HALO franchise is an undying part of our legacy as it has given us moments to remember for life. But what made the HALO series so popular? Let’s find out.
Battle Royale games have become an immutable part of our daily lives, many of us can’t even begin to imagine how boring life would get without playing with our friends in epic battles. And while multiplayer FPS games are now more popular than ever, HALO is still considered to be one of the staples of fps games in history.
Featuring Master Chief, HALO is one of the most loved first-person shooter titles of all time with millions of loyal fans spread across the globe. There’s a cult following around this game and HALO’s protagonist is one of the reasons why. But what exactly makes the HALO series so popular in the first place? That is the question that I will try to answer in this article.
The Start of HALO
Developed by Bungie, HALO goes all the way back to the start of 2000 when the game hooked millions of players under its spell. HALO: Combat Evolved is known to define an entire generation of gamers who loved first-person shooters. It was an unusual first-person shooter that prioritized its universe and story as much as it’s competitive multiplayer, offering both sorts of gamers something to live for.
The campaign of Halo starts with a tragic emergency escape into the eponymous ring and swiftly turns into a mystery regarding the Covenant’s continuing struggle with the zombie-like Flood. Its last mission, which culminates in a high-speed escape scene, is one of the most exhilarating in all of gaming. The story and the narrative keep you at the edge of your seat throughout the entire time.
But that’s not all, if you are not a big fan of single-player campaigns you can also have fun with the game’s thrilling multiplayer mode. I think that is one of the main reasons why so many players started diving into this game. The thrill in multiplayer mode was unmatched at the time and there are still a lot of players out there wanting to buy HALO just for the sake of old times.
Why is HALO so Popular?
Now, there are many factors that make a series so good since there are more than one title and a whole generation of gamers behind it. But if we take a closer look at what makes HALO so popular, I think we could all agree that the game’s Story, Universe, and Multiplayer are essentially the three primary factors that make HALO so popular in the first place.
There are around 10 main campaigns in the HALO series and some of them are extremely good, while others are good as well (not all of them). With so many campaigns, the story gets really complicated, especially for someone who hasn’t really been following the game from the start. But that is also the reason why so many players still love the game because it keeps on adding and expanding on the storyline to keep the fans entertained and wanting more.
Just like many other single-player story games, the Halo games include a classic linear campaign with a beginning, middle, and conclusion. Each enemy that you come across in the game has strengths and weaknesses that you must learn to exploit in order to overcome them to progress through the storyline. Furthermore, the landscapes you travel through are aesthetically and intellectually engaging, each with its own narrative to tell. All of this adds up to a fun gaming experience as you become engaged in the character and their journey.
With each new chapter in the story, the player discovers the secrets of the Halo array’s architects and follows the advancement of the Alien Covenant as they discover the secrets. One of the most interesting aspects of this story is the interaction between your character, the Master Chief, and Cortana. She’s more than just an AI partner or a helping hand and players often end up creating this unique bond with her.
And while the story truly is a masterpiece, there are many who still prefer to play the multiplayer mode of the game, which is the other thing that makes this game inspiration for most modern multiplayer fps games out there. It all started with the split-screen multiplayer with friends sitting next to each other on the couch and just having a blast together.
All these little things are what make the HALO series so popular and a true inspiration for many game developers out there, especially if they want to make a game with campaign mode just as good as the multiplayer mode.