Halo: The Master Chief Collection
This review is based on the 2014 launch version of the game.
For more in depth analysis of each Halo game check out their individual reviews elsewhere on this site
For more in depth analysis of each Halo game check out their individual reviews elsewhere on this site
Over the years there have been defining videogame series. Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy. Most of which have not only been consistently good games (with the exceptions of recent Sonic & Resi titles) from their first game all the way to their most recent and each of them have defined the genre they call home, culminating a fanbase of millions and creating a name so synonymous with gaming itself, you find it hard to think of a world without them. Halo is one such name. One that has not only made itself a household name since its first iteration in 2001, but also revolutionised the console FPS on several occasions and was even the game responsible for making Microsoft's Xbox brand the success it is today. Without Halo, the gaming landscape would be a very different place indeed.
One of the largest contributors to Online Multiplayer on home consoles was 2004's Halo 2, so to celebrate 10 years since the games launch, Microsoft and Halo's current developer set on the task of creating the definitive Halo experience for the Xbox One. A game that not only celebrated Halo 2's 10th birthday but by celebrating all things Halo, a love letter to fans in the best way possible. A compilation of John-117's, the Master Chief's, epic journey to save humanity from a zealous alien race bent on false religious salvation, from a parasitic organism that seeks to consume all in its path and of course our long dead creators.
Long-time Halo fans. Newcomers. Welcome to the Master Chief Collection, the definitive Halo experience.
The Collection
The Master Chief Collection is the culmination of 13 years of FPS history, four full games, 40 story missions, 110 multiplayer maps, content creation suite, player customisation features, 4500 Gamerscore across 400 achievements and hundreds of new & returning Easter Eggs for the dedicated Halo fans and community.
The collection features all four numbered entries in the series, the games that follow the story of the Master Chief. A port of 2011's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary now running at 1080p, 60FPS with new achievements and bonus features.
The star of the package, Halo 2 Anniversary, a ground up remake of the 2004 classic running on a brand new engine designed for the Xbox One, a complete re-envisioning of the games graphics allowing it to be brought forward into 2014, all new CG cinematics created by industry leading studio Blur as well as achievements and new bonus features running at 1328x1080, 60FPS. A port of 2007's Halo 3 now running at 1080p, 60FPS with new achievements and bonus features and finally a port of 2012's Halo 4 running at 1080p, 60FPS with new achievements and bonus features.
Alongside this you have every Halo map from Halo 1-4 ever, including the previously PC exclusive maps and previously DLC exclusive maps. Each of them accessible in a game specific multiplayer suite, allowing for each games individual physics and weapon behaviours. Halo 3&4's forge mode also returns allowing for the ever spectacular creative community to make custom maps for private matches over Xbox Live or Split Screen multiplayer.
This is an insane amount of content provided in one collection and what makes the collection even sweeter is its all on one disc, all accessible through one very well designed menu system that not only tucks everything away neatly so you wont get lost, but also makes it look very clean and fitting with the distinctive Halo sci-fi aesthetic. But how does each game break down? Good thing I'm going to take you through each title then.
One of the largest contributors to Online Multiplayer on home consoles was 2004's Halo 2, so to celebrate 10 years since the games launch, Microsoft and Halo's current developer set on the task of creating the definitive Halo experience for the Xbox One. A game that not only celebrated Halo 2's 10th birthday but by celebrating all things Halo, a love letter to fans in the best way possible. A compilation of John-117's, the Master Chief's, epic journey to save humanity from a zealous alien race bent on false religious salvation, from a parasitic organism that seeks to consume all in its path and of course our long dead creators.
Long-time Halo fans. Newcomers. Welcome to the Master Chief Collection, the definitive Halo experience.
The Collection
The Master Chief Collection is the culmination of 13 years of FPS history, four full games, 40 story missions, 110 multiplayer maps, content creation suite, player customisation features, 4500 Gamerscore across 400 achievements and hundreds of new & returning Easter Eggs for the dedicated Halo fans and community.
The collection features all four numbered entries in the series, the games that follow the story of the Master Chief. A port of 2011's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary now running at 1080p, 60FPS with new achievements and bonus features.
