Review: Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a unique, Xbox One–exclusive compilation. First revealed at E3 2014, 343 Industries surprised fans by announcing remastered versions of every main numbered entry in the Halo franchise. Here’s what I thought in my full review!

To date, the Halo franchise remains one of Xbox’s most iconic series. Master Chief first launched in November 2001 alongside the original Xbox, delivering an immersive, atmospheric FPS experience full of memorable characters—truly groundbreaking at the time.

The Master Chief Collection packages the four core Halo games—featuring four full campaigns plus the multiplayer content that delighted past generations. Rather than just bundling them together, 343 Industries remastered Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4 to run at 1080p/60fps, delivering far superior visuals compared to their original releases.

343’s mission wasn’t simply to “revive” the old games. They enhanced visuals in Halo 3 and Halo 4, improved control responsiveness, and refined character and object models. On the older Xbox 360 versions, weapon sounds could feel weak due to audio limitations; in this collection, gunfire is punchier and audio effects are richer and more realistic.

All four campaigns remain intact, but the visual upgrades give them a fresh “next‑gen” boost. Even though some gameplay conventions—like no sprint or double‑jump—feel dated today, it’s hard to fault any core aspect.

A standout feature is the ability to instantly switch between original and remastered graphics. Press the Options button on your Xbox One controller to toggle back to classic visuals, complete with the nostalgic bugs of yesteryear—a delightfully fun trip down memory lane.

While the new graphics look great, some artistic choices diverge from Halo’s trademark dim, tension‑filled environments. These remasters are noticeably brighter and more colorful—less minimalist than the originals. That isn’t inherently negative; in fact, modern players accustomed to vibrant visuals may appreciate it.

Menu text is fully localized into Brazilian Portuguese. However, only subtitles in Combat Evolved are in Portuguese; Halo 2 remains entirely in English, while Halo 3 and Halo 4 boast full Portuguese voice‑overs.

343 Industries nailed the streamlined UI, allowing smooth navigation between campaigns, multiplayer modes, and individual levels. In the “Missions” tab you can select any campaign and jump straight to any level—every classic difficulty setting is here, too.

This compilation arguably delivers one of the greatest multiplayer suites of all time: over 10 modes across 106 maps. Even after playing them all, you’ll still feel there’s more to discover, ensuring endless fun.

For fans who never experienced Combat Evolved online (Xbox Live came late in the 360 era) and for those who missed Halo 2 multiplayer after its servers shut down in 2010, this is a dream come true. The Master Chief Collection reunites generations of competitive arenas in one place—proof that Xbox still rules FPS.

And you—what do you think of Halo: The Master Chief Collection? Share your opinion with us!