Halo Episode 1 & 2 Review - I Think We're Just Getting Started

thegamer.com:

Halo has always been a story of scope and intimacy. It stretches far across the galaxy, yet revolves around the soul and conscience of a single, unbreakable soldier. From the very first scene, Halo’s television show from Paramount nails this feeling. We begin in a rebel camp and see not soldiers, but people. Yes, they discuss fighting and preparation and the incoming storm, but they do it over laughs and drinks and card games. It's a masterclass in telling the story behind the story, and what makes it so frustrating is that a few scenes in, Halo completely abandons this close humanity for battles, bombast, and exposition.

The initial battle, at least, is terrific. There has only been one out-and-out combat experience like the ones we're used to from the games in the first two episodes, but it's enough to carry them. It avoids explosions everywhere and rapid machine gun fire with blood, screams, and gore for something that feels like Halo. We see the other-worldly energy swords, the punchy rifle blasts, the crunchy footsteps. Everything feels weighty and deliberate, avoiding the pitfall of making it a light and airy MCU-style VFX fest. We even see some shots in first-person mode through Master Chief's helmet, which feel like a nice nod to the game without a reliance on it. The first few scenes see an intimate gathering of characters who are immediately and effectively constructed before our eyes, followed by an epic battle that feels perfect for the Halo universe. That's around 25 minutes of the two hours of Halo I've seen so far. None of the rest even comes close.

Related: Showing Master Chief's Face Misses The Point Of His Character

Let's talk some more about the helmet. Folks, he takes the helmet off. He takes the