Halo, the groundbreaking title that changed gaming forever, here is my review of this collection. Before we start, I would like to preface that I’ve been playing Halo since Combat Evolved launched on the original Xbox, I’ve also been around long enough to see the rise & fall of Bungie. I have well over 2,000 hours played on Reach alone for the Xbox 360, with almost the same amount for Halo 3. This series means more to me than most, but it is not without its flaws. So, with that out of the way let’s see how well 343i did with this port.

Halo, for as long as I know at least, has always been a beautiful game. Even before Halo CE was remastered, the original sandbox offered breathtaking vistas, new enemies and weapons that felt truly different from other titles. Halo 2's remaster came with a plethora of visual upgrades. Some of my favorite cut-scenes in all of gaming come from this remaster, especially the scene where Chief jumps off of Cairo station! Moving to Halo 3, we see that not much has changed visually. The game now has graphical settings, so you can fine-tune your game-play experience. Halo 3: ODST will always be the most moody, and atmospheric of all the Halo games, and the PC port is no different. Roaming New Mombasa's streets has never felt so good! Last but certainly not least, Halo 4. Halo 4, at least on console, was one of my least favorite games. But with this PC port we see the addition of frame rate limits, fov sliders, graphical settings & a balanced multiplayer. I truly believe that the MCC is the way Halo was supposed to be, every game runs fluid (as long as you have a decent gpu).

Where does one begin, Halo is more than just a game, it's an experience. I truly beg you, if you have never played Halo then now is the time! The Master Chief Collection brings endless hours of gaming fun, from campaign, to custom games & even forge, where you can create your own worlds! At the time of my review, I have just over 600 hours sunk into the MCC, and I'm only just getting started. I spent the better part of my childhood sitting inside on my Xbox 360 playing Halo, and the experience I had with the MCC is no different from how I felt as a kid playing Halo for the first time.

Halo has an incredibly deep story, you follow the Master Chief in his seemingly impossible mission of saving the entire galaxy from enemy factions. Of course, I don't want to spoil Halo for someone that hasn't experienced it, so this review will have no spoilers. Just know that the story line is one for the ages, and perhaps one of the most re-playable story lines of our generation.

Where boys became men. This section will cover custom games, forge & multiplayer. Halo has been the pinnacle of multiplayer sandboxes for years now, and the MCC is no different! Having the ability to play any and every Halo game from one single menu is powerful, and truly brings home the nostalgia. You'll be playing Halo 2 one moment, then the next you're tossed into a game of big team battle on Halo Reach, then capture the flag on Halo CE! The most pleasant surprise I received when scrolling through custom games was that the MCC came with EVERY DLC for the Halo games, and especially the ones for Halo Reach! So, for those that didn't have the money back in the day, you are now able to truly re-live the incredible experience that was Halo Reach in its prime.

I'll admit I had my doubts when I first saw the MCC was coming to Steam, but over time the MCC has aged like a fine wine. Through updates, community flighting and more, we've seen the MCC flower into what it always should've been, the home of Halo. The community is alive, Discord play-dates happen nearly every day & the developers are still updating the game with brand new content. This PC port has it all, and you should definitely give it a shot. I hope you enjoyed this review, and I hope you come to love the Master Chief Collection the way I do!