Halo: Combat Evolved Review

By Kristan Reed Published 10 October, 2003

It's finally here...

Version tested: PC

Before the flame wars kick off again, I thought Halo was a great game, a true classic that deserves its lofty status as the Xbox's killer app. It still stands as the best console FPS and nearly two years on still looks ahead of its time with benchmark AI, great visuals, a credible sci-fi tale, great soundtrack, cracking multiplayer including the superb co-op mode. But it wasn't perfect.

Coveted

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 1

The game starts off like a house on fire, with the Master Chief awoken from a cryogenic sleep to defend the The Pillar Of Autumn warship, which has come under attack from the aggressive Covenant race. Protecting the ship's female AI, Cortana, the Chief escapes with some marines and survives a crash landing alone on the beautiful orbital ring of Halo.

The opening sequences are among the best videogaming has to offer, with wave after wave of organised Covenant troops darting around hungry for your blood, displaying an incredibly convincing AI that underpins the entire game. Even your buddies prove to be useful allies, and it's very clear that Bungie deserves all the plaudits for creating an extremely involving battleground, and colouring it with an effective storyline, which for a sci-fi shooter is fairly rare as experienced FPS fans will wearily testify.

Where its very vocal detractors appear to take issue with Halo is the repetition; after a relatively short while it's easy to see that the game really is "30 seconds of fun, repeated over and over" as Bungie admitted at X03 last month. Essentially the game mechanic is: blow up a wave of enemies, restock ammo and health, move onto the next area and repeat. Whether this bothers you or not is another matter; it certainly didn't bother me, for the simple reason that the firefights are never boring, and thanks to the flexibility of AI they can vary dramatically from one game to the next.

Changing Rooms

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 2

To be fair to Halo, to take issue with its repetition is nitpicking taken to the extreme; most shooters, and most games full stop tend to do employ similar methods to pad out their game, but very few have ever created a game world as believable as Halo's and few have the style, the class, and the AI to carry them through.

Arguably, the least entertaining sections of Halo involve indoor corridor-based missions. Not only do they look extremely samey (and bland compared to other areas), but, for example, the Library level is just plain tedious. At times it appears Bungie simply ran out of good ideas and many people take issue with this failure to keep up a consistent level of quality. Fine though - it's not perfect, but it's still a classic. And now it's on the PC, so a belated hurrah for that.

But PC owners are the most exacting audience around, and may take even greater issue with the fact that Gearbox has been rather too faithful with its conversion. Visually it is barely any different from the Xbox version, resolution aside, and although that means it's lost none of the excellent style of the original, it comes as a slight disappointment that it hasn't really been significantly enhanced in any area. Little areas that could have been touched up, like the grass textures, for example, are still flat, and in fact the extra resolution merely exposes the age of engine rather than improves it.

Heavy Hitter

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 3

Keeping the visuals the same would be fine, were it not for the fact that it's a relative system hog, bafflingly. Anyone hoping to run this acceptably on the 'required' specs may as well go out and buy an Xbox. Microsoft is about to bundle Halo free with it any day now in any case. When the action gets hectic, it still managed to chug slightly at 1024x768 with a top-end GF4 and 512MB of RAM, so we can only imagine the fun and games a sub-1GHz PC will have trying to run it.

If you're a non Xbox owning PC gamer who's stubbornly held out for Halo, then by all means buy it. As a single player game it's 12 hours plus of intense action, and any FPS fan who hasn't played it yet is missing out, but make sure you've got the kit to run it. A demo is expected sometime soon, so you shouldn’t have long to wait to find out.

We suspect that most of you, however, are considering buying Halo for the online multiplayer alone. But forget any notion of co-op. Gearbox has alarmingly stripped it out of the game, claiming it would have required a significant rewrite to include it. Why it gives with one hand and takes away with the other is open to question, but you can bet your life that Halo 2 on Xbox will ship with online co-op play, so it's really a major blow that one of the best elements of the Xbox version is absent.

Too many chiefs spoil the broth

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 4

If you can overcome that disappointment, then here's another one; the game only supports 16 players simultaneously - apparently thanks to the way the game was originally designed, and surely a huge blow to those hoping for some massive battles. On the plus side, there's an absolute wealth of options that frankly embarrass most other online FPSs. For a start, the four original free-for-all modes make an appearance with team-based equivalents; the standard Slayer (Deathmatch), King (of the hill), Oddball (hold onto the skull for X minutes), and Race/Rally (complete checkpoints over a number of laps), and the original team based mode, CTF.

In addition, Assault makes a welcome appearance, as well as Crazy King (the domination point keeps moving), and Juggernaut (destroy a more powerful player and grab his powers). On top of that, each mode comes in Standard or Classic modes, with the former essentially being a more harder/longer version of the other. If that doesn't keep you happy, you can also create your own unique game mode or edit existing ones to a staggering extent, allowing for all sorts of possibilities, such as one team having specific weapons/vehicles over the other, creating potentially limitless permutations of modes.

Map wise, there are 19 in total; all 13 from the original and six new ones; Danger Canyon, Death Island, Gephyrophobia (meaning 'fear of bridges'), Ice Fields, and Timberland. They're all very much in keeping with the style of the originals, apart from being at the larger end of the scale. Of the original maps, all were designed to be cosy affairs for up to eight players to cater for four-player split screen or System Link, although four of those can accommodate up to 16.

Gunslinging

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 5

As expected, the new maps now offer gamers the chance to pilot some of the single player vehicles such as the Ghosts and Banshees, making for some interesting play dynamics that are just as much fun in practise as they sound, although I tended to get my arse kicked every time I attempted to actually use one. How useful they are in the long term is open to question at this early stage, with so many empty servers, but it's nice to have them there regardless.

What definitely adds to the package are the two new weapons. The deadly close combat Flamethrower, and the Fuel Rod gun, which is an energy weapon style rocket launcher style, and potentially even more devastating, allowing the player to fire over obstacles.

The bottom line is that for Halo veterans, online multiplayer is a massive draw. If you're already a committed fan then the chance to duke it out with 15 other players night after night is a huge bonus after all the hassle of system linkage or staring at a quarter of your TV in split-screen. For general FPS multiplayer fans, Halo offers nothing massively interesting that you haven't seen elsewhere, although the option to create your own modes could well elevate this into something rather more popular and important than it may have otherwise been. Single player-wise, if you haven't played it before, get it. If you have, then move on, there's really nothing new to see here - and before you ask, no, you can't save anywhere - the checkpoint system remains as in the original. Halo's still a classic, it's aged pretty well, the AI's still impressive, but the absence of co-op is a bitter blow, and the limited 16 player multiplayer support is annoying. A missed opportunity methinks.

8 / 10

Rob's Second Opinion

Before I launch into this, let me be clear about something; I agree completely with what Kristan has said about the single-player aspects of Halo. It's good - right up there with a lot of the best PC first person shooters - but it's not ground-breaking, earth-shaking or indeed any other soil-displacing phrases. There's a great storyline in there, some excellent set pieces and it's an extremely polished example of the genre which every FPS fan really should play - but for the most part, Halo simply borrows the best ideas from other FPS games and implements them extremely well rather than inventing something genuinely new.

As such, there's no doubt in my mind that you ought to play Halo single-player - either on your PC, or, if you don't have a PC capable of dealing with its rather demanding system requirements, on an Xbox. That much is certain, and given that the port of the single-player game to the PC is simply very competent and unembellished, there's little point in reiterating Kristan's thoughts here any further. It's a good port of a very good game. Go play.

