Halo: Reach trailer analysis

By Richard Leadbetter Published 14 December, 2009

Digital Foundry: Happy new MJOLNIR.

Aside from some blurry pre-alpha screenshots and unconfirmed game details, next to nothing has been revealed about Bungie's 2010 epic - Halo: Reach. Until now. Over the weekend, a new video was released, showcasing a massive technological leap over the previous Halo engine.

So, just how "real" is the new trailer? Prior to its unveiling, wording on the content was carefully chosen. The video would be "in-engine", the key phase missing there being "real-time". It's fairly obvious that what we have here is a offline render of a Reach cut-scene: Bungie effectively allowing the engine all the time it needs to create a massively high-resolution version of the cinematic, which is then downscaled to native 720p, eliminating all aliasing and producing a superb-looking presentation.

What we're seeing here is indeed in-game assets running in the new engine, it's just that we have no real idea how this will translate to actual run-time performance. More aliasing is an obvious given, but it's unclear what other tweakables within the engine Bungie ramped up in order to produce the best-looking trailer.

A high-quality, super-streamable, hand-encoded version of the Halo: Reach trailer, presented for your viewing pleasure.

Back at E3 2006, two versions of the Halo 3 trailer made it out in the wild: a full-on super-sampled, 60FPS video, along with a run-time 30FPS rendition that exhibited plenty of aliasing. In that case, Bungie was sampling the code on the showfloor, so we'd be hugely surprised if a corresponding run-time version of this video were released.

What we do see in the trailer offers up plenty of cool discussion points though. Models, geometry and textures certainly look as though they are based on in-game assets, and in-game atmospherics and lighting are phenomenal. Material shaders in terms of the armour, vehicles and human faces are of an outstanding quality.

Indirect lighting (shown about a minute into the trailer) looks of a high quality and it's interesting to note that the shadows are of a high quality too. Coming out of the building, we see some low-resolution shadows, but the effect is decent owing to high-quality filtering. Human characters in terms of artwork and especially animation are hugely improved over the somewhat-average efforts in Halo 3 and ODST. Bungie also has a state-of-the-art motion capture studio in-house now that should help improve animation still further.

'Halo: Reach trailer analysis' Screenshot 2
'Halo: Reach trailer analysis' Screenshot 3

Interesting artefacts in the trailer - first up (left), a depth-of-field bug where only the bottom half of the wing in the foreground is processed. In the second shot (right), note the low resolution shadow cast by the door. It still looks fine though owing to a large level of filtering. Aspects like this show this is indeed in-engine as opposed to pre-rendered CG.

Over and above all of this, it is also worth remembering that the cinematics often show the engine running in a "best case" scenario. Certainly, in Halo 3, the cut-scenes often showed a higher graphical quality than the actual gameplay - the scene where the Arbiter stabs the Prophet of Truth showed a dramatic difference in lighting. How or whether this translates to Reach won't be apparent until we get to see proper in-game screenshots, which we don't expect until the beta launches some time in 2010.

With the tech stuff out of the way, does the Reach trailer give us any hints about how the new game fits into the established Halo canon? Obviously the fact that we get to see plenty of Spartan IIs in action is the big news here, but what is curious is that according to the existing mythos, there were only ever 75 of them, hand-picked from 150 children, hence John-117, the iconic Master Chief.

Spotted in the trailer were Jorge-052 (tank guy), Carter-259 (leader guy), Kat-320 (speedrunner with less armour from waist-level down). It'll be interesting to learn whether Bungie is adjusting the canon by introducing a new batch of Spartans we don't know about, or whether we are seeing the Spartan-IIIs here - cut-down, cannon-fodder troops lacking the refined genetics of the Spartan-IIs. As promised by Bungie, we also see the return of the ODSTs: the anonymous male's helmet was of the same design.

With the Halo Waypoint now established and a clear effort being made to build and reference an established timeline of events, it'll be intriguing to see how this plays out as more details on Halo: Reach emerge.

Thanks to Alex Goh for his input on this piece.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (87) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Xerx3s #1 2 years ago

    /Umbrella up

  • fisherpot #2 2 years ago

    I watched the trailer last night and I have to say it looks like it's going to be 1 hell of a ride playing that beast! Roll on the chiefs of the master variety! Hoorah!

  • Beano #3 2 years ago

    Why analyze a trailer?

    It may be real-time generated but it's not in-game - just like the real-time Halo 3 teaser which looked nothing like the final product.

  • MasterNameless #4 2 years ago

    You question is answered in the second paragraph Beano, if you read it.

    "So, just how "real" is the new trailer?", which was followed by a line in the previous paragraph, "Over the weekend, a new video was released, showcasing a massive technological leap over the previous Halo engine."

    Believe it or not, this is a pretty big game release, a lot of people are interested in it, and they probably all want to know whether the final game will have much of a chance looking anything like that trailer.

    Besides, it's only a small article.

