343 industries


Why I still cannot finish the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign
(It’s not a matter of skill)

By Bill Jones

I never bought the original Xbox. I just didn’t give a shit. I tried, but I couldn’t.

My brother picked it up, and at the time we were still living in the same house, so I had one readily at my disposal if I ever really wanted to play it. I usually didn’t, though.

And sometimes I think maybe that’s why I never really got into Microsoft’s flagship console series (yes, also a PC title), Halo. But I really don’t think that’s the reason. Again, that original Xbox was always at my disposal, and I distinctly remember the amount of Goldeneye-caliber multiplayer parties going on at our house numbering in the ridiculous.

But as everyone else was enamored with its multiplayer, I was doing what I usually did. I’ve always been interested in the storytelling aspect of video games, and so generally speaking the story, the single-player campaign, has always come first for me. Maybe that’s why years later I actually got reinterested in the series, finishing Halo: Reach and Halo 3: ODST. Or maybe it’s just because I was obligated to review those. (more…)

343 industries


Title: Halo Legends

Format: Blu-ray

MPAA: PG-13

Director: Frank O’Connor and Joseph Chou

Writers: Frank O’Connor, Megumi Shimizu, Dai Sato, Ryan Morris, Naruki Nagakawa, Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Eiji Umehara, Hiroshi Yamazaki and Daisuke Nishio

Producer: 343 Industries, Warner Bros.

Film Rating: ★★★½☆

Blu-ray Rating: ★★★★☆

Review by: Thomas Braaksma

The Film

Halo Legends is an attempt to widen the Halo Universe for fan boys and open it up for regular viewers. The way Legends does this is by taking a chapter out of the Matrix’s book a la Animatrix. Microsoft’s companion company to handle the Halo franchise, 343 Industries, recruits a number of talented writers and animators, mostly from Japan, to tell seven tales that take place in the Halo Universe, anime style. (more…)