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{{Era|H1|FA|RW|}}
{{infobox
{{ratings}}
|image=[[Image:Halo1 Box.jpg|220px|Halo: Combat Evolved]]
{{Game Info Box
|developer=[[Bungie Studios]]
|name=Halo: Combat Evolved
|platforms=[[Xbox]], [[Halo PC|PC]], [[Halo Mac|Mac]]
|image=Halo_Combat_Evolved_(Xbox)_Platinum_Hits_box_art.JPG
|released=November 11, 2001 (US)
|imageSize=250
|modes=[[Single player]], [[multiplayer]]
|Developer=[[Bungie Studios]]
|publisher=[[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|Publisher= [[wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]]
|genre=[[First-person shooter]]
|US Date Released= November 15, 2001
|ratings=[[ESRB]]: Mature (M)
|UK Date Released= March 14, 2002
|media=CD, DVD
|Genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|Game modes=[[Campaign Mode]], [[multiplayer]]
|ESRB= Mature for Blood, Gore, and Violence (M)
|Platform=[[Xbox]]<BR>[[Halo PC|PC]], [[Halo Mac|Mac]]
|Designer=[[Paul Bertone]]<br/>
[[Tyson Green]]<br/>
[[Jaime Griesemer]]<br/>
[[Dan Orzulak]]<br/>
|Writer=[[Joseph Staten]]
|Composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]]<br/>
[[Michael Salvatori]]
|Media=CD, DVD
|Website=[http://www.bungie.net/Projects/Halo/default.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo: Combat Evolved Project Page'']
}}
}}


{{Quote|Halo: Combat Evolved! Buy one! Heck, buy two! That's an order, soldier!|[[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] after the player completed the [[Halo Trial|Halo: Combat Evolved demo.]]}}
'''''Halo: Combat Evolved''''' is a video game in the [[First Person Shooter]] (FPS) genre, created by the [[wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]]-owned [[Bungie Studios]]. It was released for the [[wikipedia:Xbox|Xbox]] [[wikipedia:video game console|game console]] on November 15, 2001.


'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' is a [[First Person Shooter|first person shooter]] science-fiction video game, created by [[Bungie Studios]], which was a subsidiary of [[Microsoft Game Studios]] at that time. It was released for the original [[Xbox]] game console on November 15, 2001, and is backwards compatible with the [[Xbox 360]] by downloading a free code patch on [[Xbox Live]]. It was also released for PC and Mac and it 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]]''. This game has been a classic even though it was released in 2001.  
== 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 [[wikipedia:Edge|Edge]] magazine gave it a full score of ten out of ten. Nevertheless, ''Halo'' has its weaknesses; some criticise its gameplay as too repetitive.


''Halo: Combat Evolved'' has been made available as an Xbox Original game title for Xbox 360 since 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>
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 real-time strategy game.


== Campaign ==
Following the takeover, ''Halo'' was released 'exclusively' which in the end was false - for Microsoft's Xbox game console on November 15, 2001.
[[File:Halo.gif|thumb|right|Halo Art (Installation 04).]]
''Halo''<nowiki>'</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. 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. The Xbox version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' allows one player to play the campaign alone, as well as allow two players to play through the campaign in split screen. The [[Halo PC|PC version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']] allows only one player to play through the campaign.


''Halo: Combat Evolved'' Campaign consists of 10 levels:
Almost two years later on September 30, 2003 a port of ''Halo'' for [[Halo PC|Windows]] was released, followed by a release for [[Halo Mac|Mac OS X]] on December 11, 2003.
#[[The Pillar of Autumn]]
#[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved Level)|Halo]]  
#[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]
#[[The Silent Cartographer]]
#[[Assault on the Control Room]]
#[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]
#[[The Library]]
#[[Two Betrayals]]
#[[Keyes]]
#[[The Maw]]


=== Brief Summary ===
In the Windows version, however, some problems existed, largely stemming from its 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.
''Halo'', like Bungie's previous releases such as the ''[[Marathon]]'' series, has an intricate plot:


The {{UNSCship|Pillar of Autumn}} emerges out of [[Slipspace]] to find a huge ring—a "halo" floating in space. The main character, [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]], is aboard the ''Autumn'' when the ship comes under attack by the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], an alliance of aliens and the arch-enemy of humanity. John-117 evacuates the doomed ship for the surface of Halo to protect the ''Autumn's'' artificial intelligence, [[Cortana]]. She carries highly sensitive military information, which would prove disastrous if she were captured by the Covenant. With the UNSC Marines by his side, Cortana providing direction, and his assault rifle ready and loaded, the Master Chief sets to finding out the mysteries of Halo and defeating the Covenant.
==Gameplay==
{{spoiler}}


===Game Plot===
=== Summary ===
The first few levels of the game deal with an attempt to reach Halo's [[Control Room|Control Center]] to uncover its purpose. It is soon discovered that during an attempt to take control of a research facility, both human and Covenant forces have accidentally released something: [[The Flood]], as a result of the battle. The Flood is a parasitic race which received their name because of the way they swarm over all resistance. Free for the first time in thousands of years, the Flood sweeps across Halo, devastating Human and Covenant forces alike. The release of the Flood prompts [[343 Guilty Spark (Construct)|343 Guilty Spark]], the eccentric [[Forerunner]] artificial intelligence, to activate Halo's defense systems. Most obvious among these are the [[Sentinels]], flying robots equipped with beam projectors, but Halo's most powerful weapon is much more subtle and far more dangerous. Halo can fire a pulse that will wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy. As sentient life is the Flood's food, the Flood will not be able to survive, and will therefore perish. Technically the [[Installation 04|Installation]] only has a maximum effective radius of 25,000 light years, but the pulse would trigger other installations as well. This system is designed to stop the Flood from spreading through the universe if they escape confinement from Halo, by starving the Flood of any life source large enough to sustain them. This is the only possible solution to the destructive parasite.
''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay is characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed [[first-person shooter]] games:
 
Naturally, this would wipe out Humanity as well as the Covenant, and so the final levels of the game revolve around the Chief's attempt to destroy Halo before it fires.
 
The game leaves the story open to further developments, with the revelation that there are several Halo ring worlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered Installation 04 by 343 Guilty Spark, the Monitor of the Installation. It is revealed later in Halo 2 that there were seven Halos before Installation 04's destruction.
 