Play the World

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 6

What we're really interested in, though, is the multiplayer aspect of the PC game. Now here's something new - sixteen player Halo, over the Internet, with a host of new maps, weapons, vehicles and game types. When Halo was first shown to the world - long before Microsoft bought Bungie and made the game into an Xbox exclusive - this is what we all imagined; barrelling along in a Warthog with your team-mates firmly strapped in, while enemy and friendly fire zipped along overhead and the chaingun mounted on the back of the vehicle blared out a hot lead welcome to any aggressor foolish enough to come near. It's finally here; is the reality as good as the vivid imaginings?

Frankly, happily - yes, it is. Gearbox has worked wonders with the multiplayer aspect of Halo PC, taking an Xbox multiplayer model which worked extremely well in split-screen and System Link modes and adding the kind of content and features which are guaranteed to satisfy the more demanding PC multiplayer gamers. They've created a multiplayer game which combines some of the best aspects of other popular games such as Tribes, Battlefield 1942 and Unreal Tournament while retaining the personality and unique feel of Halo - a mouth-watering prospect for online gamers, particularly those growing sick of the endless diet of realism, realism and more realism which has been spawned by the success of Counter-Strike.

Kristan has already explained the basics of how the multiplayer game works, and the new additions which Gearbox has added to the game, so there's no point in re-inventing the wheel by listing all of that again. However, it's worth addressing some of the points raised in his comments - primarily, the sixteen-player limit on multiplayer. I confess that I was disappointed by this limitation at first as well - like many people, I had hoped for epic scale battles spread across kilometres of ground, with tens of players duking it out in style. Playing Halo PC for a while, however, has revealed that this simply isn't what the creators were trying to make - it's not that they've failed in the task of providing this experience; it's that they were never even trying to accomplish that.

The Great Outdoors

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 7

What Halo PC provides, instead, is an extremely competent and well-balanced small-scale multiplayer game - and yet at times, it's easy to forget how few other players there are on the map with you. Each map - even huge outdoor ones like Timberland, which has quickly become a personal favourite - is just the right size for the player limit, and even smaller matches, with eight to ten players, see fairly hectic action spread across the map. The inclusion of vehicles means that gameplay moves very fast and spreads across the entire map, so you'll never find yourself walking around aimlessly for minutes looking for someone to shoot at.

In actual combat, the balance of interesting weapons and well-implemented physics which made Halo multiplayer on the Xbox so addictive is still as evident as ever, and the stunts which can be performed (accidentally or on purpose) using a combination of vehicles and explosive weaponry make Halo into one of the single most fun multiplayer games we've ever played. The genius decision to make Warthogs indestructible is a key factor in the gameplay, as it eliminates the traditional queues for vehicles and makes stealing enemy vehicles and effectively controlling all the vehicles on a map into a valid tactic. Similarly the fact that you can only carry two weapons at a time radically differentiates the gameplay from the likes of Unreal Tournament, and effectively provides a built-in but very flexible class system to the game.

It's early days yet for Halo PC online, and it's yet to be seen how well the game will service more serious clan match style play; however, the potential for clan play is certainly there, given the appropriate server settings, and it's not hard to envisage some serious leagues and tournaments being focused around the CTF gametypes. It'll be interesting to see how it's received when it makes its "pro-gaming" (blech) debut at the CPL in Dallas, with 5v5 matches being the order of the day.

Balance in All Things

'Halo: Combat Evolved' Screenshot 8

This isn't to say that Halo PC is a perfect multiplayer game by any means. It's superbly customisable, full of excellently balanced weapons and vehicles (a framework into which Gearbox's new weapons, the flamethrower and the fuel rod gun, fit perfectly, providing an excellent close-range melee weapon and a long-range artillery weapon respectively) and it's one of the most genuinely, honestly fun games we've played in ages. Playing this online with voice activated voice communications is a disaster - you end up with so much spontaneous laughter (and, we're ashamed to say as reserved European types, whooping) from the other players that actual communications hardly get a look-in.

However, the game does suffer from several flaws - the first and most pressing of which is the ludicrous system specs needed to run it correctly. Tweaking the settings appears to be the order of the day, but regardless, it's a bit of a shock to find a game which runs perfectly happily on an Xbox but gives poor frame-rates on a 2.4GHz machine with a top-end NVIDIA or ATI graphics card in it. This is a real shame, because it'll put a lot of people off playing - we can only hope that some of the engine problems can be ironed out in patches down the line.

The game also suffers badly when the action moves indoors. Halo is at its best in open spaces, with dramatic encounters on maps such as Death Island (which single-player veterans will recognise as a multiplayer version of The Silent Cartographer), Blood Gulch and Timberland being by far the best moments in the game. Indoor corridor-running maps, on the other hand, are downright poor; we wouldn't be surprised to see them removed from many server rotations altogether. At the end of the day, if you want to run through corridors, you play Quake or Unreal; if you want to fly off bumps in a speeding jeep and skid sideways through a couple of enemies, you play Halo.

We're also a little bit concerned that the lack of a Linux dedicated server for the game - a decision apparently taken because Microsoft published the game, and Microsoft likes to bury its head in the sand and pretend that Linux game servers don't exist - might reduce the level of support available for the game from big ISP game servers. Only time will tell, however, and if the game proves popular enough then it's likely that it'll get the support it deserves.

Halo, Goodbye

Ultimately, Halo is a very very difficult game to give a score to - so I'm going to cheat, and simply provide a score for the multiplayer element of the game, since that's what I've focused on, and because I believe that Kristan has already discussed the single-player element as much as is needed. Taking that into account - and bearing in mind that this game probably won't run shockingly well without major tweaking, because it's one of the most demanding games in terms of system specs that we've ever seen - the score below should tell you everything you need to know. With Doom III and Half-Life 2 now delayed to 2004, there's only one other real contender for the crown of being the top multiplayer FPS this Christmas; and unless Unreal Tournament 2004 can pull something fairly amazing out of the hat, we're pretty confident that Halo PC is that game.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (206) Latest comment 8 years ago

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

  • Nemesis #1 8 years ago

    1st!

  • Dirtbox #2 8 years ago

    2nd! oh.

  • striker #3 8 years ago

    lol

  • Lutz #4 8 years ago

    Twat Nem!

  • BartonFink #5 8 years ago

    ROFL

  • BartonFink #6 8 years ago

    Bast

  • Lutz #7 8 years ago

    Darn it, why didn't my comment appear?

    EDIT: But it did Lutz you blind git. Come one, where's the review? Can't see at moment...
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 14:44

  • otto #8 8 years ago

    lol excellent

    so it scored 357?? o_O

    edit - oh. 9. hmm.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 14:56

  • Nemesis #9 8 years ago

    How to give EG that Valve feeling...

  • Lutz #10 8 years ago

    Otto knows all about Valve feelings from what I hear in his illness thread... :)

  • Shinji #11 8 years ago

    We are seeking the assistance of the community in tracking down a hacker known as "nemesis" who appears to have hacked into EuroGamer and taken a number of valuable assets, including the link to our Halo review... We ask that people please avoid reading this review until we actually post the bloody thing, and report any information about this dodgy Nemesis geezer to helpeurogamer< a href='profiles/eurogamer'>@eurogamer.net. Thanks!

  • Lutz #12 8 years ago

    A 9!!! Who'd ahve thought it eh? From Kristian too...

    Halo isn't a planet though Kristian... ;)
    Edited by 2 at 10/10/03 @ 14:54

  • Razz #13 8 years ago

    How did you hack it?? Hahaha! Nem! YOU ROCK!

