Halo Zero: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:46, December 9, 2023

This article contains information about a fan-made subject that is not considered a part of the official Halo universe.

The cover of Halo Zero.

Halo Zero is a fan-made 2D sidescroller shoot 'em up PC game created by Dobermann. The game was released to the public via hosting servers on December 12, 2005. The game's plot is loosely based on the Battle of Reach, before Halo: Combat Evolved took place. The game is not endorsed by Microsoft, Bungie, or 343 Industries; and thus, is considered non-canon.

Plot[edit]

The game takes place during the Battle of Reach, the Master Chief fights his way through waves of Covenant forces invading the "Complex". At the end he is picked up by a Pelican, but later shot down. After wandering through a forest, he finds a Warthog. At the end of the ride he gets out and stops a Covenant bomb from destroying a generator. Once the bomb is disarmed, Vice Admiral Whitcomb sends the Chief a transmission saying he's a prisoner on a Covenant ship. Once the Admiral is rescued, the Master Chief goes to CASTLE Base and saves Sergeant Johnson, who stole an artifact. Together, Johnson and the Chief fight against the Covenant forces until a Pelican arrives to pick them up, carrying them to safety.

Throughout the game all characters call the Covenant "Covenants". The Covenant ship featured in the game was referred to as the "Truth and Reconciliation".

Gameplay[edit]

The main menu of Halo Zero.

The game had a campaign mode and multiplayer mode. Campaign mode had five difficulty settings, Easy, Normal, Heroic, Legendary, and Mythic. Mythic difficulty would be unlocked by finishing the game on all other difficulties.

The keyboard arrow keys were used for movement, and the mouse acted as a free look, while the left mouse button and the right mouse button shot and threw grenades, respectively. All other functions such as melee, Switch Weapon and Jump were subject to be changed by the user, but the mouse controls were unchangeable.

Multiplayer maps were based off of existing Halo multiplayer maps such as Zanzibar and Blood Gulch.

System requirements[edit]

1GHZ Processor
256MB of RAM
22MB free disk space
A keyboard and mouse
A high speed Internet connection

Production notes[edit]

A screenshot of the Level Editor.

The "Halo Zero" project started in late 2004 by Dobermann.^[1] The production phase took a year and utilised sprites and background designs that were previously used in another previously-popular Halo: Blood Covenant.^[1]^{[notes 1]}^[2]

During the summer of 2004, just before the release of Halo 2, screenshots of the relatively unknown Halo Zero were sent around the Internet ostensibly as proof of an upcoming Halo game for the Game Boy Advance.^[3]

On May 31, 2009, the official site and therefore server of Halo Zero was deactivated due to a lack of money to continue to keep the site running.^[4]

Halo Zero Level Editor[edit]

The Halo Zero Level Editor was a program that allowed the user to create and edit levels compatible with Halo Zero.^{[verification needed]}

Halo Zero 2[edit]

Halo Zero 2 was a planned but never completed sequel to Halo Zero, apparently incorporating some of Halo 2's new features, such as the Battle Rifle and the SMGs. The first version of Halo Zero 2 resembles the gameplay styles used in Metal Slug.^[5] Later in the production phase, Halo Zero 2 returned to the design previously used in Halo Zero.^[5] The Halo Zero 2 project was eventually put on hold indefinitely, later cancelled due to the bandwidth costs of maintaining the game site and having no funds to pay it.^[4]

Gallery[edit]

The Master Chief sprite.
Warthog Sprite
A screenshot of Halo Zero's gameplay.
A screenshot of the Alpha-build of Halo Zero 2
A screenshot of the Alpha-build of Halo Zero 2. Gameplay style was similar to that of Metal Slug.
A screenshot from the canceled Halo Zero 2.

Notes[edit]

^ Dobermann received permission to use contents from Halo: Blood Covenant for Halo Zero.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

[2] Dobermann received permission to use contents from Halo: Blood Covenant for Halo Zero.