=== 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. Noteworthy is its use of the oft-used battle between monoculture radicalism and free culturalism. Also present, although less pronounced, is the likewise popular theme of blind religion (Covenant) versus free-thought secularism (UNSC). A summary of this back story is presented below.


==== Early Conflicts ====
* '''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.
2160-2200: This is a period of brutal unrest in Human history in which Governments and Factions fight for control of Earth and its colonies.


As overpopulation and unrest mounted on [[Earth]], a number of new political movements were formed including the left wing '''[[Koslovics]]''' led by Vladimir Koslov and the neo Jovian '''Frieden, '''which attacked the UN Colonial Advisers on the moon, and UN-sponsored military forces began a pattern of massive build-ups which culminated in the first Interplanetary and Rain Forest Wars of the Jovian Moons Campaign. After the successful Marine attack on Mars, recruitment drives and propaganda tactics strongly bolstered UNSC forces. They defeated the Koslovics and the Frieden on Earth and crushed their remnants throughout the Solar System. Both factions were defeated in the face of massive, unified UN military.
* '''Vehicles:''' ''Halo'' incorporates many vehicles into its single and multiplayer games, including flying ones.  


==== The Human Colonization of the Orion Arm ====
* '''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]].
In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully developed humanity's first [[Slipspace]] drive, the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. For the first time in history, the rapid colonization of other worlds was made possible. By 2390, 210 worlds had been occupied by humans, and were being actively terraformed (Built) to suit man's needs. These worlds were to become known as the Inner Colonies. By 2490, the UNSC's fledgling interstellar empire had 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]] became the headquarters of the UNSC military, and was destined to become the most heavily fortified world under human control.


==== The SPARTAN-II Project ====
* '''Artificial intelligence:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s AI was quite sophisticated for its time. For example, the more cowardly types of enemies would panic when one of their superiors was killed. If a speeding vehicle came at them, they could dive out of the way, and they could take cover from explosives or suppressive fire.
{{Main|SPARTAN-II Program}}
In 2517, several years before contact with the Covenant, the UNSC military embarked on a secret project to create a group of elite soldiers that would deal with occasional unrest in the Colonies. Codenamed SPARTANs, these [[Spartans#Augmentation_Procedures|genetically enhanced]] troops were trained from the age of 6 into a life of battle, and became a great asset against the Covenant. While humans suffered defeat after defeat in space, they could almost always prevail with the help of the SPARTANs in ground engagements. The main character of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay, the Master Chief, is a veteran SPARTAN of the SPARTAN II project after an unfortunate failure of the first SPARTAN program. All SPARTANS were given special armor designated MJOLNIR, which can increase their strength and speed. They were the only ones who could wear it as those without upgrades would not be able to withstand the reaction times of the armor and die.


==== The Fall of the Outer Colonies ====
=== Movement and aiming ===
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
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 joysticks; and on the PC, between the mouse and the keyboard.
Cole's fleet managed a victory at Harvest, but at a high cost - two thirds of his ships were destroyed. Despite significant tactical brilliance on the part of Human [[Commander (UNSC)|commanders]], Covenant technology guaranteed a four to one kill/loss ratio in most space battles. One by one, the Outer Colonies fell below the onslaught, and by 2535, virtually all had been destroyed.


====Fall of Reach====
''Halo'' also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death.
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
By 2552, the Covenant had destroyed many of Humanity's Inner Colonies. In a move of desperation, UNSC orders a secret plan to capture a Covenant ship using a SPARTAN task force and find the coordinates of their home planet. All of the Spartans except three are chosen for this mission, and, led by the Master Chief, 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 the human fleet is obliterated. Worse still, the Master Chief thinks that all of the SPARTANs but himself are killed on the surface of the planet. The (supposedly) last remaining Spartan, the Master Chief, escapes with the ''Pillar of Autumn''. In accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]], the ''Autumn'' makes a blind Slipspace jump, and emerges in the vicinity of an unexplored and remarkable world.
=== 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.


==== Arrival at Halo ====
* '''[[Shields]]:''' The player carries a shield which protects all parts of his body from damage. The shield will decrease in strength every time it is hit by a weapon, and will fail after taking enough hits, but will quickly regenerate if it is not hit for a period of time. The shield represents a marked departure from most first-person shooters, in which one's health bar is basically augmented by picking up "armor," and it is entirely possible, in the single-player campaign at least, to simply not have enough health points to survive the next section of gameplay.  ''Halo'' players, on the other hand, have a more-or-less permanent buffer of health at their disposal (assuming they manage to find time to regenerate the shield), making it less of a disaster to take hits in combat.
{{main|Installation 04}}
The ''Pillar of Autumn'' exits Slipspace to find a mysterious ring shaped space station orbiting a [[Threshold|gas giant]]. The ring, quickly named "Halo", is obviously artificial. A Covenant [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]], however, is also present, and a subsequent battle heavily damages the ''Autumn''. Captain Keyes initiates the Cole protocol 2 - all records of Earth's location are erased, the shipboard AI Cortana is given to the Master Chief to protect from the Covenant, and the ''Autumn ''is crash landed onto Halo. Cortana leaves the ''Autumn'' with John 117 in a [[Bumblebee]] escape pod which also crash lands on Halo.


Game play 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.
=== Powerups ===
 
There are three types of powerups available in ''Halo'':
As a literary side note, the ring, "Halo", borrows heavily from the [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] of [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]] and the [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbitals]] of [[wikipedia:Iain M. Banks|Iain M. Banks]].
* '''[[Health Pack]]:''' 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.
{{Col-begin}}
* '''[[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.
{{Col-2}}
===Main Characters===
*[[John-117]] {{1st}}
*[[Cortana]] {{1st}}
*[[Jacob Keyes]] {{1st}}
*[[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] {{1st}}
*[[Carol "Foehammer" Rawley]] {{1st}}
*[[Avery Junior Johnson]] {{1st}}
{{Col-2}}
 
===Minor Characters===
*[[Wallace A. Jenkins]] {{1st}}
*[[Manuel Mendoza]] {{1st}}
*[[Pete Stacker]] {{1st}}
*[[Chips Dubbo]] {{1st}}
*[[M. Fitzgerald]] {{1st}}
*[[Bisenti]] {{1st}}
*[[Hosky]] {{1st}}
*[[Waller]] {{1st}}
*[[Riley]] {{1st}}
*[[Kappus]] {{1st}}
*[[Lovik]] {{1st}}
*[[O'Brien]] {{1st}}
{{Col-end}}
 
==Features==
[[File:1220238670 Menu.png|thumb|right|[[Halo PC]] main menu.]]
=== Summary ===
''Halo'''s gameplay was characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed first-person shooter games of its time.
 
