Xbox 360 Critic Reviews

They could have easily just threw on a fresh coat of paint on it and called it an HD remake like a lot of other titles, but 343 has more respect for Bungie, Halo and the fans than that. They have added a ton of new features well worth the $40 price tag.

If you have never played Halo: CE before or just want to Pistol 3-Shot your friends once again, Halo: CE Anniversary is a must buy for all Xbox 360 owners, especially those that are fans of Master Chief in any way.

343 have done a fantastic job updating a 10 year old game into something that feels entirely modern.

Considering Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary is being sold at a reduced price, I really can't see any reason not to take the plunge given how well the gameplay still holds up and the tender way in which it's been repackaged. Whether you're a veteran looking to experience the original magic for a second time or a newcomer wondering what all the fuss is about, this is an excellent package.

At the end of the day, I think Halo: Anniversary is primarily designed for hardcore Halo fans. If you don't already own Halo: Combat Evolved or are still addicted to Halo: Reach, then I highly recommend getting Anniversary.

The love that's gone into this HD remake makes it more than worth its budget price. If you've never checked out this series, don't get bogged down by details: Halo is about a big bloke shooting cool guns at cool aliens in cool places. Ten years later, that's still enough.

Halo exhibits a single-minded focus that the modern FPS, with its choreographed set-pieces and thrilling scripted sequences, largely disregards. This is a game about the arc of a perfectly thrown grenade, a game about tense games of cat-and-mouse with foes as powerful as you, a game about constant improvisation with the tools at your disposal. It's a game that always feels tactical, and a game that – even now – has the capacity to surprise.

Halo is an experience worth repeating and CEA is the treatment that the original deserved. Highly recommended.

10 years ago Halo: Combat Evolved amazed everyone with stunning gameplay, an absorbing story and an epic soundtrack. Since then it has become a bit old graphically, so 343 Studios decided to do a remake with enhanced HD and even 3D graphics and remade the soundtrack to 5.1 surround sound. 6 classic multiplayer maps were reimagined as well, and a new Firefight mission was added. The online multiplayer is even compatible with Halo: Reach. Basically, they made a near-perfect game even better.

There are no vehicle assaults or perks in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary but the original gameplay, brought again to life by a shiny new engine, is still so enjoyable that it seems a modern title.