Few gaming communities are as passionate as theHalofanbase. These games revolutionized the FPS market with groundbreaking multiplayer offerings and great controls for a console. In celebration ofHalo 2’stenth anniversary,343 Industriesdecided to bundle all previousHalogames together in a bundle titledHalo: The Master Chief Collection.
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When it released back in 2014, it was one of the buggiest video games ever released with dysfunctional multiplayer and game-breaking issues. After years of iteration, it is easily one of the best bundles ever created for FPS enthusiasts. Containing 6Halotitles, there’s something in theMCCfor everyone. Here are all of theHalotitles ranked from worst to best available onHalo: The Master Chief Collection.
6Halo 4
Halo 4is the strangest game inTheMaster Chief Collection. 343 Industries created this installment instead ofBungie, leading to many strange design changes that alienated fans.
The Covenant took a back seat in this installment, giving way to the Promethean faction. It was fitting for the story 343 were trying to tell, but they presented themselves as uninspired cannon fodder in combat.Halo 4’scampaign has plenty of great moments, but the game relies too much on convoluted cutscenes and external material to keep its plot enjoyable for casualHalofans. As for multiplayer, 343 opted to incorporate more modern systems from games likeCall of Dutysuch as customizable loadouts and killstreaks that granted power weapons. Fans hated the radical changes, resulting inHalo 4’splayer numbers dropping by over 75% a month after its launch. Firefight was also removed in exchange for Spartan Ops, an episodiccooperative gamemode that never got the player base 343 were hoping for. Overall,Halo 4was a massive departure for the series that did more to harm theHalofranchise than help it.
5Halo 3: ODST
Originally planned as an expansion forHalo 3,Halo 3: ODSTfocuses on a group of ODST soldiers instead of Master Chief. This radical shift in direction could have been a recipe for disaster, but it was handled incredibly well.
Set in New Mombasa after the third campaign mission inHalo 2, players must explore the city to look for their scattered team. The open-ended nature of the environment and melancholy tone make for an unforgettable experience. Competitive multiplayer was missing in this installment, with Bungie instead opting for a wave-basedhorde mode named Firefight. While nothing original, Firefight scratched a repetitive PvE itch that fans came back for time and time again.Halo 3: ODSTis an underrated gem that allHalofans should experience.
4Halo: Combat Evolved
Bungie’s firstHalotitle made waves in the industry. Its brilliant use of aim-assist and solid gunplay made for a revolutionary FPS title that has been copied to death since.
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Compared to today’s standards,Halo: Combat Evolvedhas aged remarkably well. It might lack the large weapon sandbox of future titles, butCombat Evolved’suse of open levels makes it a standout campaign compared to future titles. The reveal ofthe Floodis also one of the best levels in video game history. Its multiplayer has serious balance issues thanks to chain grenade explosions and theoverpowered Magnum, but it offers a surprisingly large skill gap that future games would expand upon.
3Halo: Reach
Prequels for most games are either fantastic or terrible. Thankfully,Halo: Reachsits firmly in the former category as a fantastic entry in theHaloseries. Since this was Bungie’s finalHalogame, this game is packed with content.
Reachis all about a connected experience. Instead of playing a notable character such as Master Chief, players form their own Spartan with the alias of Noble 6. A campaign about the inevitable loss of Reach made for an emotional rollercoaster for many fans. Multiplayer saw many changes with the inclusion of Spartan Abilities andmultiplayer levelsthat were ripped straight out of the campaign, bringing ire amongst many hardcore competitiveHalofans. However, it more than made up for this with the most robust Forge editor the series has seen alongside other community tools like File Share. It had its fair share of issues, butHalo: Reachset the bar for customization and community tools that 343 Industries are still trying to meet.
2Halo 2
Competitive multiplayer wouldn’t be where it is today withoutHalo 2. While not the first game to make use ofXbox Live, it was the game that made online multiplayer as an industry standard.
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Halo 2’scampaign put much more emphasis on a cinematic experience by utilizing cutscenes and dialogue much more than the last game. It also made large strides to flesh outthe Covenant’smotivations, allowing players to control an Elite. A cliffhanger ending is the only thing holdingHalo 2’scampaign back. As for multiplayer, it is near perfect. Fantastic multiplayer maps and game types sparked a passionate community that still exists today. The inclusion of dual-wielding and a whole host of new weapons also allowed for many more strategies.Halo 2is easily one of the bestHalotitles available onThe Master Chief Collectionthat everyone should try.
1Halo 3
No game onThe Master Chief Collectionis as comprehensive asHalo 3. Not only doesHalo 3have a fantastic campaign, but it also has one of the best multiplayer experiences out of any shooter. To top this off, Bungie also included Forge and Theater modes to give the community more control than ever before.
Players can play Master Chief through the whole campaign this time around, or they can play the Arbiter or other notable characters in cooperative matches. Besides a great narrative, the campaign went back to more open-ended mission design similar to the firstHalo, which makes replaying the campaign withSkull modifiersor friends even more enjoyable. Multiplayer inHalo 3is considerably slower thanHalo 2’s, removing the BXR Battle Rifle glitch and making weapons projectile-based instead of hit-scan. This raised the skill floor somewhat without compromising on the skill ceilingHalois known for. Combined with the ability for players to create custom maps and modes thanks to Forge,Halo 3is considered by many as the bestHalogame ever made. TheMCCupgrading this game with enhanced textures and 60 frames per second is the icing on this fantastic cake.
