A port of the original Xbox Halo, with a few added features, but is it really worth a buy? True Score: 9.0 out o
Game-Play: 9 out of 10
It's exactly the same as the first Halo game, but you have a mouse and keyboard controls. If you have an Xbox 360 controller, you can play with Xbox controls. One major feature any Halo fan would buy this game is, the on-line Multi-player, yes Gearbox added a feature that the original didn't have, although this is 2 years down the line. You have all the same maps that were in the original, and all the same game-types, and its 16 players on one match over the internet, which makes for 16 player free-for-all, or 8 on each team which is the staple of on-line gaming. There are options which you can swap around, but there aren't really a lot of things to change.
There is one problem with the on-line multi-player; you have to manually swap the game-type. What this means is that the server host, hosts one game and when it ends, it starts over again and then you change the map, and game-type. You would think that Gearbox would fix this, but Bungie fixed it with Dedicated Server. A program using the console of the Halo PC making an automated map cycle, so you don't have to do anything, and usually when the host leaves the game ends. Now with Dedicated Server, you can leave your server and it will still be running when you get back to it. To track servers, write down that Server IP, and you can automatically get to the server from the multi-player menu.
The game-types are Slayer, Oddball, King, Capture the Flag, and Race, all of which were in the first Halo, but I wish there were some new ones. There are 2 new weapons, the Flamethrower and the Fuel Rod Gun, both exclusive to this game. Only the Fuel Rod Gun is a game changer of the two, as the Flamethrower is a proximity weapon that can back-lash onto one self, probably resulting in a suicide. Another feature of the multi-player is that you can fly the Banshee, the Covenant air vehicle that was in the first Halo, but was not useable in the multi-player component. This has created new strategies, and ways to get around.
If you wonder why you can't hit people in multi-player even if you are firing at them, the problem is that Halo on the PC has a horrible Net Code, meaning you'll have to fire slightly in front of the person you are firing at. That isn't much of a problem because it doesn't detract from the fun.
A very annoying fact about multi-player is that most of the maps are Blood Gulch no shield with Snipers which is annoyingly common. Another fact is that most Death Island maps are with rockets. Death Island is a map where rockets can miss very easily. There isn't much originality any more.
If you're looking for some new things to do, try using a map editor in the free custom edition and making some custom maps. Also try joining some modded servers. As you expected in a PC game, you can mod certain maps into your liking, like the POQ clan has done with their Blood Gulch maps.
The old weapons are all there, and there is the same kick-a** story that you'll play over and over again! The only differences in the games, is that there are more glitches in this game than the original one on the Xbox.
Any ways, Halo on the PC should be bought by PC gamers who haven't experience the first Halo. Gearbox hasn't done a lot to change the game, but that might be a good game, keeping the formula.
Graphics: 8 out of 10
Let's get this straight. The Graphics look nearly the same as the original, only Master Chief, the Elites, Cortana, and the Grunts. That's about it. All the other parts of the game look un-impressive. When you boot up Halo for the first time, Halo's texture kind of shakes and looks and it looks like it vibrates. The grass looks nothing like the first Halo's grass, and with 2 years of new technology on the PC, it should look better than the original. Captain Keyes looks retarded compared to the original, and the Elites colours look different than the ones in the original. I mean, green Elites replace the Gold one? What the bloody hell! Gearbox should have really gotten their facts straight.
The new maps are just a treat, but considering the ones that are considerably liked the most are from the original. Maps like that are Blood Gulch, Hang 'em High, Battle Creek, and Chiron TL 34. One of most played Gearbox maps is Death Island, and one of the most hated is Infinity which is completely horrible to play any game on.
Sound: 9 out of 10
The same old classic music from the original Halo, but the sounds of the weapons sound a bit warped, but the vehicles are the same. The flamethrower sounds alright, and the Fuel-Rod gun sounds exactly like the ones the Grunts used in the original Halo, which is exactly how it's supposed to sound.
Value: 8 out of 10
This game is of great value, as this game is now 19 dollars. The campaign, like the original will keep you playing over and over again, and the multi-player is just a great addition to the game, but there is it really enough for the players of the original Halo, who can just wait until Halo 2 to pass around? My advice say is just getting it for the multi-player and play it until Halo 2 blows around. It just isn't enough for past Halo players now.
Tilt: 10 out 10
If you know me, I absolutely love Halo! A PC port with multi-player is just a treat for me. This game opened up the Halo universe for me, as it was my first Halo game. I bought it for 19 dollars, and I played it for more than it's worth.
True Score: 9.0 out of 10