The Halo series is as well known for its epic campaign missions as it is for its awesome selection of multiplayer maps. For well over two decades, both Bungie and 343 Industr??ies have crafted unforgettable campaign experiences, which are (mostly) centered around the story of? the Master Chief.

We know Halo levels are great, but which ones are the cream of the crop? I've whittled them down to the 10 best Halo campaign? missions of all time - I reckon there are some surprising choices you won't expect? here.

10. Midnight

• Game: Halo 4

It should come as no surprise to learn that Halo 4's Midnight is the only 343 Industries mission on this list. The mission begins with a Star Wars-esque trench run unlike anything the series has seen before, almost resembling Star Fox in its gameplay approach.

It then moves to an intense, non-stop combat sequence as Halo 4 hurtles towards its conclusion. Combined with Neil Davidge's thundering track, "Arrival," this sequence arguably does a better job of making you feel like an unstoppable Spartan than anything else in the series. It's 343's best work in the series' campaigns, topped off ??with an emotional climax involving Cortana.

9. Mombasa Streets

• Game: Halo 3: ODST

It's a little cheeky to call Halo 3: ODST's Mombasa Streets a mission. It's more of a hub for you to wander and get lost in the stre??ets of New Mombasa, solving the mystery of the rookie's missing squadmates.

Mombasa Streets oozes atmosphere at every turn, more so than any level in the Halo ser??ies. Marty O'Donnell's piercing saxophone soundtrack creates an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, while the dark of the night makes it feel as though danger awaits around every corner (and it does). There's even an AI embedded into the city's technology, which directs you away from danger by ligh??ting up street signs.

8. Assault on the Control Room

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

By far Halo: Combat Evolved's longest missi??on, Assault on the Control Room is proof that variety is the spice of life. This level allows you to use every single vehicle in the game, including the Scorpion for the first and only time. Every weapon, too, except for the shotgun.

It's this variety that makes Assault on the Control Room stand out among other Halo missions. Like ??it or not, you're forced to take part in every different combat style here - vehicular, long-ranged, and close-quarters. It finds a delicate balance perfectly.

7. Halo

• Game: Halo 3

Halo 3's final mission, Halo, earns its spot here based on the thrilling Warthog finale alone. As t??he game (and Bungie's entire trilogy) comes to an end, you must commandeer a Warthog through an epic run of obstacles.

Moving through the level, the entire Halo installation is collapsing around you. Explosions, falling floors - go too slow, and you're doomed. It's a perfect throwback to Halo: Combat Evolved's own Warthog run in The?? Maw, but better?? in every way.

6. Coastal Highway

• Game: Halo 3: ODST

Bungie really nails a final mission, huh? Halo 3: ODST's Coastal Highway largely takes place on the titular highway. Throughout, you protect the slow-moving Elephant from defen??ding Covenant forces, while the chaos ??of the Battle of Earth erupts around you, perfectly capturing the sense of impending doom.

It culminates in one final standoff at the entrance of the Uplift Nature Reserve. You and your squad face waves of incoming Covenant forces, like an intense game of Firefight. It's one final stand while awaiting rescue, capping off a near-perfect Halo mission.

5. Halo

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

It's another level called Halo. In another Halo game. It makes sense, I promise. Halo set the standard for what the series' level design looks like at its best, with a vast open mission that sees you rescuing marines from various structures across the map. It's a great mix of Warthog gameplay and close-quarters combat, introducing you to various Halo: Combat Evolved mechanics early.

If the previous mission, The Pillar of Autumn, set the expectation that Halo: Combat Evolved was going to be yet another corridor shooter (as was prevalent in early 2000s FPS games), then Halo shattered it immediately. It represents a near-series best for Halo campaign missions right at the very beginning.

4. The Silent Cartographer

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

The Silent Cartographer opens with a blast. An iconic beach scene that, I promise, felt more impressive then than it ??does now. For many players, The Silent Cartogr??apher's opening was the moment they realized they were playing something truly special.

The rest of the level rules, too, offer great variety between short outdoor vehicle sections and? well-designed interior combat en?counters. But the opening assault on the beach as you storm out of the Warthog is the centerpiece here.

3. Metropolis

• Game: Halo 2

Metropolis is the only Halo 2 mission on this list, but it's number 3 for a reason. It's a short level, but one so action-packed you can't ignore it. You start Metropolis on a bridge with a Scorpion, blasting your way across it with ease. Is it challenging? No. But it's awesome, and isn't that what really matters?