    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 11:05

  • Beano #5 2 years ago

    I read it - but it's still a trailer and analyzing it is pointless since it's NOT in-game... especially when considering the Halo 3 announcement teaser/trailer.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 11:13

  • Yossarian #6 2 years ago

    Worth pointing out the Halo 3 reveal appeared nearly a year and a half before the game did, and was specially built for that purpose, whereas this is just a very high-res rendering (and touching up – to what extent remains to be seen) of an actual, probably quite final cinematic in a game that is likely nine months away.

  • Murton #7 2 years ago

    Have to agree with Beano really, as I said in the EG article about the trailer, why bother to analyse a trailer that even if it does show in-game it's not truly representitive of what's in game as it's not running the actual game on the actual system under the same conditions that a consumer would be using the product under.

    Any way you cut it it's pointless to analyse a trailer, wait for some game code next time guys so you can actually report something.

  • darkmorgado #8 2 years ago

    From a quote in the trailer - "you can leave that lone-wolf thing behind", and the fact that we see a group of Spartans, can we assume that this is going to be a squad-based shooter?

  • muscleblade #9 2 years ago

    MW2 on the 360 looks better than Killzone 2 imo.

    Halo Reach will probaly look better and PLAY a lot better than both of them.

  • gnrlstuart #10 2 years ago

    strangely, the most impressive thing that the (im hoping) in-game engine offered was the physics and draw distance of the alpha textures on the plain. ( the effect used to make the long grass). this game seems to have, so far anyway, the most robust graphics engine i have ever seen, with good use of alphas, high resolution real time weather and sky effects, high quality facial models, and fantastic physics.
    time will tell wether it will match the graphical prowess of killzone 2 though, something i won't decide upon until i actually play the beta.

  • NightAntilli #11 2 years ago

    According to Bungie, this was completely real-time. Yes, the word you claim they didn't use, they used it. They never said it was real-time on the X360, which is another matter.. Evidence? Here:

    http://tw itter.com/bungietweets/status/6...

    And oyeah, he was not the only one:

    "ODST's cinematics (and Reach's) are realtime."

    [link url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/p osts.aspx?postID=39614727&postRepeater1-p=2#39615212
    ]http://ww w.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?...[/link]

    Yellow = employee
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 12:01

  • Beano #12 2 years ago

    "According to Bungie, this was completely real-time. Yes, the word you claim they didn't use, they used it. "

    Real-time in-game.

  • davisorle #13 2 years ago

    @Beano

    I dont understand what is so hard for you to get here.. It showcases the premature capabilities of the game's engine and DF is doing their job explaining what possible. Its not sience nor any math included in order to get the point of this article. Neither its the first or last demo/ingame trailer that will be analised. Dont freaking read it and most of all dont comment on those nor faceoffs ( since ppl are bitching for those too ).

    Anyhow.. I wasnt hoping for shit this time for Halo. The less you expect the better it turns out usually. I have to admit, after seeing the improvement on the engine, graphical, physics and movement ( didnt know that Bungie got their own state of the art motion capture studio, so thats news to me ) I cant help but expect too much and be glad for refreshing an Epic franchise the proper way. Like it or not Halo is what made FPS popular to the hardcore audience of consoles caus the best thing that happened before Halo was the crappy MOH PS1/2 games.. And they were bad and we all know it cause we all played them.

    Bungie desearves to gain some ground for their past achievement so I just hope this turn out great for their shake and for us too cause I wanna play another legendary HAlo that will feel as Epic as the first one did back then. Dont get me wrong though, Halo games have always been the most fun online franchise FPS on consoles up to ODST, which I dont wanna say my full opinion on it as a game on other factors. Plus, if there is one exclusive that has to be the best game out there for the 360 it has to be Halo since Halo is what made xbox known in the first place.

    Thnx for the analysis, was hoping for one even if not as informative as I would like it to be :p Cheers

  • NightAntilli #14 2 years ago

    @Beano: It was a real-time cinematic.. Probably rendered on a high end pc. Since the X360 can do 4xAA max, and the trailer is showing at least 8x AA, it was probably rendered on a pc with high AA.. But still real-time. Same way all Halo game cinematics are rendered real-time.

  • WinterSnowblind #15 2 years ago

    The Halo 2 and 3 teasers were shown well before the game release. This isn't a teaser, it's an in-game cinematic, using the gameplay engine. The opening cut-scene infact, and we're getting the beta version of the game early next year.

  • miiiguel #16 2 years ago

    They better make a far better gameplay than in 3 and ODST than I declare it as an improvement.

    I'm not sure where to file that... under "who are you?" or "no one cares what you declare" ?

  • Beano #17 2 years ago

    "It was a real-time cinematic.. Probably rendered on a high end pc. Since the X360 can do 4xAA max, and the trailer is showing at least 8x AA, it was probably rendered on a pc with high AA.. But still real-time. "

    I'm not denying it's real-time (READ MY POSTS, GODDAMMIT!) but it's not in-game which really counts.

    "The Halo 2 and 3 teasers were shown well before the game release. This isn't a teaser, it's an in-game cinematic, using the gameplay engine."

    Just like the Halo 3 teaser claimed it was "in-engine" - and that didn't look anything like the game which ran in sub-HD resolution, had massive jaggies and framerate problems.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 12:16

  • Badassbab #18 2 years ago

    Looks amazing and though they aren't real time gameplay footage, there is a lot of pressure on Bungie to deliver a graphically good looking game after the criticism Halo 3 got so I'm sure they will deliver.