  • Blerk #14 8 years ago

    Kristan gave it 8, Lutz. Rob gave it 9. Chicken! ;-)

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #15 8 years ago

    Lutz: if you look more closely (i.e. read the bloody thing) you'll spot that it's a double review.

  • Nemesis #16 8 years ago

    I've got some maps too!

    /pimps

    Still. 9 eh.

  • Lutz #17 8 years ago

    but you can bet your life that Halo 2 on Xbox will ship with online co-op play

    Kristian, is this true? Or justa hunch mate?

    If it's true I'm ordering 16 piars of 96 by 96 double padded curtains right now...

  • otto #18 8 years ago

    Double review - so it is.

    Can we have the title tags back in the pics please? They were great.

  • Lutz #19 8 years ago

    Mugwum: Sorry mate. Did read, but I never read titles, hence I missed the "Robs second opinion."

    Think I forgot the 8. Having a bad day. :(

  • Blerk #20 8 years ago

    Lutz: also, it's Kristan, not Kristian. No second 'i'. Which doesn't mean that he's a cyclops.

  • smccafferty #21 8 years ago

    Well fancy that a 9 :o)
    well done.

  • Lutz #22 8 years ago

    Blerk: Tellin ya mate having a seriously bad day here.

    /hands out flowers to EG staff.

    Sorry chaps.

  • TipTop #23 8 years ago

    ... 8 out of 10, one day EG will be big enough to say it made a mistake with the original XBox review :)

    You know you wanted to give it a higher score!

  • UncleLou #24 8 years ago

    lol, nice.

    Now the only thing that annoys me is that the shops I've checked today insist on an October 24 release date here, while an online shop I really trust has received and is sending it to the costumers today.

  • Blerk #25 8 years ago

    Very clever to make this a double-review and put Rob's "slightly more fanboi" review second - all the 'tards who don't bother to read the review will miss Kristan's '8' and only see the '9'. Look up to list to see who qualifies as a part-time 'tard! :-D

  • BartonFink #26 8 years ago

    Ah get over it Blerk:)

  • Shinji #27 8 years ago

    all the 'tards who don't bother to read the review will miss Kristan's '8' and only see the '9'

    Hmm yeah. This happened with Wind Waker as well, I recall. We'll have to have a chat about how we format double reviews in future, since actually Kristan's is the main review here and mine is just a second opinion... Maybe both scores should go onto the last line of the piece, or something like that.

  • Nemesis #28 8 years ago

    What are they using for the multiplayer front end chaps? Is it internal or bloody Gamespy? Just wondering from a Mac perspective.....

  • smccafferty #29 8 years ago

    re: the tard comment...

    Shame on me, i shall hang my head for quite some time.
    ..or perhaps not.

    Good review(s).

  • Tiitiz #30 8 years ago

    Really is my favourite game of all time. Gonna get the PC version for the multiplayer side of things :)

    oh the flashlight looks crap compared to the Xbox version btw(well done gearbox)

  • BartonFink #31 8 years ago

    A particular favorite from the review:
    Keeping the visuals the same would be fine, were it not for the fact that it's a relative system hog, bafflingly. Anyone hoping to run this acceptably on the 'required' specs may as well go out and buy an Xbox. Microsoft is about to bundle Halo free with it any day now in any case. When the action gets hectic, it still managed to chug slightly at 1024x768 with a top-end GF4 and 512MB of RAM, so we can only imagine the fun and games a sub-1GHz PC will have trying to run it. /sniggers like a mad thing.

  • Blerk #32 8 years ago

    Ah get over it Blerk:)

    Secret fanboi admission:
    I'd have given the Xbox version a 9 as well. I love it. Especially co-op. :-)

  • BartonFink #33 8 years ago

    Nice review guys.

  • krudster #34 8 years ago

    It's an 'internal bloody gamespy' mp front end, but very easy to use.

  • BartonFink #35 8 years ago

    Secret fanboi admission:
    I'd have given the Xbox version a 9 as well. I love it. Especially co-op. :-)
    I thought you didn't have an Xbox Blerk :)

  • Blerk #36 8 years ago

    I thought you didn't have an Xbox Blerk :)

    I don't. One of my friends has one.

  • Lutz #37 8 years ago

    /crosses fingers about online Halo 2 co-op mode

  • sickpuppysoftware #38 8 years ago

    "oh the flashlight looks crap compared to the Xbox version btw(well done gearbox)"
    The flashlight in the PC version looks crap compared to every PC game with a flashlight ever including platform games for years ago.

  • otto #39 8 years ago

    Barton, that's quite interesting, actually. Given that the Xbox is itself more or less a sub 1ghz PC, I suppose this kind of demonstrates the validity behind the 'megahertz myth' that Macheads have been yapping on about for years - an ostensibly 'lower spec' machine that's been designed from the bottom up by one company can outperform a 'higher spec' non-integrated jobbie. *shrugs*

  • Lutz #40 8 years ago

    /loads shotgun...

    OK, first tard on the scene is mine...

  • ekko #41 8 years ago

    No mention that the second half of the game is just the first half backwards? That really annoyed me.

    As for the multiplayer I've lost count how many times I've been spawn kiled without being able to do anything about it. I also don't find the weapons too balanced (although they are more so then other games) There are also a few too many tards stealing all the Warthogs but it would be unfair to blame the game for its tard players wouldn't it?

    It does have it good points - using the mounted machine gun on the Warthog while someone else drives around puts a big grin on me. Also flipping a Warthog with a rocket launcher is fun.

    They've had a lucky (or was it?) break that Half Life 2 is delayed but I think in a years time nobody will be playing this...

  • BartonFink #42 8 years ago

    What the f*ck are you rabbiting on about otto? :)

    edit
    After re-reading, get where you are coming from otto.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 15:27

  • Tiitiz #43 8 years ago

    The flashlight in the PC version looks crap compared to every PC game with a flashlight ever including platform games for years ago

    looks like it's stuck on your face like a thin bird turd on a window

  • Lutz #44 8 years ago

    I found all the weapon handy, except the Assault rifle for MP.

    The back end of the game wasn't the first end of the game flipped round. Only one level was repeasted properly, Assault on the Control Room/Two Betrayls.

    True, The Pilliar of Autumn and The Maw, and also Truth and Reconciliation and Keyes were similar, but they were actually different, and were rather set on "Similar" levels.

    teh maps were different to a point.

    I do know where you're coming from the Otto-san.

  • Nemesis #45 8 years ago

    Internal. Thank God. Means we have a good chance of Mac/PC servers sharing. MOHAA interfaces with the Gamespy server lists, so it shouldn't be a problem.

    What? G5 you say? One day.

  • BartonFink #46 8 years ago

    /loads pump action
    !!BANG!!
    Damn accidentally shot Lutz! /must remember to keep the safety on
    Nem yer tard needs a vet.

  • Lutz #47 8 years ago

    /realises he was technically the first tard here...

    Shit. Can't even complain about that Barton, good call.

    /drops dead.

  • smccafferty #48 8 years ago

    *Runs by the horizon screaming at the top of his lungs "the xbox kicks pc's ass, oh yeahhhhhh !!!!!....."*
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 15:28

  • Lutz #49 8 years ago

    Got one!

    /aims...

    BANG!!!

    /smccafferty drops down

    OK boys, it's over.

    So, back on topic...

    I was curious as to how the Flame thrower and the Fuel Rod gun would work? How good are they? Examples?

    And the two main glitches (Strafing in a ghost and the "stunning" plasma rifle) have they been fixed?

