X-SciTech

The "Halo" That Won't Tarnish

By Daniel Sieberg

September 26, 2007 / 1:03 PM EDT / CBS News

(AP)

I can still remember the first time I played "Halo: Combat Evolved" –- and how I couldn't stop playing. Late nights became early mornings. It was back in 2001, and the Microsoft had just entered the video game console market with the Xbox. (Seems almost quaint to look back at that time now with the latest series of consoles battling it out.) There were plenty of skeptics wondering whether Microsoft could a) deliver a decent system, b) partner with cutting-edge software companies, and c) stay in it for the long haul. Without Bungie's "Halo," I think it's fair to say Microsoft may have bailed out of the console game entirely. It single-handedly gave Microsoft sales, recognition, and something you just can't buy -– respect.

Unlike many of today's "addictive" games like "World of Warcraft" or "EverQuest," "Halo" doesn't offer the chance to keep boosting your character or buy weapons or continually travel through an open-ended world. The main character in "Halo," Master Chief, is quite simply the uber hero. We see the 3-D world through his eyes (a first-person shooter or FPS), and there are companion characters that join him along the way. The game play is somewhat flexible, but there is a linear storyline that players must follow. And yet it doesn't feel restrictive. The storyline is complex but not confusing, and the bad guys (the Convenant, the Flood) are pure evil and disgusting. Perfect. There are plenty of video games more violent and blatantly horrific. As a gamer, playing "Halo" is just plain fun.

Then there are the weapons and the vehicles. I'd never played a game that allowed players to jump onto a flying scooter (the Ghost) and kick off the baddie (a Jackal maybe). Or choose guns that fired plasma or needles. And the artificial intelligence or AI of the game felt much more real than anything else. Advancement was challenging, but not impossible. Plus there was the dramatic soundtrack that inspired Master Chief's actions. With the help of the ethereal Cortana, Master Chief pushed ahead through a series of unique environments and encounters. He never took off his military helmet but the voice was so compelling and intense that it didn't matter, and in NOT seeing Master Chief, you BECAME Master Chief.

"Halo: Combat Evolved" sold more than a million copies within its first six months on the market, and there was no question "Halo 2" would follow it up. Game maker Bungie was wise not to tinker too much with the design of the game, and it was another huge hit. They improved the multi-player features, the online components and not long after its release there was talk of a Hollywood film tie-in. (A "Halo" movie is still a possibility, though not until 2008 or 2009 depending on which rumor or story you believe.)

Anywhere from 12-15 million copies of "Halo" and "Halo 2" have reportedly been sold since 2001, and no doubt "Halo 3" will continue that trend. (By the way, I haven't had a chance to play it yet.) But more importantly for Microsoft, the "Halo" series sells consoles. First with the Xbox, and now with the Xbox 360. There are undoubtedly those who held out buying an Xbox 360 until "Halo 3" was released this week. In fact, I'm one of them. It may well go down in history as the most successful and beloved console video game in history. A "killer app" indeed.