  • WinterSnowblind #19 2 years ago

    Ontop of my previous comment.. are we also forgetting that we've seen leaked screenshots of this game? While obviously being from an early version of the game, didn't look far off what we're seeing here. They'll obviously take some shortcuts during gameplay with character faces, etc. (especially considering the Spartans will be wearing helmets)

    But aside from that, I see no reason to believe the 360 couldn't pull this off.
    It's the intro, and we'll be playing the actual game before Spring.

    Why keep comparing it to the teaser trailers?
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 12:19

  • davisorle #20 2 years ago

    @NightAntilli
    Its been confirmed from Bungie that it was NOT outsourced prerender so no need to keep repeating that :) Just realtime gamengine result and thats it.. even you linked proof for it -.0

  • muscleblade #21 2 years ago

    This is in-game, the Mass Effect 2 trailer however is not. Its easy to see the difference really.

  • Beek4257 #22 2 years ago

    Whatever. Just bring back Nathan Fillion (ODST) is all I ask.

  • WinterSnowblind #23 2 years ago

    @Beek4257
    I'm sure you already know, but Buck and Dare specifically said at the end of ODST that "we survived Reach, we can survive this". It'd be a missed oppertunity not to have him somewhere. And I'd definitely like to see more interaction between the Spartans and ODST's.

  • NightAntilli #24 2 years ago

    @davisorle:
    "Its been confirmed from Bungie that it was NOT outsourced prerender so no need to keep repeating that :) Just realtime gamengine result and thats it.. even you linked proof for it -.0"

    How do you explain the insane amount of AA then?

  • PrivateJoker #25 2 years ago

    Turns on Fanboy filter

    'MW2 on the 360 looks better than Killzone 2 imo.' by Muscleblade.

    Yeah of course it does mate.

  • EvilBob_leeds #26 2 years ago

    Does it matter either way? How many of you have actually been prevented from enjoying Halo 3 by the graphics?

    and the fact that we see a group of Spartans, can we assume that this is going to be a squad-based shooter?

    Yeah, I'm wondering that too...
    Edited by 2 at 14/12/09 @ 13:13

  • Beek4257 #27 2 years ago

    @WinterSnowBlind:
    Yeah I know. I just hope he is/they are actually in it, instead of just quickly referenced along the way.

  • kipper #28 2 years ago

    A very nice-looking trailer. If I don't buy any new games I might get around to finishing Halo 3 before this arrives. *^_^*

  • miiiguel #29 2 years ago

    My guess is that anyone can do "da good grpahix", or almost anyone. Heck the last Terminator game looks pretty nice.

    Now, to make a game which is still played by thousands across the globe (don't go the hype route, Halo 3 hype is long gone, and the game still goes on, and on...), a game which never needed a "stiff controls patch", or a "javelin glitch patch"... or any patch now that I think of it!, it is a very special game indeed.

  • Alkeno #30 2 years ago

    It looks great so far, but let's wait until we have some gameplay videos to rip them apart and jugde.

    In any case, I don't think we should expect the final code (you know, the one in real-time in-game in-engine in-Xbox360) to look as good as Killzone 2. The new engine will allow for 720p@30fps with 2xMSAA, but I don't think Bungie will go overboard in optimizations and post-processing just to make it look better than KZ2. I would love Bungie trashing Killzone's ass, but it's not going to happen, Bungie knows that as long as Reach looks current-gen it'll be ok, they are likely putting their effort into huge maps, vehicles, AI and multiplayer (good for them, bad for DF whores like us :-P).

    By the way, what about the ongoing change in visual style in the franchise? Halo 3 was bright and colourful, ODST kept some colour but favoured darker hues... Reach looks like the palette is less lively, more realistic. Maybe it's a side effect of the new lighting, maybe it's a change in art direction...

  • Yossarian #31 2 years ago

    I'm not convinced any 360 game could look as good as Killzone 2 (or Uncharted 2, for that matter).

  • muscleblade #32 2 years ago

    @Yossarian

    Some 360 games actually do look better than KZ2.

  • davisorle #33 2 years ago

    @NightAntilli
    I cant explain the insane AA. I can only asume like everyone else. Given a fact from Bungie ( who Im sorry but I have no reason to doupt them since such lie would be plain stupid even for amateurs, right? ) that this is not outsourced prerendered CG, I can only asume "what possible". I emphasise that cause haters or plain ignorants can assume by bipassing the facts so far. So really.. I dont know lol. The engine is just way out of the league when you compaire them from this to Halo 3 its just like.. day with night difference. Want me to assume that its 720p with x4 AA which is max for the 360? Want me to assume that they raped the polycounts on top of it? Want me to assume that.. They are using APIs that help in ways im not aware of when it comes to smoothing? I seriously dont know. I wish Bungie came out with full tech analysis to silve those questions to me too man. Trust me I dont know.