The star of the package, Halo 2 Anniversary, a ground up remake of the 2004 classic running on a brand new engine designed for the Xbox One, a complete re-envisioning of the games graphics allowing it to be brought forward into 2014, all new CG cinematics created by industry leading studio Blur as well as achievements and new bonus features running at 1328x1080, 60FPS. A port of 2007's Halo 3 now running at 1080p, 60FPS with new achievements and bonus features and finally a port of 2012's Halo 4 running at 1080p, 60FPS with new achievements and bonus features.
Alongside this you have every Halo map from Halo 1-4 ever, including the previously PC exclusive maps and previously DLC exclusive maps. Each of them accessible in a game specific multiplayer suite, allowing for each games individual physics and weapon behaviours. Halo 3&4's forge mode also returns allowing for the ever spectacular creative community to make custom maps for private matches over Xbox Live or Split Screen multiplayer.
This is an insane amount of content provided in one collection and what makes the collection even sweeter is its all on one disc, all accessible through one very well designed menu system that not only tucks everything away neatly so you wont get lost, but also makes it look very clean and fitting with the distinctive Halo sci-fi aesthetic. But how does each game break down? Good thing I'm going to take you through each title then.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Originally released in 2001, Halo: CE was the system seller for the Xbox, it was the game to own. It re-wrote the rules as to what a console FPS could be, with large open environments, dynamic weather systems, intelligent A.I, and gorgeous visuals...oh and how could you forget those unrivalled gameplay mechanics?
The version included in the MCC is a port of the Xbox 360's 2011 Anniversary edition of the original game, featuring the ground-up re-envisioned graphics and remastered score. On the Xbox One however it's running at 60FPS, compared to the 360's 30FPS. This not only provides a much smoother flow of gameplay but also makes the game come off as a lot more modern than it actually is. The 2011 remastering, though fantastic, did occasionally feel dated due to its slow and sluggish feel. With this frame rate boost, the action feels faster and brings the game forward into this generation.
The story remains as great as ever, kicking off the story of John-117, the last remaining Spartan-II super soldier, the Master Chief. When the UNSC frigate Pillar of Autumn crash lands on a ring world called Halo its up to Chief and A.I companion Cortana to find out how to get off the ring and escape the a deadly alien group known as The Covenant. However when they find out the true purpose of Halo they must destroy the ring before The Covenant can activate it.
A thrilling showcase of some of the best FPS level design ever, partnered with the excellent and trademark Halo gameplay. Of course the later levels still lack the same punch as the earlier ones making the game somewhat drag in its final hours, but this is a problem that a remaster cant solve and something that by no means ruins such an excellent game.
Originally released in 2001, Halo: CE was the system seller for the Xbox, it was the game to own. It re-wrote the rules as to what a console FPS could be, with large open environments, dynamic weather systems, intelligent A.I, and gorgeous visuals...oh and how could you forget those unrivalled gameplay mechanics?
The version included in the MCC is a port of the Xbox 360's 2011 Anniversary edition of the original game, featuring the ground-up re-envisioned graphics and remastered score. On the Xbox One however it's running at 60FPS, compared to the 360's 30FPS. This not only provides a much smoother flow of gameplay but also makes the game come off as a lot more modern than it actually is. The 2011 remastering, though fantastic, did occasionally feel dated due to its slow and sluggish feel. With this frame rate boost, the action feels faster and brings the game forward into this generation.
The story remains as great as ever, kicking off the story of John-117, the last remaining Spartan-II super soldier, the Master Chief. When the UNSC frigate Pillar of Autumn crash lands on a ring world called Halo its up to Chief and A.I companion Cortana to find out how to get off the ring and escape the a deadly alien group known as The Covenant. However when they find out the true purpose of Halo they must destroy the ring before The Covenant can activate it.
A thrilling showcase of some of the best FPS level design ever, partnered with the excellent and trademark Halo gameplay. Of course the later levels still lack the same punch as the earlier ones making the game somewhat drag in its final hours, but this is a problem that a remaster cant solve and something that by no means ruins such an excellent game.
Halo 2 Anniversary
As mentioned before Halo 2 is the star of the package here due to the fact that the collection itself was designed to celebrate the games 10th anniversary. 343 Industries and Microsoft went all out with Halo 2 Anniversary to make the remake a bigger and better remake than Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and that by itself was a pretty big effort.