  • BartonFink #50 8 years ago

    *Runs by the horizon screaming at the top of his lungs "the xbox kicks pc's ass, oh yeahhhhhh !!!!!....."*
    LOL

  • smccafferty #51 8 years ago

    *Thud !*

  • Lutz #52 8 years ago

    And another!

    *click*

    Damn. No Bullets.

    /lobs grenade...

    *BOOOM!!!*

    /black_tshirt drops down.

    Rack 'em up!

  • gizmo #53 8 years ago

    /realises he was technically the first tard here...

    Shit. Can't even complain about that Barton, good call.

    /drops dead.


    Funniest post in a long time

  • Lutz #54 8 years ago

    WhyIthankyew...

  • smccafferty #55 8 years ago

    *Stumbles to his feet and mumbles "My +3 is infinitely better than your poxy +2 or armstrad....." swings around and ... Thud!*

  • speedjack #56 8 years ago

    So in summary

    X-Box Halo

    + Cracking visuals
    + Great sound
    + Co-op
    + No 'tweaking' required
    + You can buy the console, game and a decent telly for less than a PC

    - No on-line multiplayer.

    PC Halo

    + Online Multiplayer
    + 2 New weapons
    +Some okay(ish) maps

    - Requires nuclear ninja PC to run at +15 fps
    - and second mortgage to afford it
    - and latest patch(es)

    *Runs over and hugs X-box*

  • BradlayLaw #57 8 years ago

    The new patch improves the performance a bit. Still, after just buying a new pc (with a Radeon 9800 Pro no less) and seeing it grind to 10fps when fighting the covenant was a bit of a shocking suprise.

  • BartonFink #58 8 years ago

    Kinda the angle I was coming from too speedjack.

    I reckon it's going to be pretty much the same story with HL2 as well.

  • Nemesis #59 8 years ago

    I wonder if you could link the Gamespy Tunnel software and get the Xbox machines onto the same servers...

    Nah. That'd never work. Nice thought though.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 15:43

  • Razz #60 8 years ago

    I'd just like to say that this runs perfect on my P650MHz, Riva TNT2, 512MB SDRAM Machine.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 15:44

  • BartonFink #61 8 years ago

    I am going to shoot the firt person who mentions you know what
    /loads shotgun

  • Razz #62 8 years ago

    You know what

    :p

  • savant #63 8 years ago

    To say that Halo isn't innovative is just ignorant. What about the emergent battle AI (no two battles the same)? What about the checkpointing system? The recharging shields? The vehicle driving? The final level?

  • Razz #64 8 years ago

    Is it harder than space? Eh? eh?

    /Looks about for approval

  • Rowley #65 8 years ago

    Razz and Bradley - you lie, it cannot be true. It has to fly on a radeon9800 (assumint there are no other major system bottlenecks) and crawl on a tnt2.

    It just has to. What is the recommended minimum spec?

  • Nemesis #66 8 years ago

    I found the final level a complete pain in the arse to finish.

    Still....I played right through until 6am to finally finish the game so it's definately a quality title.

  • BartonFink #67 8 years ago

    /points Rowley to the top ^ of the comments section.

  • TipTop #68 8 years ago

    /runs up to Fink and hugs him

    "XBox Rulez!"

    /pulls pin.

    *KABOOM*

  • Lutz #69 8 years ago

    I didn't think that the Maw was that hard Nem

  • BartonFink #70 8 years ago

    Glad I wore my flame and bomb retardant suit today.
    /looks at the shattered tard remains scattered about EG

  • BartonFink #71 8 years ago

    Oi Lutz you ain't doing yer job one got through!
    /slaps tard

  • Lutz #72 8 years ago

    Damn it! I'm dead… I'm speaking…

    I'M A ZOMBIE TARD!!!

    Barton, Where?
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 16:14

  • BartonFink #73 8 years ago

    Bast tried to blow me up with a grenade!

  • Nemesis #74 8 years ago

    Lutzie. Not difficult, just a pain. The vehicle controls were superb for outside areas, inside they just didn't work that well.

  • Lutz #75 8 years ago

    Barton, you mean I he missed you?

    /unloads bazooka...
    /takes out TipTop and Barton.
    /munches on Crispy Fried Barton Legs.

    Nem: What you on about? The Warthog worked fine indoors mate... :)

    Hardest level is easily Level 2, Halo itself, on Legendary.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 16:21

  • Khab #76 8 years ago

    Addendum:

    speedjack wrote

    X-Box Halo

    + Cracking visuals
    + Great sound If you spend mucho dinero on a sound system
    + Co-op
    + No 'tweaking' required
    + You can buy the console, game and a decent telly for less than a PC

    - No on-line multiplayer.
    - Horrible joypad controls
    - Multiplayer sucks because you get a twiddly little picture and you can look at what the other lads are up to.

    PC Halo

    + Online Multiplayer
    + 2 New weapons
    + Some okay(ish) maps
    + Proper controls.
    + Possibility of mods and NEW maps

    - Requires nuclear ninja PC to run at +15 fps
    - and second mortgage to afford it
    - and latest patch(es)



    Not trying for a flamewar here, just trying to be fair to it. :)

    Edit: Whaddya know, the
    don't work in the comments... codeMONKEY!
    Edited by 3 at 10/10/03 @ 16:36

  • Blerk #77 8 years ago

    There's nothing wrong with the joypad controls, man. You just don't got the skillz. ;-)

  • BartonFink #78 8 years ago

    I warned ye, what did I say about mentioning you know what

    /goes postal on Khabs ass
    !!BANG!! !!BANG!!

    Proper controls me bollix!
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 16:33

  • suj #79 8 years ago

    Lutz: if you look more closely (i.e. read the bloody thing) you'll spot that it's a double review.

    ROFL Mugwum

  • Xensor #80 8 years ago

    /pulls out vileda tard mop

    Mind your feet people, just got a bit of clearing up to do... mmm, chunky

    anyone got some chips to go with all this tard sauce?

    edit - blergh
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 16:33

  • Nemesis #81 8 years ago

    Nem: What you on about? The Warthog worked fine indoors mate... :)

    Nope.

  • BartonFink #82 8 years ago

    There is a little correction required on the multiplayer thing Khab.
    System Link!!

  • Khab #83 8 years ago

    Nah, that's just two players... hardly "multiplayer", just dualplayer. ;)

  • BartonFink #84 8 years ago

    Bzzzzt wrong 16 players.

  • krudster #85 8 years ago

    Plus the Xbox has co-op!

  • BartonFink #86 8 years ago

    Plus you can have 4 mates on one Xbox playing multiplayer around a nice big TV on a Saturday night sitting on nice comfy sofas. So ye don't have to go online for some multi player fun.

  • Mike_Hunt #87 8 years ago

    I love Fridays. Everyone goes mental.

    .latnem seog enoyrevE. syadirF evol I.

    [MH]
    [HM]

  • Lutz #88 8 years ago

    I've had 10 people linked up on 4 xboxs... boy that was sweet.

  • Lutz #89 8 years ago

    /passes mike the vallium

    Nice change to the review Kristan! :)
    So what is the Flame thrower and Fuel Rod gun like?
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 16:49

  • Killerbee #90 8 years ago

    Great reviews guys. :)

    Oh bugger it, I'll have to get this now.

    /adds to wish list/

  • striker #91 8 years ago

    Plus you can have 4 mates on one Xbox playing multiplayer around a nice big TV on a Saturday night sitting on nice comfy sofas. So ye don't have to go online for some multi player fun.
    Let's see, which part of this do I disagree with?... :)

    EVERYTHING!!! OMG!! WTF!!!

