Comic-Con: Halo Master Chief Collection Recap

13 May Comic-Con: Halo Master Chief Collection Recap

Article was originally posted on Geek Legacy on July 25, 2014

At the Xbox Lounge in San Diego, Microsoft was showing some wonderful looks at the upcoming Halo: The Master Chief Collection set to release in November. There was little game play footage shown but most of what we saw were the features that make this collection a must purchase when it comes out. Here’s what you need to know.

• All levels and game modes are unlocked at the start

As soon as you pop your disc into your Xbox One, every level and all available game types are unlocked from the start. This was explained as not wanting the gamers to have to grind through the games again, but rather putting everything on the table so you can re-live your favorite moments without delay.

• Completely re-designed interface

The look of the Halo franchise has evolved from Halo: Combat Evolved all the way to Halo 4. In this collection, all four games will feature the same interface as to create a more fluid transition between the games. The interface is more of what was seen from Halo 4 but has been retooled a bit in order to create something new.

• Multiplayer based on the game it originated from

With four different versions of multiplayer rolled into one game, the team at 343 Industries decided to keep the core mechanics of each individual Halo game intact. When you play a map from the original Halo it will feel like the old shooter that changed the way console shooters acted. When you play maps featured in Halo 2, you will relive the feel of a game changing multiplayer experience, and so on. Multiplayer will feel familiar, yet provide a new experience in a way never thought possible. In addition, when playing multiplayer, all gamers are placed in a lobby where they can vote on the next map they want to play on. Also, every map ever played in a Halo game has been included in this collection.

• Halo 2 Anniversary will allow you to switch graphics at will

One of the most talked about features from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary  was the ability to switch between “old” graphics and HD graphics. This has made its way to Halo 2 Anniversary in a new way. Instead of needing to wait a second for the graphics to change, the power of the Xbox One allows the gamer to switch just by pressing the “View” button with no lag, no delay, no wait. Just press the button and marvel at how far video game graphics have come in just ten years.

• Halo Nightfall and Halo 5: Guardians Beta included

Perhaps the ‘cherry on top’ of this beautiful collection is the inclusion of the live action series “Halo Nightfall” and an exclusive look at the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta. “Halo Nightfall” would be easily accessed via the Master Chief Collection menu, as would the beta to the next installment of the Halo franchise. The beta for Halo 5: Guardians will begin in December.

• Minimum of 4,000 gamerscore for this entire collection

Although there was no specific breakdown or exact number given, no less than 4,000 gamerscore will be yours to acquire in the Master Chief Collection. In addition, many of the achievements have been “retooled” and “slightly altered,” as we were told. Even if you’ve completely mastered the games when they first came out, it’s worth going back as new achievements will offer a new challenge and become a great addition to your gamerscore in the end.

• Playlists give you the levels you want to play

The Master Chief Collection adds a new feature to the campaing called playlists. Instead of picking individual levels that you want to play, you can load up a set of levels picked based on certain parameters. For instance, maybe you want to only play levels that include tanks or Warthogs. Perhaps your trigger finger is itchy and you’re looking to replay every major battle scene in the franchise. These and more are available for gamers in addition to being able to play the entire franchise from start to finish (based on what’s in the collection) in one glorious marathon session.

Based on what was shown, this is what you need to know when the Halo: Master Chief Collection releases on November 11th in North America. Even if you have played the previous Halo games several times, the Master Chief Collection is a must purchase for any Halo fan. While you scrounge up your funds to place a pre-order in, enjoy these two cinematics that were featured at San Diego Comic Con.

Be sure to follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenkjanes for no other reason than to discuss video games and more.