with the exception of the Covenant Wraith tank, which requires two shots. The secondary machine gun is very powerful and has a high rate of fire but is '''extremely''' imprecise. This is a major disadvantage, but with its infinite ammo and zero cooldown time, the gun can just be fired at all times to pin down enemy units in between bursts from the main cannon. Passengers of the Scorpion tank can fire whatever weapons they are carrying in the same fashion as the Warthog, but are much more exposed to danger than Warthog passengers.

The Ghost is a Covenant vehicle, and like all Covenant vehicles the Ghost takes its own damage and has its own health bar independent of the driver's. It can only take a certain amount of punishment before the Ghost itself explodes, invariably killing the rider.  However, in multiplayer, the Ghost sustains no damage of its own.  The Ghost is the only usable vehicle with the same movement options of the normal player: that is, it is the only playable vehicle with sidestrafing. The Ghost is equipped with plasma cannons that have relatively the same properties as the Covenant plasma rifle, with a higher power, higher of fire, infinite ammo and no cool-down time. This, combined with the Ghost's ability to move quickly and over many obstacles, lead to the ghost's main role as a fast attack and scouting vehicle. The Ghost can be easily destroyed by any explosive fire, grenades, or relatively few shotgun blasts.

The Banshee, so named for the characteristic wail of its engines, is a Covenant vehicle and is the only playable flying vehicle. It is similar to the Ghost, except that its flying lends it more of an attack role as it can evade most fire with its speed and flying abilities. In addition to its plasma cannons, the Banshee also sports the Hunter's fuel rod cannon, which has infinite ammunition but a four second cool-down time, similar to the Scorpion's main cannon. The fuel rod cannon is the only player-usable weapon in the game where the projectiles travel parabolically, and as such aim adjustments must be made. Banshees are unavailable in the Xbox multiplayer. 

There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC Pelican dropship, and the Covenant dropship. The only tactically interesting of these vehicles is the Covenant 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's main cannon, the rocket launcher, or the Banshee's fuel rod cannon.

===Environments===

''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments in which combat occurs, including the human starship ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'', the Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'', ancient buildings on Halo itself, and vast outdoor expanses of varying climates, including the temperate lands of the levels ''[[The Silent Cartographer]]'' and ''Halo'', the desert in the first half of the 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]]''. Six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.

===Multiplayer===

16 players can play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[local area network]], using four Xboxes that have been connected through an [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub. 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'' 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 sniper their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy [[Red Vs Blue]]. The level reappeared in the sequel, [[Halo 2]] under a different name, although many of its features are similar if not identical.

==Storyline==

''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s storyline is linear; there is only one ending (in contrast to other first person shooters such as ''[[wikipedia:DeusEx|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. 

===Brief summary===

''Halo'', like previous Bungie releases such as the ''[[Wikipedia:Marathon (computer game)|Marathon]]'' series, has an intricate plot.

The "Halo" in the title refers to an enormous artificial space habitat similar to a [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]] discovered by the warship ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'', which the central character, the Master Chief John-117, is aboard. With the help of his fellow marines and the ship's [[artificial intelligence]], Cortana, the Master Chief discovers some of the secrets of Halo while fighting off members of [[The Covenant]], archenemies of humanity who, presumably, wish to find Halo's secrets for themselves.

===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.

====The human colonization of the Orion Arm====

In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully develop humanity's first [[faster than light]] 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 Covenant Wars begin====

On April 3, 2530, first contact is made with an alliance of alien races that refers to itself as The Covenant.  On that day, a single Covenant Warship exterminated the surface population of the Outer Colony Harvest.  Three UNSC battleships are sent to investigate this incident, engage the Covenant ship in battle, and are subsequently routed.  Only one, the Hercules, manages to return to Reach badly damaged.  By December of the same year, the UNSC has mobilized a massive fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Preston Cole, with orders to reclaim the Harvest Colony and stop the Covenant advance.

Covenant ships possess several technological features which make them far superior to their human counterparts.  First, they have superior manuvering and tracking abilities when employing faster than light travel (ships in ''Halo'', like many other science fiction titles, achieve faster than light speeds by moving through an alternate realm. In ''Halo'' it is called "Slipspace").  

Covenant and humanity use essentially the same technologies to enter Slipspace, but the Covenant are unaware that their engines can be used much more precisely than their human's counterparts.

Second, Covenant ships possess strong recharging shields which must be destroyed in order to physically damage the ship.  While humans have managed to replicate this effect on a small scale (ie: protection for individual soldiers), they are unable to create shields large enough to protect an entire ship.

Third, Covenant ships employ more powerful weapons, including a form of guided plasma which can often destroy human vessels in a single hit.  It should be noted that the Covenant also use plasma to exterminate the surface population of a planet (a process known as '[[glassing]]').

