Highlights of the Original Halo Trilogy
Halo is undoubtedly the best first-person shooter. Originally created by Bungie before being poached by M$ Microsoft, the science-fiction – and perhaps prophetic – epic retro video console game has shifted over 65 million copies.
X-box 360 players are battling it out on Halo 5 now, but it is the original Halo trilogy that gripped a legion of gamers experiencing the battles of super-soldier John-117 and his battalion of Spartans. In true super-gamer fashion, let’s take a nostalgic look at some of the highlights from those first three retro masterpieces.
Halo – Combat Evolved
One of the highlights of Combat Evolved comes as early as mission two and the first glimpse of the iconic Halo ring. The mission is to save as many Marines as possible and epitomises the cavalier nature of the game as players are confronted with an all-out shoot anything that moves combat as you wind back and forth across the ring’s surface.
I also love the final mission, codenamed The Maw. The first time I played the level, the stark, tumbleweed setting immediately had me on the edge of my seat waiting for something to happen. The music is eerie too and once you are thrust into action, your adrenaline is so psyched you need a row of vodka shots afterwards.
Halo 2
For me, the highlights of Halo 2 are Delta Halo and Gravemind. Delta Halo is arguably one of the best levels in the entire trilogy. The first half of the ‘Greatest Adventure’ throws everything at you, from Warthogs to Scorpions before moving into the treacherous sniper canyons and ending with the mighty Honour Guards. It’s exhausting but totally worth it.
Mission 12, Gravemind is another favourite because of the intensity. Talk about being gripped, this level has you in a vice-lock and there were days when the mission through the streets of Covenant’s Holy City never seemed to end it is that long. And what a finale!
Halo 3
Even though the first two edition of the trilogy are amazing, Halo 3 was the only edition to live up to the pre-launch hype. One of the best levels for me is The Ark, a captivating adventure which smacks of Gravemind from Halo 2. Again it has everything – the opening defence, sniper dodging, a brutal corridor section and the climatic ono-on-one with the chief of the Brutes.
I am also a fan of the final level, The Covenant. I guess it has to be a highlight really given it is the last battle of the Halo trilogy - and may well have originally be planned to be the last ever Halo scene – before Halo four and five came along of course.
But as a climax to the original trilogy, The Covenant is a kick-ass battle from various perspectives on both the ground and in the air. It is the longest level of Halo 3 and evidently, the final stages in defeating the enemy in attempting to take down the power-towers that protect the Prophets defence barriers.
What are your highlights of The Halo trilogy? Tell us your favourite levels by leaving a comment below.
About the author
Zeeshan Mallick
Co-Founder of SuperRetroGamer.com