[HZ1-1] Dob's Games: Halo Zero Production History

[3] HaloZeroForums: HBC content in HZ

[4] GameSpot: Halo GBA and Dirty Harry the Game

[shutdown-5] Dobentertainment: Announcement of the Close Down

[HZ2-6] Dob's Games: Halo Zero: Evolved/Halo Zero 2 Production History

[1]

[notes 1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Ratings}}
+{{Status|RealWorld}}
-{{realworld}}
+{{Fan made}}
-{{references}}
-'''''Halo Zero''''', originally called ''Halo: Blood Covenant'', was a fan-made 2D platformer-shooter PC game created by Dobermann. The game was loosely based on the [[Battle of Reach]], before ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' took place. The game was not endorsed by [[Microsoft]] or [[Bungie]], and thus, is considered non-canon. During the summer of 2004, just before the release of ''[[Halo 2]]'', screenshots of the relatively unknown ''Halo Zero'' were sent around the Internet ostensibly as proof of an upcoming ''Halo'' game for the [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance|Game Boy Advance]]<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/news.html?sid=6100959 GameSpot Rumor Control: Halo GBA and Dirty Harry the Game]</ref>.
+[[File:HaloZero Cover.jpg|200px|thumb|The cover of Halo Zero.]]
+'''Halo Zero''' is a fan-made 2D [[wikipedia:Side-scrolling video game|sidescroller]] [[wikipedia:Shoot 'em up|shoot 'em up]] PC game created by Dobermann. The game was released to the public via hosting servers on December 12, 2005. The game's plot is loosely based on the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]], before ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' took place. The game is not endorsed by [[Microsoft]], [[Bungie]], or [[343 Industries]]; and thus, is considered non-canon.
 ==Plot==
-Apparently set during the Battle of Reach, the [[Master Chief]] fights his way through waves of Covenant forces invading the [[#Campaign|Complex]]. At the end he is picked up by a [[Pelican]], but later shot down. After wandering through a forest, he finds a [[Warthog]]. At the end of the ride he gets out and stops a Covenant bomb from destroying a generator. Once the bomb is disarmed, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Whitcomb]] send the Chief a transmission saying he's a prisoner on a Covenant ship. Once the Admiral is rescued, the Master Chief goes to a "castle" and saves Sergeant [[Johnson]], who stole an artifact. Together, Johnson and the Chief fight against the Covenant forces until a Pelican arrives to pick them up, carrying them to safety.
+The game takes place during the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]], the [[John-117|Master Chief]] fights his way through waves of Covenant forces invading the "Complex". At the end he is picked up by a [[Pelican]], but later shot down. After wandering through a forest, he finds a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]]. At the end of the ride he gets out and stops a Covenant bomb from destroying a generator. Once the bomb is disarmed, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb|Whitcomb]] sends the Chief a transmission saying he's a prisoner on a Covenant ship. Once the Admiral is rescued, the Master Chief goes to [[CASTLE Base]] and saves [[Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Johnson]], who stole an artifact. Together, Johnson and the Chief fight against the Covenant forces until a Pelican arrives to pick them up, carrying them to safety.
-Throughout the game all characters call the Covenant "Covenants", and according to the game the Covenant ship was "Truth and Recanciliation".
-Strangely enough, at the beginning of the game, it says "Bungie" like it would for any other game, but Halo Zero was not made by Bungie. This may have been done to create the illusion that it is a regular Halo game.
