Halo: Combat Evolved Turns 15 Years Old Today

It’s hard to think of many games that have had quite the same impact on modern FPS titles that Halo: Combat Evolved has had. It’s defined years of competitively killing your friends, fifteen years to be exact. The original Halo was released on this day way back in 2001.

If you can believe it, Halo started life as a third-person actioner and also at one point a real-time strategy game. Even more unbelievable, it was due to be released on Mac. It’s almost lucky that Microsoft stepped in and bought Bungie when they did or who know what might have become of Master Chief.

Microsoft needed a “killer app” for their first foray into console gaming with plenty of competition to go up against. Halo was just that, shifting countless units on the reputation of the FPS alone. The Xbox never managed to come near the sales figures of the PlayStation 2, but the Halo series’ move onto Xbox 360 helped it to turn the tables and almost obliterate the PlayStation 3 in sales, though both systems were outperformed by Nintendo’s casual system, the Wii.

Halo’s protagonist, Master Chief, has become one of the most popular heroes in gaming, owing to his no-nonsense nature and the way he, well, kicks ass. His battle against the Covenant and the Flood have shaped the series and provided the template for its rivals to follow, though few ever good. Until the dramatic rise of Call of Duty, Halo went unchallenged for the crown of the most popular FPS.

Critical reception to Halo: Combat Evolved was one of almost universal praise, garnering high across the board. Even the typically anal Edge gave it 10/10, which just goes to show you how much it impressed. No doubt going back to its battlefields even now would offer plenty to fall in love with all over again.

For all it’s done for the genre and the industry, Halo: Combat Evolved will probably never be forgotten. I don’t know about you, but a MA5B ICWS is getting fired in the air today to celebrate.