Halo Reach

The Cover of Halo Reach

Publisher: Microsoft Studios

Creator: Bungie Studios

Console: Xbox 360

ESRB Rating: M for Mature

In the beginning you’re a hired new recruit only known as Noble 6. You were assigned to join a highly trained, genetically enhanced team with access to the highest pieces of technology. This team is Noble 1 or “Spartan team”. There are 6 members of the team and each have a unique skill or back story, but those stories are to be told at a later time. The environment’s graphics have improved over the years of developing the halo series, and from my point of view they have done very well. The first level starts out in the farmlands, you will travel a far distance to finally disover – WAIT! I’m not allowed to spoil anything…darn. Well umm there’s stuff because your team was sent to that location for one reason, to search for the missing troopers. Once you find them you wish you didn’t, trust me I would hate to be them. After wiping the tears of your faces cause it’s so sad, you continue your way through the map until, and I quote, “huh what was that noise!” Oh sweet Joseph and Mary it’s the Covenant!!!!...What that’s not a spoiler we all knew they would show up in the game, I mean come on. Ah good memories... Anyways conflicts happen and this time the covenant look a lot different than what you see in the other Halos. They are very detailed, almost realistic.

There are 8 types of enemies:

-           Hunters: Heavily armed and almost completely armored infantry who always move in pairs of two. Also their weaponry is built in to they’re right arm and the other arm is a huge shield to cover the front part of their body.

-          Elites: The leaders in any given group. In most cases, neutralizing Elites will cause the rest of the unit to lose cohesion.

-          Brutes: Aggressive and prone to do shocking acts of violence, these creatures are easily provoked into foolhardy acts of bravado.

-          Jackals: Jackals employ energy shields that are considerably stronger than any other known personal shield system, thanks to their linear configuration.

-          Skirmisher: Although of the same species as the Jackals and similarly deployed, Skirmisher are quicker and more agile than their smaller cousin.

-           Drones: Also known as “buggers”, they are essentially flying insects with guns.  Where one appears, there will always be more…MANY MORE!

-          Grunts: Although the lack of brain cells and discipline, they can be a strong unit when in large packs or rows.  But when the leadership is destroyed, they begin to scatter.

-          Engineers: Now these started out as “desk job” workers until the covenant found that they can be used for support, like enhancing soldiers in battles. For example putting on shields around their nearby allies. Although they are not great at hiding they are heavily armored, so it may take a bit to defeat one.

The game has a great deal of length within each level, but it could take anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour a level, of course that only depends on player and difficulty. Over all the game will most likely take you a couple of days, and if you play like me it’ll take you two.

There are four difficulties for the campaign:

-          Easy: For those playing Halo for the first time

-          Normal: For those with experience with Halo or other FPS games

-          Heroic: For only those truly skilled among men

-          Legendary: For those who are Gods or want every achievement

The replay value in this game is fairly high because of the fact that there are challenges every week, month and day as long as you are connected to live. If you complete enough challenges and earn enough experience points from playing you will earn a medal rank. The highest rank is called onyx. Reaching this rank will show that you are masterful in the art that is Halo. Music in this game either sounds epic like something out of 300, or like an explosion is going off around every corner, cause that kind of does happen. This game plays very well, controls are easy to learn, cut scenes are dramatic and bold, and I’ll admit there are some glitches here and there. Why you ask? It’s because every type of game, app or program always has a few little bugs. For example in this game it shows short- term disappearing or “walk through walls” moments.

Now what some people play this game for is the…MUILTPLAYER! There are many types of game modes such as Team Death Match, Team Snipers or, similar to Halo 3, Infection. Team Death Match is eight players, four on each team, striving to win the game by getting enough kills to be declared the winners. Team Snipers is almost exactly like Team Death Match but you have long range weapons such as DMR’s or snipers. Infection is when someone has the armor colour red or green and they are the infected (zombie). Everyone else is trying to survive the horror of being hunted by the infected by shooting them down with shot guns and pistols. Careful though if you get killed, you become infected.

Now there is a large arsenal of weaponry at the disposal of our allies and enemies. The weapons for Spartan’s and the rest of the human race are;

- M6C - Magnum

- MA37 - Assault Rifle

- M392 DMR - Designated Marksman Rifle

- M45 TS - Shot gun

- SRS99 - Sniper Rifle

- M41SSR MAV/ AW - Rocket Launcher

- M6 G/ GNR - Spartan Laser

- M319 GL - Grenade Launcher

- M247H HMG - Machine Gun

- M9 HE/ DP – Frag Grenade

- H-165 FOM – Target Locator

The weapons for the Covenant are;

-T25 DEP- Plasma Pistole

- T25 DER- Plasma Rifle

- T51 DER/ 1- Plasma Repeater

- T25 C- Spike Rifle

- T33 GML- Needler

- T31 R- Needle Rifle

- T50 DER /H- Concussion Rifle

- T1 EW/ S- Energy Sword

- T2 EW/ S - Gravity Hammer

 -T33 LAAW- Fuel Rod Gun

- T52 GML/E- Plasma Launcher

- T52 SAR- Focus Rifle

- T52 DESW- Plasma Canon

- T1 APG- Plasma Grenade

So all in all I recommend people to by this because of a few reasons. First, it’s a great game for story and drama. For Halo fans out there it really gives you a new idea about what Spartans are like. Second, it has intense action game play, serious weaponry and feared enemies. Also the vehicles you get to drive and fly are awesome. Finally, the people’s rating from IGN was a 9.7, 9.3 was given by Game Trailers, Game spot gave it a 9.5 and my rating you can see below. To all the hard workers from Bungie and other companies who were involved with the game,

Thank you and continue the work.

           

Peace out bros and bras.

           

-        Mr.Damarava            

9.5/10                       

Gameplay

Check out our lets play!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yld7vAz5gY