    Really, are you sure you didn't get confused while writing this?...

    I think you meant to say:
    Plus you need to have 4 mates on one Xbox playing multiplayer around a nice big TV on a Saturday night sitting on nice comfy sofas in the same house, in the same city. You can't just go online for some multi player fun.

    Edit:just typo barton did not notice!
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 17:01

  • Blerk #92 8 years ago

    It's started.... :-)

  • BartonFink #93 8 years ago

    /reloads
    !!BANG!!
    Got him....

    No not consused I just have mates :)

    Being able to go online, roll on Halo2, would be nice but not a requirement to play multiplayer.

    !!BANG!!
    Just making sure!
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 17:01

  • Lutz #94 8 years ago

    /equips MC's Mjollnir armour.

    Brace yourselves folks.

    Striker, do you not have 4 mates in your city?

  • TipTop #95 8 years ago

    /points to Neo several posts back

    "Tard!"

    /hands Fink sniper rifle.

  • Razz #96 8 years ago

    100th post on this thread

  • BartonFink #97 8 years ago

    Cheers TipTop how did I miss that one.
    !!BANG!!

  • striker #98 8 years ago

    I'm sorry but this must be the worst conversion ever done.

    How can a game with these graphics work badly on top end machines???...

    Half Life 2 in the leaked beta form runs better and looks infinitely better (or so people say, haven't tried it myself)
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 17:15

  • striker #99 8 years ago

    Not saying the game is bad, haven't tried it yet, and I migh do if the demo runs well on my PC.

    But as a conversion it sucks.

  • Lutz #100 8 years ago

    /points gun at Neo.

    No. None of us do.

    *BANG!*

    /Neo hits floor.

    Tard.

    /kicks corpse.

  • Soul_quake #101 8 years ago

    /isn't Neo dead already?

    should be now...

    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 17:27

  • Soul_quake #102 8 years ago

    I have a life

    /Hugs Xbox

  • BartonFink #103 8 years ago

    Nah I only winged him he moved at the last minute Soul_Quake.
    /takes out machette
    Here Lutzy ... fresh tard!

  • Viktor #104 8 years ago

    I found the performance unacceptable. The game doesn't look that hot on the pc (I love the look on my Xbox) and my 2,4 Ghz/9700pro just couldn't handle it 1024x768... And the same for my friend's 3 Ghz/9800pro... What went wrong?

  • BradlayLaw #105 8 years ago

    Rowley - Pre patch it used to hover between 30 and 50fps with full details @ 1024x768, going down to 20s on the covenant ship thing (truth & reconcilation?) and sometimes down to 10s in battles. After patch we are looking at 50-100 (mostly 50) down to 20s in battles. Oh yeah, it doesn't really look that spectacular (well it looks like a two year old xbox game..)

    Athlon XP 3200+
    Radeon 9800 Pro
    1gb PC3200 ram (working in dual channel mode)
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 17:39

  • TipTop #106 8 years ago

    What is this strange 'life' you mention?

    /backs away fro neo

    Surely we can all get along? Friends eh?

    /draws Mission's Vibrosword from sheath

    Lets shake on it?

    *PFFFWWWWWTTTT*

  • Lutz #107 8 years ago

    Fresh tard?

    /drops incendry bomb.

    Hope you like em well done! Fresh Tard! come get it! only 10p a pound! Lap it up! Crispy bits a bonus! Cut-me-own-throat-Dibbler ain't got nothing on these babies!

  • Soul_quake #108 8 years ago

    /I am Jedi Guardian now. Feel the Force.

    Strikes Neo

  • striker #109 8 years ago

    PC games don't cost €60

  • striker #110 8 years ago

    ponpokomon??? what kind of nick is that?

    popcorn and pokemon?
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 18:17

  • TennesseeStiff #111 8 years ago

    Oh look! Halo is finally out on the PC!



    Ok so as I?ve stated elsewhere (at some length) a combination of dissipated excitement, apathy, dated graphics and spite (at MS), (not to mention lack of time!) means that I am absolutely unable to drum up any excitement over this game. I seem to be not alone though as I keep reading about all those empty servers all over the place.

    I?ll see if the demo can drum up some enthusiasm in me.

  • Lutz #112 8 years ago

    No, it means fresh meat.
    Who wants this one? I've had my fill...

  • KnickKnack #113 8 years ago

    You're an idiot. You've overlooked the fact that Halo pisses on nearly every other FPS game that's ever emerged on the PC. Halo took the FPS genre to new levels, with nearly every new FPS following suit, like the two weapon limit, the recharging shields, brilliantly integrated vehicles etc.

    You talk about UT2K3 and that was possibly the worst game I've ever played; I was so looking forward to it after the brilliance that was UT, and yet they managed to fuck up the whole game, the weapons, the shit level design, the lack of a decent editor for modders.

    You don't know shit from shinola m'lad, stop smoking the horse.

  • striker #114 8 years ago

    Half Life 2 was even delayed because of Halo. They want to implement 2 weapon limit, recharching shields and perfectly integrated vehicles.

  • krudster #115 8 years ago

    I see the thread is warming up nicely!

    Flamethrower..hmmm, let me see. It's a good, close combat weapon. Lovely to pull out and surprise a bunch of people about to steal your flag, and almost impossible to avoid dying if you use it correctly (and they aren't expecting it).

    Fuel Rod gun is a better rocket launcher, basically. The vehicles are what really makes the MP fun though. Like Rob says, riding 'shotgun' is great fun in the Warthog.

    How anyone can call Halo crap is beyond me. Seriously, get another hobby.

    I do agree it was a shoddy port, but I think we made that pretty clear, and the patches seem to be sorting out some of the issues with frame rate. Questioning our objectivity?! Ha, now there's a thing. I don't think you'd find a more objective bunch of gamerjournos if you held a gun to our heads. Just our opinions chaps, nothing more.

  • BartonFink #116 8 years ago

    \o/ The hard core tards have finally arrived

    /stocks up on ammo

  • striker #117 8 years ago

    And there're even tards from both sides!! The ones that can't live without Halo and the ones that can't see it running.

  • BartonFink #118 8 years ago

    How anyone can call Halo crap is beyond me. Seriously, get another hobby.

    I suspect they have either never seen or never played the game krudster.

    From a technical point of view does sound like a shoddy port though, the specs required to play it decently are outrageous. Although I do suspect we shall see the same too with Half Life2 when it comes to system specs.

  • striker #119 8 years ago

    Although I do suspect we shall see the same too with Half Life2 when it comes to system specs
    Yeah, that seems inevitable, but if we compare HL2 graphics with Halo's...

  • Dirtbox #120 8 years ago

    You're an idiot. You've overlooked the fact that Halo pisses on nearly every other FPS game that's ever emerged on the PC. Halo took the FPS genre to new levels, with nearly every new FPS following suit, like the two weapon limit, the recharging shields, brilliantly integrated vehicles etc.

    You talk about UT2K3 and that was possibly the worst game I've ever played; I was so looking forward to it after the brilliance that was UT, and yet they managed to fuck up the whole game, the weapons, the shit level design, the lack of a decent editor for modders.

    You don't know shit from shinola m'lad, stop smoking the horse.

    Heh... Yeah, Halo's quite good, its not even close to being the best FPS on the PC though, not by a million miles. Fanboi.

