Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo: Combat Evolved is one of the most influential first-person shooter games ever released. Developed by Bungie Studios, who was at the time subsidiary of Microsoft Game Studios, this game redefined the FPS genre on consoles, introducing many gameplay, accessibility and control innovations that fueled the incredible explosion of FPS popularity on consoles in decades to come.



After several years on the market as Xbox console exclusive, this landmark title arrived at PC via an ambitious port that transferred almost every one of its celebrated components.

Originally developed as a PC RTS game, after years of development the final product came out as an FPS game that instantly captured the attention of millions of game fans around the world. It managed to do so by offering not only as a complete package of SP and MP modes but also a wide variety of smart design choices that elevated its gameplay, story, audio, worldbuilding, and online interactions into a product that was unmatched by any competitor in its time.

The core advances present in Halo: Combat Evolved regarded its approach to tight controls that allowed sandbox approach in almost every combat encounter, smart enemy AI, intuitive level designs, innovative combat design that promoted giving the player something to fight for every 30 seconds, streamlined damage system that automatically healed players when out of the direct line of fire, and fully-featured 4 player coop support both in split-screen and via Ethernet/Internet. In the PC port, split-screen support was removed.



Because of its impact at the launch of Xbox console and eventual PC port, Halo: Combat Evolved managed to be sold in over 5 million copies in the United States alone, and remastered re-release on modern Xbox One console.

Plot

Set in the 26th century, this science fiction game places us in the boots of Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier who is tasked to help humanity and United Nations Space Command in the fight against the aggressive alien collective called Covenant. At the start of the game, USNC discovers an incredibly large alien artifact, an ancient ringworld featuring a breathable atmosphere. Master Chief receives a mission to land on it and find out its secrets and connection to the Covenant collective.



The game features 10 mission-long singleplayer campaign that lasts around 10 hours.

Main Features

• Landmark FPS title that redefined console space, fully ported to modern PCs.
• Optimized PC version that supports both keyboard/mouse and gamepad controls.
• Enhanced visuals, with support for higher resolutions and other advanced graphical effects.
• The full singleplayer campaign, playable solo or with friends in coop mode.
• Enhanced multiplayer, with a wide array of PC-only maps.
• Modest system requirements.

System Requirements

• CPU: Pentium II or Athlon equivalent (recommended Pentium 4 or Athlon XP)
• RAM: 128 MB (recommended 512 MB)
• VIDEO CARD: 32 MB Video Card, T&L Capable (recommended 64 MB DirectX 9.0 compliant Video Card with Hardware T&L)
• STORAGE: 1.2 GB
• OS: Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP and newer

PROS

• Groundbreaking first-person shooter that revolutionized the genre.
• Engaging storyline and memorable characters.
• Varied and well-designed levels offer diverse gameplay experiences.
• Introduces innovative mechanics like regenerating health and vehicular combat.
• Multiplayer mode offers intense competitive gameplay and customizability.

CONS

• Dated graphics and visual effects compared to modern standards.
• Limited weapon variety and enemy AI compared to later entries in the series.
• Some levels may feel repetitive or frustrating.
• Lack of modern conveniences like checkpoints can lead to frustration.
• Limited support for modding and community-created content on certain platforms.

Also Available: Download Halo: Combat Evolved for Mac