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Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

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"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 will feature 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, will 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 will integrate 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]

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

Terminals will be 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 will link the game's story to that of Halo 4.[3][8] Anniversary will also have subtitles available for in-game and combat dialogue.[9]

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

Multiplayer

Anniversary will include Halo Reach's multiplayer component, (similar to the Halo 3: Mythic disc that accompanies Halo 3: ODST), and will include six competitive maps and one Firefight map. These competitive maps are remakes of maps from earlier games; each has both an exact remake and a modified version that utilizes the new features of Halo: Reach. These maps will feature Forge support.[11] The M6G magnum can be modified to function like the M6D magnum from the campaign.[12]

Development

Audio

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Original Soundtrack

All non-vocal audio for the game will be re-recorded by Skywalker Sound,[20] while the original voice-acting will remain untouched.[3] The soundtrack will have both a normal CD release and a 5,000-edition vinyl limited release.[21] Both editions will be released on November 15, 2011.[22][23] Players will have the option to choose between the original and the remastered score before starting a campaign level.[24]

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.[25] The technology allowed the developers to both update the Halo: Combat Evolved's visuals while preserving the original gameplay at the same time.[25]

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 will receive a code to download John-117's Mark V MJOLNIR armor for their Avatars. Preordering the game also gives access to the Grunt Funeral skull, which causes Grunts to explode like plasma grenades when killed.[26]

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.[27]

BTS: Anniversary Music

Main article: BTS: Anniversary Music

A behind-the-scenes look at the remastered music of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, featuring exclusive interviews of Skywalker Sound employees as they discuss the recomposition of the original Halo soundtrack.[28]

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.[29]

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 explains the story's background.[30]

Trivia

  • The game was internally referred to as "Spark" during development.[31]
  • 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.[32]
  • The Italian cuisine chain Pizza Hut will be offering a unique pizza tailored for the release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. This promotion is only available from November 7th until December 19th and is limited to those who are residing in the United Kingdom.[33]

Gallery

Logos

  • Title art.

Promotional images

  • A promotional wallpaper of Halo: Anniversary.

  • An alternate version of the wallpaper.

  • John-117's Mark V armor, as a pre-order bonus for Xbox 360 Avatars.

  • Promotional artwork featured in the October 2011 issue of Xbox Magazine.

Concept art

  • Halo anniversary ost concept cover.jpg

    Concept art featuring John-117.

  • Halo anniversary menu concept 1.jpg

    Concept art of Installation 04 in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's menu.

  • Halo anniversary menu concept 2.jpg

    Another concept of the menu.

  • Halo anniversary pillar of autumn concept 1.jpg

    Concept art of the level The Pillar of Autumn.

  • Halo anniversary pillar of autumn concept 2.jpg

    Concept art of a corridor on the Pillar of Autumn.

  • Halo anniversary assault on the Croom concept.jpg

    Concept art of the level Assault on the Control Room.

  • Halo anniversary two betrayals concept 1.jpg

    Concept art of the level Two Betrayals.

  • Halo anniversary two betrayals concept 2.jpg

    Concepts of Two Betrayals.

  • Halo anniversary the maw concept.jpg

    Concept art of the level The Maw.

Screenshots

  • Screenshot of the current menu in a demo.

  • Marines storm the beach on the level The Silent Cartographer.

  • A view of the beach on The Silent Cartographer.

  • Another screenshot of The Silent Cartographer.

  • John-117 as he appears in Anniversary.

  • An image from the redesigned level 343 Guilty Spark.

  • An image of the multiplayer map Penance.

  • An image of the multiplayer map Battle Canyon.

  • CE AR.PNG

    The MA5B as it appears in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

  • Halo CE T&R.PNG

    A screenshot of the redesigned level The Truth and Reconciliation.

  • Captain Keyes and John-117 standing on the Pillar of Autumn's bridge in the redesigned level The Pillar of Autumn.

  • 2817470-gallery.png.jpg

    Two Grunts near a set of blast doors on the Pillar of Autumn.

  • The Master Chief and a Marine engaging Elite Minors onboard the Pillar of Autumn.

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. ^ Halo Waypoint: 343 Sparkcast #5
  12. ^ Halo Waypoint: BTS: Anniversary Multiplayer
  13. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint: The Halo Bulletin: 8/17/11
  14. ^ HBO forums: "Map... never been seen on console before."
  15. ^ a b IGN.com: Halo - Ridgeline Flythrough
  16. ^ HBO forums: "Map... never been seen on console before."
  17. ^ a b IGN.com: Halo - Solitary Flythrough
  18. ^ Halo Waypoint: The Halo Bulletin: 9/14/11
  19. ^ IGN.com: Halo - Installation 04 Flythrough
  20. ^ IGN.com: Halo Fest: Halo Anniversary Campaign Discussion
  21. ^ Xbox360Achievements.org - Frank O'Connor Interview
  22. ^ Gamestop.com - Halo: Anniversary soundtrack
  23. ^ Gamestop.com - Halo: Anniversary soundtrack, limited Vinyl Edition
  24. ^ BTS: Anniversary Music
  25. ^ a b Computer and Video Games: The man who's rebuilding Halo: Combat Evolved
  26. ^ Halo Waypoint: Special Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Pre-order Bonuses
  27. ^ Halo Waypoint: Anniversary Terminals Teaser
  28. ^ YouTube: BTS: Anniversary Music
  29. ^ YouTube: BTS: Anniversary Terminals
  30. ^ YouTube: Halo: Anniversary Campaign Trailer
  31. ^ Halo Waypoint: 343 Sparkcast #4
  32. ^ Halo.Bungie.Org: Frankie's Back. With an update ;-)
  33. ^ Gamepro.com: Pizza Hut's Halo Pizza is a Real Thing

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