Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- December 3, 2019
- Saber Interactive
- 36h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Halo: The Master Chief Collection" on Steam includes Halo: Reach, Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4. The collection offers enhanced features for Xbox Series X|S, over 120 multiplayer maps, and a total of 67 campaign missions. Experience the Master Chief's epic journey in this definitive Halo bundle.
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Reviews
- story8,852 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The "story" aspect of the Halo: Master Chief Collection has received a mix of praise and criticism from users. Many players appreciate the rich lore and character development throughout the series, particularly highlighting the emotional depth of titles like Halo: Reach and Halo 3: ODST. However, some reviews point out that the storytelling can feel convoluted or repetitive, especially in the earlier games, and that technical issues, such as crashes and disconnections during co-op play, detract from the overall experience. Overall, the collection is recommended for its engaging narrative and nostalgic value, but players should be aware of potential gameplay frustrations.
“Overall, fantastic story and would love nothing more than to see more side stories like Reach and ODST be made to explore more stories outside the helmet of Sierra 117.”
“The story of the games is great too by the way, the first three games being a connected trilogy about humanity's war against the Covenant, in an effort to prevent them from using whatever is contained within the Halo ring, which is a giant ring the size of a planet, created by a distant alien species.”
“The story is amazing, the gameplay laid the foundation for all shooter games after it, and it's just a blast.”
“The story is primitive and explains nothing to you.”
“The story had some promise, but becomes rather disjointed and the initial premise makes little sense.”
“The story is practically non-existent in Reach and CE, but it gets massively better from Halo 2 and upwards, since there are several cut-scenes, and in general there is a whole story/lore behind all of the games.”
- graphics6,869 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning remastered visuals, particularly for "Halo 2," which breathe new life into the classic titles. Players appreciate the ability to toggle between original and enhanced graphics, allowing for a nostalgic experience while showcasing the evolution of the series. However, some critiques highlight that the remastered graphics can detract from the original atmosphere, with issues like brightness and hitbox misalignments noted, especially in "Halo: Combat Evolved." Overall, the collection is seen as a significant improvement over the original graphics, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of the enhancements.
“The visual upgrades are nothing short of breathtaking, especially in Halo 2, where the remastered graphics breathe new life into familiar battlegrounds.”
“The ability to toggle between classic and enhanced visuals is a delightful trip down memory lane, reminding us of the thrill we felt when we first stepped onto the ring worlds.”
“Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo 2: Anniversary are standouts, offering the ability to switch between the original and the enhanced graphics with the press of a button.”
“I'm not one for hyperbole, but the new visuals ruin the game.”
“I recommend you just disable the remastered visuals and pretend they never happened.”
“The remastered graphics are a sin to its legacy.”
- gameplay4,452 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Halo: Master Chief Collection (MCC) is widely praised for its nostalgic value and solid mechanics, retaining the core elements that made the original games iconic. Players appreciate the smooth controls, engaging combat, and the ability to switch between classic and remastered graphics, although some mechanics feel dated and can lead to frustration, particularly in the earlier titles. Overall, the collection offers a rich gameplay experience with hours of content across multiple campaigns and multiplayer modes, making it a worthwhile purchase for both newcomers and long-time fans.
“Some of the later entries improved a lot in terms of gameplay, graphics, and other aspects, like equipment that can potentially change the situation (deployable cover, bubble shield, etc.).”
“With its diverse gameplay, stunning visual upgrades, and robust multiplayer options, the MCC successfully encapsulates the essence of what makes Halo a beloved series.”
“The MCC faithfully retains the gameplay mechanics that made each installment of Halo a landmark in the first-person shooter genre.”
“The gameplay mechanics and narrative elements of the included Halo titles, while groundbreaking in their time, have not aged gracefully.”
“The games’ outdated mechanics and storytelling might not hold the same charm for newer players, who could find the experience more frustrating than enjoyable.”
“In conclusion, while the Halo: Master Chief Collection on PC offers a cherished trip down memory lane for dedicated fans, it falls short in terms of technical polish and gameplay refinement.”
- music2,397 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the Halo series is widely praised for its iconic and memorable soundtracks, composed primarily by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori. Players often highlight how the music enhances the emotional depth of the gameplay, with many stating that it significantly contributes to the overall experience, making even mundane moments feel epic. However, some reviews mention issues with audio mixing, where music can overpower dialogue and sound effects, detracting from the immersive experience. Overall, the soundtracks are considered a defining feature of the franchise, evoking nostalgia and elevating the gameplay.
“The music enhances gameplay, drawing players into the epic narrative and action.”
“Halo without its music would just be another generic shooter, and would no longer be considered art.”
“The soundtrack made me feel feelings humans weren't supposed to feel.”
