THE HUB

OMG!!!

FEATURED MEMBER

DoctorIrish

DoctorIrish

The Doctor is in.

QUICK POLL

One month until Metal Gear Solid 4. What will you do?

ASK THE PROS

THE GAMEPROS

FREE NEWSLETTERS

Sign up now to receive weekly or daily updates on your favorite games, stories, and more!



PC | Action | Halo

Boxart for Halo
Halo 27 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 3.5
  • SOUND: 5.0
  • CONTROL: 5.0
  • FUN FACTOR 4.0
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.6
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.4

Review: Halo

Review by Vicious Sid | 09/30/2003 | 16:27:19 PM PST

Though Halo?s choppy visuals are a bummer, the gameplay still shines.

Halo blew away Xbox players with its combination of superior graphics and gameplay. At long last, this much-anticipated translation will finally let PC fans see what all the fuss was about. But beware: If Unreal Tournament 2003?s graphics stressed your PC, Halo is way out of your league.

Lord of the Rings?
Halo?s single-player experience exactly mirrors the Xbox version, warts and all. But the PC version lacks the Xbox?s cooperative mode, a damaging omission that will anger Halo purists. Luckily, the exclusive online multiplayer mode offers a compelling reason to invest in Halo for the PC. Players can choose from game types like Oddball and Capture the Flag, or simply create their own rules from scratch. Better yet, Halo?s multiplayer performance is fast and stable, even over slower internet connections. While the multiplayer mode thoughtfully adds several bonus maps and weapons, it?s not quite enough to compete with online heavyweights like UT 2003.

Downward Spiral
Though not a visual dynamo as compared to modern PC titles, Halo still renders eye-catching graphics on the PC. As in the Xbox version, the vast outdoor environments and dazzling special effects attract the most attention. Sadly, some blurry textures mar the overall polish.

Unfortunately, players may spend more time grappling with graphics settings than blasting aliens. In Halo?s single-player mode, firefights frequently suffer from crippling slowdown, especially in indoor areas. Considering Halo?s age, there?s no explanation for why it runs so poorly. Though multiplayer performance fares slightly better, the frame rate problems are impossible to ignore, and they end up costing the game dearly.

Halo supports crisp 5.1 surround sound for an immersive sonic experience, and the rousing soundtrack is also a standout, serving up pounding battle anthems to match the frenzied gameplay. Halo?s controls have never felt better; the biggest improvement comes from the sleek, new mouse interface.

Halo and Goodbye
In the end, Halo?s miserable frame rates overshadow an otherwise enjoyable experience, especially in the single-player campaign. If you?re a diehard online fanatic with a world-class PC, you?ll love Halo?s multiplayer modes, but if you?re just a casual fan, stick with the superior Xbox version.