Real World

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Haloceanniversary.jpg

Developer(s):

Publisher(s):

Microsoft Studios

Composer(s):

Martin O'Donnell
Michael Salvatori

Engine:

Platform(s):

PC

  • Windows 10 (Via Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
  • Steam (Via Halo: The Master Chief Collection)

Release date(s):

November 15, 2011
November 17, 2011 (Japan)
March 3, 2020 (Halo: The Master Chief Collection PC)

Genre(s):

First-person shooter

Mode(s):

Campaign

Rating(s):

ESRB: Mature (M) for Blood, Gore and Violence
CERO: (D) Ages 17 & up
PEGI: 16+ (Europe only)

 

"Heroes never die."
— Official tagline[2][3]

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, sometimes referred to as Halo: Anniversary, is a first-person shooter video game and a graphical remake of 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved.[4] It was developed by 343 Industries in collaboration with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity as part of 343 Industries' celebration of the original game's tenth anniversary. The game features remastered graphics and audio, using assets from Halo 3 and Halo: Reach.[4][5] Available with the game are six remade multiplayer maps from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo: Combat Evolved for PC and Halo 2, along with a Firefight map based on the level Halo, for Halo: Reach multiplayer.[4]

An interactive overview of the game, the Halo Anniversary Digital Experience, was released on the day prior to the launch, and was viewable on Halo Waypoint.

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. The campaign portion of Halo: CE Anniversary was initially included while the multiplayer and Firefight portions of the game are a part of Halo: Reach. On March 3, 2020, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was released on PC as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.[6]

Features[edit]

Captain Keyes and the Master Chief on the Autumn in Halo: Combat Evolved.
Captain Keyes and the Master Chief on the Autumn in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

The Master Chief on the Truth and Reconciliation in Halo: Combat Evolved.
The Master Chief on the Truth and Reconciliation in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

A Forerunner structure near the Silent Cartographer in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Forerunner structure near the Silent Cartographer in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

The security station for the Silent Cartographer in Halo: Combat Evolved.
The security station for the Silent Cartographer in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

Screenshot comparisons between Combat Evolved (left) and Combat Evolved Anniversary (right).

The game features a graphics layer running on top of the exact Halo: Combat Evolved physics and gameplay engine.[7] As such, gameplay mechanics from the original game, such as the M6D Pistol's three-shot kill, are all present. The game also features the ability to play the campaign cooperatively over Xbox LIVE with another player. Pressing the 'Back' button allows the player to switch seamlessly between the graphics of the original 2001 title and the 2011 remake. In the original 2011 version, this switch involves a fade to black; the toggle is instantaneous in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection version of the game, similar to Halo 2: Anniversary.[8]

The game features skulls, including five that have never appeared in previous Halo games.