  • mustardkid #121 8 years ago

    phew just finished halo -- now thats a proper last level. just the way it should be can't stand stupid virtually indestructible bosses i firmly believe the last level should be a reward for slogging thru a game. ie plenty of pyrotechnics and excitement but not too demanding. much better than a frustrate-a-thon followed by a lame movie IMHO

  • BartonFink #122 8 years ago

    @MikeD
    Ah FFS have you ever even played the game! I suspect not if that's what you think. begone
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 19:27

  • BartonFink #123 8 years ago

    Yeah, that seems inevitable, but if we compare HL2 graphics with Halo's...
    Yes you would have to be a special kind of idiot if you even started making that particular comparison now wouldn't you Halo is 2+ years old after all. Now Halo2 is another matter. Should be interesting to do a comparison between HL2 on PC and Xbox though.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 19:37

  • Lutz #124 8 years ago

    Oh yes, Halo 2 in another matter indeed...

    /eyes up tards...

    /Whips out plasma launcher

    Rack 'em Barton!

    Kristan: Cheers for the low down on the weaps. Good review mate. :)

    EDIT: 6 mistakes in THAT. What the fuck is wrong with me?
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 19:40

  • striker #125 8 years ago

    Yes you would have to be a special kind of idiot if you even started making that particular comparison now wouldn't you Halo is 2+ years old after all. Now Halo2 is another matter.

    But it was the comparison you made, not me....

    Should be interesting to do a comparison between HL2 on PC and Xbox though.
    If you expect to see the same in the Xbox as you'll see in an average PC you'll be disapointed

  • krudster #126 8 years ago

    Hey, nice one Andy...guess who warezed it then?!

  • BartonFink #127 8 years ago

    @Lutz - Shall we?
    What the hell lets!

  • BartonFink #128 8 years ago

    @Striker But it was the comparison you made, not me....
    No I didn't try reading what I posted ....
    I was commenting on the system specs and made no reference to graphics what so ever. On the other hand you did ;p

  • Lutz #129 8 years ago

    /throws spare grenade pack to Barton

    /Picks off "Atard1", amazingly enough with a shot to the brain.

  • striker #130 8 years ago

    Barton, don't make me get my Bfg9000...

    If a game has better graphics it must have higher system requirements!!!! Now do you understand? 'cause if you don't we can always solve this in sme other way...

    /reloads

  • BartonFink #131 8 years ago

    If you expect to see the same in the Xbox as you'll see in an average PC you'll be disapointed Meh

  • mustardkid #132 8 years ago

    *cough* as if kristan .... as if :D

  • Lutz #133 8 years ago

    @ATard2: Read the thread. I'm already dead. And you... you're next...

    /unsheaths the Scythe of Death...

    Fu/ /me /at's /rp!
    /ck th/ sha/ /!!!!!!


    @AKA Rhythm: Cheers kind sir. May I interest you in a 12 bore shotgun?

  • striker #134 8 years ago

    OK Barton, that does it!!

    please stand still an this thing takes while to charge


    /charging Bfg9000

  • BartonFink #135 8 years ago

    If a game has better graphics it must have higher system requirements!!!! Now do you understand? 'cause if you don't we can always solve this in sme other way...
    Yes of course I understand stiker. It's one of the main reasons I got out of PC gaming afterall. On consoles at usually the developers make the best use of the system they possibly can (in some cases not). Whereas in the case of a PC you have to code a lot of the time to a minimum requirement. And no I don't think for one minute that any console is capable of pumping out the sort of graphics you will see on a good PC (
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 20:03

  • Lutz #136 8 years ago

    /Throws small thermonuclear charge in strikers general direction...

    /LLLEEEEEGGGSSSS IT!

  • BartonFink #137 8 years ago

    OK Barton, that does it!!

    please stand still an this thing takes while to charge


    /charging Bfg9000
    /Runs like a mad thing!
    Been a nice baiting session

  • striker #138 8 years ago

    /Throws small thermonuclear charge in strikers general direction...

    That was your error, that's not enough.

  • Lutz #139 8 years ago

    @Striker: I figured it would be considering the fact that your so full of gas; you'd go up a treat. :)

    @Rhythm: Oi! Thief!
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/03 @ 20:06

  • BartonFink #140 8 years ago

    What's that do I hear the rumble of Ameritard coming to invade EG.

  • darrenb #141 8 years ago

    I bought an Xbox 2 years ago, just for halo!! For the first couple of days I thought it was the best thing ever... then boredom set in. It is way too linear!!! There is a definite sense of an on rails feel to the game (not to sat you can't go off the rails). If you do decide to go walkabout there is nothing to achieve and absoluty bugger all of interest to discover. I felt at the time that the game was more suited to the PC market than the console market due to its forced gameplay.....

    What happened to being able to do tasks in any order you want and being able to find alternative routes other than the ones halo.MOHAA,Wolfenstien,Chaser,Chrome.... and yes, I have played all of them and got bored of the single player missions after about a couple of days...

    Fancy graphics and this new so called organic bollocks do nothing for me.. I want to be able to get involved in story and feel that my actions in a game have had some bearing on the outcome rather than just go from point to point save and move on... then again I dont think Metroid would sell on the PC... just because it was on a console first... I suppose this is partly going to be the case with halo..

  • The Button #142 8 years ago

    METROID PRIME

  • Umbala #143 8 years ago

    Have a laugh sometimes

    http://www. redvsblue.com/bloodgulch.shtml

  • BartonFink #144 8 years ago

    Fair enough MikeD but I suspect you haven't played the game on any other difficulty other than normal.
    And please point me in the direction of a PC FPS where the AI is anything other than piss poor to average. Most of the time they are just cannon fodder.

  • BartonFink #145 8 years ago

    @darrenb - if that's what you want then stick to something like GTA.
    Not too sure about Metroid not selling on PC but a few points, and before I continue let me state I love Metroid Prime possibly one of the best games of the year.
    1) To PC gamers, if you think Halo was repetitive please try Metroid. Endless backtracking find switch kill boss etc get the proper gun to open the same door I have passed 100 times, kinda grates after a bit. Most PC gamers would probably just give up.
    2) Respawning enemies is not fun it's plain annoying.
    3) @darrenb - If you think Metroid Prime is non-linear ye have a screw loose somewhere.

    Even taking that into account it would still get my vote as game of the year this year.

  • BartonFink #146 8 years ago

    /circumcises Mr. Forskin

    Do you really want me to post a review of that one here's a snippet:

    Vietcong looks only slightly better than Half Life with the update that came with Blue Shift, and nowhere near as good as the historical FPS genre's current champion, MOH Allied Assault.

    With all the neglect in the presentation department, one may reasonably hope that the gameplay was heavily focused upon, in order to divert attention from the sad state of the game's Audio/Visual components. This is not the case. As mediocre as Vietcong looks and sounds, the gameplay is even more so.

  • mustardkid #147 8 years ago

    well metroid prime aint really an fps more an fpaa so its a lame comparison and yeah halo prolly dosnt cut the mustard in terms of a huge variety of sprawling levels but what it does have is atmosphere... in abundance. from the gregorian chant on the title page you know yr in for something a bit special. but what really makes it is the limited weapon holding capability. this can create some real nailbiting situations and scavenging firepower from downed enemy is an undeniably cool feature. sure time has lessened it's impact but two years ago this was a real benchmark title and personally i still get some sense of that playing on the pc too. for the record i also enjoyed chaser 'specially the abandoned russian spaceport..

    edit: fpaa = fp arcade adventure if yr wondering
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/03 @ 01:54

  • BartonFink #148 8 years ago

    Or perhaps

    Characters walk through one another like ghosts, flop haplessly into the scenery when dead, and generally lack the kind of convincing animation you expect from a PC-exclusive game in 2003.