====The fall of the Outer Colonies====

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 Cole Protocol====

To protect the location of Earth, the UNSC establish the Cole Protocol.  When human forces are forced into retreat, they must not execute a Slipspace jump in the direction of Earth, even if this forces them to jump without the necessary navigational calculations (a "blind jump").  If such a jump is not possible, and if capture is imminent, the captain must order a self-destruct.  The onboard ship AI construct, normally imperative to navigation and tactical decisions, must either be destroyed or removed.

====The SPARTAN Project====
Several decades 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 [[Genetic engineering|genetically enhanced]] troops were trained from birth 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 armour 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====

By 2552, many of Humanity's Inner Colonies have been destroyed by the Covenant.  In a move of desparation, 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 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====

The ''Pillar of Autumn'' exits slipspace to find a mysterious ring shaped moon orbiting a [[wikipedia:gas giant|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 Master Chief in an [[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 [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] of [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]] and the [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]]s of [[wikipedia:Iain M. Banks|Iain M. Banks]].

===Characters===

* '''The [[Master Chief]]:''' The only SPARTAN thought to have survived the battle of Reach.  He is the character the player assumes during gameplay.

* '''[[Cortana]]:''' The ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>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.

===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 year]]s, 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 most likely several Halo ringworlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered "Installation 04" by a robot named [[343 Guilty Spark]], the Monitor of the installation. (it is revealed in HALO 2 taht there were 7 HALOS befor installation 04's destruction)

==Books==

As of 2004, three books have been written based in the Halo universe.
* ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' is a prequel to the game, written by [[Eric Nylund]]. 
* ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' is an adaptation of the game's story by [[William C. Dietz]]. 
* ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' is the story between the first game and its upcoming sequel by [[Eric Nylund]].

==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 [[wikipediamodification|mod]] for the computer game series [[wikipedia: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 halomods.com, 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.

==External links==

* [http://halo.bungie.net Official site]
* [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.redvsblue.com/ ''Red VS Blue''] - [[Machinima]] using the ''Halo'' engine
* [http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2003/11/halo/ ''Halo'' for Mac OS X]

