Ten years ago, the fine folks at Bungie redefined virtual combat as we know it. Halo: Combat Evolved set the bar for war games by becoming the flagship title for the newly minted Xbox Live network and launching a franchise that would span a decade. Over the years Bungie has taken us on a whirlwind tour of their universe by leading us into war fronts with Covenant forces, dropping us feet-first into hell, or sending us on a desperate mission to save humanity from certain destruction. In the process they have given us innovative new tools for sharing and capturing our experiences, whether it be facing down endless hordes of Covenant in Firefight, watching saved games in Theatre mode, or simply stepping into a Campaign together. They’ve shown us beautiful vistas, let us forge new spaces, and even allowed us tell a few stories of our own.

Today, combat evolves once again as 343 Industries, the inheritors of the Halo legacy, relaunch that seminal title with remastered visuals, re-orchestrated music, and restyled multiplayer maps for your Reach experience. Bungie has left big shoes to fill, and 343i seems well prepared to keep the Halo legacy alive and well. Halo: Combat Evolved has never looked better than it does in the Anniversary edition, and with its opening salvo, 343i demonstrates that it is well prepared to take up Bungie’s mantle. We are looking forward to what they have in store for us, as we revisit old war fronts now and as we land boots down and weapons hot in new battlefields with Halo 4 next year.