* '''Storyline Execution:'' '''Halo'''s gameplay and storyline are tightly interwoven, delivering in a convincing manner being consistent with the flow of the game.
* '''Vehicular Incorporation:''' ''Halo'' includes the option for players to control multiple land and air based [[Vehicles]] in third-person view. This Third-Person vantage brings a welcomed sense of immersion and enhances the specific points of gameplay, again setting Halo apart from contemporary first person shooters.
* '''Weapons System:'' '''Halo'''s new weapons system is unique in two major respects. The first is allowing players to carry only two [[Weapons]] at a time, thus forcing the player to make trade-offs as they progress throughout the game. The second change is a separate button for throwing [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|Grenades]].
* '''Artificial Intelligence:'' '''Halo'''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 independently of their aim. On the Xbox, moving and aiming are normally separated between the two analogue sticks; and on the [[Halo PC|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, 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 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. However, there is no visible damage counter during gameplay.
 
===Levels Of Difficulty===
There are short summaries that describe the difficulties in Halo: Combat Evolved.
 
* '''[[Easy]]:''' Your foes cower and fall before your unstoppable onslaught, yet final victory will leave you wanting more.
* '''[[Normal]]:''' Hordes of aliens vie to destroy you, but nerves of steel and a quick trigger finger give you a solid chance to prevail.
* '''[[Heroic]]:''' Your enemies are as numerous as they are ferocious; their attacks are devastating. Survival is not guaranteed.
* '''[[Legendary]]:''' You face opponents who have never known defeat, who laugh in alien tongues at your efforts to survive. This is suicide.


=== Enemies ===
=== Enemies ===
The A.I. in ''Halo'' was superior to many other games at the time because the A.I. was sophisticated enough to attack other enemies in the vicinity, not just the Master Chief. If there is another faction in the area, the A.I. will engage it in the same way as they would fight the Master Chief.
Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo:
Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo:
* '''[[Covenant Empire|The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant, whose Fleet of Particular Justice was led by the [[Supreme Commander]], [[Thel Vadam]], is an alliance of different species. This includes the cowardly [[Grunt]]s, the [[Jackals]] with their portable [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|Energy Shields]], the [[Elites]], master tacticians with their body covering [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|Energy Shields]], and the huge, metal [[Hunters]] with remarkably strong armor composed of some unknown alloy. The Covenant troops mostly carry plasma weapons of various power. They also make extensive use of vehicles such as Ghosts, Wraiths, Shades, and Banshees.
* '''[[The Flood]]:''' The parasitic Flood are encountered in three forms. The [[Infection Forms]] themselves, which usually die from a single shot or the Master Chief's energy shield. Exploding [[Carrier Form]]s, which cause major splash damage and release [[Infection Forms]]. Not forgetting the [[Combat Form]]s of former Humans or Sangheili whose nervous systems have been taken over by the parasite. Combat forms are the main and toughest of the three types. They often carry a Human or Covenant weapon.
* '''[[Sentinels]]''': These ancient robotic constructs are controlled by the Forerunner AI Monitor of Installation 04, 343 Guilty Spark. He is tasked with the defense of the ring against possible threats and to control the Flood infestations. Sentinels fire an orange colored beam that can strip hostiles of their [[Energy Shields]]. This weapon is designed to burn the Flood and has proven effective against many other enemies.


=== Allies ===
* '''[[The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant whose Fleet of Particular Justice was led by the Supreme Commander, the future [[Arbiter]] are an alliance of different species, including the cowardly [[Grunt|Grunts]], the weak [[Jackals]] with their [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|visible energy shields]], the [[Elites]] with their [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|personal energy shields]], and the huge, tough [[Hunters]] with strong armour. The Covenant mostly carry plasma weapons of varying power. They also make extensive use of vehicles.
* '''[[Marine|UNSC Marines]]: '''The''''' '''Pillar of Autumn's ''complement of Marines assists the player often in the game. They are helpful, but on higher difficulties they are easily killed by enemies. They wield a variety of weapons. These include the [[MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle|Assault Rifle]], [[SRS99C-S2 AM Sniper Rifle|Sniper Rifle]], [[M90 Shotgun|Shotgun]], [[Needler]], and [[Plasma Rifle]]. Marines armed with Assault Rifles will occasionally throw [[M9 HE-DP Grenade|Fragmentation Grenades]]. The Marines will willingly ride in [[Scorpion]]s and [[Warthog]]s with the player and use the [[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun|Chaingun]] on the Warthog while the player is driving. Unfortunately they are incapable of actually driving either vehicle. The only vehicle that Marines can drive is the [[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Ghost]], which they pilot only briefly, though ironic. They appear in every level until the Library. When Marines are near death they will go into a berserk state, attacking every visible enemy.


*'''UNSC Crewmen:''' The crewmen of the ''Pillar of Autumn'' appear briefly as allies in the game. They are armed with [[M6D Pistol|Pistols]], but occasionally appear in combat unarmed. They have lower health than Marines and are prone to retreating and cowering in battle. They only appear in the levels ''Pillar of Autumn'' and ''Halo''. One melee is often enough to kill them and their habit of cowering tend to make them an obstacle to their comrades.
* '''[[The Flood]]:''' The parasitic Flood are encountered in 3 forms: the lowly [[Infection Form|parasitic spores]] themselves, which usually die from a single shot; walking forms of [[Combat Form|former humans and Covenant]] whose nervous systems have been taken over by the parasite, which are tough and may carry either human or Covenant weapons; and exploding [[Carrier Form|carriers]], which cause splash damage and release spores.