[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Halo]]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Title|''Halo: Combat Evolved''}}
+<!-- begin WikiProject Computer and Video Games infobox-->{| cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2 align=right width=256px style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; padding: 6px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 10px; background-color: #f7f8ff; border:1px solid #8888aa;"
-{{Disambig header|the game|the [[Halo 5: Guardians]] and [[Halo Infinite]] medal|Combat Evolved (medal)}}
+|- style=background:#ccccff
-{{Status|RealWorld}}
+| align=center colspan=2|<font size="2">'''''Halo: Combat Evolved'''''</font>
-{{Game infobox
+|-
-|name= ''Halo: Combat Evolved''
+| align=center colspan=2|[[Image:halobox.jpg|185px|center|]]
-|image= [[File:Halo Combat Evolved cover.png|250px]]
+|- style=background:#ccccff
-|developer= [[Bungie|Bungie Studios]]<br> [[Gearbox Software]] (PC)<br> Westlake Interactive (Mac)
+| style=width:80px|[[Video game developer|Developer]]:
-|writer=[[Joseph Staten]]
+|[[Bungie Studios]]
-|composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]]<br>[[Michael Salvatori]]
+|
-|publisher= [[Microsoft Game Studios]]<br> [[Gearbox Software]] (PC)<br> MacSoft (Mac)
+|-
-|engine=[[Blam engine]]
+|Publisher:
-|platform= [[Xbox]], PC, Mac
+|[[Microsoft Game Studios]]
-|releasedate= '''Xbox:'''<br> '''US''': November 15, 2001<br />
+|- style=background:#ccccff
-'''UK''': March 14, 2002<br>'''PC:'''<br> '''US''': September 30, 2003<br />
+|Release date:
-'''UK''': October 10, 2003<br>'''Mac:'''<br> '''US''': December 3, 2003
+|2001
-|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
+|-
-|modes= [[Campaign]]<br>[[Multiplayer]]
+|Genre:
-|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood, Gore, and Violence<br>
+|[[First-person shooter]]
-[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only post-2003)<br>
+|- style=background:#ccccff
-[[Wikipedia:The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment|ELSPA]]: 15+ (Europe only pre-2003)<br>
+|Game modes:
-[[Wikipedia:Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle|USK]]: 18 (Germany only)<br>
+|[[Single player]], [[multiplayer]]
-[[Wikipedia:Australian Classification Board|ACB]]: 15+ Restricted (R15+) for Medium Level Animated Violence
+|-
-}}
+|[[ESRB]] rating:
-{{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]]}}
+|Mature (M)
-'''''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]]''.
+|- style=background:#ccccff
+|Platform:
+|[[Xbox]], [[Personal Computer|PC]]
+|-
+|Media:
+|CD, DVD
+|}
-''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>
+'''''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]] [[wikipedia:video game console|game console]] on November 15, 2001.
-== Synopsis ==
+{{spoiler}}
-=== Characters and setting ===
-''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.
-=== Plot synopsis ===
+==Introduction==
-<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.
+''Halo'' is a bestselling game for the [[Xbox]], considered by many to be that platform's "must-have" game. Many consider ''Halo'' to be one of the best first-person shooters of all time. For example, the usually harsh [[Edge]] magazine gave it a full score of ten out of ten. Nevertheless, ''Halo'' has its weaknesses; some criticise its gameplay as too repetitive.
-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.
+Prior to [[Bungie Studios|Bungie]]'s takeover by [[Microsoft]], the initial release of ''Halo'' was planned for the [[wikipedia:Mac OS|Mac OS]] and [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Windows]] platforms; in fact, the game was first previewed at the [[wikipedia:Macworld Conference & Expo|Macworld Conference & Expo]], New York, in 1999. It was also originally planned as a [[wikipedia:real-time strategy game|real-time strategy game]].
-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]].
+Following the takeover, ''Halo'' was released exclusively for Microsoft's [[Xbox]] [[wikipedia:video game console|game console]] on November 15, 2001.
-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.
+Almost two years later on September 30, 2003 a port of ''Halo'' for Windows was released, followed by a release for [[wikipedia:Mac OS X|Mac OS X]] on December 11, 2003.
-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.
+In the Windows version, however, some problems existed, largely stemming from its [[wikipedia:porting|porting]]. While the plot and content remained the same, certain segments of the population had trouble with framerate issues. Most of the issues, however, were caused by users who used detail settings from other games as a starting point for ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s settings. When detail settings (many barely noticeable when active) were removed or lessened, framerates typically rose to acceptable levels.
-{{Spoiler/end}}</onlyinclude>
-==Appearances==
+==Gameplay==
-{{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
+===Summary===
-*[[343 Guilty Spark]] {{1st}}
-*[[Cortana]]
-;Sangheili
+''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay is characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed [[first-person shooter]] games:
-*[[Lat 'Ravamee]] {{1st}}
-*[[Zuka 'Zamamee]] {{1st}}
-;Mgalekgolo
+* '''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.
-*[[Igido Nosa Hurru]] {{1st}}
-*[[Ogada Nosa Fasu]] {{1st}}
-;Forerunner
+* '''Vehicles:''' ''Halo'' incorporates many vehicles into its single and multiplayer games, including flying ones.
-*[[IsoDidact]] {{Fm}} {{Im}}
-|title-2=Species and entities|
+* '''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]].
-*[[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|
+* '''Artificial intelligence:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Artificial Intelligence|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.
-*[[Covenant]]
-**[[Covenant military]]
-***[[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|
+===Movement and aiming===
-*[[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|
