Era-rw.png

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

No edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 15: Line 15:
|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|modes= [[Campaign]]
|modes= [[Campaign]]
|rating= [[Mature]]
|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood, Gore and Violence<br>
[[Wikipedia:Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|CERO]]: (D) Ages 17 & up
}}
}}
{{Quote|Heroes never die.|Official tagline}}<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/haloanniversary '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: Anniversary'']</ref><ref>[http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Halo-Anniversary/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d5309b1?cid=search '''Xbox.com''', ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'']</ref>
{{Quote|Heroes never die.|Official tagline}}<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/haloanniversary '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: Anniversary'']</ref><ref>[http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Halo-Anniversary/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d5309b1?cid=search '''Xbox.com''', ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'']</ref>

Revision as of 15:11, November 15, 2011

Template:New Content

This article is about an upcoming work. Editors must cite sources for all contributions to this article. Edits that do not follow this standard will be reverted without notice. For more information, see the citation policy.

Template:Game Infobox

"Heroes never die."
— Official tagline[1][2]

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, commonly referred to as Halo: Anniversary, is a first-person shooter video game and a graphical remake of 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved.[3] It was developed by 343 Industries in collaboration with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity as part of 343 Industries' celebration of the original game's tenth anniversary. The game features remastered graphics and audio, using assets from Halo: Reach.[3][4] Available with the game are six multiplayer maps from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo PC and Halo 2, along with a Firefight map based on the level Halo for Halo: Reach multiplayer.[3]

Features

A graphical comparison of both Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and the original Halo: Combat Evolved.

The game features a graphics layer running on top of the exact Halo: Combat Evolved physics and gameplay engine.[5] As such, gameplay mechanics from the original game, such as the M6D pistol's three-shot kill, are all be present. The game also features an online campaign cooperative mode over Xbox LIVE. Pressing the Back button allows the player to switch seamlessly between the graphics of the original 2001 title and the 2011 remake.

File:AnniversaryLibrary.png
The Library, as shown in Anniversary.

The game integrates the Kinect to further enhance the gameplay experience for the single-player component.[6] For example, players can reload their weapon, throw grenades, and switch between "legacy" and "remastered" graphics via voice commands.[6] A new feature to this integration is the Library. When the command "analyze" is given, specific characters, vehicles and objects can be scanned. The Library is essentially an index for detailed information on the scanned items.[6] The remastered graphics are also available in 3D, provided that the player has a 3D television.[7] Kinect integration is not included on the disc; the feature will be released as an automatic update on November 15th.

The game features skulls, including at least five that never appeared in previous Halo games. Achievements are also be available.

Terminals are found throughout the game, which, unlike the text-based terminals of Halo 3, contain full-motion video narrated by monitor 343 Guilty Spark. These terminals link the game's story to that of Halo 4.[3][8] Anniversary and also have subtitles available for in-game and combat dialogue.[9]

Theater mode is available for multiplayer, but not for the remastered single-player.[10]

Multiplayer

Main article: Anniversary Map Pack
File:AnniversaryMultiplayer.png
The multiplayer menu of Halo: Anniversary.

A result of collaboration between 343 Industries and Certain Affinity, Anniversary includes Halo Reach's multiplayer component, as well as six competitive maps and one Firefight map. The maps can also be played on Halo: Reach itself via the Anniversary Map Pack, a downloadable add-on bundled with the game. For those who do not wish to buy Halo: Anniversary, the map pack is be made available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points.[11]

These competitive maps are remakes of maps from earlier games; each has both an exact remake and an optimized version that takes advantage of Reach-era gameplay options. Forge and Theater support is available.[12] The M6G magnum can be modified to function like the M6D magnum from the campaign.[13]

Development

Audio

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Original Soundtrack

All non-vocal audio for the game has been been re-recorded by Skywalker Sound,[21] while the original voice-acting will remain untouched.[3] The soundtrack has both a normal CD release and a 5,000-edition vinyl limited release.[22] Both editions were released on November 15, 2011.[23][24] Players have the option to choose between the original and the remastered score in the Options menu when pausing a campaign game.[25]

Design

The game's ability to alternate between legacy and remastered graphics in the Campaign was made possible thanks to a rendering engine developed by Saber Interative.[26] The technology allowed the developers to both update the Halo: Combat Evolved's visuals while preserving the original gameplay at the same time.[26]

Because of their previous contributions to the series - the Blastacular and Defiant map packs - Certain Affinity was approached once more by 343 Industries to streamline the multiplayer maps to take Reach's gameplay options into account.

Marketing promotions

Preorder bonuses

Customers who preordered the game received a code to download John-117's Mark V MJOLNIR armor for their Avatars. Preordering the game also gave access to the Grunt Funeral skull, which causes Grunts to explode like plasma grenades when killed.[27]

Announcement trailer

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary announcement trailer

The Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary announcement trailer was released on June 6, 2011. It showcases the differences between the original Halo: Combat Evolved and Anniversary.