* '''[[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Forerunner Sentinels, led by the Monitor 343 Guilty Spark, are hovering robotic drones. They attack the Flood, Covenant, and eventually the Master Chief. Although possessing a powerful [[Sentinel Beam|Beam Weapon]], they are not particularly resistant to damage (Their shields are especially vulnerable to Covenant weaponry, especially overcharged [[Plasma Pistol]]s and explosives.) They are seen as Normal and Shielded variants although both can be destroyed relatively easily. They help the player in the levels ''343 Guilty Spark'' and ''The Library'', but are enemies from the level ''Two Betrayals'' until the end of the game, acting as a Fourth Faction that attacks the Flood, Covenant, and the player when encountered.
* '''[[Forerunner]] [[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Sentinels, led by the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], are hovering robotic drones, and will attack Flood, Covenant, and (after the level [[Two Betrayals]]) the [[Master Chief]]. Although possessing a powerful [[Sentinel Beam|beam weapon]], they are not particularly resistant to damage.


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


Covenant weapons are better suited for reducing shields and typically fire slower than human weapons. With the exception of the Needler, they do not require ammunition or reloading. Instead, each weapon comes with its own battery. Once the battery is depleted the weapon must be discarded. Covenant weapons can also overheat (except the Needler) if fired for too long, after which they must be given time to cool down before they can be used again. There are a total of five Covenant weapons in the Campaign, three of which are usable by the player: the [[Plasma Pistol]], [[Plasma Rifle]], and the [[Needler]]. The two weapons the player can't use are the [[Energy Sword]], which disappears after you kill the Elite using it, and the [[Fuel Rod Gun]], which explodes after you kill the enemy using it. There are two additional weapons in the multiplayer mode of the PC version only, the Fuel Rod Gun and [[M7057 Defoliant Projector|Flamethrower]]. A plasma based weapon of the same type but with greater charge than the player's current one will appear as a swappable weapon. If the weapon has lesser charge, it is not swappable until the player's current charge falls low enough. Needlers automatically collect any ammunition from other needlers the player moves over. Needlers can also use some very rare individual packs of projectiles.
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 ammunition and constant reloading. They are better suited for reducing health and do not overheat. However, on the Easy and Normal difficulty settings the difference is often negligible. There are five human weapons (not counting Fragmentation Grenades) usable in the Campaign and six in the [[Multiplayer]] of the Halo PC.
Human weapons, on the other hand, require both ammunition and constant reloading. They are better suited to reducing health, and do not overheat.


==== UNSC Weapons ====
==== Human Weapons ====
*[[M6D Personal Defense Weapon System|Pistol]] - The M6D is a powerful, accurate weapon that can be used up to 124 meters. It has good clip capacity (12 rounds), a 2X zoom scope for semi-sniping, and its bullets create a very small explosion on impact. The M6D Pistol is semi-automatic and recoil operated. If used correctly it can be the best back up weapon in the game, especially when you are sniping and don't have a Sniper Rifle. It can kill another player with three shots to the head and can dispatch a [[Hunter]] with one shot if you accurately hit their exposed flesh. It has been said to be one of the most effective weapons in the game, as it is fast, accurate, and deadly in the hands of a professional. In fact, the only level it does not appear in, "Truth and Reconciliation", is made difficult without this weapon, so the Sniper Rifle with more ammo capacity is used instead. Incidentally, this is also the only weapon that does not have a revival in Halo 3, though a similar weapon is used in ODST.
*[[Pistol|M6D Pistol]]
*[[MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle|Assault Rifle]] - The MA5B Assault Rifle is an automatic gas operated rifle that fires 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds. It has low damage per hit, and low accuracy at medium to long ranges. This weapon is good for close and medium ranges. The player will start off with one in most levels. It is a decent all around weapon, with a fast melee and good maneuverability. It is one of the best weapons against infection forms, grunts, invisible Elites, and sometimes Hunters. An interesting note is that no matter what weapons you're wielding, all of the cutscenes in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' have the Master Chief holding an Assault Rifle - even in ''Two Betrayals'', where your starting weapons are the M90 Shotgun and the Plasma Pistol.
*[[Assault Rifle|MA5B Assault Rifle]]
*[[Shotgun]] - the M90 Shotgun is practically the best weapon for picking off Flood Combat Forms and Carrier Forms, killing them with one hit if you are close enough. It is highly effective against Elites also. The shotgun fires a burst of 15 pellets, causing enemies in close range to be completely decimated in less than a second. Medium range is not so effective, and long range is useless altogether. Its close range capabilities are unmatched and are what makes it so effective against the flood.
*[[Shotgun|M90 Shotgun]]
*[[SRS99C-S2 AM Sniper Rifle|Sniper Rifle]] - The S2 variant of the Sniper Rifle features a night vision enhancement to the scope, which plays an essential part at the start of [[Truth and Reconciliation (Level)|Truth and Reconciliation]]. Its devastating power and range make it a formidable part of your arsenal. It carries four bullets per magazine and can pick off most enemies instantly, depending on their rank and the difficulty the player is playing. The Flood are barely affected by this weapon, sometimes taking 12 sniper shots to kill one. Thus, it is not worth the ammunition, which is often hard to come by on levels featuring flood.
*[[Sniper Rifle|S2 AM Sniper Rifle]]
*[[M19 SSM Rocket Launcher|Rocket Launcher]] - The Rocket Launcher is a devastating piece of equipment when used correctly. The Rocket Launcher will kill anything with one direct hit except Hunters and higher-ranking Elites on Legendary difficulty. It is the player's best choice against vehicles and groups of infantry.
*[[Rocket Launcher|M19 SSM Rocket Launcher]]
*[[M9 HE-DP Grenade|Fragmentation Grenade]] - The technically named M9 HE-DP grenade, more commonly known as a Frag Grenade, will easily kill anything without a shield. Its bounciness gives it the edge in distance over the Plasma Grenade and it also packs a lot of force and splash damage. This means it is useful for [[Explosive Jumping|Grenade Jumps.]]
*[[M41 LAAG|Warthog Chaingun Turret]] - The LRV Light Anti Aircraft Turret is always equipped on the back of a Warthog, serving its purpose of eliminating enemies and vehicles quickly and effectively. Prolonged fire degrades accuracy.
*[[M7057 Defoliant Projector Flamethrower|Flamethrower]] - Usable only in multiplayer in Halo PC and the Custom Mapping Team level "343 Guilty Spark." It launches a stream of burning fuel over a relatively short distance, causing damage to enemies in front of the weapon and hurting them after they have been hit. It also has a very limited ability to set a surface on fire for a very short period of time. It fires from a unit mounted fuel tank that counts down from 100 to 0 units of fuel.


