All hail. Photo by Fansided.
What do many of this fall’s big video game releases have in common? Many of them have been plagued by rocky, and in some cases just bad, launches. I wish that I could say “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” is not among the games whose releases were bad, but it is.
“Halo” as a franchise is, in general, synonymous with consistency, excellence, and above all else, fun. The “MCC “(Master Chief Collection) is comprised of the four main series “Halo” games, “Halo: Combat Evolved” through “Halo 4.” Upon the collection’s announcement, video game fans everywhere rejoiced: four incredible games in one package, complete polished campaigns, multiplayer and maps for every game. In addition, “Halo 2″ would be rejuvenated with gorgeous cutscenes and revamped graphics.
Each game runs in 1080p and 60 frames per second, and when you purchase the $60 disc, you will be able to play the “Halo 5″ beta in December. This, for many like me, was an ethereal love letter to anyone who has ever liked “Halo.”
The MCC’s contents. Photo by Gamestop.
So imagine my surprise when I drop $60 on a game that hardly works. “MCC” launched, and to the dismay of many, the multiplayer was all but broken. Players waiting countless minutes or even hours trying to get into a match, only to be kicked from their game. Playlists have been removed and updates have been made; however, the damage has been done and the game still isn’t running very efficiently.
What was supposed to be a celebration of a great video game franchise turned out to be a huge disappointment.
Now, it isn’t all bad. The campaigns still function, as they aren’t online only. If you haven’t played the campaigns, they are phenomenal. Each mission is designed incredibly well, acting as a playground of sorts, in which players work through the level using the weapons, vehicles, and other items strewn across the map to accomplish the goal of the mission
Among the other positives of the game are “Halo 2″ Anniversary and its gorgeous new look. The game is revamped with cutscenes by Blur Studio and they are probably some of the best looking cutscenes to ever be in a video game. The campaign as a whole is rejuvinated and absolutely gorgeous. “Halo 2 Anniversary” is certainly the crown jewel of the “MCC.” The multiplayer for “Halo 2 Anniversary” is also fantastic, when you can find a match. Many people have waited years to play “Halo 2″ online once again, and they finally have that chance now.
Additionally, part of what makes the collection special is nostalgia. Switching between old graphics and the new graphics with the press of a button. Playing classic “Halo” maps like Blood Gulch, Lockout, or Battle Creek. Memories come rushing back for a lot of people while playing these games, and that is truly special.
To put it into perspective, the content is not at all the problem. In fact, the content is why such a collection was created in the first place. The problem I have is with the launch. I could be reading a book, doing homework, or playing another video game for that matter. But what I chose to do was spend money on “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” so that I could play it. And I was not really able to play multiplayer, so that really sucks. The “MCC” has not respected my time, and that also really sucks.
Where’s the chief? Photo by Forbes.
The game has been improved with recent updates, however I did not pay for the game so that you can update it to eventually work. I bought the game to play it that night and onward.
There is an outstanding amount of great content on this one disc, unfortunately a big chunk of that great content is buried under game bugs.
This game will more than likely work really well someday in the near future. The problem is I don’t live in the future, and I’m not reviewing what “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” could be, I’m reviewing what it is now. And right now, it isn’t very good.
Speakeasy Verdict: 6/10