    You can also, on top of the others, ASUME that it might be multiple DL disks and that its full 1080p to make it up for us for Halo 3's low resolutions? :p Wouldnt bother me the slightest really.

    @Jozzy
    The reason you cant see anything wrong with the sadow is cause, as mentioned in the same sentence, the filtering on the lower ressolution shadow by the door is top notch lets just say that you cant even see the lower rez of it practically.. So its a good thing which also proves the words of Bungie, that this isnt CG neither prerendered.

    @Yossarian
    You need to understand that Uncharted was a stunning visually game which was tweaked as fk for the specific platform. The only reason even naughty dog would tell you that the game wasntachiavable for the 360 is cause it uses the HDD. Which could be resolved by recoding it for the proper ammount of threads and GPU capabiltiies of the 360 seperately. Dont get all offended neither any of you from this. Its a fact. Doesnt prove anywhere that PS3 is superior nor that Uncharted 2 cant be on 360. Just wont happen EVER cause Naughty Dog is working with Sony. Simple facts. Thing is that as simple should be for Bungie (traditional reasons lets say.. lol ) to be the one to make the most stunning 360 game. Not only the 360 owners will be sutisfied but it is one of the best franchises on the system from the exclusive ones. So nextgen wars do have their advantages. As for KZ 2 its way too easily achievable. Trust me you will see even better looking on the PS3 and on 360. They still have space left to be juiced. Downside is that you saw how long it took for a single developer to release an Uncharted 2 due to complex PS3 coding lets just say. Plus, if there is a development group that can prove how easily KZ2 can be overpassed graphically that is Bungie. If they do it with Halo Reach would be more than welcome. I see no reason why a game shouldnt look better than already released titles, neither ill ever understand the paranoia of console/game exclusive haters. I admire Naughty Dog and their title even if I dont own a PS3 ( yet ).

  • Deckard1 #34 2 years ago

    If the game looks anywhere near that good this may be the first halo game in a while that I'll actually be excited about.

    Yes I am a graphics whore.

  • PrivateJoker #35 2 years ago

    @Muscleblade

    'Some 360 games actually do look better than KZ2.'

    Care to mention them then?

    Take off your fanboy goggle please.

  • Yossarian #36 2 years ago

    I think this may be the first time I have ever had negative points in a comments thread for praising PS3 titles.

  • NightAntilli #37 2 years ago

    @davisorle: They rendered the lighting using two frame buffers with Halo 3.. Ok what I'm going to say now, is pure speculation, and since I'm no developer, I have no idea if it's possible or not. But could they use a similar technique to increase the amount of AA that's possible on the X360? Let's say, 2xAA on a frame that already has been processed with 4xAA? I don't know if the frame buffer and bandwidth is good enough for this... The X360 probably isn't strong enough for this and I'm probably talking about flying pigs here.. Lol

  • davisorle #38 2 years ago

    @NightAntilli

    rofl im not sure im getting what you say.. More or less in plain words you mean a x4 the already x2AA sample? In order to even think if that could be possible the trailer would have to NOT be real time.. Which we already said it was realtime so I doupt it. Inorder for what you say to be achieved in realtime from the engine I find it ... somethign undone so far in any console game so Im not good in talking out of ignorance, sorry ^^. If you are any close to being right on this one then grats, I couldnt have thought that far for this one.

    P.S. @Yossarian
    You have posted so many times and you have only been doing that and nothing relevant to the topic. If you were praising a 360 game on a PS3 exclusive youd be for a record downrated by now and you know it. ( P.S. Stop caring about the damn ratings.. its "silly" lets just say. No popularitity awards here )

  • Darren #39 2 years ago

    The trailer looks pretty good but until I see in-game footage running for myself then I'm not going to say anything else about those visuals because they may not be indicative of the final game at all. Early trailers seldom are, case in point being the supersampled 60 fps Halo 3 one I saw from E3 2006, also mentioned in this article, which looked a lot better than the actual game ever did.

    Halo 3 and ODST were artistically excellent with solid modelling, nice lighting and great textures but the sub-720p resolution and lack of AA (an odd omission for a platform that is supposed to offer AA with minimal performance loss) really made the graphics look rough and unfinished IMO. I hope that Bungie have managed to implement both MDR/HDR lighting and AA into the new engine.

  • Darren #40 2 years ago

    @Muscleblade - If you think Call of Duty: MW2 looks better than Killzone 2 then that's your prerogative; no-one can refute that. However, what I'd like to know is why you singled out the 360 version when MW2 is a multiformat game that looks almost exactly the same on the PS3? :?

  • ronuds #41 2 years ago

    Ugh...a new Halo game and the best thing we can talk about is graphics?

    I just want a good game - let the PS3 folks have their pretty games. I'll take games that are fun over good looking any time.

  • miiiguel #42 2 years ago

    I could bet my right hand that I'm not the only one who doesn't care a litle bit if *forum_thread_video_game_player* and friends think KZ2 is the bestest game of all time. And it looks better than everything else, plus Halo (yes, always Halo, it haunts thee).
    Looks. Better.
    Ah... so sweet. Play. Play the game. Yeah..., games main playground is on a gaming system not on as forum thread.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 17:07

  • tnt_2008smum #43 2 years ago

    “*cough* the 360 is maxed*cough* lol. I heard from a source who heard from another source that GoW3 and GT5 will look better than Uncharted 2... lol? The finished game will definitely look better than the demo from e3 and that is confirmed by the CM at PSBlog so the 360 has a lot to catch up to.”