==== Covenant Weapons ====
==== Covenant Weapons ====
*[[Energy Sword]] - A deadly weapon used by Zealot Elites and Field Master Elites. It can kill the player in one hit (although not on Easy difficulty where it takes three). It is advisable to dispatch the wielder quickly. The player cannot use the Energy Sword due to a built in fail safe.
*[[Plasma Pistol]]
*[[Plasma Rifle]] - It is a common light weapon in the Covenant army, primarily wielded by Elites. The Plasma Rifle has a high rate of fire and deals out a moderate amount of damage. A Plasma Rifle with a shotgun makes a good combo, Plasma Rifle for medium range and shotgun for close range. On Legendary, the Plasma Rifle is the most effective mid to close range weapon, best paired with an M90 Shotgun. It is also very useful for depleting Elite shields.
*[[Plasma Rifle]]
*[[Plasma Pistol]] - The Plasma Pistol, like the Plasma Rifle, is a directed energy weapon that fires bolts of superheated ionized gas otherwise known as plasma. Dumping energy into the firing mechanism will allow a build up of plasma that, when fired, will instantly and completely deplete shields regardless of strength. This overcharging makes it a valuable weapon in Multiplayer and against Elites, Jackals, and Sentinels in Campaign, usually when paired with an M6D Pistol.
*[[Needler]]
*[[Needler]] - The Needler fires semi-homing crystal shards that explode approximately ten seconds after being launched and ignore most forms of personal energy shielding. While one explosion produces fairly light damage, several crystals exploding in succession can multiply the damage to fatal levels, and even more crystals in the same enemy will produce a large explosion. It is strange that independent ammunition that isn't already in another Needler is exceedingly rare.
*[[Fuel Rod Gun]] - The Fuel Rod Gun is used by the strongest and weakest of the Covenant species. It is carried on the shoulders of many [[SpecOps Grunts|Special Operation Grunts]], and a modified version is directly attached on the right arm of Hunters. In Campaign mode the gun explodes like a green Plasma Grenade when its Covenant wielder is killed. It is wieldable in Halo PC on most multiplayer maps. It has a limited battery when used by a player.
*[[Plasma Grenade]] - The Covenant Plasma Grenade is one of the most ingenious weapons in the game. Once activated, its outer layer converts to plasma, enabling it to fuse/stick to whatever it impacts (except for most walls and Hunter armor). It generates an electro-magnetic pulse that drains instantly any kind of shielding, no matter how strong it is, making it deadly even to enemies who survive the initial explosion. It is also handy for sticking enemies themselves, especially Grunts, who tend to run toward their comrades when panicking, as well as Elite Zealots.
*[[Shade]] - A stationary gun turret manned in third-person like a vehicle. It consists of a stand and a floating 360 degree rotating turret-like seat with control systems to its gun. It has a strong anti-tank ability, but the Covenant use it mainly against infantry. It can be manned by Elites and Grunts, and is similar to the turret mounted on ''Spirit''-class drop ships.


=== Vehicles ===
=== Vehicles ===
[[File:Halo banshee.jpg|200px|thumb|The Halo: Combat Evolved Banshee.]]
The vehicles available to the player are listed below:
[[File:Halo 1 scorpion tank.jpg|200px|thumb|Halo CE Scorpion Tank on one of Halo's most celebrated Multiplayer maps, Blood Gulch]]
[[File:4wiki.jpg|200px|thumb|This image shows vehicle-on-vehicle combat a tactic that is repeated throughout the game.]]
The vehicles available to the player in this game are listed below:


*[[M12 Warthog LRV|Warthog]] - A UNSC Light Reconnaissance Vehicle. The Warthog sports a 12.7mm Gatling style M41 Light Anti Air Gun turret that can tear through armor and shields alike.
*[[Warthog]] - UNSC Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
*[[M12A1 Warthog LAAV|Warthog LAAV]] - A UNSC Light Anti-Armor Vehicle. The M12A1 is another variant of the Warthog with a triple barreled 102mm Rocket Launcher. It only shoots three rockets before reloading. Available only in Multiplayer on the PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved.
*[[Scorpion]] - UNSC Battle tank
*[[M808B Scorpion MBT|Scorpion]] - A UNSC Main Battle Tank. It has a powerful 90&nbsp;mm cannon mounted on a turret, affixed to the rear of the chassis. It also features a machine gun aside the main cannon. It should be noted that both the main cannon and machine gun are inaccurate at medium to long range distances.
*[[Ghost]] - Covenant Reconnaissance and Rapid Attack Vehicle
*[[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Ghost]] - A Covenant Reconnaissance and Rapid Attack Vehicle. Its twin Plasma Cannons complement its high speed and agility, Allowing the user to blast enemies with the guns and run them into the ground. It is destructible in Campaign. It also has a feature that increases anti-gravity power in the front, causing the Ghost to nose up. This can be used to stabilize the Ghost after gliding over a cliff or hill, or to splatter opposition. Unlike Halo 2 and 3, this model has no boost but fires faster than its later models.
*[[Banshee]] - Covenant Aerial Assault Aircraft


*[[Banshee]] - A Covenant Aerial Assault Aircraft. Very maneuverable. Armed with two plasma cannons and a fuel rod cannon. The Banshee's armor is strongest in front and very weak on the sides and back. It is destructible in Campaign but is, like all vehicles, impervious to permanent destruction in Halo PC's multiplayer. Unlike Halo 2 and 3, this model has no boost, and fires slower, making it an earlier, less effective model. The Banshee is unavailable in Multiplayer in the Xbox version. It is probably the lightest vehicle as it can take less than a M6D clip before it blows.
Note that the Banshee is unavailable in multiplayer in the Xbox version.
Several vehicles are not controllable by the player, like the UNSC [[D77-TC Pelican Dropship|Pelican Dropship]], the Covenant [[Spirit]] dropship, and the Covenant [[Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage|Wraith Mortar Tank]]. The Wraith requires ballistic aiming, firing large Plasma Bombs in arcs towards its enemies, similar to artillery. These bombs, if they score a direct hit, will often destroy vehicles or kill a Spartan if he/she is not equipped with an [[Overshield]]. Wraiths can be destroyed with explosive weapons such as the [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion]]'s Main Cannon and the [[M19 SSM Rocket Launcher|Rocket Launcher]]. Note: both the Pelican and Wraith can be controllable via modding; the Wraith can be fired by the player, and features the M41 Rocket Launcher's targeting reticule. The Pelican can be flown, and if any Marines are alive and nearby, they may decide to hop in the player's Pelican.


