Halo: Combat Evolved (Halo 1) for Xbox

Halo: Combat Evolved, better known as Halo 1 for Xbox, can be classified as a 3D first-person arcade shooter (FPS) set in an imaginary sci-fi alien world. Before starting, we see an incredible intro video that catches us up on the game’s story, followed by a very attractive main menu accompanied by an amazing soundtrack featuring religious chants.

Plot of Halo 1:

We’re thrown into a global battle between the human race and an alien species called the Covenant. We take control of a "super-soldier," the last surviving cyborg from a secret military experiment—the Spartan II. After being frozen in cryo-sleep for a long time, we’re awakened and transported along with a group of soldiers aboard the Pillar of Autumn, a spaceship headed toward the planet Halo, a ring-shaped world that looks like a giant donut.

Our body is practically robotic—chemically enhanced bionic muscles, cybernetic armor, and a helmet with a built-in display. Once on the planet, we’re given orders to fight the alien race and take on the Covenant to save humanity. We’ll battle four different alien species—on foot, in vehicles, or in open combat. We can steal their weapons and equipment, and even use gear developed by our own scientists.

When we start playing Halo 1, we immediately notice the graphical power of the Xbox. We’re dropped right into combat, unarmed, and must find our way to the commander, who explains the situation and gives us our first mission. We’ll navigate dark tunnels (with the help of our flashlight), thick walls, incredible explosions, and realistic lighting effects with immersive screen shakes. The environments are mostly solid, though you’ll occasionally notice some stair-stepping (aliasing) effects.

The objectives in Halo 1 are straightforward—no complicated puzzles. We just have to complete the assigned tasks, reach a specific checkpoint, and move forward in the adventure. That said, there’s a wide variety of missions: attacking alien strongholds, stealing secret tech from underground labs, rescuing captured allies, and commandeering enemy vehicles and weapons—both indoors and in open areas.

We’ll notice a big shift in gameplay around the halfway point. The early missions focus on stealth and avoiding firefights (similar to Half-Life or Counter-Strike), but later on, we’ll be mowing down hundreds of aliens like it’s Quake III Arena.

Characters in Halo 1:

At times, it feels like the enemies and allied soldiers have a life of their own. When I first played, I thought they were real online players—their movements were so convincing. They react logically to your actions, retreating when in danger.

It’s a shame there are only four different alien species, each with unique abilities and behaviors. The smaller ones are almost comical, while the larger ones—like the Hunters—are terrifyingly tough.

But not everything is perfect. Sometimes, your allies feel useless—even cowardly. They do their own thing instead of working as a team. I’ve been in firefights against hordes of aliens while my squad just walks past me, only to find them later waiting for me to bail them out.

There are also some flaws that might make the game feel monotonous. Around the halfway point, after hours of fighting, you’ll keep doing different missions—but in the same areas you’ve already explored. Thankfully, the developers added small changes and alternate routes to avoid making it feel like a complete retread.

Another downside (though it does extend playtime) is the useless tunnels. I call them useless because sometimes you’re forced to backtrack without any reward—no powerful weapons, extra health, or energy.

I also wish there were more outdoor levels. Most of the game takes place inside structures.

Vehicles and Weapons:

This is one of the game’s biggest surprises, aside from its graphics and immersive sound. Halo 1 is the first 3D arcade shooter that masterfully blends first-person combat with third-person vehicle gameplay—whether on foot, in ground vehicles, or flying machines. The mechanics are very realistic and detailed. For example, the Warthog (an all-terrain buggy) reacts realistically when driving over bumps. You can even fit three soldiers in it: one driver, one passenger, and a gunner on the mounted machine gun.

Oh, and there are two game modes: single-player and co-op. In single-player, your squadmates are AI-controlled, but in co-op, you can play with up to three friends on the same console.

Besides the Warthog, there’s the Scorpion tank, the alien Ghost hoverbikes, and the Banshee flying crafts. All are easy to control—except the Warthog, which is trickier since you have to aim where you want to go before accelerating.

You can only carry two weapons at a time, divided between human and alien tech. You’ll find, reload, and swap them throughout the game, along with health packs and energy recharges.

