Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Why people think Halo CE is the best!
  • Subject: Why people think Halo CE is the best!
Subject: Why people think Halo CE is the best!
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

it's not nostalgia, what is that the word of the day on this forum?? The game specifically handles better than 2 and 3. no responses from hostile fanboys, please. Sarcasm included SS.

  • 09.10.2009 12:56 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I think I agree with the OP.

  • 09.10.2009 1:01 PM PDT

Reach MMO. Here's to hoping.

And the people that believe "the hardcore playlists would be more popular if the rules were strictly MLG" can come off it, now. If you're not willing to support something close to your own setup, there's no reason for us to believe that cloning our own lists and stripping the variety down will attract more people. -- Shishka, Bungie.net

Posted by: Xx Mr Bill xX
Posted by: Tyguy101
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
No! It lacked autoaim and melee lunge and those things alone made it better than Halo 2 or 3.


Have you ever talked to someone who played Halo 3 first? And was very good at H3 and thus would have been good at Halo CE.

When they play the whole series they almost undoubtably say that Halo 3 is far superior to Halo CE. It is no contest. It is where they started that made the difference, not because of slight gameplay differences.


I'm "good" at Halo 3. I played CE first. I'm mediocre at best at CE, and I still go back and play it. In fact, I've gotten worse at the game from playing 2 and 3. Its worlds different than the first two.

Nostalgia does make the past seem better.

On the other hand, I have 3 (4 if you count prepatch Halo 2, which I do because its completely different than the postpatch version) different experiences off which to base your opinion on if you have played all three games. I still stand by CE was the best, although I acknowledge that my views may be construed by nostalgia.


I am glad there are a few people that are willing to admit that they are somewhat swayed by their original experience with their first Halo game.

I started on Halo: CE and can honestly say that playing Halo: CE with my friends was the best video game experience I have ever had. Our 4 bedroom apartment had LAN parties set up everyday. Every room had an xbox and every single night our apartment filled with friends and friends of friends and we played til 2, 3, or 4 in the morning. Besides pros, I cannot not imagine many more people who played more Halo: CE LAN parties with 10-16 people than me.

But Halo: CE is not the best Halo game. It just isn't. You have to look past those awesome days/nights/turned into days that were so fun and look at the games for what they are.

You also need to remember that a lot of you thought Halo: CE was the best because you thought you were actually good at Halo. Admit it. You beat up on your crappy friends night after night and you really thought you were something "special". And that the pistol really took so much skill because you handled your AR spraying friends all the time. I got news for you, you weren't that good (even if you played on laggy xbox connect, which I did), and Halo CE isn't better than Halo 3.

  • 09.10.2009 1:59 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Halo Combat Evolved
I got dem BrAiNDAwGS in me

Posted by: Cheeto666
I started on Halo: CE, and I think it is the worst game of the series by far. Halo 2 is much better than both of the others combined. The story is much better, and the boss fights, which everyone seemed to hate, were very natural and fit well into the Halo storyline.


You are a bastard and need to stfu

  • 09.11.2009 12:11 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Halo Combat Evolved
I got dem BrAiNDAwGS in me

Posted by: Tyguy101
Posted by: Xx Mr Bill xX
Posted by: Tyguy101
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
No! It lacked autoaim and melee lunge and those things alone made it better than Halo 2 or 3.


Have you ever talked to someone who played Halo 3 first? And was very good at H3 and thus would have been good at Halo CE.

When they play the whole series they almost undoubtably say that Halo 3 is far superior to Halo CE. It is no contest. It is where they started that made the difference, not because of slight gameplay differences.


I'm "good" at Halo 3. I played CE first. I'm mediocre at best at CE, and I still go back and play it. In fact, I've gotten worse at the game from playing 2 and 3. Its worlds different than the first two.

Nostalgia does make the past seem better.

On the other hand, I have 3 (4 if you count prepatch Halo 2, which I do because its completely different than the postpatch version) different experiences off which to base your opinion on if you have played all three games. I still stand by CE was the best, although I acknowledge that my views may be construed by nostalgia.


I am glad there are a few people that are willing to admit that they are somewhat swayed by their original experience with their first Halo game.

I started on Halo: CE and can honestly say that playing Halo: CE with my friends was the best video game experience I have ever had. Our 4 bedroom apartment had LAN parties set up everyday. Every room had an xbox and every single night our apartment filled with friends and friends of friends and we played til 2, 3, or 4 in the morning. Besides pros, I cannot not imagine many more people who played more Halo: CE LAN parties with 10-16 people than me.

But Halo: CE is not the best Halo game. It just isn't. You have to look past those awesome days/nights/turned into days that were so fun and look at the games for what they are.