After the bridge section, you find yourself in the inner city, the Metropolis, if you will. Most players make their ??way through the city in the provided Gauss Warthog, emphasizing Metropolis' vehicle-heavy gameplay. Then you board a Scarab!?? It's the definition of "short and sweet."

2. The Ark

• Game: Halo 3

The Ark is Halo 3 at its best. Starting out with a sniping sequence, it then moves from one chaotic vehicle setpiece to another. Not to mention the epic Scarab fight, which, by the end of this colossal mission, feels more li?ke a reward than a chal??lenge.

The highlight of The Ark is the landing of the enormous Forward Unto Dawn frigate, which descends upon you while blowing away everything in its path. As it casts it?s massive shadow over you, it's imm??ediately clear you're witnessing one of the coolest video game moments ever. If you know, you know.

1. The Covenant

• Game: Halo 3

That the two mission run of The Ark and The Covenant make up the top two spots on this list is a miracle. The latter half of Halo 3's campaign is remarkable,? and The Covenant is where it all peaks.

From Warthog gameplay, Hornet combat, and a great mix of tight hallway gunplay and open battlefields to fight on, The Covenant has it all. It all culminates in that fight against two Scarabs simultaneously, resulting in the best setpiece the series has ever produced. Forget the Halo series - The ?Covenant is one of the best FPS missions ever made.

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As food prices rise around th??e world, it's more important than ever to save money on games. There are a few things you may not consider, which we'll dive into right now.

Check your local library

This might be a shock to you, but there are libraries that let you rent out video games for free. While I was living in Edmonton, I used the library so much because of this. While it took a long time to get new releases (around a month typically), I was able to catch up on franchises like Resident Evil and Fire Emblem because of the library near me.

Look at the deal-searching websites and Reddit groups

If you want to find the best video game deals, you should check out the information available on websites like Cheap Ass Gamer and Game Deals Canada. They can compile great gaming deals for you, especially during Black Friday. There are some Reddit groups, including r/Game Deals and r/NintendoSwitchDeals that provide up-to-date sales info as well.

Facebook Marketplace is fantastic for saving money

You can find some awesome deals on Facebook Marketplace if you're fast enough. New releases can be cheaper used from regular people rather than GameStop. For example, I found Final Fantasy XVI and Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon for $60 Canadian ($45? US) each fr??om one seller a few months after release.

Game bundles can be fantastic

PC gamers might be familiar with Humble Bundle, a retailer that packs a bunch of games together and allows you to save money on awesome games, often while supporting a good cause. During October 2023, there was the Laugh Till You Die: Multiplayer Mayhem charity bundle, including popular games like PlateUp! and Ultimate Chicken Horse in a pack of seven. It also costs around $10; PlateUp! alone costs $19.99 USD usually.

Fanatical is another great option. It offers cheap bundles, and for some, you can actually select what you want. For example, the Build Your Own Play As You Go bundle in October had Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Doom, The Walking Dead: The TellTale Series The Final Season, and The Ascent, among other high quality games. If you bought three, it would be around $10, but if you get 7, it would total abo?ut $20, saving you cash.

Ask a friend to lend you a game

The best way to save money on games is to ask a friend to lend their titles. If you want to check out Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and see a friend who has it playing Diablo 4 instead, perhaps ask if you could borrow their copy of the latest COD. They might say yes. Just make sure you schedule a time to return the game with yo??ur pal.

Check out the thrift stores and pawn shops

Pawn shops are a fantastic way to get modern titles. For example, I saw the often expensive Mario Tennis Aces for $35 CAD ($25 USD) at a pawn shop the other week. If you're lucky, you can also find some retro gems in thrift stores. I found a few rare PS2 games available, including the valuable PS2 port of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Read the flyers and check the deals pages

Try to read the weekly flyers when you can. They offer some surprising deals at times. In Canada, they're still around of?ten, but I found them difficult to find with some American brands, at least online.

Thankfully, you can check the deals sections of these retailers. For example, on Walmart, I found that Yoshi's Crafted World was $10 off, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was $20 off on a random October night.

Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra are the best ways to save money on games

Both subscription services Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra offer a wealth of titles to check out for less than $20 a month. Xbox Game Pass is arguably the better of the two with new games like Starfield and Lies of P launching on the platform day one. You can also play the entirety of the Halo and Gears of War series on the service. There are some other standouts like Disney Dreamlight Valley and indies such as Celeste and Inside on Xbox Game Pass.

