In overall, I've liked the gameplay of the Halo FPS more then most other games of the genre. Indeed, it isn't groundbreaking or new in any sense, but I enjoy it beacuse of its special kind of uniqueness. The feel of tactical combat gives me alot of reasons to replay it, such as being able to move around in a more fluid way, battle with different combinations of techniques, ect.
This might sound strange, but I find the Halo story universe to contain alot of depth which is, disappointingly, never really shown in the games nor books as far as I can tell.
Humanity makes its first contact with alien life in the form of a vast interstellar empire consisting of many different species who have been more or less forced to choose between joining and intergrating themselves into its society or facing destruction. None of the member species are very fond of each other, and are often close to open hostility between one another which could easily escalate into civil-war would it not be for the theocracy ruling over the population enciting fear, misleading and even indoctrinating many under their religious goverment and goals. In short, it is a powerful civilization, yet with many cracks threatening to tear it apart from the inside. Humanity proves to be an excellent scapegoat, a target for propaganda to encourage unification against this threat of a faithless civilization. This is what humanity has done to itself for thousands of years, the alien empire represents the darker parts of our own society.
Philosophical thinking aside, I can't help but wonder if this anime series based on Halo was made just simply to appeal to a wider market of young people. It seems to contain lots of hack and slash settings which for me reaches up to a silly level.
Also, why are they showing Spartans as normal Human beings? From what I understand, Spartans have undergone extensive medical procedures which have altered their bodies to such levels that they are comparable to post-molten Darth Vader. All of them taken away from a normal life to be what the authorities find suitable.
I fear they wish to make the Halo series more in the likeness of a multi-media phenomenon that a young audience will jump at. In all honesty I'm disappointed. For so long did I wait for a solid story with an immersive depth to come out of the games only to be met with a rather shallow character-composition and with the overall setting taking a more unserious and linear turn.
