25 Years After First Blowing Our Minds, Halo Is Having an Identity Crisis

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The Halo series has experienced both successes and challenges, but currently it feels like it’s facing difficulties. Once a leading and highly recognizable name in the first-person shooter genre, Halo has lost some of its prominence in both gaming and popular culture. This is particularly concerning because Halo has the potential to be a lasting and important part of the video game industry.

Many fans feel the Halo series started to decline after Bungie, the studio behind the original Halo games (Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach included), moved on to create Destiny. Microsoft then handed the Halo franchise to a new team, 343 Industries, created specifically to continue the series. While 343 improved some of Halo’s gameplay, many believe they haven’t been able to capture the original spirit and vision of the games, leading to a decrease in the series’ popularity. Now, the question is: what caused Halo to change course, and how can 343 Industries, now known as Halo Studios, revitalize the franchise?

Why Halo Was So Special in the First Place

As a huge fan, I still remember how blown away I was by Halo: Combat Evolved when it came out in 2001. It really felt like a game-changer. Back then, most first-person shooters were like GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, Turok, or DOOM 64 – fun, but pretty different from what Halo brought to the table. Those older games are still classics, of course, but Halo just felt like it took everything to a whole new level.

The shooting in the original Halo: Combat Evolved feels quite different from most shooters, even later Halo games. It lacks features common in the genre, like sprinting and aiming down sights, and doesn’t rely heavily on cover. The weapons also aren’t realistic. Rather than revolutionizing shooting games, the first Halo polished the mechanics that were popular in the 1990s. Even now, Halo‘s gameplay stands out for being quick, adaptable, and allowing players to approach combat in many different ways – it doesn’t force you into a single strategy.

As a huge Halo fan, I always think about how groundbreaking the original Combat Evolved campaign was. It wasn’t just a series of levels; it felt truly cinematic, which was rare for games back then. Bungie really focused on how the story unfolded – the pacing, the mood, the dramatic moments – and it all came together so well. It wasn’t like they were trying to make a movie, but the story just pulled you in and felt incredibly well-planned, with cool twists and surprises delivered seamlessly. And you know what? They built on that in later games! Halo 2 and Halo 3 especially had some of the most epic and unforgettable moments I’ve ever experienced in a game.

The Halo games, especially Halo 2 and Halo 3, were incredibly important for online multiplayer on consoles. They really helped create the first big community on Xbox Live, and that success led to the huge popularity of online shooting games in the 2000s.

The Pros and Cons of Recent Halo Games

It’s understandable that Halo Studios operates in the shadow of Bungie, and it’s been challenging for them to establish their own identity. However, I think gamers sometimes unfairly criticize the studio, overlooking the positive contributions they’ve made to the Halo franchise. The shooting feels much better in recent Halo games—Halo Infinite arguably has the best combat of the series. And while not all changes have been universally loved, Halo Studios deserves credit for experimenting with the Halo formula, whether it’s through the open world of Halo Infinite or the increased movement options in Halo 5. They could have simply tried to recreate Halo 3, but they chose to take risks and try new things, which is commendable.

Despite these recent changes, Halo hasn’t quite managed to stay ahead of the competition. Adding features like sprinting and aiming down sights has made it feel increasingly similar to Call of Duty, and it’s begun to lose the unique gameplay that originally defined it. This trend extends to other areas, including level design, memorable moments, and the overall campaign structure. What’s most concerning is that newer Halo games often lack a strong narrative direction. New story elements and characters are introduced, only to be dropped in subsequent games. Storytelling is crucial to Halo’s success, and it seems that 343 Industries hasn’t fully embraced this, often abandoning promising ideas before they can be developed.

The decision to remake the original Halo: Combat Evolved is a particularly clear example of this issue. It’s likely the wrong move for Halo Studios right now; the franchise needs fresh, innovative ideas, not just revisiting the past. Most fans want Halo to be exciting again, and simply updating one part of an already-playable classic – especially when the Master Chief Collection already exists – probably won’t achieve that.

It’s good that the remake of Combat Evolved is coming to PlayStation 5, as it could attract a new generation of fans. Introducing the series with the original game on PlayStation is a smart move.

How Halo Can Reclaim Its Former Glory

It’s easy to feel discouraged when looking at Halo, especially when compared to other classic franchises that have lost their way. I’ve often been pessimistic about the series myself, wondering how much life it has left. However, thinking about what recent Halo games have done well gives me hope. The key for Halo Studios is to focus on what makes Halo great – things like its realistic combat – and stop adding frustrating features like the Battle Pass in Halo Infinite. Most importantly, they need to come up with a fresh, bold vision for the Halo story, instead of just trying to give fans what they think they want. This could even mean moving on from Master Chief as the main character.

Even if future Halo games aren’t as amazing as the older ones, the franchise can still thrive. It’s okay if some installments are just okay, while others are truly great. Hopefully, the next truly exceptional Halo game is just around the corner.

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2026-02-01 21:06