    I heard from a source who heard from another source that semitope is a cock!

    Come on why are you here spouting your shite! God what is it about Halo that seems to stir these idiots up so much.

  • ronuds #44 2 years ago

    Yeah, the only thing they can talk about is the graphics. Like if KZ2 looks better that somehow means anything?

    Is it supposed to be that upsetting to us that 1 game looks marginally better than another? When did this graphics willy waving begin - because it's the worst argument that fanboyism has ever spawned.

  • Xerx3s #45 2 years ago

    "That all said, there are still many FPS games that look better (Nothing came close to Killzone 2 on consoles to date), even if Halo: Reach uses a new engine (what I hardly see on the trailer), it's not really a big deal for the non-hysterical fans. They better make a far better gameplay than in 3 and ODST than I declare it as an improvement."

    A small minor bteam 1 year product such as ODST sold twice as much in a couple of weeks as sony's heavily marketed flagship product did ltd, it's not the halo franchise which has the hysterical minority.

  • freakzilla #46 2 years ago

    Not being much of a halo fan I can't say I'm all that impressed. Some spartans talk and blah blah blah and trailer is over.

  • Law07 #47 2 years ago

    @ Darren: exactly what i was wondering

  • ronuds #48 2 years ago

    @ Xerxs

    Any comment proclaiming "nothing comes close to Killzone 2 to date" should be immediately ignored.

  • tnt_2008smum #49 2 years ago

    Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed KZ2 (played through it twice and still go back to it from time to time) and thought it looked great but I preferred Halo 3’s and ODST’s game play and surely that’s what counts. Personally I can’t wait for Reach and with any luck it will probably end up being one of my favourite games of 2010.

  • Rich72 #50 2 years ago

    I have Killzone, played that campaign once.... looked great in places and was "ok" to play. Online was pretty awful. Even my Sony Fanboy friend admitted that it wasn't very good. If you had two games, MW2 and Killzone, I doubt that anyone would be playing the latter.

    Halo on the other hand has always kept my interest. The negatives are always far outweighed by the positives: the controls, the fun, the replay factor.... I could go on.

    /gets off pedestal..... sorry.

  • Cheeky #51 2 years ago

    @NightAntilli:

    "How do you explain the insane amounts of AA then?"

    Well, if this small article I read on the technical side of the trailer is anything to go by, it's quite simply an illusion. The edges of objects where AA is lacking is blurred into the surroundings, making it seem as though the game is actually pulling off a great amount of AA - the truth is that they're not, but are using certain techniques to essentially 'trick' the human eye. It's a clever use of technology on Bungie's part. Here's the article I'm speaking of:

    [link url=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?r ead=957303
    ]http://ca rnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo...[/link]

    It also gives an insight into the use of geometry and skybox, the complex shadowing system, and how you can tell that the trailer is in fact real-time. It's a pretty good read I'd say.

  • tnt_2008smum #52 2 years ago

    @semitope

    No you're all cock, 100% through and through.

  • Calgon #53 2 years ago

    Semitope is a fanny actually, he loves the cock... Kaz Hirai's cock to be precise but he's also ashamed of being a PS3 fanboy too so hides it at all costs, now he likes to disguise himself as a PC gamer and feign objectivity. There are times though where he slips up and he shows his true colours, like the vast majority of the SDF community on EG, there are too many of them.

    As for the Killzone2 comments(which dont really belong here but I expect no less with EG fast becoming SDF central):

    I really think people need to take a good look at KZ2 its strengths are lighting, physics and post processing effects(not all of us are fooled by post processing enough to not see where other games have exceeded it even on consoles)... anyone who wants to claim it has the best poly counts, the best texturing, the best AI or even animation should be ignored because they dont have clue what they are talking about. Theres no reason other than the amount of time Bungie have had to complete the engine and the game stopping Halo: Reach being clearly technically superior(from what I hear the lighting already sounds like its going to be better) to KZ2, if it turns out that way then its doubly impressive because KZ2's devs spent most of their time on the games engine and visuals alone... Bungie will actually put as much effort into the gameplay as they always do.

    What would be cool is if MS drop some of the restrictions that are in place with Backwards Compatibilty for the next gen Xbox in mind. I dont think too many would complain if some of the later games didnt make the BC list if they truly pushed the system and showed the "power of CELL" nonsense talkers that they were fooled into thinking they were getting something more powerful(and paying quite a lot for it if you got it at launch) than the 360 when in reality, 360 could match(or perhaps even exceed in some areas... but we are talking on the whole here, each console has it's strengths here and there but in the end they are pretty evenly matched) any game on PS3 you'd like to mention in the right hands.
    Edited by 2 at 14/12/09 @ 18:48

  • Yossarian #54 2 years ago

    Cheeky, it's also all but complete bullshit, and that's coming from a diehard Halo fan.

