Most gamers wonder whether Halo: Reach is worth it. Reach has been around since its 2010 original release on Xbox 360.
Is this classic prequel entry in the Halo franchise still relevant nearly 10 years later with its PC release the following years as part of the Master Chief Collection?
A Gripping Prequel Campaign
The single-player campaign alone makes Halo: Reach worth playing today. It’s a tragedy of heroism and sacrifice and serves as a follow-up to the original Halo trilogy.
Players command Noble 6, a legendary Spartan force fighting to stop the Covenant from advancing into the human colony Reach.
The story is straightforward but powerful with a heart-wrenching end that any Halo fan should experience.
Refined, Engaging Gameplay
At its core, Reach features the same refined, run-and-gun gameplay that defines the Halo franchise.
The action is fast-paced and thrilling, with snappy movement and gunplay. However, Reach innovates on the formula with additions like special Armor Abilities and vehicle spaceflight sequences.
These give the game a fresh feeling while staying true to the essence of Halo’s brilliant gameplay loop. The difficulty also remains satisfyingly challenging in higher settings.
Best-in-Class Multiplayer
Halo’s iconic multiplayer made the leap to PC remarkably intact in Reach. Competitive matches are an absolute blast, perfectly capturing Halo’s kinetic mix of shooting, melee, grenades, and vehicle combat.
The maps are stellar, and matches have a precision that feels distinct from other modern shooters. Crossplay support between the Steam and Microsoft Store versions is a welcome feature.
While some original maps are missing, the included options are highly replayable.
Stellar Audio and Visuals
Even years later, Halo: Reach looks and sounds fantastic. The alien worlds, character models, and special effects have held up beautifully.
The musical score is particularly impressive, selling the epic, somber tone. Reach can even run at up to 4K resolution and 60fps on modern PCs for an incredibly crisp experience.
These impressive technical qualities immerse players in the sci-fi action.
Some Frustrating Flaws
While the core game is excellent, Reach’s PC port does have some frustrating issues at launch.
Hit-or-miss UI problems, a lack of key features like local co-op or subtitles, bugs, and other oversights can make the overall package feel a bit unpolished.
However, many of these problems appear to be on the way to being patched out over time by the developers.
A Masterpiece Worth Playing
Is it still worth it? The answer is a resounding yes. PC or on any other platforms, Halo: Reach remains an exceptional game that has aged remarkably well.
Minor flaws aside, Halo: Reach has made an extremely successful transition to the PC platform nearly ten years after its debut. The single-player provides an epic, cinematic story campaign. The multiplayer retains the series’ incredible competitive gameplay. And the overall audio and visual presentation holds up incredibly well.
For fans of first-person shooters who have not yet played one, Halo: Reach is perfect for you. It is a total classic and has definitely weathered the test of time.
It has some very rough edges today but still ranks among the top shooters in gaming.
