Halo: Reach. Smorgasboard for multiplayer only? Well, no.

I've never really understood fanboys. Which is hypocritical at best, because I have been one at one time or another. I am unable to understand Halo fanboys. Most of them I know have decided to purchase the games on release day, go through Legendary mode as quick as possible (one person did it in less than 6 hours. I'm not kidding), and then waste the rest of their lives on multiplayer. But it's not to say Bungie have taken the path of the Tom Clancy franchise and cut single player as short as possible (making the title a complete lie). There has been some actual work into this, mainly because it's been written as a book at first, then cutting out the boring tactical bits and jumping to the shooting parts. Great.

It's another Halo game, but they've cut out the blue-sidekick, Johnson killing, Half-Life inspired Flood that defined Halo, but have kept in the hardened Spartans, shields and lack of flashbacks unlike ODST. So what has changed? Well, if you don't have rocks in your head, you will have realised that this game is a prequel to the Halo series, but it's Bungie's swansong to the series, not that anyone is going to take the helm.

Before I move on, there is the feature of multiplayer in this game. Enough of that, let's move on.

So you assume the role of Noble Six, completely faceless, but not speechless. You are on the planet Reach which has just been invaded by the returning Covenant. It's up to the Spartans to lead the charge to take them out, and all else fails, so you will have to evacuate the unarmed bystanders off the planet. Then take on the rest of the Covenant, before dying gloriously.

Your allies do help with the same retardation as regular soldiers from Halo 3.

This is not a spoiler warning to those who have any sense of familiarisation with the Halo series. The story had already been described briefly, but I guess Bungie wanted to let the player take the experience for themselves. I do have respect for Halo: Reach having a strong single player format, which is what I aim for in games, in a world where multiplayer is the demanding norm.

Noble Six also has the ability to switch special abilities - such as drop shields and holgram decoys - which brings me to one of a few gripes. If I want a new special ability, sprint is a default ability, but is immediately lost one I want something to adapt to the situation. I can be able to create a decoy to bring an enmy out in the open, but if I want to win in the situation, I have to perform in the one jogging speed. If I don't make appropriate cover in time, I risk being shot to death a bit too short. Flying in a jetpack costs me to sprint as well, but the phase takes too short a time, making me wonder if I should have actually wasted my money and time playing Dark Void instead.

Speaking of short periods of engine features, there was one mission where you could have the chance in a space fighter to take down enemy forces. It was fun for about five munites, which was funnily enough the amount of time the game allowed me to play the stage. Then it was back to run and gun on the ground action. The moral I took from this was "if you want to play a game with these sorts of features, play many others that specialise in a single thing". Sure I hijacked a banshee as well, but that only lasted flying to the top of a tower that was 10 seconds fly up! I'll have to wait until the next Ace Combat to have my flying fix.

I've seen highlight reels longer than this level.

Multiplayer left out, Halo: Reach made for a solid shooter. It was comptent at best, and a new IV drip for the fans at worst. Don't judge it too harshly though, the final fight scene was much more epic than that of Crisis Core. It's also a reminder for us that video games, to a degree is something worth discussing and defending.

Judgement: Fantastic prequel storyline, and a competent shooter, so kudos, Bungie. However, for "Combat Evolved" being a feature since 2001, the evolution has somewhat stopped halfway.

 - Random Cynic