  • martin1841 #55 2 years ago

    Editor says about e3 2006 and Halo 3.
    Hello we have 2009! 2006 was 3 years ago jeez in that time 360 was "fresh" system Bungie did not knew many things and "tricks".
    Now after 3 years they know a lot more, now they know how to do things better.
    Imo Halo 3 used strongly modified Halo 2 engine.
    Reach engine looks very diffrent.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 19:18

  • Dizzy #56 2 years ago

    "A small minor bteam 1 year product such as ODST sold twice as much in a couple of weeks as sony's heavily marketed flagship product did ltd, it's not the halo franchise which has the hysterical minority. "

    Owned!

    /inserts KZ2 animated gif for effect

  • GamesConnoisseur #57 2 years ago

    Sigh!

    The article is related to a trailer of the next Halo game, and somehow its turn to the KZ2 and the superiority of either console!

    KZ2 is indeed a nice looking game and despite the control lag and a bit weak story, its have a strong franchise that can only grow but comparing to Halo franchise. Its has some catching up and probably why some Sony fans are hurting and hoping to see Halo canon sinks or that next game will disappoints.

    Please can we just agree that we want to see good game suceeds, that that means both Halo and KZ, the market is actually big enough to support both? Serious gamer is capable of appreicating both games/franchise such as myself but yes we also should be able to be mature about what we didn't like in either game. We know lots of people have expressed complaints about Halo or KZ. So there we are!

    Now back to trailer.... yummy! Seems pretty interesting but yes what about the game? We only get until autumn 2010. Would we have enough time to see an evolved game after ODST recently?

    Watch this space

  • Cheeky #58 2 years ago

    "Cheeky, it's also all but complete bullshit, and that's coming from a diehard Halo fan."

    Hey man, I'm not saying it is true - this coming from someone who knows absolutely nothing about the technical side of games. I just think that it isn't impossible for Halo: Reach to look this good and be running on the 360. At least, that's what I've been led to believe.

    I'm a bit confused though. I mean, you have one section of people saying that the game doesn't look very impressive, while the other section say that it must be CG. Surely, between the two, there is an obvious contradiction?

  • Calgon #59 2 years ago

    semitope - I read that too ;)... rest of my post still stands, I wasnt saying its not impressive or not among the best examples console FPS graphics(but as I said textures, geometry, AI framerate ect... it by no means set new standards in those areas and the DF article certainly wont back you up if thats what you are trying to claim) and lets it right YOU are the delusional fanboy.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 20:11

  • Calgon #60 2 years ago

    Cheeky different sides of the same coin, they basically dont like Halo so those are the two options if you want to downplay it:

    a) Its CG/not going to look anywhere near that good... KZ2 blah blah CELL Blu-Ray ect.

    b) Meh doesnt even look that good, KZ2 looks bettar I finks.... (just laughable these people are morons through and though).

    Basically its in-engine but not in-game, if its an in-game cutscene its being run on a 360 and an example of some of the best graphics the engine can do on the 360 at this moment in time. Obviously everybody knows that cutscenes are scripted and strictly controlled where all hardware can be dedicated to graphics and audio alone, unlike in gameplay.

    How far off it is from what the gameplay will look like is anyones guess, its not even finished yet and its a new engine... comparisons to Halo3 and ODST aren't really worth much. Just wait and see, I wasnt particularly impressed with the "pre-alpha" screenshot but then again it wasnt even confirmed to be from Reach at all as far as I know, it was just speculation. So I will wait and see, still: its about time Bungie spent some of its cash on a new engine to bring them up to date or perhaps a little further.
    Edited by 3 at 15/12/09 @ 04:31

  • Spekingur #61 2 years ago

    Am I the only one to look at that video screenshot and NOT seeing what the image text refers to?

  • martin1841 #62 2 years ago

    Guys listen to me.
    This explanation
    [link url=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?r ead=957303
    ]http://ca rnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo...[/link]
    really got me, i belive him. I think he knows something.
    We havealso post from empolyee here
    [link url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/p osts.aspx?postID=39614727&postRepeater1-p=2#39615212
    ]http://ww w.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?...[/link]

  • TAPNGO #63 2 years ago

    @semitope

    that 10% hanging out of your mouth is a ball sack not a cock my friend.

  • davisorle #64 2 years ago

    @semitope
    Can you just hug your console and go to sleep or try to stick it in its port to blow some steam of instead of keep saying shit that makes no sence? You do your usual PaTroll it just got old and your I.Q. is still too low. At least say something amusing next time please to entertain us since you keep comming back for more.

  • Zappa #65 2 years ago

    ha, this is the graphics after all the hype...fail

  • tnt_2008smum #66 2 years ago

    oh dear god they are all here now! Halo is like some sort of magic troll magnet! you know it must be good if all these idiots are showing up.

  • Negotiator #67 2 years ago

    "showcasing a massive technological leap over the previous Halo engine." Anybody want to say it looks the same as Halo 3, because Digital Foundry see different.

  • womble #68 2 years ago

    And the trolls are out in force, once more. Even those who claim to have given up on BOTH consoles...

