Halo: Combat Evolved

 Xbox
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3080 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,658 out of 3080
  2. Mixed: 180 out of 3080
  3. Negative: 242 out of 3080
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  1. VLG
    Aug 23, 2023
    5
    I will never understand why people loved this game so much, its just your average FPS
  2. RefinedInsights
    Aug 16, 2023
    7
    One of the most overrated games of all time; not sure how this game became so popular; the campaign is boring, I gues multiplayer is fun, but that's about it.
  3. Griddy
    Jun 17, 2023
    6
    Great game at 2001 nice soundtrack and great atmosfere but you can tell they only had 9 month to make the game, people like to say the game is a masterpiece and stuff but this game aged like milk, finicky combat system, guns feels like nerf guns, vehicle feels like its driftting on ice, a vehicle who supposed to be a tank but is super weak and straight up **** level design, credit whereGreat game at 2001 nice soundtrack and great atmosfere but you can tell they only had 9 month to make the game, people like to say the game is a masterpiece and stuff but this game aged like milk, finicky combat system, guns feels like nerf guns, vehicle feels like its driftting on ice, a vehicle who supposed to be a tank but is super weak and straight up **** level design, credit where credit is due this game is super impresive in 2001 and im sure kid me in 2001 with an xbox would ove this game but if you dont have the nostalgia and is a new player its just terible.… Expand
  4. JussaGamber
    Mar 18, 2023
    5
    It's fine, but it doesn't hold up as this perfect game some people want you to believe. The second half of the levels are bad, and half the weapons are bad.
  5. Parrabam
    Jan 30, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Es un buen juego, perfecto para iniciar la saga de Halo, sin embargo, algunas armas estan muy desbalanceadas, poniendo como la mas poderosa a la Magnum, cuenta con una historia muy buena, pero con niveles repetitivos y confusos hasta cierto punto.
    El Multijugador es muy bueno, con modos y mapas muy iconicos de Halo.    … Expand
  6. anykey_
    Jul 22, 2022
    7
    Halo Combat Evolved is an unfinished masterpiece. That is, she is tightened, she is trying too hard to be an arena. My favorite level is everyone's least favorite level with the flood. Everything was as it should be, dark, stuffy, scary. In the end, the game generally offers you to have fun yourself. Up to the level with the typewriter - Bibika. 7 out of 10. You also break your fingersHalo Combat Evolved is an unfinished masterpiece. That is, she is tightened, she is trying too hard to be an arena. My favorite level is everyone's least favorite level with the flood. Everything was as it should be, dark, stuffy, scary. In the end, the game generally offers you to have fun yourself. Up to the level with the typewriter - Bibika. 7 out of 10. You also break your fingers because of the control of the bible in the old way. In general, in the following heilos, there is also a problem with transport.… Expand
  7. razMN
    Apr 5, 2022
    7
    There's reviews from all the way back to 2002, and my review is from a "2022 POV". Halo has a good story actually, the external parts are well made and the graphics are among the best of its time, for sure.

    However, the main problems is that this game is a constant corridor, there's simply multiple parts that look exactly the same (I know, probably a limitation of that time), plus the    There's reviews from all the way back to 2002, and my review is from a "2022 POV". Halo has a good story actually, the external parts are well made and the graphics are among the best of its time, for sure.

    However, the main problems is that this game is a constant corridor, there's simply multiple parts that look exactly the same (I know, probably a limitation of that time), plus the fact that every enemy is a bullet sponge (even on normal difficulty).

    I realize it's an important game for the industry's history, but it's kinda sufferable to playthrough nowadays because of those two factros.    … Expand
  8. JohnnArmstrong
    Feb 14, 2022
    7
    I didn't play this game at the time. I played it just a few months ago at MCC and although it's entertaining and I understand its importance, the game has a lot of repetitive moments and the ending where you escape from the Halo facing Guilty Spark is a pain.
  9. Mr_Nobody34
    Jan 14, 2022
    7
    Ratings for the time period it came out
    Story : 8
    Gameplay : 8
    Graphics : 9
    Fun factor : 8
    Environment interaction : 2
    Sound effects : 6
    Overall Immersion : 8
  10. Solembum2
    Dec 10, 2021
    5
    Банальная, скучная, медленная игра. Из тех, что просто "работают". Для консольщиков, может, зайдёт. На фоне какого-нибудь F.E.A.R. - абсолютное уныние.
  11. L3Fari0us
    Nov 19, 2021
    7
    This review is from someone who has only recently experienced Halo: CE and is meant to help those who are thinking about playing too.

