Reach(ing) for the Stars-Media Meditation #2

Image found on google images

On November 15, 2001, the earth was blessed with a gift from a developer called Bungie. A gift that brought people together, improved hand eye coordination and sparked competitive gaming. This spark, was Halo:Combat Evolved. The first game, in arguably one of the most well known video game series of all time, changed the way people played video games forever. Despite the fact that Halo:Combat Evolved did not have online capability, due to the fact it was one of the very first games available at the launch of the first Xbox, it brought people together. The storyline in the game is just amazing, but its real selling point was the multiplayer. Teams of friends playing against other teams of friends, just was a concept that drew me in forever. Killing your friends in the game while trying not to get killed yourself is one of the most addicting feelings I have ever felt. You can say what ever you want about the Halo series, but the multiplayer is something that can't be touched. It made the multiplayer in Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64 seem like child's play. I remember sitting in a room with a bunch of friends and a few TV's, playing system link (system link connected xbox's in the same room, so you could play with more than four people), just yelling at each other and talking trash non-stop, just having a good time. "Headshot!" was a phrase that would be screamed in triumph. It was just good clean fun.
Image found on Google Images

When it was announced that the second game in the series Halo 2 would be online compatable, Ive never been so excited. I opened up an Xbox live account, after arguing with my parents, who "just don't understand." On November 9, 2004, my life as an online gamer began. It was unlike anything ever created. Thousands of nerds, like me, talking on headsets and playing the same game at the same time, with each other. I played constantly talking more trash then I ever have in my life, I was a shy kid, but the fact that it doesn't matter what I say to these random people, made it amazing. Friends and I would play all night, sometimes just sitting in a lobby waiting for someone to start the game, we would just goof around over Live and have so much fun. It was a ritual, we would talk about it all day at school, go home and play all night. Below is a Halo 2 montage from ephrum, found on youtube. Its amazing.

The in 2008, Halo 3 was released, it wasn't as good as Halo 2 at all, in my opinion, it was still a great game, just, it felt different. I don't even want to talk about it, yet I did play it, a lot. Then, earlier this month, a miracle happened. Descending from the heavens above, a masterpiece fell into my hands. Halo:Reach.

I went to the mall on Church Street in Burlington at 10 p.m. on September 13, 2010, waiting for midnight so I could receive my copy of the game. I waited in line amongst other fans, anticipation was growing and I couldn't wait for it to come out. When I grabbed my copy, I went straight back to my room and just indulged into the campaign. I beat it all in one sitting, then I went for the multiplayer. It is amazing. Bungie brought back so many great aspects from Halo 2 and Halo, like the scoped pistol and maps that are remakes from the Halo 2 days. The new battle rifle, is a single shot gun called the DMR. It is so accurate it's unbelievable. Every aspect of the multiplayer is so much fun. There are now "loadouts" that you can choose from every time you die. Sprint, Armor Lock, Hologram, Jet-pack, Invisibility, and Drop Shield. These abilities have made the game fast paced and always different every game. Below is a montage I found on you tube of Reach multiplayer.

The competitive multiplayer is called Arena. In arena, 2 v 2 and 4 v 4 games are played, and the ranking is based on an overall rating. This is for the more hardcore players of the game. I enjoy this because it is taken seriously and winning is worth it. At the end of every game, based on your performance, each player receives credits that level you up and these credits can be spent to customize your armor. This is an awesome new aspect of the Halo series because it becomes interactive outside the match. Overall, Halo:Reach is an amazing addition to the Halo franchise, and the multiplayer gaming world. Play on.