Halo: Reach is a shining example of how great the Halo franchise was, is, and always will be.
I've been a Halo fan for years (ever since Halo: Combat Evolved for xbox) and it has always been ahead of it's time graphically, ahead of it's time in great innovative multiplayer, and ahead of it's time in new, fun, and balanced gameplay that is fun for friends anytime, anywhere.
I'm going to break down this review in to 3 catigories: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Other features.
1. C-A-M-P-A-I-G-N
The campaign is great fun. Although not as long as previous games such as Halo 2 or 3, it's a fun journey along the way. It is a fun look at the world of Halo before the events of Halo 1. You play a rookie Spartan with a group of highly trained Spartans defending planet Reach from the aliens called, The Covenant. You will find yourself beating levels before you even realise it's over but besides that, it's a lot of fun. You will find yourself using nightvision, sniping, being sneaky, flying and driving a lot of vehicles, and feeling like a superhuman while taking down hundreds of enemies. This time around, the game is really smart. The Enemies will work together in a very smart way. Grouping together, using tactics and making you mad. BUT! If you're smart, then you can make it. Basically, Legendary is a lot of fun. The achievements in Campaign are also fun to get. The game also has some cool moments and scenes that won't dissapoint. Good campaign. (8/10)
2. M-U-L-T-I-P-L-A-Y-E-R
Heck yes! Best multiplayer and the main reason to get an xbox, for HALO! That same great multiplayer you have come to fall in love with is BACK! If you're good at halo, then you'll be good at this too. New weapons this time around, a needler rifle (which is ok, not my favorite), and a new beam rifle replacing the old beam rifle (except this time around it's not so much a sniper and more of a beam that is really in my oppinion too powerful and very annoying) You cannot dual wield. But it's not that big of a deal. The new battle rifle, not caled the DMR. (it's pretty good, probably my favorite weapon.) Also, the new Magnum is very good! Scopable and very powerful. The Matchmaking is different as well, with some new game modes, like invasion, where you either defend a bunch of points of attack them, simple enough but fun. Same old great Team Slayer, Team Objective, Rumble Pit, and new Arena modes where you can rank against others and show who's the best. The Rocket, Sword, Shotgun, Sniper Rifle, and Needler are basically the same. The Plasma Pistol too. The Plasma Rifle is updated, it's better in my oppinion, and you can stop it from overheating which brings more customization to the way individuals wish to play. Speaking of that, there is also buyable armor that you can get and customize anyway you want with the credits you earn from playing matches. Halo: Reach has great addictive, fun multiplayer. (10/10)
3. Other Features: Theatre, Forge, Firefight.
Yeeeah! Theatre is pretty much the same, awesome. Forge has changed drastically. In a good way. No, a great way. Not only now can you put items and objects in the air and make them float but now your options are nearly endless. Witch a budget of 10,000 on a map as big as 3, you can make anything you desire. From a Castle, to an underwater fortress, to racetracks, to remakes of old maps, to pretty much anything you want. Forge 2.0 is the absolute heaven for creative minds. Firefight is also improved and much more customizable. Who doesn't like lasting as long as you can from waves of Covenant? It's honestly just so much fun. The achievements are worth EARNING as well. Trust me, you don't wanna cheat for them, you feel a lot better about it. Forge (9/10) Theatre (9/10) Firefight (9/10)
O*V*E*R*A*L*L
Halo: Reach is a great game, fun addictive multiplayer, a good campaign, and amazing Forge abilities and Firefight mode make it possibly the best Halo yet. (9.0/10)