Also, it is very easy to splatter enemies in Halo: Combat Evolved because the game's physics engine cannot discern between a fast and slow-moving vehicle, thus making it so that a slight touch, even by accident, will kill it. This is especially frustrating on the level "The Silent Cartographer"'s LZ, as Marines tend to dive underneath the level's many Warthogs, and in multiplayer, since the player can easily be killed by unoccupied vehicles.
There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC [[Pelican|Pelican dropship]], and the Covenant [[dropship]]. The only tactically interesting of these vehicles is the Covenant [[Wraith|Wraith Mortar tank]], which fires large 'plasma bombs' in parabolic arcs towards its enemies. These bombs, if they score a direct hit, will often destroy vehicles or kill if the [[spartan]] is not equipped with an [[overshield]]. They can be taken down most effectively with explosive weapons such as the [[Scorpion|Scorpion's]] main cannon, the [[Rocket Launcher|rocket launcher]], or the [[Banshee|Banshee's]] [[Fuel Rod Cannon|fuel rod cannon]].


=== Environments ===
=== Environments ===
''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments including human and Covenant star ships, ancient buildings on [[Installation 04|Halo]] itself, and expansive outdoor climates. The first level, ''Pillar of Autumn'', is fought entirely on the human star ship 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'' begins 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.
''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments in which combat occurs, including the human starship ''[[Pillar of Autumn Level|Pillar of Autumn]]'', the Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'' and the Flood-infested ship in ''Keyes'', ancient buildings on Halo itself, and vast outdoor expanses of varying climates, including the temperate lands of the levels ''[[Silent Cartographer Level|The Silent Cartographer]]'' and ''[[Halo Level|Halo]]'', the desert in the first half of the level ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'', the winter wasteland of the levels ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'' and ''[[Two Betrayals]]'', and the spooky forests and swamps of the level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''. Six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.


''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, traveling in the opposite direction. ''Keyes'' occurs in the same rocky deserts and 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.
=== Multiplayer ===
Up to 16 players can play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[wikipedia:LAN|local area network]], using four Xbox's that have been connected through a [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub, but also can be played on xbox connect which is a way of tunneling a connection via a pc The game's seamless support for this type of play, as well as a few large maps that can comfortably hold up to 16 combatants, is a first for console games. The PC version of ''Halo'' 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.


== Multiplayer ==
'''[[Blood Gulch]]''' is one of the most commonly played multiplayer levels. The level contains two buildings at either end of the level, with open desert in between. Some of the features include a cave, in which experienced players may store vehicles, and cliffs that players can use to snipe their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy [[Red vs Blue]]. A revamped verion of [[Blood Gulch]] reappeares in the sequel, [[Halo 2]] under the name [[Coagulation]] (or "Coag, for short), although many of its features are similar if not identical.
Up to four players can play together using the same-console split screen 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 Xbox Connect, which is a way of tunneling a connection via a PC. 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. The Halo PC|PC version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' officially adds online play, also new vehicles ([[Banshee]] and [[M12A1 Warthog LAAV|Rocket Warthog]]), weapons ([[Fuel Rod Gun]] and [[Flamethrower]]) and maps (see list below) for multiplayer. The PC version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' does not support split screen multiplayer.


===Multiplayer Maps===
== Storyline ==
Multiplayer maps in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' include:
''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.
*[[Battle Creek]]
*[[Sidewinder]]
*[[Damnation]]
*[[Rat Race]]
*[[Prisoner]]
*[[Hang 'Em High]]
*[[Chill Out]]
*[[Derelict]]
*[[Boarding Action]]
*[[Chiron TL-34]]
*[[Blood Gulch (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Blood Gulch]]
*[[Wizard]]
*[[Longest]]


===Exclusive Multiplayer Maps (PC/Mac)===
=== Brief summary ===
*[[Death Island]]
''Halo'', like previous Bungie releases such as the ''[[Marathon]]'' series, has an intricate plot.
*[[Danger Canyon]]
*[[Infinity]]
*[[Timberland]]
*[[Ice Fields]]
*[[Gephyrophobia]]


=== Damage System ===
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.
* '''[[Health]]:''' The player in ''Halo'' has limited, non-regenerating health, which can be fully restored by picking up health-packs. This aspect of the game was changed in ''Halo 2''. 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. When the non-regenerative health idea was abandoned in ''Halo 2'' the medic packs disappeared completely.
* '''[[Shields]]:''' Master Chief's [[MJOLNIR]] Mk. V armor has a built-in 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 too many hits. 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". It is possible, in the single-player campaign at least, to have insufficient health points to survive the next section of game-play. ''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.


=== Power Ups ===
=== Backstory ===
There are three power ups available in ''Halo'':
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.


* '''[[Health Pack]]:''' (White octagon with red cross) Fully restores the player's [[health]].
==== Early Conflicts ====
* '''[[Active Camouflage]]:''' Drastically reduces the player's visibility for approximately 45 seconds, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced or void if the player is holding a skull (in multiplayer), hit by weapons fire, fires their weapon, or when time runs out.
2160-2200: This is a period of brutal unrest in Human history in which Governments and Factions fight for control of Earth and its colonies.
* '''[[Overshield]]:''' An enhanced, non-regenerating shield which is two times, (three times on enemies) 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 weakens gradually over time. One fully charged Plasma Pistol shot can take out the overshield and regular shield entirely. Additionally, while the over shield is charging, the player is completely invincible against almost every type of damage. The player can still be killed by [[assassination]], however.


== Marketing Promotions and Release ==
As overpopulation and unrest mounted on Earth, a number of new political movements were formed including the '''Koslovics''' and the Jovian '''Frieden''' (which attacked the UN Colonial Advisors on the moon) and UN-sponsored military forces begin a pattern of massive buildups which cultimated in the first Interplanetary and Rain Forest Wars of the Jovian Moons Campaign. After the successful Marine attack on Mars, recruitment drives and propaganda tactics strongly bolstered UNSC forces. They defeat the Koslovics and the Frieden on Earth and crush their remnants throughout the Solar System: both factions were defeated in the face of massive, unified UN military.
===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===
==== The human colonization of the Orion Arm ====
{{Main|Cortana Letters}}
In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully develop humanity's first [[wikipedia:faster than light|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 [[wikipedia:terraformed|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.


