Halo: Combat Evolved

This article is about the game. For the Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite medal, see Combat Evolved (medal).

Halo: Combat Evolved
Developer(s):	Bungie Studios Gearbox Software (PC) Westlake Interactive (Mac)
Publisher(s):	Microsoft Game Studios Gearbox Software (PC) MacSoft (Mac)
Writer(s):	Joseph Staten
Composer(s):	Martin O'Donnell Michael Salvatori
Engine:	Blam engine
Platform(s):	Xbox, PC, Mac
Release date(s):	Xbox: US: November 15, 2001 UK: March 14, 2002 PC: US: September 30, 2003 UK: October 10, 2003 Mac: US: December 3, 2003
Genre(s):	First-person shooter
Mode(s):	Campaign Multiplayer
Rating(s):	ESRB: Mature (M) for Blood, Gore, and Violence PEGI: 16+ (Europe only post-2003) ELSPA: 15+ (Europe only pre-2003) USK: 18 (Germany only) ACB: 15+ Restricted (R15+) for Medium Level Animated Violence

"Halo: Combat Evolved! Buy one! Heck, buy two! That's an order, soldier!"

— Sergeant Johnson upon completion of the Halo: Combat Evolved demo

Halo: Combat Evolved is a 2001 first-person shooter science-fiction video game developed by Bungie Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It is the first game in the Halo series. It focuses on John-117 and the crew of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn who, fleeing from the Fall of Reach, stumble on the Forerunner Halo Installation 04, only to be forced into a desperate battle against the Covenant and the Flood. Considered a classic, Combat Evolved is one of the most popular video games for the Xbox with 8 million copies sold. Its sales are rivaled only by its sequels, Halo 2 and Halo 3.

Halo: Combat Evolved was made available as an Xbox Original game title for Xbox 360 on December 4, 2007 for download on Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points. It was also released for PC and Mac. The game was remastered as Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and was released on the original game's tenth anniversary on November 15, 2011 for the Xbox 360. Along with Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was released on the Xbox One as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on November 11, 2014. Halo: The Master Chief Collection also features the multiplayer component of Combat Evolved, with online play enabled on dedicated servers. All versions of the game besides The Master Chief Collection were removed from digital sale in 2020.

Synopsis

Characters and setting

Halo's storyline is linear; there is a single ending in contrast to other first person shooters such as Deus Ex that could have several different endings. The storyline is presented to the player through an instruction manual, scripted events and conversations during the game, and a number of cut-scenes rendered using the game's graphics engine. This method of storyline delivery is common among modern video games. The Xbox version of Halo: Combat Evolved allows one player to play the campaign alone, as well as allowing two players to play through the campaign in split screen. The PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved allows only one player to play through the campaign.

Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Halo: Combat Evolved begins with the UNSC Pillar of Autumn emerging out of slipspace after the Fall of Reach, only to find a huge ring world—a "Halo"—floating in space. Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 (although his name is never mentioned throughout the game), a SPARTAN-II, is aboard the Pillar of Autumn when the ship comes under attack by the Covenant, a religious alliance of aliens and the archenemy of humanity.

With the ship ab