It’s time for another Retro Ad Replay article! This is the series where we head backward in time to reminisce and celebrate the anniversary of some of the most significant moments in gaming. If you find yourself wanting more content like this, be sure to visit Mandatory.com.
In this November 15 edition of Retro Ad Replay, we’re traveling back 20 years in time to when Halo: Combat Evolved first launched on Xbox. That’s November 15, 2001. Developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios, Halo: Combat Evolved introduced the gaming world to the Master Chief, a Spartan hero. Halo impressed on all levels, cementing it as the biggest Xbox franchises. Now fans await Halo Infinite, with Master Chief returning to continue the fight on Xbox Series X|S,
GameRevolution awarded Halo: Combat Evolved a 10/10 in our review, celebrating the “totally gorgeous” presentation, it being “obscenely entertaining,” having a “massive single-player” and “massive multiplayer,” the “excellent vehicle support,” and “compelling story.”
A few months ago, I said Halo was “…set to deliver an unprecedented video game experience on a console.” Here it is, six months later and Bungie has delivered the package like some digital stork on a divine mission. Is the video game experience actually unprecedented, you ask? Let’s just say if you plan to buy an Xbox, Halo will be on the front lines at the Battle of I-Told-You-So. Although one game won’t win the system wars, this one puts up a hell of a fight.
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But in the end, Halo has totally revolutionized how we look at console FPS games. Before you go to that big sweat-stained sofa in the sky, you absolutely have to play this game. It’s really the best FPS you can play on your TV. Xbox score big with Halo: Combat Evolved.
Check out the Halo: Combat Evolved trailer (reuploaded by taitai907 on YouTube):