Halo (Combat Evolved) | KnockBack: The Retro and Nostalgia Podcast Episode 207

There's just no denying it: The gaming series Halo and the Xbox console are intrinsically linked, and will be forever. Indeed, Microsoft went and bought Halo mid-development to become its maiden console's killer app, and... well... it worked... because Xbox was unlikely to survive without it. Two decades-plus later, Halo remains one of the most important console franchises in the world, and yet, it all began innocuously enough with a 2001 product subtitled Combat Evolved. While far from the first FPS on console, there's no doubt that Halo -- through control, story, LAN, and more -- set the precedent for the next more-than 20 years of console-based shooting, which, as we well know, is now big, big business. We may just have the esteemed Halo to thank for that, and so, we welcome a conversation all about it here on KnockBack.
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#KnockBack #LastStandMedia #Halo

[@ChrisRayGun]

Looking forward to seeing Dagan’s opinion of Halo 2. Everything from aesthetic, to story, to characters, to music is unreasonably improved. I could see 3 being unremarkable to newer faces due to the distance we have from the multiplayer phenomenon it was in 2007, but Halo 2 is some GOATED stuff.

[@fadelpw511]

Look who we have here Mr. Halo himself

[@rizz647]

AHH PLEASE DO HALO 2 SOON

[@daganmoriarty1973]

Gonna do it just for you, sir. ... OK fine, at least partially for you. < 3

[@alexlyster3459]

Yeah, more than anything the Story doesn't really get started until Halo 2.

[@tonylavagnaart3865]

I'm really surprised by all the love for Halo 2 here. Myself and pretty much everyone I knew who bought it back when it was released considered it a massive disappointed. It was Halo 3 that was the return to form.

[@dillonb7765]

Timing grenades when the drop ship came in to kill the enemies before they hit the ground was always fun

[@robomop9711]

Halo LAN fests were some of my favorite moments in all of gaming. In high school I’d get 16 people over to my parent’s house, 4 CRT TVs, 4 Xboxes, and play 8 vs 8 capture the flag. In between matches we’d eat pizza and dare each other to have a slice with Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce.

[@Kfox0963]

This is so beautiful

[@biggiebutters2251]

By far my favorite aspect about Halo CE was the fact that you could play it CO-OP! I must have beat the campaign over a dozen times on Legendary with my brothers.

[@Seauce]

Loved the episode guys! I've been playing these games all my life and I'm glad yall are getting around to playing them. I think by the time you finish the trilogy you'll appreciate the Master Chief. Cheers fellas.

[@bretttheillustrator]

Lol, I love driving the warthog. Specially sliding into ppl

[@YourGFsFavoriteBF]

I slid into your girls DM’s….hit me with the drum, Damnit!

[@DaRkLoRd-rc5yu]

Please do halo 2. The game was industry changing. The first 3 halos were absolutely incredible.

[@daganmoriarty1973]

No. Oh, fine. ; )

[@Spr1ggan87]

In what way? Far Cry, DOOM 3, and Half-Life 2 came out the same year.

[@ashyoshicharizard3949]

​@@Spr1ggan87doom 3 was trash

[@Spr1ggan87]

@@ashyoshicharizard3949 Only if you played it on Xbox lol

[@JSilv3r]

Would love if you guys did a knockback for halo 2 and 3. Interested to hear what they think about 3 being my favourite game of all time. And 2 since it fixes many mistakes that halo 1 made, and discussing the infamous history of crunch related to that game.

[@Donald_Allan]

Many years ago I never quite got what the big deal about Halo was. So I never considered getting any of the Halo games. However, that all changed when I was over at my friend's house and we played Halo 2 on co-op. I thought it was a great game and I couldn't get enough of it. I then when out and bought the then Halo triple pack which was only available on the OG Xbox and included Halo CE, Halo 2 and the Halo 2 multiplayer map pack. I remember playing through Halo CE and was blown away by the single player campaign. It still holds up all these years later. I might fire up the Masterchief Collection once I finish listening to this podcast and have completed my gym session and play through Halo CE.

[@SaintsXIV]

Co-Op Campaign! It was such a treat in 2001 to not only play a game like this - but to play it Co-Op with a friend! PLEASE try Halo 2's campaign co-op, at least for a few levels. It is such an experience.

[@daganmoriarty1973]

I HAFTA' try it!

[@the_grimby1722]

Appreciate you guys talking about this. Also, i think everyone says that Half life (OG) was the first story based FPS, and Halo was not far behind it...so just thinking about story driven FPS's around this time was not something you were really seeing at large in gaming to this point--especially not deep and fleshed out stories. Dad and I played all of the Halo games coop through Halo 4. Always will have a special place in my heart because of that! Also, as a family we used to play multiplayer with my two sisters couch co-op. Was pretty fun at the time! Enjoyed most of the games. Even ODST, i think a lot of people crap all over, but i remember the game feeling a lot more atmospheric and the music being great--definitely a different tone.

[@TheEs150]

one of the greatest games of all time and def the best halo.

[@MINECRAFTandSEB]

yes

[@MrHotSalsa]

I still remember my heart dropping when i tried to snipe Flood forms. During the Two Betrayals level.

[@itsshanebailey]

Halo has been my favourite series since CE so this discussion was so enjoyable. Made me think about many things I hadn’t considered before, like the dropships and what they add to the experience. Something I haven’t really appreciated. Nice work guys! Would love to hear your thoughts on the sequels, in time

[@crackcorn0404]

Bought this fall '03. My buddy and I played til 5am that first time. So much fun.

[@Spr1ggan87]

Bungie made PC games as well as Mac games prior to being bought by MS. They made the Myth real-time tactics games for PC, they also released Oni for PC and PS2 the same year they released Halo for Xbox.

[@SolidMoriarty]

Love that Daigen picked up on alot of the sci-fi story concepts. Using the Kig Yar name for Jackels tickled quite abit. He may be a budding Halo Nerd but he definitely has the foundation for appreciating some of the finer bits that Colin might not pick up on.

[@bobbob-cd9yl]

PLZ do Halo 2 story wise it's such a huge leap from Halo CE

[@YourGFsFavoriteBF]

Wait a minute….did the Bros. Moriarty pull a fast one on their audience? Where’s Rushmore *cries himself to sleep*

[@tazmanceltic]

Ohhhh yeesss !!!! What's up brothers m?! I absolutely love halo, the memories people have for the game and the effect it had.... I can only equate to half life for me personally.

[@YourNumber1Stalker]

I still can’t believe Halo CE is retro.

[@7331warrior]

I hope you guys also play Reach, very beloved.

[@foreignuser_]

01:18:30 "They're sticking to their guns." -Dagan telling a Dad Joke he didn't even know he was telling. :) I love this saying about one aspect of Halo, which in the context I think is true, yet if taken literally is referencing something many fans of the series who started from the original absolutely criticise about it: Halo from one to the next changes up its guns/gunplay mechanics in ways that often irritated people!

[@VariantAEC]

44:10 How the heck did Spyro not come up in the discussion of the newness of 3D spaces? Insomniac was way ahead of the curve then.

[@richardheisey1573]

I bought the original Xbox, 2 months after release. With several games including Halo CE. IT was epic! My Brother and me spent sooo many hours playing split screen together! Was Great! 2 different game player styles, we where. One run and gun, one to sit back and pick the enemy off from the distance. It was epic!

[@MrBeesknees95]

Mad - Medal of Honor was also my first FPS! Such a solid franchise back in the day (till COD killed it lol)

[@Spr1ggan87]

It was a zombie by the time CoD came out, what killed was the MoH devs leaving EA after Allied Assault (best MoH game by far, not even debatable). They then went on to found Infinity Ward and make CoD.

[@wesmanpipes9430]

Assault rifle, plasma pistol, and needler are necessary for higher difficulties. Magnum is op but ammo is scarce.

[@budthecyborg4575]

While I can appreciate that Halo CE on its own is worth a conversation, any discussion about the best of Halo really needs to include the whole Trilogy, and you MUST play co-op on Legendary. Playing Halo on Legendary on your own seems insurmountable, but the way the checkpoint system works in co-op you basically get infinite lives and the challenge becomes making sure your whole team doesn't wipe, not just that you don't die as an individual, and the large levels are much less empty with at least two players. As for the story I'm not going to say Master Chief ever really becomes a "Character" instead of just an avatar, but Halo 2 and 3 definitely add layers of intrigue.

[@928tate2]

Holy shit is that a pinwheel shirt? Damn that’s a throwback for you

[@the_grimby1722]

I will say. I am a bit surprised you guys did not attempt to Co-op it via Steam or something. Maybe a scheduling issue, but that's where a lot of the love comes from with the franchise. I know multiplayer and what not everyone is in love with but that's because it was 4 player splitscreen back in the day which led into the xbox live stuff. Makes it a fun experience. Though the lag could get to be a bit much iirc.

[@ChrisWTube]

The warthog is so easy to control, look at where you want to go and push forward (just like controlling a person). The problem is the physics and level design don’t mesh well in that last mission.

[@grashoprsmith]

My mind was screaming this during that part. If i heard it correctly, they said the look thumbstick shouldn't turn the vehicle, it should only be used for camera. That's precisely what it does.

[@JusticeSoulTuna]

Good discussion, Moriarty men. I enjoy Halo CE and I admire its depth at the time. But it was actually Halo 2 that introduced me to Xbox, which I played first, and I like that game way better too. I think Halo CE Anniversary did a lot to polish the game visually, and make it easier to know where to go. I too think the final level is a bad joke tbh, and I hate how it felt to play. I believe the final level of Halo 3 is a way better version of that; granted that Halo 3 is a legendary game overall.

[@MINECRAFTandSEB]

halo ce is way better on original graphics.. the anniversary ruined the feeling of 1 and removed all the blood and environment aspects that allowed CE to tell its story is a way that games are incapable of doing these days anymore. I don't think 3 was better what so ever.

[@realkennyhotz6811]

when dagan said he thought the remastered graphics look better than the original (perfect) graphics i broke my fucking keyboard on my desk and punched a hole in my wall i bled all over my fucking self.

