Reach Remembered

Microsoft was having a big Xbox Live sale on Xbox Live Arcade games and Games on Demand. Halo: Reach was on sale for $9.99, so I purchased and downloaded it. It has been a while since I've played Halo 3 and I was always curious about the story of Halo: Reach. After around 8 hours, my curiosity was satisfied and Reach has been remembered.

The combat of Halo has always been an interesting and engaging puzzle and Reach reminds me of how much fun it is. Granted, I grew tired of it as the campaign neared its end but it is still a unique and enjoyable style among first-person shooters. The Halo style of combat is the same as it ever was even when paired with the somber tale Reach tells. I was hoping that the more dramatic moments of Reach's story would touch me more than they did but instead they came off as standard fare. That's fine, but I would've liked something more.

Halo: Reach looks and sounds great. While not a technical marvel, the art direction makes the fall of Reach beautiful. The musical score carries the tone of desperation, mortality, and hope that befits the story.

With Halo: Reach done, I am happily full of Halo for a good while. I do want to play the stories of Halo 3: ODST and Halo 4 eventually, but I am in no rush. In the meanwhile, Reach will be remembered.