Waypoint Exclusive

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Exclusive

A video documentary in which various 343 Industries employees comment on the development process and features of the game.[3]

Terminals teaser

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary terminals teaser

A short trailer which originally debuted during the Halo Universe panel at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con. It showcases the animation used in the terminals with a narration by 04-343 Guilty Spark.[28]

BTS: Anniversary Multiplayer

Main article: BTS: Anniversary Multiplayer

A behind-the-scenes look at the remastered multiplayer of Halo: Anniversary. Featuring exclusive interviews with 343 Industries employees, the video traces how the developers have chosen which maps should be remade for Halo: Anniversary, as well as the development process for the maps themselves. Integration with Halo: Reach's multiplayer component is also discussed.[29][30]

BTS: Anniversary Campaign

Main article: BTS: Anniversary Campaign

A behind-the-scenes look at the remastered campaign of Halo: Anniversary. The trailer feature exclusive interviews with 343 Industries and Saber Interactive employees, as they reveal the development process behind the campaign.[31][32]

BTS: Anniversary Music

Main article: BTS: Anniversary Music

A behind-the-scenes look at the remastered music of Halo: Anniversary, featuring exclusive interviews of Skywalker Sound employees as they discuss the recomposition of the original Halo soundtrack.[25]

BTS: Anniversary Terminals

Main article: BTS: Anniversary Terminals

A behind-the-scenes look at the new Terminals of Halo: Anniversary. The trailer feature exclusive interviews with 343 Industries employees and the motion design group Sequence, as they reveal the development process behind the terminals in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.[33]

Anniversary Campaign Trailer

Main article: Anniversary Campaign Trailer

A trailer for the remastered campaign, with a voice-over by Captain Keyes. It shows several aspects of the campaign, including in-game cinematics and scenes from the terminals. Footage from Halo: Reach was used to explain the story's background.[34]

Trivia

  • The game was internally referred to as "Spark" during development.[35]
  • The Marathon logo is removed from the original Halo: Combat Evolved logo and is replaced by the outline of a Forerunner monitor. This is because the Marathon intellectual property is owned by Bungie, not by Microsoft Studios or 343 Industries.
  • According to Frank O'Connor, John-117's abnormally proportioned helmet from the announcement trailer was being fixed prior to the trailer's release, though it was not completed in time to appear in the final E3 trailer.[36]
  • The Italian cuisine chain Pizza Hut is currently offering a unique pizza tailored for the release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The pizza is prepared with onions, pepperoni, chicken, and peppers as toppings.[37] This promotion is only available from November 7th until December 19th and is limited to those who are residing in the United Kingdom.[38]

Gallery

Logos

Promotional images

Concept art

Screenshots

Sources

  1. ^ Halo Waypoint: Halo: Anniversary
  2. ^ Xbox.com, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
  3. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Exclusive
  4. ^ VideoGamer: Halo remake does not feature original audio
  5. ^ GameTrailers: E3 2011: Halo Returns Interview (Stream)
  6. ^ a b c IGN: First Halo Kinect Details Revealed
  7. ^ Halo Waypoint: "343 Guilty Spark" Level Demo
  8. ^ IGN.com: E3 2011: Halo CE Anniversary - New Secrets for an Old Friend
  9. ^ YouTube: SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 3
  10. ^ OXM Special Edition - Halo: The Game That Changed The World, page 116
  11. ^ The Halo Bulletin: 11/9/11
  12. ^ Halo Waypoint: 343 Sparkcast #5
  13. ^ Halo Waypoint: BTS: Anniversary Multiplayer
  14. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint: The Halo Bulletin: 8/17/11
  15. ^ HBO forums: "Map... never been seen on console before."
  16. ^ a b IGN.com: Halo - Ridgeline Flythrough
  17. ^ HBO forums: "Map... never been seen on console before."
  18. ^ a b IGN.com: Halo - Solitary Flythrough
  19. ^ Halo Waypoint: The Halo Bulletin: 9/14/11
  20. ^ IGN.com: Halo - Installation 04 Flythrough
  21. ^ IGN.com: Halo Fest: Halo Anniversary Campaign Discussion
  22. ^ Xbox360Achievements.org - Frank O'Connor Interview
  23. ^ Gamestop.com - Halo: Anniversary soundtrack
  24. ^ Gamestop.com - Halo: Anniversary soundtrack, limited Vinyl Edition
  25. ^ a b YouTube: BTS: Anniversary Music
  26. ^ a b Computer and Video Games: The man who's rebuilding Halo: Combat Evolved
  27. ^ Halo Waypoint: Special Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Pre-order Bonuses
  28. ^ Halo Waypoint: Anniversary Terminals Teaser
  29. ^ YouTube: Behind The Scenes - Halo: Anniversary Multiplayer
  30. ^ Halo Waypoint: BTS: ANNIVERSARY MULTIPLAYER
  31. ^ Halo Waypoint: BTS: ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
  32. ^ YouTube: BTS: Anniversary Campaign
  33. ^ YouTube: BTS: Anniversary Terminals
  34. ^ YouTube: Halo: Anniversary Campaign Trailer
  35. ^ Halo Waypoint: 343 Sparkcast #4
  36. ^ Halo.Bungie.Org: Frankie's Back. With an update ;-)
  37. ^ Kotaku.com: Halo Anniversary Edition Pizza Unboxed, Eaten, and Unappreciated
  38. ^ Gamepro.com: Pizza Hut's Halo Pizza is a Real Thing

Template:Halo Games