Synopsis
by T.J. Deci
In the most obvious sense, the "Halo" is a space station built in the shape of an enormous rotating wheel. As the wheel spins, it creates centrifugal force that mimics gravity on its inner rim. An entire world exists inside this wheel, with huge developed structures and vast, open landscapes. But something else exists in the Halo as well -- something mysterious and powerful. All that is really known is that a force of alien invaders is desperate to find it and they are leaving death and destruction in the wake of their search. This mystery of Halo must be solved and the aliens must be vanquished, before they find what they are looking for and destroy us all.
The action in Halo is squad-based. While gamers have lots of options when making decisions about the individual characters they will play, many missions are best accomplished through teamwork and certain multiplayer capabilities are supported with this in mind. The 3D engine's default view switches between first-person and third person, depending on the situation. Much of the action takes place in the wide open spaces inside the mammoth space station, with no level breaks or load times as the player moves from one place to another.
Some of the basic themes and plot points in Halo may be familiar to gamers who have played Marathon, Bungie's successful first-person shooter which was released in 1992 for the Macintosh platform. Among other elements, Marathon is known for intelligent level design and a deep, intriguing story. Though Halo should not be considered a sequel to Marathon, the two share common plot elements and have related back-stories. Initial development of Halo was done simultaneously for the Macintosh, the PC, and the Xbox.
Screenshots
Features
Battle the evil alien Covenant to save humanity from extinction
Show no fear as a heroic weapons master, bred for combat and built for war
Fight on foot and aboard an assortment of powerful assault vehicles
From the designers of the innovative RTS Myth and the influential FPS Marathon
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Extra Creditsby Michael L. House
A futuristic shooter with aliens as enemies and exploration of alien lands and environments. Influences include genre classics like Half-Life and Quake Arena.
Also Available On
Platform
Publisher
Developer
Year
IBM PC Compatible
Microsoft Corporation
Gearbox Software
2003
Macintosh
MacSoft
Westlake Interactive
2003
Xbox 360
Microsoft Game Studios
343 Industries
2011
Extra credits by Michael L. House
A futuristic shooter with aliens as enemies and exploration of alien lands and environments. Influences include genre classics like Half-Life and Quake Arena.
Also Available On
Platform
Publisher
Developer
Year
IBM PC Compatible
Microsoft Corporation
Gearbox Software
2003
Macintosh
MacSoft
Westlake Interactive
2003
Xbox 360
Microsoft Game Studios
343 Industries
2011
Controls: Joystick/Gamepad
Flags: Features Dolby Digital Sound, Launch Title, Compatible with Xbox 360, 3D Graphics, Voice, Original Musical Score
Included in Package: 32-page Instruction Manual