How do you like 'Halo'?

[Badtz Maru]

The reviews have all been excellent, the game looks awesome, and I'm considering getting an X-Box mostly so I can get this game. What do those of you who have it think of it so far?

[AtomicBanana]

I love it. It's easily the best console first-person shooter I've played (best FPS I've ever played has to go to Deus Ex on the PC), the graphics are great, the music is really cool (even on the mono speaker on my tv), the AI is pretty advanced, and it's all in all a great game. I LOVE my X-Box!

[Ethilrist]

Is it going to be released for the PC, or is it x-box only?

[tronvillain]

Currently it's Xbox only, though it was originally supposed to be for the PC.

[Briminator]

If I could marry my Xbox I would have already. Halo is awesome, I sat for 6 hours playing after I first started, the only reason I stopped was that I had a previous engagement that night.

[Dale The Bold]

I have played this game with two linked Xboxes. That was a rush. You can fight each other and have total control over each set of game rules. We played for hours and it never got old. The vehicles really put this game over the top. I also felt that the controls were easy to learn. I think I will buy the game for my 'box (I had used only a rental, y'know to try it out). The best part is that you rarely have to repeat the same level and you don't need to keep track of your lives.

[bernse]

Halo is repotedly still coming out for the PC and probably the Mac.

[seriousart]

It's very, very cool.
Can get a little repetitive in spots, having to escape through the same areas you went through in the first place. But that's just nit-picking.

The vehicles add an extra element of fun to the game, though the tank gets shamefully little play time. Nothing more fun than running down enemies in the jeep which are nearly impossible to take down with a gun.

The surround sound is wonderful and is put to good use. The in-game cinematics, and the voice acting in general are all top notch.

What I really didn't expect is how the game would change in mood about halfway through. Just when you think you've got the game more or less figured out, it switches gears in a big way.

I honestly can't recommend this game enough.

[rjung]

Originally posted by bernse
Halo is repotedly still coming out for the PC and probably the Mac.
Considering it started off as a Mac title (first shown to the world at MacWorld New York, July '99), it better be. Bad enough Bill Gates had to swallow a premiere Mac game developer just to get something decent on the XBox...

[bernse]

Oh geez....

Its been a couple years now... let it go.

[scotth]

This game does rock!

A few people have mentioned sound. I will say more. This system and Halo in particular completely take advantage of digital 5.1 audio. Having it hooked to a serious Dolby Digital home theatre makes such a huge difference playing the game. It ups the intensity alot. Playing it on a 60" TV doesn't hurt either.

Playing at nite with the lights down, it gets pretty thrilling especially when you reach the "flood" area.

[Stupendous man]

Halo is good, but I find that the vehicles slide too much while being driven. It's like they're on ice sometimes...
Otherwise, pretty nice.

[mouthbreather]

I just hooked my XBox up for the first time last night.

I have one thing to say.



HALO RULES THE FREE WORLD. GO GET IT.


NOW.

[scotth]

Originally posted by mouthbreather
I just hooked my XBox up for the first time last night.

I have one thing to say.



HALO RULES THE FREE WORLD. GO GET IT.


NOW.

I have one question.... did ya get any sleep last nite? Two nites after I got it, I was up 'til 4 am playing. Very few games make the hours slip away like this one.

[ModernRonin2]

I played it for about 20 minutes. Two-player co-op with someone who knew it quite well. We blazed through the first level and the first third of the second.

It's very pretty - VERY pretty. Look up and around after you land on Halo. Gameplay is definitely fun, too. I hate the aiming setup, but all the other controls are quite good.

Apparently it gets less fun later on - or at least that's what Penny Arcade says: http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2001-11-28 for the cartoon version, and http://www.penny-arcade.com/news.php3?date=2001-11-28 for a more thorough textual explanation.

Personally, MY only complaint is that the enemies aren't scary. Very smart, good AI, but not scary. They look like, well, they look kinda like muppets. I'm sick and twisted enough that I find mowing down muppets with an assault rifle mildly amusing at first, but I think it might get old pretty quick.

Still, I've been damn impressed by what I saw. I too am seriously consider an X-box simply for DOA3 and Halo. Give M$ props - they came up with good launch titles.


-Ben

[SlickUSA]

Co-op campaign, superb
Multiplayer/multiconsole link, superb
Frame rate, superb
Vehicles, the icing on the cake!

The game is well deserving of a perfect 10.

[scotth]

Originally posted by ModernRonin2

It's very pretty - VERY pretty. Look up and around after you land on Halo. Gameplay is definitely fun, too. I hate the aiming setup, but all the other controls are quite good.

Personally, MY only complaint is that the enemies aren't scary. Very smart, good AI, but not scary. They look like, well, they look kinda like muppets. I'm sick and twisted enough that I find mowing down muppets with an assault rifle mildly amusing at first, but I think it might get old pretty quick.

The aiming setup is completely configurable... that helps alot. I switched the verticle axis and reduced the sensitivity, much better.

On the not so scary enemies... you just need to get further in the game. Once the "flood" is released, the enemies are pretty nasty. None of the flood enemies are shown in the game manual.

[mouthbreather]

Originally posted by scotth
I have one question.... did ya get any sleep last nite? Two nites after I got it, I was up 'til 4 am playing. Very few games make the hours slip away like this one. [/B]

Well, I got HAlo along with Madden 2002, DOA3, Project Gotham Racing, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysey. I only played Halo for about an hour because I wanted to sample everything. Last night, I got home all jazzed to play Halo but the GF is insanely addicted to Oddworld. She played from 7pm to 2am last night. I can't bitch too much, now I'll have some ammo if she wants to bitch at me when I play Halo too much. ;)

[scotth]

Originally posted by mouthbreather
Originally posted by scotth
I have one question.... did ya get any sleep last nite? Two nites after I got it, I was up 'til 4 am playing. Very few games make the hours slip away like this one.