    Few are the people who don't know what Halo is. Even if you've never played any games, there's a big chance that you've heard of Halo before. That's how impactful the game was when it first came out. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of it back then and I    This review is from someone who has only recently experienced Halo: CE and is meant to help those who are thinking about playing too.

    Few are the people who don't know what Halo is. Even if you've never played any games, there's a big chance that you've heard of Halo before. That's how impactful the game was when it first came out. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of it back then and I never played games growing up, so I didn't care for any of it.

    Playing Halo in 2021, in order to fully enjoy what it brought to the table you have to experience other games from that era, without it, you'll never truly understand why it's praised. Either way:

    The gameplay still feels tremendously solid and it's always fun. The story wasn't. By today's standards, the campaign is pretty much just a backdrop for the action which you don't really pay attention to. Its most impactful moments felt flat to me; it didn't help I was spoiled on one of those. The mission design was also extremely boring, there are some missions which is the same copy and paste room over and over and over, always fighting the same enemy faction. There is also one mission which asks the player to traverse the environment that they already played through during the previous mission. The lack of waypoints during those, coupled with the same bland looking rooms made it so I pulled a YouTube guide more than once to figure out where to go. The score is phenomenal when it actually plays, which is not very often. The lack of score for a lot of the moments are praised by a lot of fans but to me it made the environments feel even more bland when all I could hear were my footsteps in a massive cargo bay while I tried to look for a button to press in order to progress, for example.

    Overall, while I have nothing but the utmost respect for Bungie for creating such a massive and innovating game, back when it first came out, it, sadly, in my eyes, just doesn't stand up to the test of time, besides the gameplay and soundtrack.    … Expand
  12. Kostas101
    Nov 13, 2021
    6
    I would say that the game still holds up pretty well, you can tell how much effort was put into it, and the attention to detail is surprising. Gameplay is solid, the game contains very few guns, but every gun plays differently, as for the level design, it's very outdated, there are many times where you'll just walk through corridors killing the same enemies over & over again, making itI would say that the game still holds up pretty well, you can tell how much effort was put into it, and the attention to detail is surprising. Gameplay is solid, the game contains very few guns, but every gun plays differently, as for the level design, it's very outdated, there are many times where you'll just walk through corridors killing the same enemies over & over again, making it boring, and there are some levels that seem almost impossible to pass, it's very frustrating. The story is mediocre, very basic with no highlights, you just go to different areas killing aliens, finding new information about the halo, and that's pretty much what you do for most of the game. Still, it's a pretty good & revolutionary game, and I can see why it was praised so much when it first came out.… Expand
  13. robertredford
    Dec 19, 2020
    6
    It's undeniable that this is one of the greatest- If not the greatest game of all time. But it's aged. The plot was solid but nothing special and I'm not the biggest fan of the combat, but I can tell how great it is. My main problem is the random spikes in difficulty that ruined a large portion of my play through. I understand I'm not the best at games. But there are plenty of hard games IIt's undeniable that this is one of the greatest- If not the greatest game of all time. But it's aged. The plot was solid but nothing special and I'm not the biggest fan of the combat, but I can tell how great it is. My main problem is the random spikes in difficulty that ruined a large portion of my play through. I understand I'm not the best at games. But there are plenty of hard games I enjoy. This is not one of them. In the library level, if you lose guilty spark, prepare to **** around for the next 30 minutes looking for him. And two betrayals is the worst level in any shooter I've ever played. Of course, I'm focusing on the negative because no one else does. These aspects are awful, sure. But everything else is great. In 2001? Greatest game of all time. In 2020? Jank.… Expand
  14. ewenr
    Jun 30, 2020
    7
    Played this game nearly 20 years after release so unsurprisingly it doesn't hold a candle to current generation games. However, it held up better than I expected and was certainly fun, if a little sparse.
  15. SeuBelarmino
    Jun 1, 2020
    7
    Halo: Combat Evolved brought me good experience in terms of shooting bunch of enemies and kicking their asses most part of the time by you and you

