Halo PC
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Template:Game Infobox Halo PC refers to the version of Halo: Combat Evolved built for home computers including both the PC and Mac platforms. It was released on September 30, 2003 by Gearbox Software. A demo was also released before the PC version. The game demos and videos that were included in the Xbox version were removed from the PC version.
Features
Multiplayer
Halo PC contained several new features that the Xbox version of Halo lacked, namely the ability to play the game in "Safe Mode". However, Safe Mode was not necessary for the Xbox version because the Xbox has a standard graphics card and does not slow down. The game comes with several exclusive multiplayer additions such as the six new multiplayer maps which are Timberland, Death Island, Gephyrophobia, Danger Canyon, Ice Fields and Infinity, discarded weapons from the Xbox version which are the Fuel Rod Gun and Flamethrower and vehicles such as the Banshees and Rocket Warthog.
The Xbox version did have its equal share of special features as well such as the ability to play split screen multiplayer and co-op in campaign. The PC version was also outfitted with an online multiplayer mode, and a year later with the stand alone custom edition for modding, with downloadable maps from many Internet websites. It was one of the most popular online shooters played until November 2004 before its sequel Halo 2 was released.
Modding
- Main article: Halo Custom Edition
The PC community has adopted Halo PC and began making enormous amounts of modified maps for other users since its release. With another release of a non-supported 3rd party software, Halo: Custom Edition, it increased the popularity of Halo PC and its players became even more involved into modifying maps.
Reception
Halo PC garnered mixed reactions and received a score of 83% on Metacritic. GameSpot stated that it was "still an incredible action game ... [and] a true classic", awarding it 9.0 out of 10. It received a score of 8.2 out of 10 from IGN, who stated, "If you've played the game on the Xbox, there's not much for you here." Eurogamer called the game "a missed opportunity", but stated that the online multiplayer component was "a massive draw ... for Halo veterans".
System Requirements
Trivia
- Halo was originally for the Mac, until Microsoft's acquisition of Bungie, which prompted the Xbox, and later, PC version. The game was intended for use on PowerPC Macs, and will crash if used on a newer Intel Mac. Bungie and MacSoft have since released a patch allowing for universal use of the game.
- Halo PC has several distinct changes from the Xbox version. The most noticeable one would be the graphics; Jackal shields are no longer distinct to differentiate a Minor from a Major, and do not change color as they get damaged (which were probably problems that the bitmaps and animations were not loaded, from a release-time perspective), stationary shields have a different appearance, the reflection of some weapons reduced their strength, Captain Keyes had different textures, and Shades change as well. Several weapon behaviors have been altered, the zoom feature of a sniper rifle reduced from 10x to 8x.
- Halo PC (and its demo, which has attracted a large number of players due to its online play, which is limited to the Blood Gulch map and Silent Cartographer level) has remained incredibly popular since its release. In May of 2007, over 130,000 players played Halo PC online, nearly 4 years after the game's release. Its popularity with PC gamers continues today.[1]
- Halo PC can be played without the CD as of Patch 1.08.
- The key code for Halo PC will unlock Visual Flair available on Bungie.net for the player in Halo Reach. Bungie has allowed players to input their product keys when changing their nameplate on bungie.net to unlock the flair.[2]
Gallery
Several weapons, such as the Fuel Rod Gun, made it to Halo PC, but not the Xbox version.
The newly added Flamethrower made its debut in the game.