You also need to remember that a lot of you thought Halo: CE was the best because you thought you were actually good at Halo. Admit it. You beat up on your crappy friends night after night and you really thought you were something "special". And that the pistol really took so much skill because you handled your AR spraying friends all the time. I got news for you, you weren't that good (even if you played on laggy xbox connect, which I did), and Halo
CE isn't better than Halo 3.


Again this is wrong. It is the best Halo game and it has nothing to do with nostalgia or whatever. The game imo was much better. It was more fun the levels were awesome and so forth. So your opinion means nothing.


It's like you're saying it's a sequel so it is better.

  • 09.11.2009 12:13 AM PDT

I Agree with Alot with ppl's opintions about CE its the orginal they always set the benchmark, but H2 imo took it to another level, Campaign and MP. The day H3 was relased an entrie communtiy that had been built up over 3 years with H2 died over night in a few words they made H3 nub proof thats all i have to say.

  • 09.11.2009 1:24 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

GRUNT BUD!!!!!

I played 3 first and ce kicks its ass. Better story, better weapons and a game thats acually somewhat HARD on legendary

  • 09.11.2009 4:09 AM PDT

You have a point. Mechanically and gameplay wise Halo 3 is the best.
But I will always hold the original with very high esteem. (It was my first)
I love Halo.

  • 09.11.2009 4:17 AM PDT

Halo CE has a new form of the FPS that's why people like it so much. Me? Halo 2 is the best, it had the best campaign. I like halo 3 cuz of the graphics, and multiplayer!

  • 09.11.2009 4:25 AM PDT

Reach MMO. Here's to hoping.

And the people that believe "the hardcore playlists would be more popular if the rules were strictly MLG" can come off it, now. If you're not willing to support something close to your own setup, there's no reason for us to believe that cloning our own lists and stripping the variety down will attract more people. -- Shishka, Bungie.net

Posted by: Liquideffect


Again this is wrong. It is the best Halo game and it has nothing to do with nostalgia or whatever. The game imo was much better. It was more fun the levels were awesome and so forth. So your opinion means nothing.


It's like you're saying it's a sequel so it is better.



Your logic is skewed. By what you are continually stating you are assuming that if Halo CE was added to xbox live (and I would even give it all the extra features that H3 has such as forge) that everyone would return to it and it would be the #1 Halo game on live. They just wouldn't. I can't say for you personally, and there certainly would be a small following, but I would bet my house that the majority of players would stay on H3.

H3 is better. HCE had great points, the simplicity and innovation of the FPS made it rise to the top, but the games have gotten progressively better. Graphics, gameplay, features, weapon variety, vehicles, etc. the game has gotten better and the number of players prove it.

FYI for the most part I am speaking of multiplayer which consumes 95% of most Halo players time.

  • 09.11.2009 8:05 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Neem deel aan de NL Group, om het spel beter te begrijpen en makkelijker met/tegen vele andere Nederlanders te spelen.

I've seen a lot of remarks from people claiming to have played halo ce before 2 and 3 and still claim 2 and 3 are better. Get the f out of here, you didn't play hce first, you're just saying that so you can have a valid excuse for finding halo 2 and 3 better. And arguments like "you thought you were good at hce only because you played against your crappy friends, but you're not"aren't gonna work dude. The moment people who played HCE grabbed the controller and played H2 were like what happened?? This is different, this is not what I expected. At that time we could not explain what we felt, but now the facts and observations have explained it to us.
1. Increased auto-aim.
2. Jump-floating in air.
3. Increased bullet-magnetism.
4. Small + very quick explosions.
5. The lunge.
6. Slower movement.

Please don't say you played hce before the others when you haven't just to make a point please..

  • 09.11.2009 8:30 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Legendary Member

Posted by: Tyguy101
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
No! It lacked autoaim and melee lunge and those things alone made it better than Halo 2 or 3.


Have you ever talked to someone who played Halo 3 first? And was very good at H3 and thus would have been good at Halo CE.

Not at all, Halo CE has a HUGE skill gap compared to Halo 3. I could see many people that are decent at Halo 3 get completely trashed in Halo CE.

  • 09.11.2009 8:38 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: SweetTRIX
I certainly agree that nostalgia weighs in to a degree, but if you look at the actual debates, not just people saying "make it like CE" there is a lot of people that share the consistent opinion that CE was a more "skilled" game. But skill itself is a completely debatable thing. I personally enjoyed CE the most out of all three, the campaign flowed the best, the enemy AI was challenging without being rediculous (First level Halo2), and it was scripted the best out of all three. From an MP standpoint I enjoyed it the best because out of anyone we LAN'd with, all 100+ people out of 5 large tourny's that we hosted, the game was about skilled gameplay, not a skill based on weapon use.