Well, I got HAlo along with Madden 2002, DOA3, Project Gotham Racing, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysey. I only played Halo for about an hour because I wanted to sample everything. Last night, I got home all jazzed to play Halo but the GF is insanely addicted to Oddworld. She played from 7pm to 2am last night. I can't bitch too much, now I'll have some ammo if she wants to bitch at me when I play Halo too much. ;) [/B]

I am looking at picking up Munch's Oddysey. Looks fun to me, and was thinking my GF would really like it. I will take your post as an endorsement for that game?

[mouthbreather]

Yeah, we (I should say she, she's done 95% of it) have been through about four levels so far and it is pretty amazing. Check it out.

[ModernRonin2]

Originally posted by scotth
The aiming setup is completely configurable... that helps alot. I switched the verticle axis and reduced the sensitivity, much better.


Nah, it's not that. I'm just spoiled by the Quake-style
mouse setup. You know, "look where you point" with the mouse. They could duplicate the "feel" with the stick by making it so when you move the stock 15 degrees left, you look 15 degrees left, and then when you let the stick back to center, you look back straight. But I couldn't find a config option like that.


On the not so scary enemies... you just need to get further in the game. Once the "flood" is released, the enemies are pretty nasty. None of the flood enemies are shown in the game manual.

Oh, yeah? Okay, cool. I'll get some more time on my friend's 'box and get father. I'm looking forward to some enemies that are a little more worthy of fear.


-Ben

[handy]

they have it at the EB store & I played it yesterday it was very nice. For me it would Not be worth paying $400 (system, memory card, game) to get but nice anyway :-)

[Mandicus]

I think Halo is one of the best games to ever hit a platform. I don't normally even like first person shooter games, because they seem all the same to me. That's probably also because I'm not a big video-gamer, but that means another point for Halo: Any game that can get me to play, especially an FPS, and enjoy it even though I'm not good at it is definitely a first-rate title.

[handy]

Just a note if you buy the Xbox &/or this game from Virgin Megastores with an American Express card, you can save 30%!
Until dec 26th. They have a lot of stores in California.

ps2 is $210 with discount. From the virgin website:

"30% OFF Nearly Everything at Virgin Megastores
November 22 - December 26, 2001
All you have to do is use Blue at any US Virgin Megastore from November 22 - December 26, 2001, and you'll get the 30% savings automatically. So make your way to a Virgin Megastore near you and don't forget to bring along Blue, "

[seriousart]

Originally posted by handy
they have it at the EB store & I played it yesterday it was very nice. For me it would Not be worth paying $400 (system, memory card, game) to get but nice anyway :-)
Well, you don't need a memory card neccessarily, unless you plan to pick up your game at a friend's house. That'd bring you down to $350.

Finished this game the other day. Had, by far, the best ending of any game I've ever played. Very exciting and satisfying.
Took a few days off and now I'm trying my hand at it again, only this time on "Legendary" difficulty.

Man, that game is addicting. Only wish wish one of my friends would pick one up so we could LAN link em.

[scotth]

I'm on my way through on Legendary now too. Got through the first level pretty quick, but that second level is already a butt kicker. The last two levels are gonna be pretty rough I imagine.

Totally different tactics in Legendary mode. Gotta sneak around alot and try not to be noticed while getting more health, weapons, or ammo. And then try to sneak into a good firing position before starting the fire fight.

[mouthbreather]

I didnt plan the easy level, I started on the second level (I assume that is legendary?). Just finished where you get the snipers rifle...That scope with night vision is just amazing. Picking off those guys was fun. Beat that level, got "beamed up" into the ship, and now I am gettin my ass kicked all over the place.

Great fun, though.

[Dale The Bold]

I bought the game on Friday and got home around 4:00, I played until about 2:30 AM and finished the game (Easy setting). I started fresh with the goal of finishing each level at each setting. I have completed the first level in all settings, and I'm currently working on level three in Legendary. Man, there are about six of those guys with the swords after you beam aboard, one swipe and they kill you, plus they are invisible. Throw in a bunch of grunts (don't they sound like gremlins?) and you are in for an unbelievable challenge.

The greatest thrill is throwing a plasma grenade and sticking it to a Grunt who panics and runs over to the group of Covenant screaming "Get it off, Get it off!" only to be blown to figurines. :)

"The Flood" is well named, that's all I will say. I like the fact that the game actually gets you rooting for the Covenant sometimes.

Oh, and the vehicles rock. I could never back up the Warthog until I figured out that you simply point where the vehicle goes and control the throttle, it's not a precise driving, but once you understand that, you can throw that thing around turns and over hills. (Oh, and the comments by the Marines and the Covenant are priceless, the ultimate AI). If you don't have this game, buy it.

[broccoli!]

Halo looks sweet, but the Xbox is a joke. I'm just waiting for a coding buddy of mine ot wrtie me a piece of software so I can play the games on my PC.

Halo looks pretty sweet though :D I can see a problem with not enough varitey on texture mapping, but nice looking so far.

[handy]

Voices? Hmmm, I wouldn't be able to listen to those but knowing microsoft it wouldn't surprise me if they caption the game. Do they?

[scotth]

Originally posted by handy
Voices? Hmmm, I wouldn't be able to listen to those but knowing microsoft it wouldn't surprise me if they caption the game. Do they?

Well, alot of the voices would not be "needed" to play, they are mostly amusing. However, some of the are pretty important. The pretty much spell out what you should be doing at any giving time in the game. I can't find any setting in the game that would subtitle that ya.