    The most enlightening thing about the trailer is that people are claiming that this is CGI, that it's rendered offline, it's rendered on a high powered PC, etc.

    The cool thing: what if it IS in-game, in real-time? Here's Bungie's OFFICIAL WORD ON THE MATTER:

    "our cinematics run real time in our game engine, they're not outsourced CG".


    ODST was a huge disappointment. Let's all hope that this is the goods.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 01:00

  • Spekingur #69 2 years ago

    Negotiator has obviously never played Halo 3.

    Also, the replay option in GT5 Prolouge DID have post-process effects added. My guess is that this trailer is something similar.

  • adz #70 2 years ago

    It looks all right, but really, it can't hold a candle to Dragon Age.

  • muscleblade #71 2 years ago

    "However, what I'd like to know is why you singled out the 360 version when MW2 is a multiformat game that looks almost exactly the same on the PS3?"

    Good question. I havent played or seen the PS3 version so i cannot comment on that. I do however think that MW2 looks better than KZ2. KZ2 is kind of dark looking or something. Not as pleasing to my eyes. I thouth it would look a lot better than it actually did. Thats all.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 08:03

  • davisorle #72 2 years ago

    Funny thing crossed my mind earlier. Since Bungie got their own top notch motion capturing studio.. And they are working first hand with MS.. And the game will be released after Natal ( or same time for even bigger bang one can guess ).. Might also do us the favour to show off what that baby can do with optional use of the device.?.

    @adz
    Are you seriously comparing Dragon Age with Halo?! Whats wrong with you ppl.. Dragon Age is an epic RPG with amazing mechanics, story, gameplay ( at least on the PC I enjoyed it fully ) with great replayability as well and Halo is an epic FPS with a huge achievement aka boosting a whole genre to new dimentions when till then it was known only to PC gamers to that extend and the mediocre to really bad MOH released with bad gameplay on the consoles were unacceptable( always been a gamer of everything really.. so I know how each would see this matter and why PC gamers would trashtalk consoles/gamers ). Halo came along and broke every kind of record and when you think of a game's worth you think replayability i.e. online/multiplayer. Its untouchable ever since and its a fact and proven in numbers. Was also the first console FPS that I enjoyed and wanted to play online and not make fun of it.

    Now if you are talking about Reach in specific in comparison with Dragon Age and im talking purposless its not my fault, its again yours cause you compared a game we have played and enjoyed with a game that was just shown to us through a video.. o.0

    @semitope
    You saying that this could be a CG is only flattering the game itself so I guess we should also thank you for thinking so highly of this video and you being such a retard on top of it. You make the rest feel better about themselves I bet. Yet funny coming from someone that is also trying to make a point by using a game that was shown as in game about 5 years ago from Sony, building hype for the PS3 with KZ2 ( which im sure you were from the idiots that actually was pointed out that that couldnt have been ingame yet you wouldnt listen ). Which KZ2 isnt that bad till you try it online. Now lets stop talking about KZ2. You talk about it more than even you played the game I bet.

  • adz #73 2 years ago

    @davisorle

    Actually, I was amazed at how ridiculous the comments here are (very enjoyable read though!), so, I jokingly compared the trailer to what is possibly one of the worst looking games I've played in ages. I'm enjoying Dragon Age, but man... shoddy graphics. It was a throw away comment, and suddenly I'm tagged as a trash talking PC Gamer! Hilarious! I can see how these things get out of hand.

    I'm torn between being proud that people take their love (which is mine as well) of gaming into such crazy discussions, and being worried by it at the same time... Enjoy gaming, but remember, real life is TRUE HD.

  • davisorle #74 2 years ago

    @adz
    Rofl I apologise but I really thought you were serious. I mean how could you compare those 2? :p And you see, I didnt call you shit or anything.. I gave reasonable explanasions through my reply to you. ^^ Again, sorry but no indication of your sarcasm, specially when you brought up a great game ( cause Dragon Age is great so was hard to sence the sarcasm big time lol ).

    And no dont be tollerant with the newage fanboism. Me Im strict with things in general. Like if you go buy a bad HDTV model or you bought a PC which sucks specially for the pricatag, when as a friend had offered you to build you one for free, I'll make fun of you. Might eve call you a dumbass but thats about it. ( ive been doing that since a kiddo but as weird as it sounds its somethign I used to charge back then for and not anymore. Might be cause now I only doit for friends :p ) lol same with gaming. If you compare Halo with Dragon Age you risk being called that :p At least you should use Turok or something in order to give a chance to the sarcasm to be recognised ( which Turok btw was underrated a liltle bit and only. ).

    P.S. I + your comment cause i felt bad for the missunderstandng ^^

  • Wolverfrog #75 2 years ago

    I just want to say, to all you people saying that it was run on the PC, that Martin O'Donnel (The man who does the Halo music) said the cinematic runs perfectly real time on the Xbox 360, with effects, and everything the trailer shows.

    Here's what he said in his private group on Bungie.net, The Marty Army...

    "Ok, thread closed.

    Yay! Thanks to everyone who voted (for ODST). I was hoping to meet Hans at the show but he wasn't there. Too bad.