“The only negative I'd mention is that the audio voice vs music is balanced weirdly so you can't hear the plot through the awesome soundtrack.”
“The remastered soundtrack doesn't play where it originally should and is outright missing notes and whole sections in places.”
“The music is often not synced with the events happening on screen, often I would hear a low, more relaxed music over supposed tense combat, the number one offender is the helicopter mission.”
- stability1,804 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The stability of "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" has been a mixed bag for players, with many reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in the campaigns of Halo 2 and Halo: Reach. While some users have noted improvements and a generally stable experience on PC, others continue to encounter frequent crashes, audio issues, and matchmaking problems. Overall, the game is seen as a nostalgic return to form, but its ongoing stability issues detract from the experience, leading to a recommendation for potential players to wait for further patches and fixes.
“343 has fixed and fine-tuned all the games included in the collection and actually did a really good job; it runs great on PC.”
“The game runs great and is just as fun as it was back on the 360.”
“The game runs great, looks amazing, and plays even better than the 360 ever did.”
“Still a buggy mess years later, can't find matches at times just sitting here waiting forever, there is a weird issue where if you tab out of the window for some reason or it minimizes because of a notification it just disappears.”
“This game is a buggy corpse of a once amazing series.”
“The campaign is a buggy mess, the worst offender being Halo 2, especially if you plan to play in co-op.”
- optimization1,481 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The optimization of the Master Chief Collection has received mixed feedback from players. While many report smooth performance and the ability to run the games on lower-end hardware, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, input lag, and crashes, particularly in co-op modes. Overall, the collection is praised for its nostalgic value and graphical enhancements, but persistent performance problems, especially with specific titles like Halo 2, indicate that further optimization is still needed.
“On both Xbox and PC, 'MCC' runs exceptionally well after years of optimization, offering a smooth, highly customizable experience that caters to different hardware setups.”
“This comprehensive collection brings together six iconic games, each meticulously updated and optimized for PC, delivering a nostalgic yet fresh experience.”
“The optimization for older systems is amazing while having some room for better graphics without it destroying your PC.”
“Players frequently encounter crashes, bugs, and performance problems that can hinder the overall enjoyment.”
“Constantly clicking m2 to unzoom is more hassle than just uninstalling this unoptimized piece of shit.”
“The game has serious performance issues, mostly consistent among games but generally differing between games.”
- humor474 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the Halo series is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in the quirky dialogue, amusing character interactions, and the antics of the game's alien enemies, particularly the grunts. Many reviews highlight the comedic moments that arise during gameplay, especially in multiplayer settings, where players can engage in hilarious custom game modes and share laughs over unexpected glitches and mishaps. Overall, the blend of humor and action contributes significantly to the franchise's charm, making it a memorable experience for both new and returning players.
“When I played the campaign for the first time, I fell out of my chair laughing at the covenant enemy chatter.”
“The small aliens act like a slow (you know what I mean) friend of mine, it is funny.”
“The multiplayer modes from across the series offer a wealth of options, from intense competitive battles to hilarious custom game modes with friends.”
“The jokes are painfully unfunny; I could go on... there's something seriously wrong with the people who like this crap.”
“Making a useless, unfunny review.”
“Well, it seems they did not read my message because I checked again and my game is still stuck at the loading screen. Not funny.”
- grinding448 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 79 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as excessively tedious and requiring an unrealistic time investment to unlock content. Users frequently mention the need for a "second life" to manage the grind, highlighting the repetitive nature of missions and the clunky combat mechanics that contribute to the overall frustration. While some appreciate the nostalgia and the potential for hours of gameplay, the consensus is that the current progression system feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.
“The unlock system works well, not too fast but not too grindy.”
“Also more customization for multiplayer (particularly in Halo 3 and Reach), and the unlock system works really well and isn't grindy at all (less of a grind than Reach was and way less of a grind than 4 was), no microtransactions either.”
“You're not grinding for 600 hours to unlock new guns, you're not paying $28,000 a month to unlock loot boxes that may or may not have the weapon skins you want.”
“It goes without saying that without them, rather intentionally, the unlock system is excessively, tediously grindy to casual players who want to unlock even just a fair chunk of the content.”
“The campaigns in these games are so incredibly boring and tedious.”
“The progression system is very grindy, boring and not engaging.”
- emotional382 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and heartfelt connections through its storytelling and character development. Many reviews highlight the poignant narratives, particularly in "Halo: Reach" and "Halo 4," which elicit strong emotional responses, including tears and reflections on personal memories. The combination of impactful music, character sacrifices, and the overarching themes of love and loss contribute to a rich emotional experience that players cherish and remember fondly.