{{Sectstub}}
==== The Covenant Wars begin ====
On February 3, 2525, 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, the Heracles, Arabia, and Vostok are sent to investigate this incident, engage the Covenant ship in battle, and are subsequently routed.  Only one, the Heracles, manages to return to Reach badly damaged.  By November 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.


===Reception===
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]]).
[[File:Halo Combat Evolved box art (PC).jpg|thumb|right|200px|The box art for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' on PC.]]
''Halo'' was the main launch title for Xbox and is said to be the game that made the Xbox what it is today. It is 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 8 million copies, in other words, 33% of all Xbox owners also owned ''Halo''. 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 also 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 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''".
{{clear}}
== Halo: Original Soundtrack ==
[[File:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|120px|right|thumb|Cover Art]]
{{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.
{{clear}}
== Original Halo Team ==
{{Scroll box
|content={{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Project Lead
:Jason Jones


;Lead Producer
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.
:Hamilton Chu


;Executive Producer
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.
:Alexander Seropia


;Producer
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]]').
:Rick Ryan


;Programmers
==== The fall of the Outer Colonies ====
:Chris Butcher
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.
:Bernie Freidin
:Charlie Gough
:Mat Noguchi
:Matt Segur


;Art Director
==== The SPARTAN Project ====
:Marcus Lehto
By 2517, 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 [[Spartans#Augmentation_Procedures|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.


;Assistant Art Lead
==== The Battle of Reach ====
:Steve Abeyta
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.


;Artists
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.
: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
==== Arrival at Halo ====
:John Howard
The [[Pillar of Autumn]] exits [[slipspace]] to find a mysterious ring shaped space station orbiting a [[Threshold|gas giant]].  The ring, quickly named "Halo", is obviously artificial and teeming with life.  A [[Covenant]] fleet, however, is also present, and a subsequent battle heavily damages the [[Pillar of Autumn]].  [[Captain Keyes]] initiates the Cole protocol - all records of Earth's location are erased, and the Autumn is crash landed onto Halo.  The ship's [[AI]] construct, [[Cortana]], leaves the ''Autumn'' with the [[Master Chief]] in a [[Bumblebee]] escape pod which also crash lands on Halo. 
 
;Designers
:Paul Bertone
:Tyson Green
:Jaime Griesemer
:Dan Orzulak
 
;Additional Writing
:Brannon Boren
:Matt Soell
:Eric Trautmann
 
;Multiplayer Lead Programmer
:Michael Evans


;Multiplayer Programmers
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.
:Adrian Perez
:Stefan Sinclair


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


;Multiplayer Artists
=== Characters ===
:Chris Carney
* '''[[Master Chief|The Master Chief]]:''' The only [[Spartans|SPARTAN]] thought to have survived the battle of [[Reach]].  He is the character the player assumes during gameplay.
:David Dunn
:Peter Marks
:David Moore
:Stephen Okasaki


;User Interface Lead
* '''[[Cortana]]:''' The [[Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn's]] [[AI]] construct, removed from the ship by the Master Chief in accordance with the [[Halo:_Combat_Evolved#The_Cole_Protocol|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.
:Max Hoberman


;User Interface Designer
* '''[[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.
:David Candland


;User Interface Programmer
* '''[[343 Guilty Spark]]:''' The [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 04]].
:Stefan Sinclair


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


{{col-2}}
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.
;Cinematic Artists
:Steve Abeyta
:Paul Clift
:Adam Crockett
:Lorraine McLees
:Stephen Okasaki
:Craig Mullins
:Lee Wilson


;Audio Lead/Original Music
The game leaves the story open to further developments, with the revelation that there are several Halo ringworlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered "Installation 04" by [[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[Monitor]] of the installation. It is revealed in [[Halo 2]] that there were seven Halos before [[Installation 04]]'s destruction.
:Martin O'Donnell
 
;Additional Music
:Michael Salvatori
 
;Sound Designers
:Jay Weinland
:Adam Tewes
 
;Test Manager
:Harold Ryan
 
;Test Leads
:Curtis Creamer
:Ryan Hylland
:Keith Steury
 
;Testers
:Chris Chamberlain
:Mike Cody
:Chuck Cooper
:Erik Davis
:John Frey
:Rick Lockyear
:Paul Peterson
:Zach Russel
:Mathew Shimbaku
:Luke Timmins
:Jeff Wilson
:Roger Wolfson
 
;Voice Talent
:Keny Boynton
:Tim Dadabo
:Mark Dias
:Steve Downes
:Todd Licea
:Mike Madeoy
:Andy Mckaige
:Tawnya Pettiford-Waites
:David Scully
:Pete Stacker
:Jeff Steitzer
:Jen Taylor
:Chris Wicklund
 
;Additional voices
:Folks at Bungie
 
;Damage and Spin
:Matt Soell
 
;Draft Dodgers
:Pete Demoreuille
:Tom Gioconda
:Joshua Grass
:Justin Hayward
:Jason Major
:Juan Ramirez
:Bob Settles
 
;Product Manager
:Steve Fowler
 
;Product Planner
:Jon Kimmch
 
;Localization Program Manager
:Ji Hong
{{col-end}}
}}


== Trivia ==
== Glitches and Tricks ==
*''Halo'' was originally being developed for the Mac and PC as a third person shooter, before Microsoft took interest in its development and purchased Bungie Studios, thereby owning a promising video game to use exclusively with Xbox.
{{main|Halo: Combat Evolved/Glitches and Tricks}}
*There are 8,087 lines of dialog, most of them randomly triggered during combat.<ref>[http://nikon.bungie.org/news.html?item=20971 Halo Dialogue Statistics, from the source] - HBO, 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 laser beams, rather than the plasma orbs that they actually fire in-game.
*Bungie mentioned that none of the characters in the E3 video for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' had AI. In fact, all of the movement was actually scripted. This, however, was proven to be partly false. The AI will move to what are called "firing positions", which are not only places that the AI fire from, but places which the AI will not stop moving unless already in one, save for scripted command lists, although the AI will usually attempt to move to a firing position.
*''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 ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' handbook, the [[Plasma Rifle]]'s "blueprint" is an overlap of a [[Needler]] underneath and the rifle on top.
*''Halo: Combat Evolved'' 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>
*''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 term ''"Combat Evolved"'' was suggested by Microsoft Game Studios during the Halo's development phase in order to deter name confusion on the part of the Japanese market.<ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=249196 '''ComputerAndVideoGame''': ''Microsoft forced Bungie to accept 'Combat Evolved' name'']</ref>
*On the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' disk the Master Chief is seen driving a warthog from the right side whereas the driver seat in the game is on the left.