    Also, yes - everything you saw was in-engine. I can play that whole cinematic in-game. Effects and all. At the end of the day I think this game is going to look and play great. Give us a chance to finish it.

    Stay tuned for a bit of the ol' mp3 action on the track.

    Merry Christmas!"

  • davisorle #76 2 years ago

    @semitope
    "I don't follow hype and I wasn't one of those who completely believed the vids were real from e3 05. (granted some say killzone actually looks better than that but i don't completely agree there either)"

    You keep coming back for more still? lol tardawards just for you from next year. First of you dont follow the hype yet you are the one infecting threads that consern games that look good on the consoles you dont own to trash their hype? So you are skipping the only normal bit of a fanboy or even simple gamer and you are going in the deep from starters cause you have really nothing better to do with your life? Nor you believed those videos that you didnt watch yet you are the one to remember the exact year of release from specific trailers which amazed me readon your comment when you want us to believe otherwise.

    Bet your favourite subject at school is math. Sharp as hell.

  • EvilBob_leeds #77 2 years ago

    Doesn't look like we'll have too long to wait for a full expose on it anyway -

    [link url=http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/105/1054797p1.html ]http://uk .xbox360.ign.com/articles/105/1...[/link]

  • TAPNGO #78 2 years ago

    @semitope

    do you know who Blig Merk is?

  • womble #79 2 years ago

    semitope is still doing his anti-Halo, anti-360 thing over at beyond3d.com, too, in their Halo thread. Our little troll certainly gets around.

  • martin1841 #80 2 years ago

    So "blurring edges" gives the same/similar effect as AA but is faster. Am i right? obviously not every engine can use it.
    Reach has still ~10 months in development, game already looks awesome and from this point can be only better ^^
    How many games on consoles is using this technique?

  • TAPNGO #81 2 years ago


    i like how semitope just happened to be on a thread talking about halo reach, yet he's on this thread.

  • womble #82 2 years ago

    @semitope the troll:

    How about this from semitope over at beyond3d.com:

    "slightly depressing. Those pics suggest vids can look pretty decent in the halo series even if the graphics of actual gameplay aren't top of the line."

    and

    "The unfortunate thing is they wont come clean about what it actually is till the game is almost out or the first beta screens appear. Would be nice if they'd just say such and such is what we did."

    and

    "So its not out of the ordinary for Bungie. I do still wish they'd just put what is real out there, seems to me there is no point lying to gamers (even if its the norm) when they will have their hands on the game eventually anyway. "

    and

    "Except that sites are saying "in-game." The fact that its not easily discernible as rendered (if it is) would suggest the intent to deceive."

    and

    "If thats it I'd pretty much have no respect for bungie or the halo franchise after. "

    HAH! As if he is a Halo player!

    And so on and on. Page after page of snide little comments attacking Halo, comparing it (unfavourably) to Killzone 2, calling Bungie liars, muddying the waters, casting aspersions, etc. Basically, trolling like the PS3 fanboy he is.

    Except Semitope is on notice at beyond3d.com, so he has to play it carefully. You'll note that ALL of his comments are VERY general, whereas most of the beyond3D readers are technically literate. Here, however, he feels it's safe to play the troll outright.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 01:02

  • TAPNGO #83 2 years ago

    the troll is still trying, remember he doesnt own a 360, does not like the 360, does not plan on getting a 360,
    so why is he on this thread posting about a game for the 360.......troll.

  • TAPNGO #84 2 years ago

    LOL,LOL,LOL,LOL troLL
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/09 @ 16:14

  • Sharzam #85 2 years ago

    Remember that Halo 3 and ODST, are both running on the Halo 2 engine just modified a bit for the 360. Bungie said that when they build the Halo 2 engine they couldnt use all its ablitys on the first xbox so when making Halo 3 they let it flex its wings a bit but fundementally it is the Halo 2 engine. If this is a brand new engine there is no telling what it will be capable of as will be the first engine from bungie that is built for the 360 from day one.


    We will just have to see how good or how bad it is, cant gues as its a unknown.

  • Geordiemp #86 2 years ago

    I dont want Halo to be visually as good as UC2 or Killzone or anything else, yeah there super high res textures animation 720 P but its a certain type of game.

    Halo for me, Its a 60 FPS game where you can play coop with multiple players in a large environment with vehicles and good AI giving nice battles with friends. Large envoronments, lots of baddies and vehicles, multiple players does not lend itsef so much to Killzone graphics.

    I found I enjoyed the 60 FPS large environment battles in R&C Crack in time, just fun (and dont believe the poor EG review, play it on hard, you need all the guns all the time & strategy).

    Would prefer if Bungie focussed on a larger, longer game, give us 12 hours of campaign and lots of flying / vehicle variety and huge maps...

  • womble #87 2 years ago

    semitope is marked as a "Naughty Boy!" over at Beyond3D for trolling their Halo technical thread, disparaging the game, comparing it to Killzone 2, muddying waters, doing all the usual PS3 fantard stuff.

    A Naughty Boy here too, by the looks of it.

    Once a troll, always a troll.
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/10 @ 23:58