“The emotional impact of Halo 4's ending hit me hard, and it deepened my appreciation for the series as a whole.”
“When you least expect it, Halo sneaks up on you with genuine heartfelt moments and very real-feeling characters.”
“The story of Reach is truly heartbreaking, but full of interesting characters and lore.”
“In contrast, I clearly feel Halo's age with its floaty and slow movement, strange controls, boring story, and one-dimensional gunplay; alone, none of these are really damning, but together, they make for a rather dull experience.”
“Not cheap, cringey, or boring story writing like in Halo 4, 5, and Infinite.”
“Constantly searching for ammo, boring weapons, and a boring story.”
- replayability377 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" is praised for its high replayability, driven by nostalgic value, diverse gameplay modes, and community-driven content. Features like Forge mode, firefight challenges, and various difficulty levels enhance the experience, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends. While some titles in the collection may not offer as much replay value as others, the overall package provides countless hours of engaging gameplay and customization options.
“Best Halo games of all time, plus mods, and infinite replayability.”
“With robust online features and community-driven content, Halo: The Master Chief Collection continues to evolve, offering endless replayability and camaraderie among players.”
“The campaigns are awesome and offer tons of replay value.”
“There is some degree of replayability, but not as much as I would hope for in a AAA game series.”
“The score/time/playlist challenges add some replay value, but nowhere near as much as they could have and just add to the repetition.”
“The campaign has very little replay value when playing it just once is already replaying the game.”
- monetization362 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions from users, with many praising the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes, which contrasts sharply with recent trends in gaming. While some players appreciate the straightforward unlock system and the value of the content provided for a single purchase, others express concern over potential future monetization strategies, particularly after the disappointing monetization practices seen in "Halo Infinite." Overall, the consensus leans towards a favorable view of the current lack of aggressive monetization, though skepticism remains regarding the developers' intentions moving forward.
“It's classic Halo with no microtransactions.”
“No microtransactions, all the content of the originals, updates for graphics and customs.”
“A full game with no BS microtransactions or publisher shenanigans.”
“The unlock system was clearly engineered with microtransactions in mind due to its design structure, but the community backlash has been strong enough that the microtransactions have yet to be introduced.”
“This "game" is nothing but a soulless cash grab of what the product should be.”
“343 industries realized halo infinite has failed by building the entire game around fomo microtransactions, and have responded by intending to add microtransactions into mcc.”
- atmosphere334 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the Halo series is widely praised for its iconic soundtracks, immersive sound design, and unique environmental storytelling, with many players highlighting the nostalgic and emotional impact of the original graphics. Titles like *Halo 3: ODST* are particularly noted for their distinct noir-inspired ambiance and atmospheric depth, while remastered versions often face criticism for losing the original's atmospheric qualities due to brighter visuals and altered soundscapes. Overall, the series is celebrated for its ability to create captivating and varied atmospheres across different campaigns, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
“The sound design, from the pulse of a plasma rifle to the hum of a Covenant ship, is crisp and atmospheric, preserving the immersive audio experience that has always been integral to the Halo series.”
“The atmosphere while walking New Mombasa at night is unrivaled in the franchise, but that is basically all it has.”
“Halo 3: ODST is different from its sibling but still a good Halo, in terms of narrative, soundtrack, and atmosphere.”
“Braindead level design, no verticality, super stripped back combat/weapon options in any given moment (meaning that any given encounter has fewer possible solutions for the player to experiment with), absolutely no atmosphere or worldbuilding outside of what is literally directly told to you in English... Jesus Christ, I can't believe you people have been living like this.”
“The anniversary edition graphics are higher fidelity but they completely disregard the art style of the original and completely ruin the atmosphere.”
“The remastered graphics are brighter than the old graphics which changes the atmosphere slightly.”
- character development27 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Character development in the game series has received mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and evolution of key characters like Master Chief and Cortana, particularly in Halo 4, while others criticize the overall lack of meaningful growth and superficial storytelling in earlier titles. While certain entries showcase compelling narratives and character arcs, many players feel that the development is often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and outdated design elements. Overall, the series struggles to consistently deliver the nuanced character development that modern players expect.
“Great character development, and this is where we start to see Chief get a bit more human.”
“Seeing Cortana deal with things beyond her control is a first, and we get to see a different side of her, which helps bring out a lot of character development for both.”
“The visual enhancements, character development, and emotional resonance elevate Halo 4's campaign to a worthy continuation of the saga.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, the story is superficial, and the character development is almost nonexistent.”
“I also expected more from the story and character development, especially since Chief is one of the most known icons in the gaming industry.”
“Except for Halo Reach, all suck so bad... no good graphics, extremely repetitive gameplay, no character development, nor an interesting story.”