  • BartonFink #149 8 years ago

    Or if you prefer:

    But if you can bear to put up with the obvious lack of polish in the graphic and AI department, (similar bugbears that Hidden & Dangerous players will confess to), then there's a very absorbing FPS to get to grips with here.

  • BartonFink #150 8 years ago

    /adopts pedant mode

    Hey mustardkid just came up with a new genre for Metroid.

    It's just FPA : First Person Adventure, arcade doesn't come into it. btw if you are wondering.

    /pedant mode off

    Sorry have a cold, so I get irritated easily.

  • mustardkid #151 8 years ago

    pffft wayel excuse mah old school ways sir..

    but where i come from an "adventure" is a point and click wheras if it involves shooting at stuff its an "arcade adventure"

    /old git mode

  • BartonFink #152 8 years ago

    LOL - I suspect my son I am slightly older than your good self. But I do take yer point.

  • mustardkid #153 8 years ago

    oh do you now sonny?

    i remeber when attribute clash looked good mate

  • BartonFink #154 8 years ago

    Right that does it how flippin old are you to the nearest decade?

  • mustardkid #155 8 years ago

    on reflection maybe i should get these old bones in the sack before i start claiming that battlefield 1942 is an fpslg or something

    /argue the toss mode

  • BartonFink #156 8 years ago

    C'mon you started it what decade?
    Just to get ye started I was born in the 60's.

  • mustardkid #157 8 years ago

    bloody hell.... alright.... i'm thirty bloody one .... and three quarters and prolly far to old to be playing age conkers

    but rest assured .... my dads harder than your dad .... nyahh

  • mustardkid #158 8 years ago

    ooooohhh get a load of oldy ... got in a muddle trying to find dates on eurograndma didja?!?

    /cheeky whippersnapper mode off

    /spurious spelling mode most definately on tho

  • BartonFink #159 8 years ago

    LOL - nice one

    Come visit the forum mustardkid plenty of us old farts playing conkers around there. I know we gave you a hard time about the anybody got the goss thread. But what the hell

  • BartonFink #160 8 years ago

    Get yourself in there mustard.
    It may take over yer life tho :(

  • Dirtbox #161 8 years ago

    Made a new friend Bart?

    Flippin heck, this thread's going to be gargantuan in a week. Dread to think whats it's going to be like when the tards find it.

  • Lutz #162 8 years ago

    They don't get chance DB.

    /pumps Shotgun

  • mustardkid #163 8 years ago

    well i would give the forum a go ..... but i'm worried that someone might attempt to groom me for xbox

    badum tish!

  • Whizzo #164 8 years ago

    Barton you are so very, very wrong about Vietcong. In my opinion it's the best PC FPS released this year, it's rough around the edges but graphics only only slightly better than Half Life Blue Shift?! That's complete crap and anyone who thinks the sound is bad has to be deaf, it's excellent.

  • Lutz #165 8 years ago

    I always found teh best way to find save game profiles on PC is to create a player with a stupid name, like "qwertyuiop", save the game (Using the same name if possible) Shut the game down and then search your C drive for the name. Worked everytime for me so far.

  • Dirtbox #166 8 years ago

    /puts ear to ground

    Here they come!

  • mustardkid #167 8 years ago

    darn those pesky install codes always slipping off the packaging and going down the back of the sofa aint they...

    try this one

    1-4m-4-74rd-w17h-d0gy-w4r3z

  • BartonFink #168 8 years ago

    Hardly worth it but what the f*ck!
    !!BA!!

    Not even worth the the !!NG!!

    absolutely hopeless .. the quality ot tard around here leaves a lot to be desired.

  • Spin_Dr_Wolf #169 8 years ago

    ARGH ! How many comments ! I can't catch up !

  • ThwartedEfforts #170 8 years ago

    Having recently hosed £70 on the strength of this review, I should like to make it clear how average the multiplayer game is. A nine is by far and away the biggest thigh-slapper I've read here for, oh, a few hours. Can't wait for Doom 3 getting a thirteen and Half-Life 2 a twenty seven and three quarters. Asl of your reviewers? Fifteen, hopeful, bedroom?

    As per one of the other comments here, you guys have so seriously not played any of the recent, most decent team-based shooters -- the way you fail to mention any of them in your review makes it look like Halo is the only PC game on the shelf. A crucial omission, because for keen players of Battlefield or Enemy Territory or Medal or Honor or Unreal Tournament, Halo offers fuck all bar cartoon physics, last year's look and feel, and a way to heat-stress your video card. Indeed, expectations from an old console title demand slick graphics and a three digit frame rate, not £1,000 system requirements and thrown away features (e.g. co-op).

    Bottom line: please, please, don't nobody buy into this multiplayer ballyhoo. It's complete bollocks. One gets the feeling that EG have far too many toys to play with and not enough time to give them all proper consideration.

  • Shinji #171 8 years ago

    Translation: "I didn't like it and because I'm so superior to all the rest of you, my opinion is FACT and this is proof that the EG staffers are teenagers who don't get laid. God, I love myself. Get me a mirror."

  • mustardkid #172 8 years ago

    book of tard vol1 ch1 pp1

    "everyone in the world can do everybody elses job better than them"

  • Slim #173 8 years ago

    Thwarted, I've played all those games you mention rather a lot. Halo definately has a place among them. It's not a ww2 game, so that discounts 1942 and MOH, and UT hasn't got the fabby vehicles halo has.

    I was a bit dissapointed that the single player was the same as the xbox, as I've played that through a few times. It's also a shame that they kept all the small tossy maps that were designed for split screen. But I still paid my 35 quid on release day just for those new outdoor 16 player maps. CTF on them is superb, and worth the asking price alone.

  • ThwartedEfforts #174 8 years ago

    Shinji: You picked up on a tiny, throwaway remark. Everybody go figure.

    Slim: I'm still playing it. The servers are few in number and the majority are empty, maybe one good game may swing my opinion. Cheers.

  • Slim #175 8 years ago

    That's quite amusing. You have a go at eurogamer for not giving a review enough attention, then you say you've not given the game much attention yourself before forming that opinion. You're a class act mate, shinji has it spot on.

  • Dirtbox #176 8 years ago

    Sorry Shinji, I have to disagree with your summary of the MP aspect too, but I won't resort to name calling because _I'm_ not a nob head.

    It was fun on a console, infact it was a classic, but it sure looks like generic shit on the PC compared to the hundreds of alternatives. The only saving graces being a couple of well designed maps and some nice gameplay ideas. The weapons are as generic as you could hope to find, most of the maps consist of a large, enclosed area with a couple of buildings at either end (2fort anyone?). All the vehicals bar the warthog are pap and the netcode is pretty flabby. It might have stood a chance if it was released a few years ago. It's outdated, uninspired and unskilled but todays standards.

    It does actually seem like a case of rose tinted specs from the chaps who played the Xbox version to death. The SP is one of the better efforts I've seen, but it's also let down with bad graphics and poor performance.
    Edited by 1 at 12/10/03 @ 16:11

  • ThwartedEfforts #177 8 years ago

    Slim:

    you say you've not given the game much attention yourself before forming that opinion

    Where did you magic that from? I said nothing of the sort. If you're going to pick sides, at least be straight about it.

    Dirtbox:

    I won't resort to name calling because _I'm_ not a nob head.

    Now this is a nine out of ten.

  • Lutz #178 8 years ago

    Barton, I think we have an imposter... lets be on the safe side...

    /shoot's WOPR
    /reloads
    /asks questions...

