Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach is an upcoming first-person shooter video game set in the Halo universe and direct prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, in-development by Bungie, LLC. It was announced by Joe Staten during Microsoft's Media Briefing at E3 2009 in Los Angeles, California, and is set for release in Fall 2010.

An invite to the Multiplayer Beta is included with Halo 3: ODST, with a planned release for May 3rd, 2010.

Development

"Where there will be a full three-year cycle, it's got all-new tech, akin to the change from Halo 2 to Halo 3, not like ODST, which is just built on top of the foundation."

— Bungie Community Manager, Brian Jarrard.

Reach has been in development since the completion of Halo 3, in the tradition of a full three year cycle, and will use a completely new game engine created specifically for the game. It was confirmed in October 2009 that Martin O'Donnell, Bungie's lead composer, had begun casting voice actors for Reach. While only a year away from release, Reach's environment architecture, cinematic script, and most in-game encounters have been either completely finished or polished ; in addition, many properties of Reach have been placed in the game and are currently playable.

Setting

Halo: Reach takes place in 2552, during the Covenant invasion of the human colony world Reach, which also serves as the main military center of the UNSC. The game follows Noble Team, a six-man special operations unit of Spartan-III commandos. The player assumes the role of a recent member of the team, SPARTAN-B312 or "Noble Six".

Gameplay

Halo: Reach will feature many new additions to the Halo sandbox, while still retaining the core gameplay. The health system will be similar to that of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 3: ODST, and the player's energy shields will recharge slower than in Halo 3. The HUD will highlight environmental features and overlay information about them, and the Motion Sensor display will be three-dimensional. It will also feature a night vision like in Halo 3: ODST. Halo: Reach also introduces a refined Equipment system known as "Armor Abilities". Pieces of equipment will now be selected on respawn and they will be reusable, with a cooldown time between uses. A new assassination system will also be featured, in which holding down the melee button will trigger a context-sensitive, third-person assassination animation. This mechanic will presumably replace the old instant-kill assassinations.

The weapon selection has been streamlined from that of Halo 3, so that every weapon has a specific role. The number of different grenade types has also been reduced from that of Halo 3, and Flame Grenades or Spike Grenades will not be returning. Human weapons all hit more or less instantly after pulling the trigger, giving them a more powerful feel.

Players will be able to personalize their character's armor, and the appearance will be consistent across singleplayer, co-op and multiplayer. Like in Halo 3, the armor permutations will only be aesthetic and not affect gameplay. While the rest of Noble Team will accompany the player for most of the game, Halo: Reach will not feature any kind of tactical squad mechanic. Much like Thel 'Vadam in Halo 3, the rest of the squad will fight alongside the player, but will not require any assistance. The levels will be more open and teleportation in co-op will be far less strict.

Engine

Bungie is using a completely redone version of the Halo engine for Halo: Reach, with no component left untouched.

The environments, while larger than in the previous games, will be far more detailed. The graphical effects have been drastically improved, allowing for a new atmospheric effects system and more dynamic lighting for dramatic shadows and moving light sources in interiors. Rain and fogging effects will also be improved. Halo: Reach also features a new animation system, which smoothly blends movement between standing, walking and running as well as jumps, grenade throws and firing. The facial animation system has been completely revamped, including motion capture. Weapon effects will be amplified to be more powerful and visceral than before, giving the effects a more serious tone. Human weapons will sound more powerful and emit smoke and showers of sparks. Plasma bolts will now burn through material as they hit, and explosions will throw clouds of dirt and debris around.

Halo: Reach's engine will be able to support up to 40 active AI characters and 20 vehicles on screen at once. In addition, faraway battles between AI characters will follow automated behavior models, which convert into scripted behaviors as the player gets closer, and finally full AI.

Design

Bungie has taken a new design direction with Halo: Reach, aiming for a more somber and gritty atmosphere. In many ways, the character designs, especially those of Sangheili and Human personnel, harken back to Halo: Combat Evolved. Models for enemies and allies boast remarkable levels of new detail in form of higher-resolution textures and more polygons. Enemies and allies will have more individual features to denote ranks and provide more visual variety. The Covenant will speak in their own languages, and feel more alien and threatening in general.

As of now, it has been stated that the Halo Theme will not appear in the game, but there may be some foreshadowing of Halo themes.

Appearances

Characters Carter-A259 (First appearance) Emile-A239 (First appearance) Jorge-052 (First appearance) Jun-A266 (First appearance) Catherine-B320 (First appearance) SPARTAN-B312 (First appearance) Urban Holland (First appearance) Locations Epsilon Eridani System Fermion Remote Scanning Outpost (Mentioned only) Reach Csodaszarvas (First appearance) Turul (First appearance) Organizations Covenant Empire Covenant Army Covenant Navy Fleet of Particular Justice United Nations Space Command UNSC Army Army Military Police (First appearance) UNSC Marine Corps Orbital Drop Shock Troopers VMX-22 (First appearance) UNSC Navy Epsilon Eridani Defense Fleet Logistical Operations Command (Mentioned only) Naval Special Warfare Command SPARTAN-II Program Office of Naval Intelligence Beta-5 Division SPARTAN-III Program Noble Team (First appearance) Species Human Huragok Jiralhanae Kig-yar Skirmisher (First appearance) Sangheili Unggoy

