To say that Halo is one of the most influential games the industry has ever seen is an understatement. Bungie's Xbox launch title not only made Microsoft's console successful, but it revolutionized the first person shooting genre. That's why, even after all these years (it's hard to imagine that it's getting old!), it's still worth revisiting. However, there are still gamers who have never experienced Halo, and this review is for them.

The backbone of any adventure game is its story, and Halo has a great one that pulls you in and never lets go. It's the year 2552, and the United Nations Space Command finds itself in a war with a fellowship of alien races known as The Covenant. As a super soldier known as The Master Chief, you're awakened from cryo sleep as your vessel, The Pillar of Autumn, is about to be boarded by Covenant forces. Narrowly escaping, you crash land on a mysterious ring world known as Halo, and it's here where most of the game takes place. You battle the Covenant in several highly detailed locales, not only looking to save the human race from their evil clutches, but to also uncover the secrets of Halo. It's definitely a solid plot. Sure, you may notice along the way that its writers were influenced by several sci-fi films, but Halo's story more than stands on its own, and you'll feel compelled to see it to the end. However, there are a lot of other reasons why you'll want to play this game multiple times, and its story won't be the reason.

In case you didn't know, Halo is a first person shooter, much like Doom and Rainbow Six 3. However, it winds up excelling in just about every category. For starters, its controls are simply fantastic. Bungie really made excellent use of the Xbox controller, so it doesn't matter whether you're playing on a Controller S, a third party pad, or the dreaded Xbox fatty, the game becomes an extension of yourself. Maneuvering the Master Chief around is a breeze, and unloading white hot death upon your enemies is even easier. In fact, even if you don't like the defaults, the controls are easily customizable.

Beyond the controls, the gameplay is what really makes Halo shine. Most of the game's environments are absolutely huge, and the terrain is varied, so you may find yourself running around on a ship (both human as well as alien), crossing a grassy plain, or ducking behind a tree in a snow storm. The scope and size of the environments are truly a sight to behold, if, that is, you have the time to marvel at their grandeur. Much of your time is going to be spent making sure you don't get your butt kicked by the hordes of Covenant aliens trying to wipe you and your fellow marines off Halo for good, and they come in all shapes and sizes. The tinier ones, the Grunts and the Jackals aren't too bad to deal with, but the much larger creatures, namely the Elites and the Hunters, are a royal pain in the you-know-what. Over time, you may uncover strategies to kill them more effectively, but never underestimate their intelligence. Halo features some of the most sophisticated AI ever seen. They talk to one another, take cover, and roll out of the way! They also attack in groups, and if you kill most of them, the remaining enemies flee! It's safe to say that you should NEVER blindly run into an area, or else you'll be dead before your carcass hits the floor.

No first person shooter would be complete without an arsenal of kick ass weaponry, and Halo certainly has its fare share. You have access to both man-made as well as alien weaponry, and each reacts differently to various targets. The M6D pistol is a great firearm that features a zooming ability, while the MA5B Assault Rifle is good for unloading large amounts of ammo upon your hapless foes. However, my personal favorite is the S2 Am Sniper Rifle, a weapon that lets you pick off Covenant from great distances. Of course, there's much more firepower at your fingertips. The alien weapons are great to use when you're in a jam, in particular, the Plasma Rifle and pistol.

While Halo features multiple weapons, it's unlike other shooters in that you can carry only two at a time (you can pick up and discard weapons when you see them lying about). You'll always have access to grenades (thrown by pressing the Left Trigger), but you'll really have to think about which weapons will be the best for the job. If you're going into a structure that features close quarters, the M 19 SSM Rocket Launcher isn't your best option.

In addition to the Master Chief's awesome arsenal of destruction, you'll occasionally get a little help from your fellow marines. Several times during the game, they'll accompany you on missions. You won't need to keep them alive to progress, but their help is appreciated. Their AI is just as sophisticated as the enemy's, and they're a very vocal bunch, so expect them to constantly chatter away while under fire. Each features a distinct personality, so it's almost like you get to know them, but as you'll probably notice, the same marines reappear over the course of the game, even if they got toasted several levels ago. Also, don't worry if one of them walks into your line of sight and you accidentally blow his brains out. However, if you kill too many of them, the remaining soldiers will turn on you.

If you'd rather drive to your destination, Halo features several vehicles. Just like the weapons, there are both human and alien rides, each with various advantages over the other. The Wart Hog is a light reconnaissance vehicle (it's like a truck with a mini gun on the back) that's great for jumping across or over obstacles. It can hold three riders, so you can drive while one marine operates the mini gun and the other snipes enemies from the passenger side. You can also hop into the Scorpion, which is a military tank (Marines can actually jump onto it!), and the Ghost, an alien flying craft that fires plasma! The inclusion of vehicles in Halo keeps the action varied, but don't take your eyes off of the enemy, because one well-placed rocket may end your summer drive in a hurry.

Halo's gameplay is sweet, but its visuals are the icing on the cake. The Xbox needed a game to show off its awesome capabilities, and Halo wowed and continues to wow the masses with its large and highly-detailed environments. The game is absolutely gorgeous, featuring some of the best-looking character models ever seen. You may kill an alien and just marvel at its dead body! The textures in the game are truly a sight to behold, as wood, grass, and rocks have been almost perfectly recreated. The game is just awe inspiring. Just walking outside during the level "Halo" and seeing the trees swaying in the wind, multiple alien drop ships screaming overhead, and a raging battle on the ground still impresses me to this day.

Accompanying Halo's excellent visuals is a phenomenal soundtrack. Featuring tracks to get your blood pumping as well as soft melodies that make you stop and really think about what's going on in the game's story, the score is an aural delight that tantalizes the senses.

While Xbox Live wasn't implemented at the time of Halo's release, the game comes packed with a solid multiplayer component that provides hours of enjoyment long after you've completed the single-player campaign. Actually, if the single player kept you longing for more, you and a friend can beat it again in the game's co-op mode. It's the best co-op mode that I've ever seen. The game still runs smoothly, and the addition of another player really adds an extra layer of depth to the experience.

If death matching is your thing, Halo's multi play will keep you bathed in blood for hours. Sure, there's the standard split-screen stuff we've come to expect from most shooters, but it's actually possible to link four Xbox consoles together using Ethernet cables, providing you have four televisions handy (and 16 friends!).

Halo's multiplayer levels, much like its single player ones, are varied in size and location, offering players close quarters as well as wide open spaces. There are different weapons and vehicles available (though vehicles aren't available in all), and there are several different match types to enjoy, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, and Slayer, among others.

Just because the Halo's dipped gold doesn't mean there aren't a few cracks in its otherwise polished exterior. While it's a satisfying experience throughout, its better levels come in the beginning and middle of the adventure, with The Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room being its brightest spots. After that, the levels degenerate into mindless blast-fests that aren't as large or feature as many opportunities to use the vehicles. Still, this is a minor quibble, as you'll be too pumped to see how the story ends to notice. Thankfully, Bungie hit a sweet spot with the game's ten levels, ending Halo at the point where you'll still beg for more, but at the same time, won't be bored out of your skull as the game drags onto the 1,234th mission.

What's to be said that already hasn't been? Halo is a masterpiece, a sparkling gem of a game that shines brighter than any console shooter before it. Even after several years, it's still a blast to play, and since it's at a value price, there's no reason why you shouldn't own an Xbox as well as its most talked about launch title. With Halo 2 almost upon us, you'd do yourself a favor to play through its prequel just one more time, and if you've got a friend over, co-op is the best way to play.