Graphics in Halo 1:

Halo’s world is a virtual masterpiece—detailed textures, animations, and lighting are truly incredible. If you have a good TV and spend time in the outdoor areas, you’ll feel completely surrounded by trees, vegetation, enemies, and even realistic waterfalls.

It’s a shame the outdoor sections are so short, forcing us back into dark tunnels. That said, even indoors, the detail is impressive—like using the flashlight and seeing bump mapping effects where surfaces change appearance based on distance.

The alien designs are fun (though there are only four types). The smaller ones hide behind rocks and shields, chattering in digital voices, while the bigger ones—like the "big boss"—can be genuinely scary.

There’s a ton of variety in textures, lighting, shadows, and reflections. Explosions and water effects are incredibly lifelike. Even small details matter—if a vehicle explodes near you, the debris can injure or kill you.

That said, when too many effects and characters crowd the screen, you might notice some texture pop-in, but it’s barely noticeable.

Sound:

The Xbox has built-in Dolby Digital 5.1—an amazing sound card. Did the developers take advantage of it?

Absolutely! We know future games will surpass it, but Halo 1 will be remembered as a legend. And that day hasn’t come yet, so right now, we’ve got an incredible game in our hands.

As mentioned earlier, each character has their own personality—especially the human soldiers, who each have unique names and voices.

The sound design is packed with details: waterfalls, distant explosions, enemy footsteps, allies moving around, tires on pavement, even the sound of snowflakes and rain (if you stop shooting long enough to hear them).

The characters’ dialogue is hilarious, making the game feel more fluid and entertaining.

The soundtrack also adapts perfectly to each moment—whether you’re in nature, underground tunnels, or mid-combat.

Gameplay:

AI in Halo 1:

The AI makes characters feel like real chatterboxes—they’ll talk often, giving hints about what’s happening around you. Each character has their own intelligence, reacting based on what they learn from the environment, enemies, or even you. You’ll see them drive vehicles, man turrets, or even jump out of moving cars to flee from aliens.

Halo is also a tough game, with three difficulty levels. If I tell you the easiest setting is hard, imagine the hardest one. A word of advice: "Always check who you’re shooting at—it might be a teammate, and they won’t hesitate to take you out."

Co-op Mode:

For me, this is the best part. Halo 1’s co-op gameplay is downright addictive. You can share the adventure with friends—up to 16 players via system link (four consoles with four players each). I haven’t tested this myself, but if anyone tries it, I’d love to hear their thoughts.

With two players, the screen splits horizontally, giving each their own view. The graphics lose some detail, but it’s still solid. I highly recommend playing co-op—it’s way easier to mow down aliens with a buddy.

The possibilities are endless: sharing vehicles, competing for the driver’s seat, or even splitting roles—one on foot, another in a Ghost or Banshee. Teamwork is key, and there are no limits—your gunner can jump out mid-drive to ambush enemies.

You can also play competitively against friends—friendly fire is on, so watch those grenades! You can even steal each other’s weapons.

Multiplayer:

In multiplayer, you’ve got classic modes like Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, Race, King of the Hill, and Oddball.

Oddball is especially fun—while your friends shoot at you, you just run around holding a skull, which you can use to smack them endlessly.

Before each match, you can customize character names, vehicles, and team setups. Unfortunately, you can’t play as an alien—a missed opportunity that would’ve been great.

You can also play online, but only with other European players. Due to regional differences in refresh rates, the European and American versions aren’t compatible.

Final Verdict on Halo 1:

We’ve got an action-packed, lengthy, and challenging game with stunning graphics and sound. The majestic soundtrack balances out the gunfire, letting you play for hours without ear fatigue.

The gameplay reaches incredible heights thanks to the AI, making it near-perfect.

The controls are simple: one analog stick moves your character, the other aims, the triggers shoot, and the face buttons handle jumping, flashlight, actions, and weapon swaps.

The only downsides? No playable aliens in multiplayer, regional incompatibility, occasional texture issues in intense moments, and some repetitive level design in the second half.