+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, strafing and aiming are normally separated between the two [[joystick]]s; and on the PC, between the mouse and the keyboard.
-*[[Human-Covenant War]]
-**[[Battle of Installation 04]] {{1st}}
-**[[Fall of Reach]] {{Mo}}
-|title-6=Weapons|
+''Halo'' also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death.
-====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
+===Damage system===
-*[[110mm rotary cannon]] {{1st}}
-*[[120mm ventral gun]] {{1st}}
-*[[M370 autocannon]]
-*[[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]
-*[[Point-defense gun]]
-**[[M910 point defense network]]
-====Covenant====
+* '''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.
-;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
+* '''Shields:''' The player carries a [[Shields|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.
-*[[Energy projector]]
-*[[Heavy plasma cannon]]
-*[[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====
+===Powerups===
-;Unusable
-*[[Sentinel beam]] {{1st}}
-|title-7=Vehicles|
+There are three types of powerups available in ''Halo'':
-====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
+* '''Health packs:''' Fully restore the health of the player.
-*[[GA-TL1 Longsword]] {{c|C709 variant}}
+* '''Active camouflage:''' Drastically reduces the player's visibility for a period of time, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced if the player is hit by weapons fire, if he or she fires a weapon or throws a grenade, or in some cases if he or she switches weapons.
-*[[D77-TC Pelican]]
+* '''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.
-*{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}
-**{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}
-*[[Class-3 Bumblebee]]
-====Covenant====
+===Enemies===
-;Usable
-*[[Banshee]]
-**{{Pattern|Oghal|Banshee}}
-*[[Ghost]]
-**{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}
-;Unusable
+Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo: the Covenant, the Flood, and the Sentinels.
-*[[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|
+* '''[[The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant appear to be an alliance of different species, including the cowardly Grunts, the weak Jackals with their visible energy shields, the Elites with their personal energy shields, and the huge, tough Hunters with strong armour. The Covenant mostly carry plasma weapons of varying power. They also make extensive use of vehicles.
-;[[Power-up]]s
-*[[Active camouflage]]
-*[[Overshield]] {{1st}}
-;Armor
+* '''[[The Flood]]:''' The parasitic Flood are encountered in 3 forms: the lowly parasitic spores themselves, which usually die from a single shot; walking forms of 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 carriers, which cause splash damage and release spores.
-*[[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
+* '''[[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Sentinels, led by the probe [[343 Guilty Spark]], are hovering robotic drones, and will attack Flood, Covenant, and (depending on the point in the story) the Master Chief. Although possessing a powerful beam weapon, they are not particularly resistant to damage.
-*[[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 ==
+===Weapons===
-''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).
+'''NOTE''': The below discussion of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s weapons pertains to specifically to gameplay; ie, how and when the weapons are to be used.  For a more general discussion, see [[UNSC]] and [[The Covenant]].
-=== Environment ===
+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 fragmentation grenades and four plasma grenades).
-''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.
-''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.
+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 if fired too often, after which, they must be given time to cool down before they can be used again.
-=== Player damage system ===
+Human weapons, on the other hand, require both ammunition and constant reloading.  They are better suited to reducing health, and do not overheat.
-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".
-=== Damage Environment Mechanics ===
+====Human weapons====
-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 ===
+=====M6D  Pistol=====
-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:
+  Rate of Fire  : Average, semi-automatic (3.5 rounds per second)
-#[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]] - ''"Escape intact as Covenant forces board your ship."''
+  Damage per Hit: High
-#[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]] - ''"Seek out surviving Marines and help them fight the Covenant."''
+  Range         : Medium to long
-#[[The Truth and Reconciliation]] - ''"Board a Covenant ship in an attempt to rescue Captain Keyes."''
+  Accuracy      : High
-#[[The Silent Cartographer]] - ''"Search for the map room that will lead you to the secrets of Halo."''
+  Magazine Size : 12 rounds
-#[[Assault on the Control Room]] - ''"Defend the Control Room against wave after wave of Covenant troops."''
+  Maximum Ammo  : 132 rounds (including a fully loaded magazine)
-#[[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 ===
+'''Advantages'''
-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:
+The Pistol&#8217;s accuracy and high damage per hit make it ideal for eliminating Covenant Grunts and Jackals. The pistol is also extremely effective against Hunters, killing it with one shot to the exposed skin. It can also be used against the Flood, especially to take out the large, exploding kind; however, many players consider using the pistol against the Flood to be a waste of ammunition.
-*[[Battle Creek]]
-*[[Sidewinder]]
+'''Disadvantages'''
-*[[Damnation]]
-*[[Rat Race]]
-*[[Prisoner]]
-*[[Hang 'Em High]]
-*[[Chill Out]]
-*[[Derelict]]
-*[[Boarding Action]]
-*[[Chiron TL-34]]
-*[[Blood Gulch]]
-*[[Wizard]]
-*[[Longest]]
-== Development ==