+Throughout the game all characters call the Covenant "Covenants". The Covenant ship featured in the game was referred to as the "''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''".
 == Gameplay ==
-[[Image:HaloZero1.JPG|thumb|right|150px|A screenshot of Halo Zero's gameplay.]]
+[[File:HaloZero MainMenu.png|200px|thumb|The main menu of Halo Zero.]]
-The game had a [[Campaign]] mode and [[Multiplayer]] mode. Campaign mode had five difficulty settings, [[Easy]], [[Normal]], [[Heroic]], [[Legendary]], and Mythic. Mythic difficulty would be unlocked by finishing the game in all other difficulties.
+The game had a campaign mode and [[multiplayer]] mode. Campaign mode had five difficulty settings, [[Easy]], [[Normal]], [[Heroic]], [[Legendary]], and Mythic. Mythic difficulty would be unlocked by finishing the game on all other difficulties.
-The keyboard arrow keys were used for movement, and the mouse acted as a free look, while the left mouse button and the right mouse button shot and threw grenades, respectively. All other functions such as Melee, Switch Weapon and Jump were subject to be changed by the user, but the mouse controls were unchangeable.
-Multiplayer maps were based off of existing Halo Multiplayer maps such as ''[[Zanzibar]]'' and ''[[Blood Gulch]]''.
-=== Weapons===
+The keyboard arrow keys were used for movement, and the mouse acted as a free look, while the left mouse button and the right mouse button shot and threw grenades, respectively. All other functions such as melee, Switch Weapon and Jump were subject to be changed by the user, but the mouse controls were unchangeable.
-{{col-begin}}
-{{col-2}}
-'''UNSC Weaponry'''
-*[[M6D Pistol]]
-*[[Assault Rifle|MA5B Assault Rifle]]
-*[[Shotgun|M90 Shotgun]]
-*[[Sniper Rifle|S2 AM Sniper Rifle]]
-*[[Rocket Launcher|M19 SSM Rocket Launcher]]
-*[[Frag Grenade]]
-{{col-2}}
-'''Covenant Weaponry'''
-*[[Plasma Pistol]]
-*[[Plasma Rifle]]
-*[[Needler]]
-*[[Energy Sword]] (unlocked after Mythic difficulty is beaten, dropped by Zealot Elites)
-*[[Plasma Grenade]]
-{{col-end}}
-=== Enemies ===
+Multiplayer maps were based off of existing Halo multiplayer maps such as ''[[Zanzibar]]'' and ''[[Blood Gulch]]''.
-[[Image:HaloZero3.JPG|right|thumb|150px|The Master Chief charging into a Zealot.]]
-*[[Minor Grunts]]
-*[[Major Grunts]]
-*[[Jackals]]
-*[[Minor Elites]]
-*[[Major Elites]]
-*[[Zealot|Zealot Elites]]
-*[[Hunters]]
-*[[Banshees]]
-==System Requirements==
+==System requirements==
 *1GHZ Processor
 *256MB of RAM
@@ Line 56: / Line 25: @@
 *A high speed Internet connection
-==Developmental Notes==
+==Production notes==
-[[Image:HaloZero2.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The Master Chief ramming down Covenant forces]]
+[[File:Halo Zero Level Editor.PNG|150px|thumb|A screenshot of the Level Editor.]]
-Notably, the game had many bugs, and had many misleading concepts, such as the fact that the game didn't shoot where the cursor pointed, but where the Master Chief was aiming, and that headshots didn't do more damage than body shots. Many problems in collision detection occurred as well, such as [[Jackals]] being hard to hit due to their shield absorbing the first hit they take (unless hit by a rocket), making a [[melee]] attack the most efficient way to take them out.
+The "Halo Zero" project started in late 2004 by Dobermann.<ref name="HZ1">[http://dobgames.ownbb.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4 '''Dob's Games''': ''Halo Zero Production History'']</ref> The production phase took a year and utilised sprites and background designs that were previously used in another previously-popular Halo: Blood Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|HZ1}}<ref group="notes">Dobermann received permission to use contents from Halo: Blood Covenant for Halo Zero.</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061031081858/z14.invisionfree.com/halozero/index.php?showtopic=1036 '''HaloZeroForums''': ''HBC content in HZ'']</ref>