The games graphics have had a complete overhaul and all designed in a brand new engine designed for the Xbox One, allowing the game to look as good as some of the new games on the market today and run at a smooth 60FPS. The game doesn't run natively at 1080p but the sacrifice in resolution is near unnoticeable and was necessary to allow the game to run at 60FPS which I argue is the better choice of the two.
For those of you unaware Halo 2 follows the story of Master Chief after the events of the first Halo game. Seeing the Covenant armada discover Earth, open a slipspace rupture to a new Halo ring and in what a surprise turn of events in 2004, allowing you to play as Covenant elite The Arbiter for half the game and exploring not only the Covenant's deep religious beliefs but also the outbreak of a civil war amongst their ranks. It is the largest and most ambitious Halo campaign to date.
Much like Combat Evolved Anniversary you can swap between the 2004 graphics and the 2014 graphics at the push of a button, allowing you to see 10 years of technical evolution at your fingertips and the difference is just staggering, even jaw dropping at times. The games old in-engine cutscenes have been replaced by CG cinematics akin to that of the prologue & epilogue of Halo 4. Designed by Blur, these cinematics are among the best and most realistic looking in all of gaming. It only makes you yearn for a full length Halo film that much more.
Beyond that the game is left exactly how you remembered it 10 years ago, with some new easter eggs and of course the now series trademark Terminal's system for collectibles that specifically looks into the mystery surrounding Halo 5: Guardians.
As mentioned before Halo 2 is the star of the package here due to the fact that the collection itself was designed to celebrate the games 10th anniversary. 343 Industries and Microsoft went all out with Halo 2 Anniversary to make the remake a bigger and better remake than Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and that by itself was a pretty big effort.
The games graphics have had a complete overhaul and all designed in a brand new engine designed for the Xbox One, allowing the game to look as good as some of the new games on the market today and run at a smooth 60FPS. The game doesn't run natively at 1080p but the sacrifice in resolution is near unnoticeable and was necessary to allow the game to run at 60FPS which I argue is the better choice of the two.
For those of you unaware Halo 2 follows the story of Master Chief after the events of the first Halo game. Seeing the Covenant armada discover Earth, open a slipspace rupture to a new Halo ring and in what a surprise turn of events in 2004, allowing you to play as Covenant elite The Arbiter for half the game and exploring not only the Covenant's deep religious beliefs but also the outbreak of a civil war amongst their ranks. It is the largest and most ambitious Halo campaign to date.
Much like Combat Evolved Anniversary you can swap between the 2004 graphics and the 2014 graphics at the push of a button, allowing you to see 10 years of technical evolution at your fingertips and the difference is just staggering, even jaw dropping at times. The games old in-engine cutscenes have been replaced by CG cinematics akin to that of the prologue & epilogue of Halo 4. Designed by Blur, these cinematics are among the best and most realistic looking in all of gaming. It only makes you yearn for a full length Halo film that much more.
Beyond that the game is left exactly how you remembered it 10 years ago, with some new easter eggs and of course the now series trademark Terminal's system for collectibles that specifically looks into the mystery surrounding Halo 5: Guardians.
Halo 3
Halo 3 is the weakest entry in this collection both from a personal opinion and in terms of technically compared to the other three games. Halo 3 is not a bad looking game, however it is a game from 2007 in a collection that otherwise only consists of games created in 2011 onwards. Its a 7 year old game now and its beginning to show its age visually. The resolution has been bumped up to 1080p and it runs at 60FPS, its also the title with the fewest frame rate drops though this is most likely due to it being the oldest and least demanding game in the collection.
It is the best way to play Halo 3, because the game runs fantastically at 60FPS however besides the frame rate boost and some different achievements there have been no changes made to the game whatsoever. The colours are dull and muted compared to the vibrant colours of the rest of the games, the character models are a bit crap and lets not even get started on those really really weird faces that back in the day didn't look too bad.
Speaking from a personal standpoint, Halo 3 is my least favourite Halo game period. Much to the outrage of pretty much every other Halo fan as big as me out there I simply struggle to find enjoyment in Bungie's epic final contribution to Master Chief's story.
The campaign picks up right after the cliffhanger ending of Halo 2 with Chief falling into Earth's orbit after stowing away in the Prophet of Truth's Forerunner ship that he used to escape High Charity in. When he awakes the Covenant have begun a full scale invasion of Earth and both sides of the battle are searching for 'The Ark', an installation that will activate all the Halo rings and destroy all sentient life in the galaxy. The Covenant wish to activate it, Humanity wishes to destroy it.