    But without mention the badass moments of Master Chief, the game is pretty repetitive and linear, it lacks a lot about guns, enemies variety, and level design The plot is pretty straight forward, i kinda like the sci-fi cliché with aliens (my    Halo: Combat Evolved brought me good experience in terms of shooting bunch of enemies and kicking their asses most part of the time by you and you

    But without mention the badass moments of Master Chief, the game is pretty repetitive and linear, it lacks a lot about guns, enemies variety, and level design

    The plot is pretty straight forward, i kinda like the sci-fi cliché with aliens (my opinion)

    Gonna give it a shot at the other games, so i can compare better

    Still, it's a good game. Not that hype, but it's good and can make you have some fun    … Expand
  16. coquedepor
    Dec 16, 2019
    5
    - Chaotic combat
    - Repetitive
    - Lack of weapon variety
    - no storyline
    - art
  17. Topo77
    Sep 14, 2019
    7
    Its a Master piece, one of the best games of all times, and one of the most important FPS in videogames history
  18. mikemormai
    Apr 26, 2019
    7
    Halo é um game muito bom , mais faltou alguma coisa nele, o game tem uma historia legal, graficos legais pra epoca, vale muito apena pra um dono de xbox
  19. PedroRC19
    Oct 3, 2018
    7
    Um bom jogo nada além disso, não é um jogo atemporal igual Zelda Ocarina of Time mas é um bom jogo, não acho que 97 seja a nota merecida e também não acho que seja um dos melhores jogos da Historia, talvez pra época tenha sido inovador mas hj em dia é um bom jogo além do seu tempo.
  20. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    7
    I have a confession to make, this was the first time I have never sat down and played through the campaign of Halo before. The sad truth is, I never had the chance. I grew up with Nintendo’s and PlayStations so when I purchased an Xbox this year, its the first Xbox I have ever owned. So naturally, one of the first things I wanted to play was Halo so I bought the Master Chief collection. II have a confession to make, this was the first time I have never sat down and played through the campaign of Halo before. The sad truth is, I never had the chance. I grew up with Nintendo’s and PlayStations so when I purchased an Xbox this year, its the first Xbox I have ever owned. So naturally, one of the first things I wanted to play was Halo so I bought the Master Chief collection. I plan on playing the Halo 2, 3 and 4 in the next several months.

    So looking at this game in 2017, it’s still a solid game with great shooting mechanics. I can say with absolute positivity that this game has aged well. Obviously, with the Master Chief Collection, it’s gotten some work was done to it aesthetically but it looks fine. The shooting felt very tight, I didn’t like the default control scheme but the game allowed me to change that and once I made the switch. It felt good.

    My big complaint about this game is the level design though. It felt like I would go through an area, reach the destination and then have to backtrack and redo everything I just did. In some areas, it felt like I did that multiple times. There were some levels where I just completely got lost because everything looked the same. My hope is the developers learned this and fixed this in future iterations.

    Halo is an iconic series and I feel like all gamers should play Halo and I feel more like a true gamer now that I’ve experienced Halo. Its still aged well and I do recommend picking up the collection.    … Expand
  21. Dragonfly44
    Sep 8, 2018
    6
    I'm sure it was much better at the time when it came out, but I honestly can't understand the hype for this game. At first, it's very fun. But after the first level, my interest quickly died out. It's extremely repetitive and I found myself bored out of my mind all too quickly
    Rating - 68%
  22. RECON-UK
    Apr 15, 2017
    5
    It's certainly a decent game on the surface, however it is not worthy of the 10/10 mark.
    A lot of the game recycles it's self, places look very similar and you feel like you are not really progressing up until the point you come to the flood.
    The flood is an interesting twist and i really enjoy playing against this enemy type, however noticeably they almost always attack in a set    It's certainly a decent game on the surface, however it is not worthy of the 10/10 mark.
    A lot of the game recycles it's self, places look very similar and you feel like you are not really progressing up until the point you come to the flood.

    The flood is an interesting twist and i really enjoy playing against this enemy type, however noticeably they almost always attack in a set formation with the same enemy types thrown in.

    There is a part in the game where you meet the flood almost every time you move forwards and they will first try to get you from behind, it's not smartly done, too predictable and just becomes tiring and repetitive.
    Then you get to the end point of the game which is just a great showcase to show how piss poor the controls are for the warthog.