+During the summer of 2004, just before the release of ''[[Halo 2]]'', screenshots of the relatively unknown ''Halo Zero'' were sent around the Internet ostensibly as proof of an upcoming ''Halo'' game for the [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance|Game Boy Advance]].<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/news.html?sid=6100959 '''GameSpot''': ''Halo GBA and Dirty Harry the Game'']</ref>
+On May 31, 2009, the official site and therefore server of Halo Zero was deactivated due to a lack of money to continue to keep the site running.{{Ref/Reuse|shutdown}}
-On May 31, 2009, the official site and therefor server of Halo Zero was deactivated due to a lack of money to continue to keep the site running. The final game version was 1.8.6.3.
+===Halo Zero Level Editor===
+The ''Halo Zero'' Level Editor was a program that allowed the user to create and edit levels compatible with ''Halo Zero''.{{Verify}}
-===''Halo Zero'' Level Editor===
+===Halo Zero 2===
-[[File:Halo_Zero_Level_Editor.PNG|150px|thumb|A screenshot of the Level Editor.]]
+'''Halo Zero 2''' was a planned but never completed sequel to Halo Zero, apparently incorporating some of ''Halo 2''<nowiki />'s new features, such as the [[Battle rifle|Battle Rifle]] and the [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMGs]]. The first version of Halo Zero 2 resembles the gameplay styles used in [[Wikipedia:Metal Slug|Metal Slug]].<ref name="HZ2">[http://dobgames.ownbb.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5 '''Dob's Games''': ''Halo Zero: Evolved/Halo Zero 2 Production History'']</ref> Later in the production phase, Halo Zero 2 returned to the design previously used in Halo Zero.{{Ref/Reuse|HZ2}} The Halo Zero 2 project was eventually put on hold indefinitely, later cancelled due to the bandwidth costs of maintaining the game site and having no funds to pay it.<ref name="shutdown">[http://dobentertainment.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=116 '''Dobentertainment''': ''Announcement of the Close Down'']</ref>
-The ''Halo Zero'' Level Editor was a program that allowed the user to create and edit levels compatible with ''Halo Zero''. But it still did not fix the many bugs in the game and the level editor was reported to be rather glitchy.
+==Gallery==
+<gallery widths="160">
+File:MC.JPG|The Master Chief sprite.
+File:HaloZero2.JPG|Warthog Sprite
+File:HZ-Game1.png|A screenshot of Halo Zero's gameplay.
+File:HZ-Game2.png|
+File:HaloZero1.JPG|
+File:HaloZero3.JPG|
+File:HZ2-Alpha1.png|A screenshot of the Alpha-build of Halo Zero 2
+File:HZ2-Alpha2.png|A screenshot of the Alpha-build of Halo Zero 2. Gameplay style was similar to that of ''Metal Slug''.
+File:HZ2 PB1.png|A screenshot from the canceled Halo Zero 2.
+File:Hz2 24.PNG|
+File:Hzpscreen04.png|
+</gallery>
-===''Halo Zero 2''===
+==Notes==
-[[File:Hz2_1.PNG|150px|thumb|A screenshot of the canceled sequel, ''Halo Zero 2''.]]
+<references group="notes"/>
-'''''Halo Zero 2''''' was a planned but never completed sequel, apparently incorporating some of ''Halo 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s new features, such as the [[Battle Rifle]] and the [[SMG]]s. The project was cancelled due to the bandwidth costs of maintaining the game site and having no funds to pay it.<ref>[http://dobentertainment.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=116 Dobermann Announcement of the Close Down]</ref>
 ==Sources==
-<references/>
+{{Ref/Sources}}
-==Related Links==
+==External links==
-===External Links===
 *[http://dobgames.ownbb.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4 Halo Zero Game Info and Downloads]
-*[http://files.filefront.com/Halo+Zero+Level+Editor/;4745435;/fileinfo.html Halo Zero Level Editor Download]
 *[http://hzmods.wordpress.com/ Halo Zero Modding Community]
-[[Category:Fan-Made Games]]
+{{Fan Works}}
+[[Category:Games]]