Walking into GameStop as a 10-year-old, Halo: Combat Evolved beckoned to me. My father bought me a copy, and I raced home to pop the disc into my laptop. As I played, I experienced something I’d never felt before: escapism. Assuming the persona of the Master Chief and gazing upon the beautifully realized world of Installation 04 enabled my imagination to run wild. In short, I became hooked on the franchise. As I progressed through each Halo game, Bungie’s masterful use of storytelling and worldbuilding taught me some very valuable lessons that I will never abandon.
The Importance of Relationships
More than any other game franchise I’ve played, Halo made me feel a deep, emotional connection with the characters I encountered. Cortana became much more than a chatty, holographic companion who told me what to do. She became a trusted friend, with her own lively personality and strong moral compass. When I crash-landed on Installation 04, she yelled “Chief! Chief, can you hear me?” I was touched by this moment, as Cortana was invested in me and I valued that relationship.
Similarly, I developed a strong bond with Sergeant Johnson. He was a man who distinguished himself from my other allies with his unforgettable quotes, sarcastic attitude, and unwavering sense of duty. Playing Halo during my childhood helped me realize how important strong relationships are, as they foster friendships and make life meaningful.
Teamwork
If you’re a Halo fan like me, it’s impossible to talk about the series without bringing up the multiplayer. Sure, the Halo franchise does an incredible job of putting you in fast-paced, action-packed battles against other players. However, it also emphasizes something many first-person shooters shy away from: teamwork. When I jumped into multiplayer, my teammates weren’t just in the game for themselves. We would communicate, coordinate different strategies to capture the enemy team’s flag, and run like hell whenever zombies approached us.
I relished every multiplayer match, whether it was Capture the Flag, Zombies, or Grifball. I knew I could depend on my teammates to win games and enjoy our collaboration. My experiences with Halo’s multiplayer taught me to put my trust in strangers when I otherwise wouldn’t have. In doing so, my team achieved its goal and had an incredible time.
The Value of a Good Story
The best part of the Halo franchise is by far its story. Joseph Staten’s writing in Halo: CE, Halo 2 and Halo 3 was epic in scope and scale. It took me on a journey through a universe with expertly-crafted lore, ferocious enemies, and characters for whom I cared.
The Covenant wasn’t your typical alien foe. It had its own social and military structure, with Prophets at the top and the unfortunate, impish Grunts at the bottom. Moreover, the Flood inspired fear whenever I saw them, with their mutated, misshapen limbs, disfigured heads, and bulbous chests. The Forerunners added an additional layer of complexity to the universe. They were the enigmatic, dominant race in the galaxy before their demise at the hands of the Halo Array. All of these races and characters contributed to the richness of Halo’s universe, and I relished being a part of such an expansive story.
The Importance of Discussing Real-World Issues
Halo is not usually known for including aspects of controversial, real-world issues in its games. However, the Halo series’ focus on religion piqued my interest in the subject. Bungie mindfully incorporated elements of religion into the Halo franchise, and its influence can be felt in nearly every corner of Halo’s universe. The name “The Covenant” is a reference to mankind’s agreement with God in the Bible. However, in the Halo universe, it’s defined as the Covenant Empire’s worship of the Forerunners and the Halo rings.
However, the Halo franchise also discusses the dangers of the Covenant’s religious fundamentalism and theocracy. It examines the ways in which such constructs and worldviews can cause immense destruction. The Covenant’s extremism is represented in the real world by groups such as al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and the Ku Klux Klan, to name a few. In short, the way in which Halo approached the nature of religion is admirable and thought-provoking.
Perseverance
I can guarantee that any Halo player has encountered the theme of perseverance at one time or another. When I stepped inside the armor of the Master Chief, perseverance wasn’t only a theme. It became wisdom that I’ve carried with me throughout my life. As I improved at Halo, I began to push myself, trying to beat the campaign of every game on Legendary.
Sure enough, I got frustrated. Angry. Confused. “Why the hell is The Library so damn hard?” I asked myself. “Why can’t I beat Cortana without getting killed by a Combat Form every three seconds?” Fortunately, I didn’t give up. I worked hard, conquering level after level, until I had finally beaten every Halo game on Legendary. The Halo franchise taught me the simple maxim, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I can say, without a doubt, that I’ve become a better person because of it.
Halo was a very important part of my childhood. It was more than a series of games to me. Instead, it imparted a wisdom unlike any other form of entertainment or work of art that I’d experienced. At its core, that’s what Halo is: a multifaceted piece of media from which all kinds of lessons can be learned. And that, I believe, is the sign of something indelible, something to be cherished.