However, PlayStation Plus Extra has an impressive suite of titles too, such as Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, Demon's Souls (PS5), and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. You can catch up on the games you've missed as well. For example, I never caught up with NieR Replicant, and now it's? available on PlayStation Plus Ex?tra.

Use Bing to get gift cards on Xbox

This might sound like a joke to you, but I use Bing for the majority of my searches rather than Google. Why? Because I can get points towards gift cards on Xbox and other rewards. After a month of searches, this number can increase dramatically, letting you redeem them for a $5 gift card code. You can also answer fun quizzes to get some points. If you're an Overwatch or League of Legends fan, you can get in-game currency with your points too?. It's been very helpful for me, and I've probably saved $50 or more with this method.

PlayStation Stars offers up money too

PlayStation Stars can also get you some cash on the PlayStation Store. You'll get points back from your purchases and finishing tasks on the PlayStation App. You can then redeem them for digital gift cards or actual games like Cuphead. Some of these tasks include playing games from the PlaySta????tion Plus lineup that month or checking out new titles in the Store.

The Nintendo eShop also gives you back some cash on your purchases too in the form of gold coins. You'll typically get $4 back on every $80 game you buy, according to My Nintendo. However, there are no additional tasks you complete for m?ore curre?ncy.

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The longtime Halo lead is leaving due to a family medical issue

343 Industries founder and lead Bonnie Ross is leaving the Halo Infinite stu?dio. After 15 years leading 343 at Microsoft, Ross has officially confirmed her departure.

The studio he??ad has said she will be leaving the company to attend to a family medical issu?e.

Here's the statement in full, via social media:

While I had hoped to stay with Halo until we released the Winter Update, I am letting you know ??I will be leaving 343 and attending to a family medical issue.

I am incredibly proud of the work everyone at 343 Industries has done with Halo Infinite, the Master Chief Collection, the Halo television series and so much more. It has been an honor to serve alon?gside the team for the last 15 years and to be a part of a universe I love.

Thank you to everyone in the Halo community for your support. Halo's future is bright. I cannot wait for all of you to experience what we have in store - and to cheer alongside you, as a fan, at the Halo World Championship in October!

Axios,

Bonnie Ross

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMlV5_HRWk

The Halo rolls on

Ross has a long legacy at Microsoft, having worked on a number of franchises over the years leading up to 343 Industries. She helped found the new studio 343 Industries in 2007. Under her leadership, 343 released The Master Chief Collection, an initially rough launch that managed to right the ship and become quite a st??ell??ar collection.

With Halo Infinite experiencing similar pains now, it will be interesting to see how 343 forges ahead. According to a statement via Windows Central, Pierre Hintze will immediately step in as studio head. Bryan Koski w??ill take on the role of GM of Franc?hise. Elizabeth Van Wyck steps in to oversee business and operations.

With a Winter Update coming soon and more on the horizon, there's still more to do for Halo Infinite.

_{Lead image via Xbox}

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Free if you played before Dec. 19, 2014

[Update: The release date listing for the ODST campaign was a placeholder, according to the official Halo Twitter account. "We continue final testing and will make an official announcement once our release date is determined, and apolog??ize for any confusion."]

A listing for Halo 3: ODST for Halo: The Master Chief Collection has been spotted on the Xbox One marketplace, and viewable here on the Xbox.com store the listing has been removed from Xbox.com since this post was originally published. Looks like the add-on clocks in at just over eight gigabytes. 343 is offering the ODST campaign for free to those who played The Master Chief Collection prior to December 19, 2014. No word on pricing for those that don't qualify for a free download. The release date for ODST is lis?ted as May 29, 2015, though no official announcement has been made. 

Sadly the fantastic Firefight multiplayer mode from the original release is not being ported, which is ironic considering this is part of an apology for the broken state of multiplayer that persisted for many mo??nths afte?r launch. I was actually just playing the game last night and it finally seems to be functional and populated online, though player icons still don't work correctly in the classic games. 

So who wants to take bets on Halo: Reach being announced as DLC at E3 this year?

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Eating salad

Ahead of Halo 5: Guardians, Microsoft already attempted to both make and sway Chief fans with an Xbox One bundled with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and a box with pictures of Master Chief on it.

Now, Microsoft is over delivering on choices and releasing a "Cirrus White" version of the same bundle, which was just on sale? in black for $300. At the non-sale price, the white bundle (and the months old black one) will run you $350.

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Are we done beta testing yet?