  • Dirtbox #179 8 years ago

    I can name a load that are better than Halo.

    Deus ex, MoHAA, BF1942, Vice City....

  • mustardkid #180 8 years ago

    yes... yes there is and it'll have project gotham as an unlockable extra

  • Lutz #181 8 years ago

    The Warthog will also be in Driver 3. And if you do the final Driver 3 mission in reverse in the warthog it unlocks the scorpian tank, and yes the cannon fires.

  • Lutz #182 8 years ago

    Halo or Driver?

  • mustardkid #183 8 years ago

    you forgot

    One Shot Kill: The Sneaky Bullet

  • Dirtbox #184 8 years ago

    Is it just me or do none of those games exist?

  • Shinji #185 8 years ago

    It was fun on a console, infact it was a classic, but it sure looks like generic shit on the PC compared to the hundreds of alternatives.

    See, this is what I don't get. I've played the alternatives on PC, and I rate Halo above just about all of them in multiplayer - the way they've tweaked the physics, vehicles and weapons in the game towards fun rather than realism works very well for me, and I'm not making stuff up when I talk about the amount of laughing and whooping over voicecomms when playing this - from usually reserved Europeans, no less. The only other game that did this recently was playing BF1942 for the first time on a LAN, which was incredibly good fun in the same vein - and while I respect that 1942 has depths to it which Halo has yet to prove, I maintain that as a pick up and play, enjoyable multiplayer FPS, Halo has the edge here.

    I don't quite get the people accusing us of being nuts about the Xbox version and overrating the PC version as a result - given we're CONSTANTLY slagged for how much we underrate the Xbox version, we really can't win I guess. For what it's worth, I've played through the Xbox version once, in Japanese (because it cost me a fiver to buy it off a bargain bin in Tokyo), and done a total of maybe two or three hours multiplayer in it.

  • Dirtbox #186 8 years ago

    Ah, but Shinji, that old Halo review was one of John's classics.

    It's only an opinion at the end of the day, as long as it's an honest one thats all we can ask for.

  • krudster #187 8 years ago

    *sigh*

  • ThwartedEfforts #188 8 years ago

    Have been struggling to get this dog to walk without wheezing. Anyone suffering slowdowns might want to try use11 as a command line option, i.e.

    ...\...\halo.exe -use11

    This forces the game to run with shader 1.1 support rather than 2.0 (the default). Makes a big difference to wankier GeForce cards. Anyone with a top nana should leave the default shader and, if suitably brave, select NO VSYNC in the options which removes the 30fps ceiling.

    Performance FAQ below:
    http://halo.bungie.net/site/halo/features/hpcper formancefaq.html

  • Lutz #189 8 years ago

    CS4VAH RoXooRxz!!!11 l337!!11 LOLOMGLOL!!

  • mustardkid #190 8 years ago

    *sigh*

  • Dirtbox #191 8 years ago

    OMGZ TBH WTF!!?

  • Whizzo #192 8 years ago

    Soldier Of Fortune 2 is really bloody awful, not played the PC version of Halo but I can't see how it can be worse than SOF2.

  • Dirtbox #193 8 years ago

    ...yes, deus ex is good, but let me remind you it got a 6 or 7 from most reviewers when it finally arrived on the ps2

    I think you just pointed out the reason that this version doesn't work. Console games for the console and PC games for the PC, I don't think I've seen a multiformat that has ever been successful on both. It might be down to the controls being different, hence the feel of the game. Halo was perfectly suited to the Xbox's controller, but with mouse and keyboard it feels like a block has been removed, you can play freely and its suddenly the easiest game ever.

    Goldeneye wouldn't work on the PC for that same reason. Half-Life doesn't work on the PS2 for the simple fact that even though its a simplified version of the game, its still far too difficult to control.

  • KnickKnack #194 8 years ago

    I'd say that Halo definately feels right on the xbox rather than the PC although Im sure the multiplayer game is going to be serious fun on PC.

    Alot of the tards on this forum are simply biased towards the PC and can't accept a console game could compete with the other 'elitist' games.

    The fact of the matter is my 3 favourite FPS of all time are Half-life, GoldenEye and Halo, not necessarily in that order.

  • Seth. #195 8 years ago

    "How can you possibly compare SOF2 with Halo?"

    Nobody compared SOF2 with Halo. "CS4VAH" 's post was just a dumb joke, jeez, wasn't it obvious enough?
    I agree with the rest of your post though.

  • BartonFink #196 8 years ago

    Dang the thread has gone all WWE:Raw on us!

  • Dirtbox #197 8 years ago

    Patriotic content

    !?
    Edited by 1 at 13/10/03 @ 20:41

  • Shadrach #198 8 years ago

    Runs like pap on my Thunderbird 900 is all I have to say....I SO need a new pooter.

  • ThwartedEfforts #199 8 years ago

    Alot of the tards on this forum are simply biased towards the PC

    It's not that console games are shit, more that the PC offers more scope. Halo is the perfect example of how not to take advantage of the platform -- a pint in a quart pot. Where did co-op go? How come no bots? A lot of stuff that PC owners have gotten used to is just not there.

  • Badass #200 8 years ago

    @Thwarted Efforts

    Yes, pc's can sometimes offer more scope within a gaming genre, partly because they're not counted as the "mass market" - that is the gaystation 2 (sorry, playstation, I'm always making that mistake). Sometimes the mainstream just won't take new ideas...however this is not always the case - would you have a game like Super Monkey Ball on a PC?? probably not - I own this game for the gamecube, and it's one of the best party/relaxation games that money can buy. If you want scope in a genre, then you're going to have to look at the japanese market at some point...yes, a lot of the games look childlike, and you can't skull-f*ck a body after you've finished ripping it apart with a chaingun, but not everything needs to be coated in blood before you start taking notice. Having said that (and I backtrack) if you're going to shoot someone in a game, then there's got to be some kind of reaction by the target (step forward the excellent goldeneye et al, and to a lesser extent, SOF series). NOT like Brute Force, where you can shoot someone in the head at point blank range with a rocket launcher and the target doesn't even blink....

    @pc owners in general who complain about "childlike" console games

    If you're going to talk about consoles vs pc's, and which is aimed at/has the more "hardcore" gamer, then you're going to have to admit that NO-ONE is more hardcore than the japanese gamers who own every game for every system you've ever heard of (and some you haven't).

  • VaultSeeker #201 8 years ago

    Who cares what platform someone else games on? Seems to me that consoles are the logical choice for some games and PCs are the logical choice (though not necessarily the affordable choice) for others.

    I prefer to play most games on the PC because I'm more used to the mouse/keyboard controls, and because I like to crank up the resolution to 16x12 if possible with AA and AF. I can't be a video card whore with consoles.

    But when I want to play games with a friend or two, in person, I find that there's nothing better than a console in a lot of cases. Head to head football, taking turns snowboarding or skating, etc.

    So the difference for me, I guess, is social interaction. When I'm alone, I want my PC and it's resolution. When I'm chillin with comrades short of a LAN, I want a console.

    For what it's worth.

  • suj #202 8 years ago

    is it possible to play this or the original halo online like pc vs xbox players??

  • Dirtbox #203 8 years ago

    No, thank god. The Xbox players wouldn't stand a chance.

  • Lutz #204 8 years ago

    Meh, I'd kick your arse anyday DB... :)

  • suj #205 8 years ago

    but Dirtbox - it would be fockin fonkeh :p

  • pOlaris #206 8 years ago

    Gearbox the same people who are working on CS:CZ, can only sigh at that. But from what I've seen they've done a nice job, great review too.