+The pistol performs poorly against Covenant shields; so taking on Elites with only this weapon is ineffective.  However, the pistol can easily kill an Elite whose shield has already failed.  In addition, the pistol performs poorly against Covenant tanks and other fully armored vehicles.
-{{Main|Development of Halo: Combat Evolved}}
-=== Design ===
+'''Multiplayer Role'''
-{{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>
+Many consider the pistol to be the best multiplayer weapon due to its flexibility.  The pistol works well at medium and long ranges, and in the hands of a skilled player can even be effective when the target is close.  Three shots can yield a [[frag]] in a multiplayer game &#8211; two to disable the shield, and one headshot to kill.  This feat can be difficult to achieve due to lag.
-[[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>
+=====MA5B Assault Rifle=====
-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>
+  Rate of Fire  : High, fully automatic (15 rounds per second)
+  Damage per Hit: Low
+  Range         : Short to medium
+  Accuracy      : Low
+  Magazine Size : 60 rounds
+  Maximum Ammo  : 660 rounds (including fully loaded magazine)
-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>
+'''Advantages'''
-=== Audio ===
+When fired in short bursts to increase accuracy, the assault rifle is effective at killing unshielded opponents, even large groups of them.  This includes Covenant grunts and all variety of Flood.  The assault rifle is also effective at destroying Banshees, Ghosts and other Covenant vehicles.
-{{Main|Music of Halo: Combat Evolved}}
-[[File:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|200px|thumb|Cover art.]]
+'''Disadvantages'''
-''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>
+Like the pistol, the assault rifle performs poorly against shields.  Unlike the pistol, the assault rifle is inaccurate, preventing it from being effective against both Jackals and Elites.  In addition, the assault rifle&#8217;s high rate of fire necessitates constant reloading.
+'''Multiplayer Role'''
-==== Halo: Original Soundtrack ====
+Since players in ''Halo'' multiplayer normally spawn with shields, the assault rifle&#8217;s effectiveness is limited.  Normally, it is used because more specialized weapons are not available, or to destroy vehicles.  However, when combined with the plasma pistol (which can destroy shields quickly), the assault rifle can be a powerful medium- and short-range option.
-{{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 ==
+=====M90  Shotgun=====
-=== 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 ===
+  Rate of Fire  : Low, semi-automatic (1 round per second)
-{{Main|Cortana Letters}}
+  Damage per Hit: High
-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.
+  Range         : Point-blank to Short
+  Accuracy      : Low
+  Magazine Size : 12 rounds
+  Maximum Ammo  : 72 rounds (including fully loaded magazine)
-=== Package ===
+'''Advantages'''
-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 ===
+Since the shotgun fires 15 spreading slugs per shot, and since each slug does a significant amount of damage, this weapon can be devastating at short range.  Its high damage potential makes it effective against any Covenant unit except the Hunter &#8211; if the player can get close enough to render the gun effective.  The shotgun can also be used against all manner of vehicles, and many players consider it the ideal weapon with which to destroy Banshees.  In addition, this weapon is extremely effective against all forms of Flood at the short and medium range.
-''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>
-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''".
+'''Disadvantages'''
-===Rereleases===
+The shotgun&#8217;s greatest limiting factor is its range, making it useless in many wide, open terrains.  Ammunition for this gun is also sometimes difficult to come by.
-*'''2003''' - Rereleased for PC and Mac platforms as ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' for PC]]''.
-*'''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>
+'''Multiplayer Role'''
-*'''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 shotgun&#8217;s effectiveness in multiplayer games varies depending on the terrain &#8211; indoors and in tight spaces, it is considered by many to be the best weapon.  In the PC version of the game, it also serves to balance the flying Banshee.  Many players carry the shotgun and a long range weapon such as the pistol, thus making for a more flexible arsenal.
-{{Scrollbox
-|{{col-begin}}
-{{col-2}}
-;Project Lead
-:Jason Jones
-;Lead Producer
+=====S2 AM Sniper Rifle=====
-:Hamilton Chu
-;Executive Producer
+  Rate of Fire  : Average, semi-automatic (2 rounds per second)
-:Alexander Seropian
+  Damage per Hit: Very high
+  Range         : Medium to very long
+  Accuracy      : Very high
+  Magazine Size : 4 rounds
+  Maximum Ammo  : 28 rounds (including fully loaded magazine)
-;Producer
+'''Advantages'''
-:Rick Ryan
-;Programmers
+The sniper rifle is designed to be used at medium to long ranges, and is equipped with a scope and night vision for precisely this purpose.  With its 10x zoom (8x on the PC) and ability to penetrate Covenant shields, the sniper is useful against distant Elites.  A headshot against any Covenant infantry results in an instant kill.
-:Chris Butcher
-:Bernie Freidin
-:Charlie Gough
-:Mat Noguchi
-:Matt Segur
-;Art Director
+'''Disadvantages'''
-:Marcus Lehto
-;Assistant Art Lead
+The sniper rifle is ineffective at the short range, and has a fairly small magazine.  It also has a steeper learning curve than most weapons, taking significant practice to master.  Ammunition for this gun is also quite rare. It is ineffective against the larger forms of the Flood and against Sentinels.
-:Steve Abeyta
-;Artists
+'''Multiplayer Role'''
-: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
+Sniping, both moving and from a fixed location ([[camping (computer gaming)|camping]]), is very popular in ''Halo'' multiplayer (although it must be noted that, in multiplayer, the sniper rifle can only zoom 8x).  Uses for the sniper rifle include base defense, teleport denial, and picking off enemy players in Warthogs and Scorpion tanks.  Network [[lag]] is a serious problem for this weapon, as even a small error makes the difference between a hit and a miss.