Vehicles CCS-class Battlecruiser Civilian vehicles Dropship 77-Troop Carrier Halcyon-class Cruiser M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle M808B Main Battle Tank M831 Troop Transport Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage Type-25 Troop Carrier Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle Type-52 Troop Carrier UH-144 Falcon (First appearance) UNSC Frigate UNSC Commonwealth Weapons Combat Knife (exclusively for Executions) M6G Personal Defense Weapon System M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun M90 Close Assault Weapon System (Unknown variant) M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (First appearance) MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (First appearance) Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved (First appearance) SRS99 Special Applications (First appearance) M319 Individual Grenade Launcher (First appearance) M41 SSR MAV/AW Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle Type-31 Rifle (First appearance) Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon Type-52 Special Applications Rifle (First appearance) Type-52 Guided Munitions Launcher/Explosive (First appearance) Equipment Active Camouflage MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V Unidentified Human Jetpack (First appearance)

Marketing Promotions

Trailers

Announcement

Main article: Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer

Although there were rumors of another Halo game being produced by Bungie, the Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer officially announced the game. This 2:36 video showed a glimpse of the new characters and graphics.

Halo: Reach ViDoc: Once More Unto the Breach

Main article: Halo: Reach ViDoc: Once More Unto the Breach

The Once More Unto the Breach ViDoc focused on the graphical and gameplay changes to the game between Halo 3 and Halo: Reach. This 7:45 video showed the development of the series over the years.

Halo: Reach ViDoc: Carnàge Carnivàle

Main article: Halo: Reach ViDoc: Carnàge Carnivàle

The Carnàge Carnivàle ViDoc focused on the new multiplayer in Halo: Reach. This 8:20 video shows the many gameplay enhancements that have been added.

Merchandise and Promotions

Features	Standard	Limited Edition	Legendary Edition
Image of contents
Game disc & manual	Yes	Yes	Yes
ONI-themed case & artifact bag	No	Yes	Yes
Waypoint avatar gear	No	Yes	Yes
Exclusive Sangheili armor	No	Yes	Yes
Exclusive SPARTAN armor effect	No	No	Yes
Exclusive digital content	No	No	Yes
Noble Team statue	No	No	Yes
Large UNSC-themed case	No	No	Yes
UA multi threat chest	Yes, Gamestop pre-order only
Recon helmet	Yes, launch day purchase (North America)/Pre-order only (other countries)

Halo: Reach is set to be released in three different versions. The Standard Edition comes with the game disc and manual. The Limited Edition is cased in an ONI "black box" and includes an exclusive Sangheili armor set for use in multiplayer modes and an artifact bag containing Dr. Halsey's personal journal and other classified documents and effects that unravel long-held secrets of the Halo universe. The Legendary Edition contains everything from the Limited Edition along with extra SPARTAN armor for use in the game, along with an exclusive hand-painted and - numbered Noble Team statue by McFarlane Toys in UNSC-themed custom packaging.

The launch also brought the proposal for merchandise, such as action figures. McFarlane Toys had announced that they were planning to release a series of Reach 5-inch scaled figures in fall of 2010.

Trivia

• It was previously known as "Halo 4" by Microsoft Game Studios and 343 Industries marketing teams during the ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A viral campaign.
• In an interview with Worthplaying, Brian Jarrard hinted that Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck, one of the main characters in ODST, may return in Reach. Another hint to the character's possible return came in a G4 interview with Bungie about ODST, where Joseph Staten said "It would be a shame if we make a game about the planet Reach -- a place where Buck, the ODST’s squad leader, was known to be -- and not have him appear in some way shape or form..."
• On the project page for Reach, located in the "Multimedia" section, the soundtrack to the cinematic trailer called "Lone Wolf" by Martin O'Donnell, is available for free downloading from Bungie.net.

Gallery

Concept Art

• Concept 01.jpg

  A Sangheili attacks two UNSC infantrymen.

• Concept 02.jpg

  Emile-A239, Jorge-052 and Carter-A259.

• Concept 03.jpg

  Spartans, UNSC Soldiers, and civilians.

• Concept 04.jpg

  Landscape on Reach.

• Concept 05.jpg

  A bridge leading over a canyon.

Screenshots

• Halo Reach - Alpha Build Menu.jpg

  The Alpha-Build Menu of Halo: Reach.

• 

  Reach, seen from orbit.

• Reach friggit wreck.png

  A destroyed UNSC Frigate over Reach.

• 

  Reach being glassed by the Covenant.

• 

  Noble Team.

• 

  A Sangheili in Halo: Reach.

• Halo Reach Main Character.jpg

  A render of Noble Six.

• HaloReach - Screenshot 01.jpg

  Emile-A239 in a valley.

• HaloReach - Screenshot 02.jpg

  Noble Six secures a site.

• 

  Skirmishers in Reach.

• 

  Four members of Noble Team.

• 

  A Phantom in Reach.

• HaloReach - Screenshot 06.jpg

  Noble Six with Emile-A239.

• 

  Noble Six firing a Needle Rifle.

• 

  Noble Six in a civilian vehicle.

• Action 04.jpg

  A Marine and Noble Six secure a room.

• 

  A Spirit dropship above mountainous landscape.

• 

  Noble Six with a sniper rifle, with one of Reach's moons in the background.

• 

  Noble Six assassinating an Elite.

Links

Internal

• Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta
• Halo: The Fall of Reach
• Halo: First Strike
• Halo: Reach - Announcement Trailer
• Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer
• Reach

External

• Official Halo: Reach page at Bungie.net