It is a rather thrilling story, there is no denying that; however too much happens in arguably the shortest Halo campaign that it all feels rushed. Put on top of that consistently bad or simply bland level design, levels that we have had in previous titles and done better and arguably the worst level in all Halo history in the form of the penultimate chapter 'Cortana'.
Halo 3 is by no means a bad game in my eyes, but I consider it a let down compared to the rest of the Halo's and the version in this collection only emphasises that due to its dated graphics. But thinking ahead to 2017 when Halo 3 celebrates it's 10th birthday, a great idea would be to offer up a paid DLC to The Master Chief Collection that will provide a Halo 3 Anniversary. This would mean that we can keep the first four games in the collection without having to swap discs for Halo 3 Anniversary when playing through them all again.
Halo 3 is the weakest entry in this collection both from a personal opinion and in terms of technically compared to the other three games. Halo 3 is not a bad looking game, however it is a game from 2007 in a collection that otherwise only consists of games created in 2011 onwards. Its a 7 year old game now and its beginning to show its age visually. The resolution has been bumped up to 1080p and it runs at 60FPS, its also the title with the fewest frame rate drops though this is most likely due to it being the oldest and least demanding game in the collection.
It is the best way to play Halo 3, because the game runs fantastically at 60FPS however besides the frame rate boost and some different achievements there have been no changes made to the game whatsoever. The colours are dull and muted compared to the vibrant colours of the rest of the games, the character models are a bit crap and lets not even get started on those really really weird faces that back in the day didn't look too bad.
Speaking from a personal standpoint, Halo 3 is my least favourite Halo game period. Much to the outrage of pretty much every other Halo fan as big as me out there I simply struggle to find enjoyment in Bungie's epic final contribution to Master Chief's story.
The campaign picks up right after the cliffhanger ending of Halo 2 with Chief falling into Earth's orbit after stowing away in the Prophet of Truth's Forerunner ship that he used to escape High Charity in. When he awakes the Covenant have begun a full scale invasion of Earth and both sides of the battle are searching for 'The Ark', an installation that will activate all the Halo rings and destroy all sentient life in the galaxy. The Covenant wish to activate it, Humanity wishes to destroy it.
It is a rather thrilling story, there is no denying that; however too much happens in arguably the shortest Halo campaign that it all feels rushed. Put on top of that consistently bad or simply bland level design, levels that we have had in previous titles and done better and arguably the worst level in all Halo history in the form of the penultimate chapter 'Cortana'.
Halo 3 is by no means a bad game in my eyes, but I consider it a let down compared to the rest of the Halo's and the version in this collection only emphasises that due to its dated graphics. But thinking ahead to 2017 when Halo 3 celebrates it's 10th birthday, a great idea would be to offer up a paid DLC to The Master Chief Collection that will provide a Halo 3 Anniversary. This would mean that we can keep the first four games in the collection without having to swap discs for Halo 3 Anniversary when playing through them all again.
Halo 4
In my eyes this is the best game in the collection and was one of my favourite Xbox 360 titles. Thanks to the boost to a solid 1080p and 60FPS the game looks like it belongs on the Xbox One and could easily compete with some of the newest games out there in terms of graphical quality.
As of launch, Halo 4 does not include its Spartan Ops mode, this will come in a later update, however this is no major loss seeing as how much content you already have in this package. The game also includes a new achievement list to keep you hunting all those Easter Eggs and collectibles.
Halo 4 takes places 5 years after the events of Halo 3. Chief & Cortana are floating in space aboard the wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn when they are found by a Covenant fleet. When both the fleet and the Dawn's wreckage fall into the orbit of an unknown planet called Requiem, Chief & Cortana attempt to contact the UNSC Infinity for a rescue. However laying dormant on the planet is an imprisoned Forerunner known as The Didact who wishes to eradicate the Human race.
The story also focusses on the relationship between Chief and Cortana, bringing it into the foreground much more than before. Cortana is reaching the end of her life and has began to descend into rampancy, it follows her struggle of coming to terms with her mortality and with her trying to show Chief that even though he has been trained to be a cold, emotionless killer; that underneath all that metal and technology a human being named John still exists.