-:John Howard
-;Designers
+=====M19 SSM Rocket Launcher=====
-:Paul Bertone
-:Tyson Green
-:Jaime Griesemer
-:Dan Orzulak
-;Additional Writing
+  Rate of Fire  : Low (1 round per 2 seconds)
-:Brannon Boren
+  Damage per Hit: Very high
-:Matt Soell
+  Range         : All (most effective at short-medium range)
-:Eric Trautmann
+  Accuracy      : Pinpoint
+  Magazine Size : 2 Rockets
+  Maximum Ammo  : 10 Rockets (including fully loaded magazine)
-;Multiplayer Lead Programmer
+'''Advantages'''
-:Michael Evans
-;Multiplayer Programmers
+The rocket launcher spreads huge amount of damage over a large area.  It is capable of taking out entire groups of targets at any range, and can destroy nearly any vehicle with one hit.
-:Adrian Perez
-:Stefan Sinclair
-;Multiplayer Lead Designer
+'''Disadvantages'''
-:Hardy LeBel
-;Multiplayer Artists
+Several things counterbalance the rocket launcher&#8217;s sheer power.  First, it fires and reloads slowly.  Second, ammunition is often unavailable, and the player can carry only 8 extra rockets at once.  Third, the rocket launcher can damage its own user if used at short ranges.  Finally, the rocket travels slow enough to be dodged.
-:Chris Carney
-:David Dunn
-:Peter Marks
-:David Moore
-:Stephen Okasaki
-;User Interface Lead
+'''Multiplayer Role'''
-:Max Hoberman
-;User Interface Designer
+Acquiring the rocket launcher in the multiplayer game may prove difficult, since it rarely appears in the spawn area.  However, once acquired, this weapon can prove very effective for all the reasons mentioned above: it can take out a large group of enemies in one shot, and can painlessly eliminate vehicles. Additionally, the pinpoint accuracy of the rocket launcher makes it very effective when combined with the sniper rifle (the rocket launcher is more accurate than the sniper rifle).
-:David Candland
-;User Interface Programmer
+====Covenant weapons====
-:Stefan Sinclair
-;Cinematics Director
+'''Plasma pistol:''' Capable of quickly firing low-powered shots, or firing a single high-powered blast which tracks its target to some degree.  This blast is capable of immediately dissipating all types of energy shields on the target. It holds five rounds to 1% battery, and 10 overcharges to 100% battery. Overheats when more than eleven rounds are fired in one second.
-:Joseph Staten
-  {{col-2}}
+'''Plasma rifle:''' Rapid fire gun which overheats slower than the plasma pistol.  The plasma rifle has a far smaller radius of fire than the assault rifle, though its accuracy degrades somewhat as it heats up. Overheats with four seconds of sustained fire.
-;Cinematic Artists
-:Steve Abeyta
-:Paul Clift
-:Adam Crockett
-:Lorraine McLees
-:Stephen Okasaki
-:Craig Mullins
-:Lee Wilson
-;Audio Lead/Original Music
+'''Needler:''' Fires tracking needles that embed themselves in the flesh of a target.  Less effective against vehicles.  Rate of fire increases with continuous fire, up to 20 rounds per second (the whole clip).  Needles will bounce off of oblique surfaces or embed themselves, depending on angle.  If a large number of needles (seven per explosion) accumulate in the target, an explosion will occur, causing small splash damage.  Needles can penetrate the energy shields of Elites/Sentinels/Spartans (e.g. the Master Chief), but not the hand-held shields of Jackals.  Magazine fed (clip: 20, max ammo:  80 + 20 loaded).
-:Martin O'Donnell
-;Additional Music
+===Vehicles===
-:Michael Salvatori
-;Sound Designers
+The vehicles available to the player are the ''[[Warthog]]'' M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, the ''[[Scorpion]]'' main battle tank, the ''[[Ghost]]'' reconnaissance and rapid attack vehicle, and the ''[[Banshee]]'' ground assault aircraft. Note that the Banshee is unavailable in multiplayer in the Xbox version.
-:Jay Weinland
-:Adam Tewes
-;Test Manager
+The Warthog is a human vehicle that, like other human vehicles, does not take its own damage, and holds three total people: a driver, a passenger, and a gunner. The gunner uses a large, precise gatling-style automatic gun with infinite ammunition. Like all human weapons, it is more suited to eliminating health than shields, but with its high rate of fire, high damage per hit, and high precision it can dispatch most anything relatively quickly. While the gun is precise, it is often difficult to aim, especially for beginners and especially while the Warthog is in motion. In the PC version, there is a "Rocket Warthog" which has a rocket emplacement rather than the gatling gun. The person in the passenger seat of a Warthog rides shotgun, able to use whatever weapons they currently have on them to attack enemies from the Warthog. This is somewhat ineffective, as it is often difficult to aim in a moving Warthog, though experienced drivers can line up shots for the passenger and gunner. The driver has no armaments other than the bumper of the Warthog, which can be very effective as it kills any enemy on foot instantly. Experienced players can dodge a Warthog attack effectively, however.
-:Harold Ryan
-;Test Leads
+The Scorpion Tank is a human vehicle so named for its shape, with its main gun resembling a scorpion's stinger. The tank can hold a total of 5 people: a driver and 4 passengers. The driver not only controls the movement of the tank, but also its two guns: a main explosive cannon and a coaxially-mounted machine gun. The main cannon fires high explosive rounds that are more powerful and much faster than the shoulder-fired rocket launchers, and are also not limited by ammunition restraints. The disadvantages to this are the long cool-down time (four seconds between shots) and that the projectiles, although very fast, are not quite instant, calling for a slight lead on the target. This gun will destroy any Covenant unit in one shot, with the exception of the Covenant Wraith tank, which requires two shots. The secondary machine gun is very powerful and has a high rate of fire but is '''extremely''' imprecise. This is a major disadvantage, but with its infinite ammo and zero cooldown time, the gun can just be fired at all times to pin down enemy units in between bursts from the main cannon. Passengers of the Scorpion tank can fire whatever weapons they are carrying in the same fashion as the Warthog, but are much more exposed to danger than Warthog passengers.
