The Best FPS on Consoles
It's Halo, Dude: Reach tries to be nothing more than a Halo game. There are power weapons on the map(s). Each player has a shield. There are alien weapons (plasma grenade/pistol, needler rifle, etc). And there are even vehicles for the larger gametypes. Reach is a distinctly "Halo" game, not some shameless CoD clone. And this is the best Halo game to date.
Party On, Bro: While not a new feature to the Halo series, the Party System is still worthy of praise. Just form a party with friends and you all jump seamlessly from game to game, gametype to gametype together. This is how online MP is meant to be done.
Under the Hood: The Halo Reach engine is a prime example of the benefits derived from exclusive console development. The framerate is steady, the animation is smooth, and the physics are top notch. Bungie knows how to get the most out of the X360 hardware.
You Up for a Challenge?: Thenew Challenge System in Reach is a great addition by Bungie. There are 4 new daily challenges each day and 1 weekly challenge which give you extra credits upon completion. (Think of them like mini-achievements) Most of the challenges are fairly easy to complete, nettingyou can a decent amount of credits without having to invest a lot of time in the game. Perfect for a gamer-dad like myself.
Armor Abilities: A refined version of the equipment abilities in Halo 3, you now select your ability before the match starts (and you can change it at respawns) instead of having to search for them on the map. Each ability has its pros & cons, making the feature balanced overall. I mainly use Sprint, but each ability is useful in its own regard and on certain maps. Yes, the armor abilities are similar to CoD's perks, but are done the Halo-way in that everybody has access to the same AAs.
Turn That S#%* Up!: The audio is superb in Reach. Not much else to say about it, really. The soundtrack is another instant-c1assic by O'Donnell and the audio effects are nice. Halo Reach is a game that demands a home theater system.
Remember Reach: Bungie delivers yet another great campaign. This time you are part of Noble Team, a Spartan squad, during the last days of Planet Reach, the UNSC's top secret research base. It's kinda like the movie 300; You are supposed to know before you start the game that everybody dies. Bungie did a good job creating a desolate atmosphere for the game. There are dead bodies everywhere, and there are building getting blasted all throughout the game. You may not get attached to any of the Noble Team members, but you definitely sense that the UNSC is losing the battle and something really bad is about to happen. Simply a great campaign that's immensly enjoyable played together, co-op with friends.
*POP* Achievement Unlocked: If I can get all the Achievements in Reach, then so can you. Bungie learned from their Halo3 achievement-debacle and wisely made Reach's achievement attainable by poor plebs like myself.
Stylin': When Reach was first announced, the differenct armor variations of Noble Team stood out immediately. Sure, Halo 3 had different armor variations too, but Reach expands on the idea further. You unlock armor pieces the more you play and eventually you can have your own unique Spartan armor. I'm currently rockin' the robot arm and Master Chief helmet from Halo1 with the Confetti armor effect.
HATED
Poppin' & Lockin': Armor Abilities are a welcome addition to the Halo formula, but Armor Lock can be really disruptive. I don't know how to exactly describe it, but the AL messes with the "flow" of the game. This is not a huge complaint, but a complaint nonetheless.
CONCLUSION
Bungie's last hurrah with the Halo franchise is their best outing yet. Reach is the culmination of everything that makes Halo not only great, but a trend-setter in the gaming industry.
Halo: Reach is the yin to the CoD yang. Sure, you can see CoD's influence with Reach's Armor Abilities, but everything else about the game is distinctly Halo. You play a Halo game BECAUSE it plays likea Halo game. Meaning that every player starts out with the same weapons, everybody has a shield, there are power weapons to be found/controlled on the map(s) and even for the alien/Convenant weapons to kill with (who doesn't like sticking some fool with a plasma grenade?). Reach is a Halo game and Bungie is proud to let you know it.
Other than the overpowered, game-disruptingArmor Lock ability, I can find no other fault with Halo Reach. The campaign is fully co-op, there is a Party System, the is a Theater Mode for you to brag about your pwnage to friends, the game engine runs smoothly, the audio is superb, the graphics are sweet, and the MP is as balanced as ever. Halo Reach is, in my opinion, the best FPS on consoles.