Video Game Review: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for Xbox 360

        With the release of the 10th anniversary title "Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary" for Microsoft's Xbox 360, I think it is the perfect time for me to give my two cents on this HD re-release. After all, this is the first Halo title developed by 343 Industries because of the end of Bungie's 10 year contract with Microsoft. So is the Halo franchise safe or is it a step backward? Well I am happy to say that the game is going in the right direction and it's great to play the game that defined Microsoft's original Xbox all over again.
        With Anniversary, players get a remastered version of Halo's original campaign as well as hints to the upcoming release of "Halo 4" later this year through skulls and terminals. Players will also receive the "Anniversary Map Pack" which carries seven remade maps that span from the original Halo to it's later release on PC and a few from it's sequel. The best part about this package is that it only costs $40 dollars and for any fan of the Halo franchise, this is a must-own.
        Now that's all said and done but how does it make Anniversary's overall package? The campaign is pretty much the same as it was ten years ago but players have the option to switch between both the 2001 and 2011 graphical outlook on the fly, making it playable for those who want to relive the experience as it was intended and to see how much progress we have come over the past ten years. I will say though that it's HD look is a little below that of last year's graphical presentation of "Halo Reach" but either way, the game looks good. One of the new inclusions to the game is the ability to play two player online co-op of xbox live, which fans of Halo have been wanting to see for a long time. The campaign is a blast to play through but there's not a whole lot of incentive to go back unless you're in to finding easter eggs and earning achievement points.
        Flipping over to the multiplayer side, players will get to enjoy Halo Reach's multiplayer, whether you own a copy of Halo Reach, or not. I can see the respect 343 Industries has for Reach's multiplayer fan base but there's a lack of innovation as it's the same experience I had last year. However, all is not bad as the design of the Multiplayer maps are great. Developer Certain Affinity returns to give us the maps we  have enjoyed over the years, each of which are well crafted with the addition of added details to the environment. Each of these maps bring a sense of nostalgia and are redesigned for the Reach multiplayer format.
        Overall, "Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary" brings gamers back to the game that changed how we play first-person shooters today. The campaign may not offer a whole lot of fresh content to veterans and the multiplayer is familiar, but for $40, this is an offer no Halo fan should pass up.

PROS

- Great Campaign

- Nostalgia

- Multiplayer + Maps

CONS

- Lack of Innovation

- Replay Value

OVERALL SCORE

8/10

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-ColeTrain