    I played this on my OG XBOX through component leads and it looks great sadly not the best experience gameplay wise.

    I'm being generous with this score.    … Expand
  23. Broyax
    Jan 21, 2017
    5
    Halo a introduit quelques innovations reprises par un nombre incalculable de FPS, des innovations discutables comme la vie qui remonte toute seule (au lieu des trousses de soin) et la limitation à deux armes, la plus contestable puisqu'on passe son temps à échanger ses flingues sur le champ de bataille. C'est aussi l'un des premiers (voire le premier ?) à vous épauler d'une petite escouadeHalo a introduit quelques innovations reprises par un nombre incalculable de FPS, des innovations discutables comme la vie qui remonte toute seule (au lieu des trousses de soin) et la limitation à deux armes, la plus contestable puisqu'on passe son temps à échanger ses flingues sur le champ de bataille. C'est aussi l'un des premiers (voire le premier ?) à vous épauler d'une petite escouade de temps à autre, une escouade dont l'IA s'est toujours avérée satisfaisante.

    Comme titre de lancement de la première Xbox, il était assez impressionnant avec notamment des environnements assez grands et la possibilité de conduire pas mal de véhicules. Bien que n'étant pas un monde ouvert, l'effet "couloir" en était de fait sensiblement réduit. Son inspiration pioche un peu partout dans le monde foisonnant de la SF tout en assurant sa propre identité.

    On note tout de même un goût douteux ici et là en ce qui concerne les ennemis, les couleurs criardes et les "pioupious" des armes en général, l'impression n'est pas toujours très sérieuse... L'ambiance qui reste décidément "curieuse" profite cependant d'une bonne VF et d'excellentes musiques.

    Si la jouabilité est soigneusement réglée et l'interface sans reproche, l'architecture des niveaux laisse parfois à désirer avec des intérieurs copiés-collés à l'infini sans parler évidemment des niveaux de la Bibliothèque qui souffrent d'une répétition incroyablement pénible aussi bien graphiquement que dans son déroulement qui ne cesse de vomir des ennemis ad nauseam.

    Quelques grands moments dans un jeu globalement bien mis en scène côtoient ce genre de défauts d'équilibrage avec encore trop d'endroits où l'on attend en tournant en rond que le prochain script se déclenche après avoir nettoyé une zone. Gratifiant et énervant, Halo souffle trop souvent le chaud et le froid par intermittences imprévisibles, ce qui le rend fatigant à long terme.    … Expand
  24. therandomuser
    Sep 18, 2016
    7
    this game is a great game. the story is great, the multiplayer amazing but the problem is the campaign not the cutscenes or story but the gameplay. it feels like a chore to play i didnt have any fun health packs were too scarse on the mission the guns take out vechicles too easily if im in a tank, i want it to feel like a tank. but for a game this old the animations are great better than most
  25. Mitchzap65
    Apr 13, 2016
    7
    This game did not age that well, it is still a good game, but it does seem (at least in multiplayer standards) that gun balance was not really something that was paid attention too, it can be really fun and addicting, but as long as the other guy isn't camping the flag with a rocket launcher.
  26. dacritic82
    Aug 20, 2015
    7
    This review is for the version of Halo CE included in the Master Chief Collection for XONE, and I'm keeping in mind that it was originally released 15 years ago.

    Let's begin by saying that, though I wouldn't say the game is ripping off other IPs (either movies or video games), it's clear to me where did the Bungie folks get their inspiration from. Now the actual review. - Graphics    This review is for the version of Halo CE included in the Master Chief Collection for XONE, and I'm keeping in mind that it was originally released 15 years ago.

    Let's begin by saying that, though I wouldn't say the game is ripping off other IPs (either movies or video games), it's clear to me where did the Bungie folks get their inspiration from. Now the actual review.

    - Graphics and music: I loved the music, but the graphics are just okay. It's really cool to be able to switch between the original graphics and the remastered ones. There are some lighting problems and some areas are too dark, also ponds of green water where you can't see **** and you don't know where to go.

    - Story: It's nothing to lose your lose your sleep over, really. The Master Chief is utterly boring and uninspiring. Fortunately we have Cortana, his virtual companion, who can access stuff and guides you throughout the campaign. She's a lot more interesting and her voice acting is terrific.

