Developer. Bungie Platform(s). Xbox 360 UK Release date: out now RATED: 16
The sounds in Reach are as expected refined and polished and as always with Halo music plays a great part in the experience. The voice acting is moviesque and cut-scenes and short and snappy. The visuals are incredible and the Halo world has been injected with some much needed grit. It appears, as the audience has grown older the Halo franchise has too. The organic feel to the enemies is also reflected in the environments, quite simply there is life on the planet. The first level you will see large flightless birds again adding to the ‘realness’ and believability of the areas you are fighting in all come together to create a very atmospheric and involving experience. Bungie definitely understands what is important to their audience and have created an experience for fans. I won’t waste too much time here, it’s Halo, the online is of course refined FPS action. With all the additions talked about in the single player included: customisable Spartans, new weapons, new levels and the all new perks make for fast paced frantic competitive environment. With all this and the inclusion of multiple objective games its no wonder that Bungie has seen a huge rise in its online fanbase.
Halo Reach Brings back the magic I felt when I played the first game back in 2001, it’s taken the game to the next step, enemies feel more intelligent, environments seem believable and its all served up in the refined ‘combat evolved’ package. Well done to Bungie for re-vitalising a franchise I thought had had its day.
Rob Knapper
*artwork copyright bungie 2010