Halo 4 offers up the most radical gameplay changes from any of the previous 3 Halo games with the additions of armour abilities and sprinting. These make the game faster paced though some traditionalist fans shun their inclusion, its all down to personal preference.
In my eyes this is the best game in the collection and was one of my favourite Xbox 360 titles. Thanks to the boost to a solid 1080p and 60FPS the game looks like it belongs on the Xbox One and could easily compete with some of the newest games out there in terms of graphical quality.
As of launch, Halo 4 does not include its Spartan Ops mode, this will come in a later update, however this is no major loss seeing as how much content you already have in this package. The game also includes a new achievement list to keep you hunting all those Easter Eggs and collectibles.
Halo 4 takes places 5 years after the events of Halo 3. Chief & Cortana are floating in space aboard the wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn when they are found by a Covenant fleet. When both the fleet and the Dawn's wreckage fall into the orbit of an unknown planet called Requiem, Chief & Cortana attempt to contact the UNSC Infinity for a rescue. However laying dormant on the planet is an imprisoned Forerunner known as The Didact who wishes to eradicate the Human race.
The story also focusses on the relationship between Chief and Cortana, bringing it into the foreground much more than before. Cortana is reaching the end of her life and has began to descend into rampancy, it follows her struggle of coming to terms with her mortality and with her trying to show Chief that even though he has been trained to be a cold, emotionless killer; that underneath all that metal and technology a human being named John still exists.
Halo 4 offers up the most radical gameplay changes from any of the previous 3 Halo games with the additions of armour abilities and sprinting. These make the game faster paced though some traditionalist fans shun their inclusion, its all down to personal preference.
The Conclusion
The Master Chief Collection is the best value set of remastered games money can buy yet. With four critically acclaimed, award winning and genre defining games that showcase the evolution of the First Person Shooter genre since the early 2000's. If anything its a history lesson, a nostalgia trip and a damn good one at that.
Coming in at roughly £10 per game on release, that is great value especially for Halo 2 Anniversary (which you can guarantee would be at least £30 if it was released as a solo game). If you are a Halo fan you owe it to yourself to buy this set, even if it means buying an Xbox One for it...like I did. If you are a newcomer this is the definitive Halo set, you get the best versions of the games exclusively in this set and beta access to Halo 5.
The biggest problems the collection faces are that each game has longer loading screens than ever before, this is most likely because its struggling to stream all the content from the disc because there is so much packed on it. The frame rate is also inconsistent, particularly on Halo 4, though all the games do have frame rate dips on a regular basis. It also as of release has major multiplayer issues, though these are set to be fixed quickly and give you access to all 110 multiplayer maps across each game, one of the largest multiplayer suites in gaming at this particular time.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a love letter to fans and an invitation to newcomers to experience everything the franchise has done for the FPS genre. It's a great way to set up for the release of Halo 5: Guardians next year, plus if you know where to look you'll find plenty of clues as to what the mysterious game is all about so for those of you looking forward to it, its kind of an essential buy. Wake up Chief, its time to get back into action.
The Master Chief Collection is the best value set of remastered games money can buy yet. With four critically acclaimed, award winning and genre defining games that showcase the evolution of the First Person Shooter genre since the early 2000's. If anything its a history lesson, a nostalgia trip and a damn good one at that.
Coming in at roughly £10 per game on release, that is great value especially for Halo 2 Anniversary (which you can guarantee would be at least £30 if it was released as a solo game). If you are a Halo fan you owe it to yourself to buy this set, even if it means buying an Xbox One for it...like I did. If you are a newcomer this is the definitive Halo set, you get the best versions of the games exclusively in this set and beta access to Halo 5.
The biggest problems the collection faces are that each game has longer loading screens than ever before, this is most likely because its struggling to stream all the content from the disc because there is so much packed on it. The frame rate is also inconsistent, particularly on Halo 4, though all the games do have frame rate dips on a regular basis. It also as of release has major multiplayer issues, though these are set to be fixed quickly and give you access to all 110 multiplayer maps across each game, one of the largest multiplayer suites in gaming at this particular time.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a love letter to fans and an invitation to newcomers to experience everything the franchise has done for the FPS genre. It's a great way to set up for the release of Halo 5: Guardians next year, plus if you know where to look you'll find plenty of clues as to what the mysterious game is all about so for those of you looking forward to it, its kind of an essential buy. Wake up Chief, its time to get back into action.