    - Gameplay: the story is divided into 10 missions, taking you around 1 hour to complete each. These long missions are more like Chapters than actual missions (you have multiple objectives in each of them, which are revealed to you sequentially). I prefer short missions, where you can actually accomplish something during a small game session, other than just running from Checkpoint A to Checkpoint B.

    - Combat Mechanics: maybe this is the weakest aspect of the game, and here is why: there's no aiming mechanism, so you must get close to your targets in order to shoot them down. This is okay for the first half of the game, since you can kill them fairly easy without endangering yourself. But, the second part gets tricky. Enemies explode, throw grenades, or carry a rocket launcher, so a lot of them will instantly kill you or land a critical hit on you; while requiring many shots to go down. I also noticed that a lot of mob groups keep spawning on and on. So, oftentimes there's no point in stopping to kill them, your best option is just running for it.

    - Level Design: I didn't really like it. I felt like I was playing the same generic 3 or 4 maps over and over.

    - Enemies: there isn't a great variety of them. And no boss... yes, NO BOSS FIGHT! Huge letdown.

    - Weaponry: there are like 6 different types of weapons and you'll frequently feel underpowered (unless you have a shotgun with you). Ammo for the more powerful weapons is scarce, forcing you to switch, which is something positive.

    - Vehicles and turrets: this is also a great addition. I really enjoyed making my way through crowds after hijacking an alien vehicle or climbing into a turret (specially when ammo was running low) to obliterate incoming waves of foes.    … Expand
  27. moricetimeofwar
    Aug 6, 2014
    6
    One of the most overrated games of all time. I finished it and for me halo is not a good game, it is a very average game. First, the levels are very labyrinthine and you're constantly searching where to go, but not only that, but the level design is so repetitive that you're always asking if you went through there or not. Indeed, level portions are literally cloned in other levels.One of the most overrated games of all time. I finished it and for me halo is not a good game, it is a very average game. First, the levels are very labyrinthine and you're constantly searching where to go, but not only that, but the level design is so repetitive that you're always asking if you went through there or not. Indeed, level portions are literally cloned in other levels. Besides some peaks of difficulty completely unnecessary where the game becomes extremely difficult for no reason. The music is very good but are underused. Driving vehicles is terrible. The sounds of covenants is terrible. Sorry, I would like to liked this game, but unfortunately I'm not capable. This has too problems to make it a good game… Expand
  28. Rewaider
    May 11, 2014
    7
    Well, what do I need to say? This is ridiculously overrated! 9.7?! Are you kidding?! This will never be a classic! It's just one-in-a-thousand of first person shooters with a cheesy and not original story!
  29. Simich110
    Apr 16, 2014
    6
    Halo: Combat Evolved is overated, great but overated good grapichs alright AI, one of the better Halo games, but doesnt deserve a 97 Metascore alright game fun but still very overated
  30. Sammydidds123
    Jun 28, 2013
    7
    As a halo fan back in the day, I can tell you that this game is AMAZING! It's an all time classic, with an interesting story, fascinating mythoes, great combat, and stellar co-op. The graphics aren't great, but what do you expect from a game made over 10 years ago? Anyone who talks s**t about this game might have played it recently, thinking "Why are the graphics so crap? Uggh, this isAs a halo fan back in the day, I can tell you that this game is AMAZING! It's an all time classic, with an interesting story, fascinating mythoes, great combat, and stellar co-op. The graphics aren't great, but what do you expect from a game made over 10 years ago? Anyone who talks s**t about this game might have played it recently, thinking "Why are the graphics so crap? Uggh, this is just terrible." They wouldn't know a great game if it was stuck Infront of their face. So yeah, you can probably tell, I love this game, and it's one of my favorites.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox Game of 2001
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2001
1
#1 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
97

Universal acclaim - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 68
  3. Negative: 0 out of 68
  1. Xbox Nation Magazine
    100
    Halo is quite simply the closest thing we have ever experienced to a living, breathing alternate universe. [Jan 2002, p.72]
  2. GMR Magazine
    100
    The definitive reason to own an Xbox. [Feb 2003, p.95]
  3. Gamestyle
    100
    When you finally set down the controller the first time, and eventually hunger or exhaustion do force all of us to take a break, Halo has pulled you completely into its world and started one of the best sci-fi gaming adventures of all time.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »