343 Industries had challenges in front of it when it began to create "Halo 4": Take a beloved video-game series from the original developer, Bungie, maintain the legacy established through a decade of development and reignite enthusiasm by delivering something new.
That is a daunting list, but 343 Industries clearly was up to the task. "Halo 4" -- which came out Tuesday, more than five years after "Halo 3" -- is a thrilling adventure and takes the Xbox 360's flagship sci-fi franchise headlong into the future. The magic formula is intact, but the new developer assures that "Halo" is on a path to growth, not stagnation.
"Halo 4" returns to the resonant drive of the series -- Master Chief and his unrelenting defense of humanity. For the first time, the story has an emotional core that grounds the fiction: the connection between John and his AI, Cortana. As the two characters face a re-emerging threat to the galaxy, we finally gain insight into the mysterious Forerunner race hinted at since "Combat Evolved." Along the way, 343 Industries plays around with heady sci-fi concepts, from the nature of artificial intelligence to the planned shaping of a species' evolution.
"Halo 4" is a visual marvel, with gorgeous environments accentuated by high-dynamic-range lighting and breathtaking particle effects. The experience is more than the graphics; I rarely feel the need to call out the sound effects of a game, but "Halo 4" is an exception. The first time I fired a gun, I was startled by the forceful burst, and the impression only improves as the fights progress.
Enemies have defined the feel of "Halo" game play since the beginning, and "Halo 4" balances familiarity and novelty. The Covenant returns (for reasons the in-game story fails to articulate), providing the classic experience that "Halo" fans love -- popping Grunts, zeroing in on distant Jackals and furiously dueling Elites. Thankfully, new foes enter the picture before long. The Prometheans offer a robust tactical challenge, from the regenerative abilities of the floating Watchers to the savage Crawlers and teleporting Knights.
For many, "Halo 4"'s excellent campaign will be secondary to the endless battles of the newly introduced Infinity multiplayer. An integrated cooperative and competitive narrative tracks the progress of your Spartan as he or she trains aboard a UNSC ship and then heads out on missions, ranking up and improving on the way. Advancing your character is a joy, as you unlock more options.
A few small changes to the flow of competitive multiplayer help "Halo 4" feel more vibrant and replayable. Points have overtaken kills as the primary scoring mechanic. Random powerful weapon drops remove the chance for experienced players to camp equipment spawns. New multiplayer modes such as Regicide and Dominion join perennial favorites such as Slayer, Oddball and Capture the Flag, and all the modes play out across an impressive set of more than a dozen strong new maps.
Along with the returning option to play through the campaign cooperatively with friends, 343 Industries introduces an episodic cooperative experience with enormous potential. Spartan Ops brings a new cinematic episode every week, along with five connected missions. Multiplayer is rounded out by the return of Forge and Theater options for the more creative.