-:Curtis Creamer
-:Ryan Hylland
-:Keith Steury
-;Testers
+The Ghost is a Covenant vehicle, and like all Covenant vehicles the Ghost takes its own damage and has its own health bar independent of the driver's. It can only take a certain amount of punishment before the Ghost itself explodes, invariably killing the rider.  However, in multiplayer, the Ghost sustains no damage of its own.  The Ghost is the only usable vehicle with the same movement options of the normal player: that is, it is the only playable vehicle with sidestrafing. The Ghost is equipped with plasma cannons that have relatively the same properties as the Covenant plasma rifle, with a higher power, higher of fire, infinite ammo and no cool-down time. This, combined with the Ghost's ability to move quickly and over many obstacles, lead to the ghost's main role as a fast attack and scouting vehicle. The Ghost can be easily destroyed by any explosive fire, grenades, or relatively few shotgun blasts.
-: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
+The Banshee, so named for the characteristic wail of its engines, is a Covenant vehicle and is the only playable flying vehicle. It is similar to the Ghost, except that its flying lends it more of an attack role as it can evade most fire with its speed and flying abilities. In addition to its plasma cannons, the Banshee also sports the Hunter's fuel rod cannon, which has infinite ammunition but a four second cool-down time, similar to the Scorpion's main cannon. The fuel rod cannon is the only player-usable weapon in the game where the projectiles travel parabolically, and as such aim adjustments must be made. Banshees are unavailable in the Xbox multiplayer.
-: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
+There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC Pelican dropship, and the Covenant dropship. The only tactically interesting of these vehicles is the Covenant 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's main cannon, the rocket launcher, or the Banshee's fuel rod cannon.
-:Folks at Bungie
-;Damage and Spin
+===Environments===
-:Matt Soell
-;Draft Dodgers
+''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments in which combat occurs, including the human starship ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'', the Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'', ancient buildings on Halo itself, and vast outdoor expanses of varying climates, including the temperate lands of the levels ''[[The Silent Cartographer]]'' and ''Halo'', the desert in the first half of the 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]]''. Six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.
-:Pete Demoreuille
-:Tom Gioconda
-:Joshua Grass
-:Justin Hayward
-:Jason Major
-:Juan Ramirez
-:Bob Settles
-;Product Manager
+===Multiplayer===
-:Steve Fowler
-;Product Planner
+players can play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[local area network]], using four Xboxes that have been connected through an [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub. 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'' 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.
-:Jon Kimmch
-;Localization Program Manager
+'''[[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 sniper their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy [[Red Vs Blue]]. The level reappeared in the sequel, [[Halo 2]] under a different name, although many of its features are similar if not identical.
-:Ji Hong
-{{col-end}}
-}}
-==Production notes==
+==Storyline==
-*''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==
+''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s storyline is linear; there is only one ending (in contrast to other first person shooters such as ''[[wikipedia:DeusEx|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.
-===Cover art===
-<gallery>
-File:Halo - Combat Evolved Logo Huge.png|Title art.
-File:HCE BoxArt.png|Pre-release cover art (note the absence of gas around Threshold and the darker Banshee to the left).
-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.
-File:HCE CHIEFONT.jpg|The Master Chief fighting the Covenant.
-File:HCE Chief&Shotgun.jpg|The Master Chief holding a shotgun.
-File:HCE Chief Banshee.jpg|The Master Chief flying a Banshee.
-File:HCE MC Burning Hunter.jpg|The Master Chief using a flamethrower against a hunter.
-File:HCE MC Elite Cannon.jpg|The Master Chief fighting the Covenant.
-File:HCE MC Gravity Lift.jpg|The Master chief next to the gravity lift of the ''Truth and Reconciliation''.
-File:HCE MC Scorpion.jpg|The Master Chief next to two Scorpion tanks and dead grunts.
-File:HCE MC Jackals Flamethrower.jpg|The Master Chief using a flamethrower against jackals.
-File:HCE JEEPONGH.jpg|The Master Chief driving a Warthog.
-</gallery>
-===Screenshots===
-<gallery>
-File:HCE ChiefFiringAR.jpg|The Master Chief firing an assault rifle.
-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==
+===Brief summary===
-{{Ref/Sources|2}}
-==See also==
+''Halo'', like previous Bungie releases such as the ''[[Wikipedia:Marathon (computer game)|Marathon]]'' series, has an intricate plot.
-*[[Blam!]]
-*[[Halo: Combat Evolved credits|Halo: Combat Evolved Credits]]
-*[[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo|Archived Xbox.com portal page for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']]
-== External links ==
+The "Halo" in the title refers to an enormous artificial space habitat similar to a [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]] discovered by the warship ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'', which the central character, the Master Chief John-117, is aboard. With the help of his fellow marines and the ship's [[artificial intelligence]], Cortana, the Master Chief discovers some of the secrets of Halo while fighting off members of [[The Covenant]], archenemies of humanity who, presumably, wish to find Halo's secrets for themselves.
