Halo 3 Master Chief
Many are comparing the Halo phenomenon to that of Star Wars in terms of potential longevity and spinoff products and collectibles. While the jury is still out on that, there’s a lot of momentum behind the franchise. Quite a bit different that the classical squeaky-clean superheroes of the Golden Age, these heroes are grittier and not afraid of dealing out extreme violence. Here’s a little background on the “Halo Nation”.
Halo-Combat Evolved, the video game, created by Bungie and published by Microsoft Games has surged in the gamer market and now offers Halo 2 and Halo 3. The science fiction game is based on a trilogy of characters—The Master Chief (a genetically enhanced Spartan II soldier), his artificial intelligence (AI) companion Cortana. and the Covenant, the enemy alliance of alien races out to defeat the universe.
Halo-Combat Evolved may ring a familiar bell if one has played Larry Niven’s Ringworlds. However, its success with the release of Halo 2 and Halo 3, which outsold Halo 2, is now in the hundred million dollar range as far as sales. This real-time strategy game, that included numerous revisions, was released in November of 2001 in an Xbox format.
The theme of Halo is not unfamiliar to the gamer, but provides upscale graphics that have brought on a “Halo-Storm.” Players battle aliens on the ground and in vehicles while they discover hidden secrets. The key to the hidden secrets is to champion various objectives that move the player to various levels. The original version of Halo was produced in such a way that it carried themes within its plot that were revealed in Halo 2 and Halo 3.
The main characters of the Halo series are the Master Chief who escapes his prison aboard the ship known as the Pillar of Autumn. He is joined by Cortana, an AI, who helps the Master Chief by selecting coordinates that benefit his journey. The warrior Arbiter joins two humans, Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Jackson in the ultimate battle against the Covenant, who claim they will have defeated humanity by 2535.
The Golden Triangle of Halo represents the weapons system within the game. In the Halo series, the gamer is forced to choose only two weapons creating a decision of what are the correct weapons to carry for maximum destruction of the enemy. A gamer’s health is dependant upon “hit points” and is reinforced by a shield given at the start of the game. The Halo series allows the player to format the game characters and graphic to their preference and also offers on-line play where gamers interact with other on-line friends or foes for highest scores.
The commercial success of the Halo Trilogy has been broad. Not only has the game been released in the Xbox format in 2001, it has been delivered in a PC and Mac Port forum in September and November of 2003, respectively. In 2007 a Windows Vista version was released along with a Collectors Edition (adorned in a special case with a book carrying hidden secrets). Bonus DVD’s were also released for the entire trilogy.
The soundtracks for the trilogy were written by Martin O’Donnell have been a success, the last released in 2007. Books have been published in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007. A Halo-based film with Peter Jackson slated to be the executive producer was put on hold, however Jackson states the film will still be produced. Finally action figures and a promotional deal with Mountain Dew have made Halo a phenomenon.
Critics have had various views on the Halo trilogy. While it has received Game of the Year Awards in both 2006 and 2007, Game Spy ranked Halo as tenth on its list of “The Top 25 Most Overrated Games,” in 2007. Complaints of a too-simple plot have appeared and the New York Times which stated it had a “throw-away plot and the single-player version are disastrous.”
All in all, Halo is here to stay, at least for now. Beyond the critics are the fans and gamers everywhere who are racing to retail outlets to own the game and the increasing number of related collectibles. Is the Halo trilogy a phenomenon or a three-hit wonder? That remains to be seen.
Predictions are that there will be a run on Halo action figures and other collector items this holiday season. New releases are planned for 2009, many currently available for retailers to pre-order. Current best-selling Halo collectibles (courtesy of Entertainment Earth):
1. Halo 3 Master Chief 12-inch Action Figure
2. Halo 3 Covenant Energy Sword
3. Halo 3 Series 3 Action Figure Case
4. Halo 3 Cortana Statue
5. Halo 3 Series 3 Elite Combat Action Figure
6. Halo Mongoose with Spartan Mark VI Deluxe Figure Box Set
7. Halo 3 Series 3 Human Flood Action Figure
8. Halo Action Figures Wave 5 Case
9. Halo 3 Master Chief Version 2 ArtFX Statue
10. Halo Heroic Collection Action Figures Wave 1 Case
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Tags: Halo Master Chief, Halo Nation
Now, don’t get me wrong here, I enjoyed playing the Halo series. But I honestly don’t see myself ever watching a Halo movie or some random game just because its tagged “Halo.” To me, the story just wasn’t special enough for all that. /shrug