As is the trend nowadays, big-name titles don't get released polished and complete, that's what those day one suckers are for. Recently, the biggest suckers have been the Halo faithful who have been crushed under the immense weight of issues associated with the The Master Chief Collection.

Well, fear no longer young spartans, because according to early reports of the latest MCC patch, those pesky problems that have plagued the game may finally be gone -- most notably improved matchmaking performance and success rates. Here's a list of what 343 Industries has ?attempted?? to improve:

MATCHMAKING

• Made a variety of updates to improve matchmaking performance and success rates
• Improved matchmaking search times/time to match
• Improved stability throughout the matchmaking process across all titles

PARTIES

• Improved party stability

HALO 2

• Made improvements to multiplayer shot registration
• Improved campaign stability across a variety of levels
• Addressed stability issues for matchmaking and custom games
• Fixed issues around resuming H2A Campaign from “remastered” mode
• Improved medal display consistency

HALO: CE

• Fixed issues regarding aim assist which resulted in the reticle being pushed away from an enemy
• Improved shot registration consistency between host / client in peer-to-peer custom game matches
• Resolved a variety of UI inconsistencies, including team color randomization, medals, and in-game scoreboard display

3.3.1??5 Ha?lo The Master Chief Collection content update notes [Halowaypoint.com]

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You didn't think Microsoft wouldn't offer a bundle, did you?

Lately, Microsoft's been doing a great job of using the seemingly limited white Xbox One as a way to simultaneously move consoles and copies of Sunset Overdrive. If a photograph out of Brasil Game Show is to be believed, Microsoft ma?y soon offer the same incentive, but instead of with a new IP, bundled with a title that's much more familiar in the videogame world.

As reported on NeoGAF, Microsoft appears poised to reveal a white Xbox One bundled with Halo: The Master Chief Collection at Brasil Game Show. The combination makes sense, as many believe that Master Chief Collection will be a system-seller for Micr?osoft. Packing it in with a special console just makes the prospect all that more alluring.

The South American trade show runs from October 9 through October 12, so we'll have to wait until then for confirmation of its exist?ence and any details.

White Console Master? Chief Collection Bundle Appears [NeoGAF]

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A fan favorite

Six maps from Halo 2 are being given preferential treatment when Halo: The Master Chief Collection releases on November 11. The previously revealed ones are Ascension, Coagulation, Zanzibar, Sanctuary?, and Lockout. The final map is a bit of a fan favorite -- Warlock, which is being renamed as Warlord.

The small, four-way symmetric base is fondly remembered because ??of its propensity to spur close-quarter, high action matches. The teleporters throughout the map amplify this, as players warp in and out of combat in the blink of an eye.

In its Master Chief Collection&nb?sp;state,? Warlord will see a few changes. Among these are more cover, additional skill jumps, and a new weapon that rests in the middle of the map.

Warlord's roots are deeper in the franchise than just Halo 2. It was an original map in Halo: Combat Evolved that was named "Wizard," and it was remade for Halo: Reach as "Magus." Regardless of which version fans remember, Warlord will seem familiar, just enhanced, as part of Master Chief Collection.

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A full decade of technology has done wonders

As part of the Master Chief Collection that was announced this morning, Halo 2: Anniversary is getting a fully remastered face lift just as Halo: Combat Evolved did three years ago with Halo: Anniversary. So, the game looks really pretty but it'd be nice to see just how good it looks compared to its old self. 343 ??Industries went ahead and did just that.

They released a handful of screenshots obviously showing off the Chief himself fighting some Covenant in the opening level Cairo Station, and man it's looking good. What really took me by surprise was Sergeant Johnson's face. It looks like that original target render teaser for Halo 2 finally came to fruition a whopping decade later. I'm so down with that. There'?s other various comparisons that you can find in o??ur gallery. They'll take you back, man.

The post Halo 2??: Anniversary comparison hits r??ight in the nostalgia appeared first on Destructoid.

Multiplayer beta access with pre-orders

Folks who pre-order Halo: The Master Chief Collection will gain entry to the multiplayer beta for Halo 5: Guardians this December, as announced duri??ng Microsoft's E3 media briefing.

A short CG trailer was shown which promised 60 frames per second, dedicated servers, next-generation arena combat, and new Spartan abilities. The beta will see the debut of "new game modes and features," according to 343 Industri?es studio head Bonnie Ross.

The post Get the Ha?lo 5 beta with The Master Chief Colle?ction appeared first on Destructoid.