Review: 'Halo: Reach' a fine finish for the Bungie era

In 2001, Microsoft and its fledgling Xbox staked its place in the video game industry with the faceless hero Master Chief in Halo: Combat Evolved.

Almost nine years and millions (and millions) of dollars later, the Halo franchise takes a darker, more personal twist with Halo: Reach, a strong finish for the Xbox's signature series.

The events of Reach occur in 2552, right before the start of the flagship Halo trilogy (Halo: CE, Halo 2, Halo 3). The United Nations Space Command (UNSC) continues its battle with the alien race the Covenant, culminating in a massive battle for the future of Planet Reach.

Players work as Noble 6, a member of the Spartan tactical group Noble Team, to eliminate the threat. The game kicks off with Noble Team investigating a downed relay outpost on Reach, only to find Covenant have found their way on the planet.

Unlike previous Halo entries, Reach attempts to tackle a more personal approach, starting with armor customization options. Before beginning the campaign, players modify Noble 6's armor to their liking, and watch him as he fends off hordes of Covenant foes.

Then there are the interactions with squadmates. Players often see allies with their helmets off and real names attached to their military aliases, such as Carter (Noble 1) and Emile (Noble 4). Bungie tries quite hard, with solid results, to help players connect more closely to Reach's protagonist as well as his squad.

The campaign also places a greater emphasis on cooperative play. As Carter points out to Noble 6 during an early scene, "We're a team. That lone wolf stuff stays behind."

Players will encounter more open areas, with ample opportunities for tactical team action. Objectives require teams to act with greater coordination when tackled cooperatively. But even as a single-player experience, the computer-controlled squadmates seem to handle their own pretty well.

Bungie has also made tweaks in the weapons and gear department. Instead of finding special items such as Overshields and Active Camo, players now snag Armor Abilities. These suit upgrades allow players to use special abilities for a set length of time. While items could only be used once, players can take advantage of Armor Abilities multiple times following a cooldown period. Abilities range from Jet Packs to Active Camo and Hologram (send a hologram of your character onto battlefield to distract enemies). Players must also manage a health bar and shields, like in 2009's Halo 3: ODST.

Weapons receive some additional adjustments in Reach. The burst-fire Battle Rifle has been replaced with a Designated Marskman Rifle (DMR) that fires single shots. Players also get a shiny new Magnum pistol that packs an impressive punch. New weapons such as Plasma Launchers, Grenade Launchers and Needle Rifles help diversify the Reach arsenal and add a little explosiveness.

Yet with the fresh approach to Halo storytelling and campaign tweaks, this is still a signature Halo title, love it or hate it. The larger battles feel intense, while enemies are smart, aggressive and pretty tough to kill.

As strongly as the story has resonated with many Halo fans, the series is equally known for its robust online multiplayer options. Reach takes multiplayer a step further with an expanded ranking system and credits players earn toward customizing their characters, adding more depth and extra incentive to continue their exploits.

Matches start with players choosing a loadout consisting of two weapons, grenades and an armor ability. Players can change weapons or grenade types depending on what's scattered across maps. New matches include Headhunter (capture the most Skulls) and Stockpile (variation on Capture the Flag). Players can also vote on the type of match they want to participate in.

The cooperative mode Firefight has received some updates as well, most notably the ability to use Matchmaking. In ODST, where Firefight debuted, players needed to use an online invite system to battle waves of Covenant as a group. Now, players can match up with anyone else online and slay alien foes. Firefight also includes some variety in match types, such as Rocketfights (using only Rocket Launchers).

Along with the returns of Theater mode and the map creator/editor Forge, Reach is all about allowing players more than ever to personalize their Halo experience. Between this and smart adjustments to campaign and multiplayer modes, Reach marks a glorious end to Halo's Bungie years.

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie
Platform: Xbox 360
Price: $59.99
Rating: M for Mature
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Score: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

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By Brett Molina