[@bretttheillustrator]

Halo Halo Halo

[@DaRkLoRd-rc5yu]

i still think that is so funny, that nintendo paid to fly microsoft to japan, had a meeting with them, laughed in their face and sent them on their way.

[@wesmanpipes9430]

Warthog is easy to operate. Just remember to use the cursor to point yourself in the direction you want to go. Dont use the warthog as the reference for direction to drive. It turns on a dime as it is.

[@DaRkLoRd-rc5yu]

Halo infinite especially is trying to emulate halo 1 as best as it can. All the other halos change up mechanics and deviate different things. And it's halo infinite that is stripping it all back and effectively going full circle with the gameplay.

[@bretttheillustrator]

Funny how much the halo ce issues line up with halo infinite issues

[@areallytallguy]

Colin got that Joe Rogan CNN filter on

[@whenisdinner2137]

Halo 3, in my opinion, is the greatest game ever made

[@gleekthemonkey4570]

It’s a little weird knowing that you guys can’t see each other. Lol

[@Kryptix0III]

where is the Bungie acquisition podcast?

[@E_Rice]

I do agree that the story is kinda sparse in game. I admit I read the instruction book, which contains story info, and I read all the Halo novels in between Halo CE - Halo 2 (Halo Fall of Reach, Halo the Flood, Halo First Strike) so the story in the game appears to be more present than it really is due to outside knowledge of the Halo universe.

[@marcelfering2365]

Your entire video looks oddly colorless Colin. I don't think it is you haha

[@Drxtoboggan]

Can we get a Halo 2 knockback?

[@oskartheboss298]

It funny how Colin calls xbox hollow when sony literally bought those first party studio early in there history wtf

[@barryburton8477]

Wort wort wort

[@daganmoriarty1973]

amen

[@E_Rice]

Finally was revealed at 1:11 I could tell by their experience with the game they (or at least Colin’s brother) that they played on easier difficulty. If you play on heroic or legendary you won’t be able to use vehicles/turrets to dominate eras. You’ll get destroyed after a while because you can get shot out of the vehicles pretty easily. If you play it in co-op, you can use the vehicles (especially Warthog) to dominate the encounters. I really want to seen them play on an tougher encounter. The battles won’t be so easy and mastery of any weapon would be necessary.

[@grashoprsmith]

"dorf"

[@FernandoAR760]

I would recommend you play Halo Reach in my opinion it is the best story out of all the Halo games

[@aooaooapoooopa]

I disagree Colin that the strategy of Xbox making Halo its core mascot or synonymous with itself was a bad strategy for the brand. It may not be like Sony that has varying mascots but it’s more akin to Nintendo with Mario or how Sega was with Sonic. When you think Xbox you think Halo and I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Especially if you want people to join the Xbox ecosystem to play halo. When you think Mario you know you’re going to be apart of Nintendo.

[@gleekthemonkey4570]

The warthog was bad but I really liked the ghost motorcycle thing.

[@tonylavagnaart3865]

Great video chaps. Sorry to use a Colin Moriarty word, but I have to take umbrage with Colin saying Halo 2 is a much better game than Combat Evolved. For me, Halo 2 was the worst of the series. After the brilliance of CE, the hype for Halo 2 was real. Part of what made CE so amazing for me was the enemy AI, and to my dismay, it seemed to be drastically toned down in the sequel. Also, Halo 2 featured pointless weapons whereas everything in CE mattered. The nail in the coffin for me was the level towards the end where you control the alien character, it really took me out of the game and detracted from the overall experience. Halo 3 was the game that returned the series to form. There's a reason why 343 modelled Infinite on CE and Halo 3.

[@nat040496]

I played this game for the first time back in 2019 thanks to the MCC on PC, and I gotta say... what a slog... I'm glad I played it and finished it for the story, but part way through the game they copy-pasted the exact same forerunner room back to back without even any new clutter or anything, so you fight through identical rooms over and over and over and it got to the point that I just rolled my eyes and was like "When will it end?!". And then you get to the Flood, and the rest of the game is just walking backwards while spraying with the AR. Great game, but it absolutely pales in comparison to Half Life which came 3 years prior and doesn't copy-paste rooms over and over to pad out length.

[@nat040496]

@@AndyTolly123 Nah it didn't disuade me. I've played all except for 4 and 5 so far. Halo 2 was fucking phenomenal, best in the franchise imo.

[@linkinparkblink182ro]

lol thought the same thing too on my first playthrough a few weeks ago

[@fightingddog]

I stumble on this a year later and there is absolutely no way colin isnt trolling!? the story being weak? HELL NO the story was mysterious. chief not being cool!? chief is the baddest motherfucker in the galaxy. the mission design? its suppose to be like the spartans go in blow shit up and get the fuck out. that is the whole purpose of why they were created. they weren't expected to make it out LOL but thats why chief is special is his LUCK come on colin. please tell me you were drunk and trying to get people riled up.

[@carterhunt6920]

Lmfao Collin thinks he’s creative bro you review video games

[@seancdavis13]

He makes a great living in a creative medium. He did it first as a writer and now with a podcast and his own company.He even writes games. I'd say he's a pretty successful "creative" .