*''Halo Combat Evolved'' was a launch title for the Xbox.
== Walkthroughs ==
{{main|Halo: Combat Evolved/Walkthroughs}}


*This is the only game in the trilogy with only a single named antagonist: [[343 Guilty Spark]].
== 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.


==Gallery==
A free [[wikipedia:modification|mod]] for the computer game series [[wikipedia:Battlefield 1942|Battlefield 1942]]/[[wikipedia:Battlefield Vietnam|Vietnam]] called [[wikipedia:Homefront (game)|Homefront]] features ''Halo''-esque and original content for online multiplayer games with up to 64 players. [http://www.planetbattlefield.com/homefront/]
<gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape">
File:Halo-combat-evolved.jpg|Cover art for the game.
</gallery>


==Sources==
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.
<references/>


==Links==
== External Links ==
{{col-begin}}
* [http://halo.bungie.net Official site]
{{col-2}}
* [http://www.xbox.com/en-us/halo/default.htm Official Xbox.com site]
===Internal===
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,5368/ MobyGames' entry on ''Halo'']
*[[Blam!]]
* [http://halo.bungie.org Halo.Bungie.Org] ''Halo'' fansite and resource center
*[[Halo: Combat Evolved Credits]]
* [http://www.subnova.com/halopc/ Subnova.com] ''Halo'' information & FAQs
*[[Action Figures]]
* [http://www.tazzy.nwactc.com/klikgamers/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=26 Klik Gamers' ''Halo'' review]
*[[Halo PC]]
* [http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2003/11/halo/ ''Halo'' for Mac OS X]
*[[Halo Cache Editor 0.7]]
*[[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC) patches]]
*[[Halomaps.org]]
{{col-2}}
===External===
*[http://www.bungie.net/Projects/Halo/default.aspx Official site]
*[http://www.xbox.com/en-us/halo/default.htm Official Xbox.com site]
*[http://halo.bungie.org Halo.Bungie.Org] ''Halo'' fansite and resource center
*[http://www.subnova.com/halopc/ Subnova.com] ''Halo'' Information & FAQs
*[http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2003/11/halo/ ''Halo'' for Mac OS X]
*[http://www.haloplanet.com/ Halo Planet]
{{col-end}}
{{Halo Games}}


{{Games}}


[[de:Halo: Kampf um die Zukunft]]
[[Category:Games]] [[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved|*]]
[[es:Halo: Combat Evolved]]
[[fr:Halo: Bataille Élaborée]]
[[Category:Games|Halo 1]]

Revision as of 09:09, August 7, 2010


Halo: Combat Evolved is a video game in the First Person Shooter (FPS) genre, created by the Microsoft-owned Bungie Studios. It was released for the Xbox game console on November 15, 2001.

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

Following the takeover, Halo was released 'exclusively' which in the end was false - for Microsoft's Xbox 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 Mac OS X on December 11, 2003.

In the Windows version, however, some problems existed, largely stemming from its 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's settings. When detail settings (many barely noticeable when active) were removed or lessened, framerates typically rose to acceptable levels.

Gameplay

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Summary

Halo's gameplay is characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed first-person shooter games:

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

Movement and aiming

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

Halo also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death.

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

Powerups

There are three types of powerups available in Halo:

  • Health Pack: Fully 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 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.

Weapons

All usable weapons in Halo belong to either the Covenant or the UNSC (humans). The player can only carry two weapons at a time, in addition to up to 8 grenades (four 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

Covenant Weapons

Vehicles

The vehicles available to the player are listed below:

  • Warthog - UNSC Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
  • Scorpion - UNSC Battle tank
  • Ghost - Covenant Reconnaissance and Rapid Attack Vehicle
  • Banshee - Covenant Aerial Assault Aircraft

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

There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC Pelican 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 and the Flood-infested ship in Keyes, 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

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

Blood Gulch is one of the most commonly played multiplayer levels. The level contains two buildings at either end of the level, with open desert in between. Some of the features include a cave, in which experienced players may store vehicles, and cliffs that players can use to snipe their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy Red vs Blue. A revamped verion of Blood Gulch reappeares in the sequel, Halo 2 under the name Coagulation (or "Coag, for short), although many of its features are similar if not identical.

Storyline

Halo's storyline is linear; there is only one ending (in contrast to other first person shooters such as 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 Marathon series, has an intricate plot.

The "Halo" in the title refers to an enormous artificial space habitat similar to a 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's gameplay must be understood in the context of its backstory, created by Bungie and elaborated in several novels written after the release of the game. A summary of this backstory is presented below.

Early Conflicts

2160-2200: This is a period of brutal unrest in Human history in which Governments and Factions fight for control of Earth and its colonies.

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

The human colonization of the Orion Arm

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 Orion Arm of the 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 February 3, 2525, 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, the Heracles, Arabia, and Vostok are sent to investigate this incident, engage the Covenant ship in battle, and are subsequently routed. Only one, the Heracles, manages to return to Reach badly damaged. By November 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 SPARTAN Project

By 2517, 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 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'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 space station orbiting a 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 a Bumblebee escape pod which also crash lands on Halo.

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

As a literary sidenote, the ring, "Halo", borrows heavily from the Ringworld of Larry Niven and the Culture Orbitals of Iain M. Banks.

Characters

  • Cortana: The Pillar of Autumn's AI construct, removed from the ship by the Master Chief in accordance with the Cole Protocol. During most of the game, Cortana is connected directly to the Master Chief's neural interface, and acts to deliver tactical information and mission objectives.
  • Captain 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 years, but the pulse would trigger other installations as well, effectively killing all life in the galaxy. This system is designed to stop the Flood from spreading through the universe if they escape confinement from Halo by the only way possible: starving the Flood of any life source large enough to sustain them.

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

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

Glitches and Tricks

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved/Glitches and Tricks

Walkthroughs

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved/Walkthroughs

Future developments

The next episode in the Halo story, Halo 2, was released on November 9, 2004. [1] 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 mod for the computer game series Battlefield 1942/Vietnam called Homefront features Halo-esque and original content for online multiplayer games with up to 64 players. [2]

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

Template:Games

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