-*[http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/Halo/default.aspx ''Official project page'' on '''Bungie.net''']
-*[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halocombatevolved#video_1 ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' on '''Halo Waypoint''']
-*[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'']
-{{Navbox/Media/Games}}
+===Backstory===
-{{DEFAULTSORT:1, Halo}}
-[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved| ]]
+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.
-[[Category:Canon]]
-[[Category:Bungie games]]
+====The human colonization of the Orion Arm====
+In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully develop humanity's first [[faster than light]] 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 Covenant Wars begin====
+On April 3, 2530, first contact is made with an alliance of alien races that refers to itself as The Covenant.  On that day, a single Covenant Warship exterminated the surface population of the Outer Colony Harvest.  Three UNSC battleships are sent to investigate this incident, engage the Covenant ship in battle, and are subsequently routed.  Only one, the Hercules, manages to return to Reach badly damaged.  By December of the same year, the UNSC has mobilized a massive fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Preston Cole, with orders to reclaim the Harvest Colony and stop the Covenant advance.
+Covenant ships possess several technological features which make them far superior to their human counterparts.  First, they have superior manuvering and tracking abilities when employing faster than light travel (ships in ''Halo'', like many other science fiction titles, achieve faster than light speeds by moving through an alternate realm. In ''Halo'' it is called "Slipspace").
+Covenant and humanity use essentially the same technologies to enter Slipspace, but the Covenant are unaware that their engines can be used much more precisely than their human's counterparts.
+Second, Covenant ships possess strong recharging shields which must be destroyed in order to physically damage the ship.  While humans have managed to replicate this effect on a small scale (ie: protection for individual soldiers), they are unable to create shields large enough to protect an entire ship.
+Third, Covenant ships employ more powerful weapons, including a form of guided plasma which can often destroy human vessels in a single hit.  It should be noted that the Covenant also use plasma to exterminate the surface population of a planet (a process known as '[[glassing]]').
+====The fall of the Outer Colonies====
+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 Cole Protocol====
+To protect the location of Earth, the UNSC establish the Cole Protocol.  When human forces are forced into retreat, they must not execute a Slipspace jump in the direction of Earth, even if this forces them to jump without the necessary navigational calculations (a "blind jump").  If such a jump is not possible, and if capture is imminent, the captain must order a self-destruct.  The onboard ship AI construct, normally imperative to navigation and tactical decisions, must either be destroyed or removed.
+====The SPARTAN Project====
+Several decades 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 [[Genetic engineering|genetically enhanced]] troops were trained from birth 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 armour 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====
+By 2552, many of Humanity's Inner Colonies have been destroyed by the Covenant.  In a move of desparation, 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 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====
+The ''Pillar of Autumn'' exits slipspace to find a mysterious ring shaped moon orbiting a [[wikipedia:gas giant|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 Master Chief in an [[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 [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] of [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]] and the [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]]s of [[wikipedia:Iain M. Banks|Iain M. Banks]].
+===Characters===
+* '''The [[Master Chief]]:''' The only SPARTAN thought to have survived the battle of Reach.  He is the character the player assumes during gameplay.
+* '''[[Cortana]]:''' The ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>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.
+===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 year]]s, 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 most likely several Halo ringworlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered "Installation 04" by a robot named [[343 Guilty Spark]], the Monitor of the installation. (it is revealed in HALO 2 taht there were 7 HALOS befor installation 04's destruction)
+==Books==
+As of 2004, three books have been written based in the Halo universe.
+* ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' is a prequel to the game, written by [[Eric Nylund]].
+* ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' is an adaptation of the game's story by [[William C. Dietz]].
+* ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' is the story between the first game and its upcoming sequel by [[Eric Nylund]].
+==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 [[wikipediamodification|mod]] for the computer game series [[wikipedia: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 halomods.com, 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.
+==External links==
+* [http://halo.bungie.net Official site]
+* [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.redvsblue.com/ ''Red VS Blue''] - [[Machinima]] using the ''Halo'' engine
+* [http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2003/11/halo/ ''Halo'' for Mac OS X]
+[[Category:Games]]
+[[Category:Halo]]