2010 was an distinctive 12 months for sci-fi video video games: StarCraft 2, Mass Impact 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Vanquish… However it could be secure to say it was Halo: Attain, arguably the final nice Halo, that marked the top of a golden period.
15 years later, we’re not right here to ask if Halo: Attain is as superior as we keep in mind it being; you possibly can verify that for your self proper now. As a substitute, we wish to briefly have fun how Bungie took a artistic swing that paid off, increasing the scope of the Halo universe, earlier than using into the sundown to work on Future.
Halo: Attain is the go-to instance of how huge sci-fi franchises (not simply video video games) ought to deal with formidable prequel tales.
The unique Rogue One
Lengthy earlier than the leisure trade grew to become obsessive about turning any viable IP into an expansive transmedia universe, Microsoft and Bungie had been properly forward of the curve with Halo. In reality, the Fall of Attain was already chronicled again in 2001 with a novel of the identical title. Additionally they had one other punt at it within the now-defunct Halo TV present, however we might all reasonably overlook about that.
Prequels have develop into reasonably commonplace in sci-fi as of late, providing us a window into the occasion that formed the world of the unique story. Rogue One, the primary of the live-action Star Wars spinoffs, often is the most famed instance, however many sci-fi recreation prequels, like Deus Ex: Human Revolution and the upcoming Gears of Conflict: E-Day, additionally come to thoughts.
Whereas many have walked the identical highway, Halo: Attain’s affect on popular culture and video video games, particularly, cannot be overstated. Gears of Conflict having its ‘Attain second’ with E-Day was solely a matter of time; Doom has simply obtained the identical remedy with The Darkish Ages, and lists of nice online game prequels are rising bigger nearly yearly as publishers and builders refuse to bury huge money-making franchises. However what made Halo: Attain so particular and enduring? We predict it is all in regards to the darker tone and ‘unsung heroes’ narrative angle…
Beginning the battle
Halo: Attain rejected the larger-than-life motion hero determine that was Grasp Chief, who was a little bit of an intergalactic Gary Stu even earlier than he obtained sadly with the drained Chosen One narrative. As a substitute, the prequel tells the story of nameless heroes making the last word sacrifice, laying the groundwork for Spartan 117’s later victories. It is the form of story we had been all very aware of by 2010 — turning the UNSC vs. Covenant battle right into a large-scale battle film — nevertheless it was oddly refreshing to see a sci-fi online game collection transfer into the area usually inhabited by Medal of Honor and Name of Obligation.
Attain wasn’t finished taking inspiration there, although, additionally borrowing from Gears of Conflict‘s grittier and relentlessly miserable tone. Whereas Grasp Chief and the UNSC had been on the again foot for a lot of the unique trilogy, it is laborious to explain their exploits as something however heroic, the stuff of legends. Advised by the eyes of a gaggle of Spartans despatched into the meat grinder to take care of an unstoppable alien invasion, The Fall of Attain is a way more determined, hopeless affair. Fight Advanced’s opening could have steered that issues did not finish properly at Attain, however the 2010 recreation painted an much more dramatic image, retroactively giving the battle towards the Covenant much-needed gravity.
Elites and Grunts, amongst different alien species within the Covenant, had been usually goofy within the authentic Halo video games, even when they persistently made the people bleed. Grasp Chief, very like the Doom Slayer, dwarfed most of his foes and was nigh-on invulnerable. The members of NOBLE Group, then again, had been immediately introduced as susceptible and expendable regardless of their years of expertise and top-notch augmentations, and the gameplay and stage design embraced the thought of warriors coping with a menace bigger than they may deal with, too.
One final hurrah… and a warning of issues to return
Halo: Attain’s greatest success was making the Covenant actually horrifying. The acts of brutality on show in Attain make it all of the extra surprising that an alliance between splinter alien factions and the UNSC ultimately types within the wake of their genocidal marketing campaign of destruction. However past that, its wins – narrative and playable – cannot be counted with one hand. Even Attain’s multiplayer took daring new steps, with the introduction of recent mechanics and timid strikes in the direction of participant courses. Not all of those huge swings paid off, however regardless, it is abundantly clear Bungie did not wish to simply knock one other Halo out for the sake of it as 343 Industries ready to carry John-117 again.
With Attain, the unique studio left the franchise on a excessive word, and we won’t shake the sensation that their alternative, 343 Industries, has been making an attempt to chase the Xbox 360 days’ excessive ever since. Neither the brand new story arcs nor the revised gunplay and mechanics have hit like Bungie’s best work. Maybe evaluating 343’s actually distinct tackle the property to what got here earlier than feels a tad unfair. Furthermore, Attain had already planted the seeds for a number of the recreation design adjustments – each good and unhealthy – that may totally crystalize with Halo 4 & 5.
Maybe it might have been higher if Halo may’ve merely moved on from Grasp Chief and doubled down on video games like ODST, Attain, and the Halo Wars RTS spin-offs. It is an enormous galaxy on the market, and regardless of Halo: Infinite reigniting a number of the misplaced magic, failed guarantees and misguided narrative developments have introduced the property’s recognition down. With yet one more refresh of the unique Halo reportedly looming on the horizon, the franchise could by no means be as engrossing as Attain’s story of defying unimaginable odds once more.
Halo: Attain is offered to buy on PC (Home windows) and Xbox consoles as a part of the Grasp Chief Assortment. The entire bundle is included with all Recreation Go subscriptions aside from the essential Core tier.