Weapons helped, they didn't decide, and that is what I feel is missing the sequals. Due mostly to the BR and dual wielding and the effects that both had on weapon balance and general gameplay. I don't think that either 2 or 3 are terrible games, I just feel that they fall short of the bar set by the first title. The only reason that 2/3 will ever rate above CE is due to the xbl component, which = title longevity these days. The sad thing is that CE didn't need that to be the best xbox game, eclipsed only by it's sequal.


aa very good point

agree 100%

  • 09.11.2009 9:27 AM PDT

In the days of old, there were legends of a land long lost to time. This land was known as Ranna'Mor. Ranna'Mor was said to contain in its borders 7 warriors. These warriors had once unleashed a veritable hell upon the ancient world, until they were locked away. My name is Toriad, and I am one of those warriors. Our return is approaching. Do not run away, do not cower in fear; take solace in your final days, for that is all we can do. -Legend of Ranna'Mor

Wow, I'm surprised this topic is still so active.

Anyway, regarding the OP, I was introduced to the Halo series in mid 2005 with Halo 2. I fell in love with the series right away. When I got my own Xbox and played through Halo: CE, I thought right away that it was an even better game than Halo 2. Even now, I still find Halo 1 to be the best and most fun to play.

  • 09.11.2009 9:30 AM PDT

Reach MMO. Here's to hoping.

And the people that believe "the hardcore playlists would be more popular if the rules were strictly MLG" can come off it, now. If you're not willing to support something close to your own setup, there's no reason for us to believe that cloning our own lists and stripping the variety down will attract more people. -- Shishka, Bungie.net

Posted by: TS Legaia
I've seen a lot of remarks from people claiming to have played halo ce before 2 and 3 and still claim 2 and 3 are better. Get the f out of here, you didn't play hce first, you're just saying that so you can have a valid excuse for finding halo 2 and 3 better. And arguments like "you thought you were good at hce only because you played against your crappy friends, but you're not"aren't gonna work dude. The moment people who played HCE grabbed the controller and played H2 were like what happened?? This is different, this is not what I expected. At that time we could not explain what we felt, but now the facts and observations have explained it to us.
1. Increased auto-aim.
2. Jump-floating in air.
3. Increased bullet-magnetism.
4. Small + very quick explosions.
5. The lunge.
6. Slower movement.

Please don't say you played hce before the others when you haven't just to make a point please..


Holy crap kid, get real. Unless you were pro I guaruntee I have played more than double the HCE that you have. I practically dropped out of college I played so much (not particularly proud to say that). Our apartment was a revolving door of neighbors and friends for about a year and a half. The only constant was me and my roommates who played 16-20 hours a day. Losers at the time yes, but we were very good at HCE (for our VERY large circle and local tourneys and xbox connect).

I am not saying that HCE and H2 didn't have some differences in gameplay, that is obvious. And H2's noob tube and glitches really made for SOME lame matches. But overall, the games improved IMO and based on the numbers.

This may be hard to believe, but being a very good HCE player I was happy the skill gap was decreased. It made for more competitive games all the way around. No more going 30-2 every game because I could dispatch 3-4 enemies on one clip with the pistol. My postive observations of the change from HCE to H2:

1. No more completely overpowered pistol. It was lame that there was a one stop weapon that could honestly be used in ANY situation. It was pratically a sniper, killing guys on the opposite base on blood gultch. It made the skill gap rediculously huge, because if you had any FPS skill you had such a dominate advantage over any bad player no matter what weapon they used. That does not make for good gameplay, just lopsided matches.

2. No more Fall damage, it didn't require more skill just a different play style, and it was stupid. You are a spartan after all.

3. Way less blocky movement, I recently put in HCE just to remember the good ol'times and it is amazing how much blockier the movement feels, it just doesn't play as natural.

4. No more industructable vehicles and not to mention the feel/controls for driving them. Don't get me started how dumb that was.

5. Feel and flow of bigger maps. Yeah they were fun and novel in HCE, but they became so much more maneuverable in their size and with destructable/respawning vehicles.

Yeah there were changes and it didn't feel the same as what we were used to, but it did get worse, just different than your original experience and what you expected.

  • 09.11.2009 10:21 AM PDT

LW45 TS40 TO40 TSW35 TSN35 TT30 SB30 MLG25

That is a sound psychological analysis. I wonder how many people will be able to appreciate it.

Actually, the principle you referred to in the OP happens to be one of the underlying reasons behind movies become gradually less popular with each sequel.

However, there are other factors contributing to the popularity of Halo CE, the most identifiable of which being the experiences and memories that people associate with it. That is to say, the absence of an online functionality forced people to get together with friends (and ensured there were never any network issues), and these experiences are often what define our view of the game.

Other minor factors include:

A darker, more alien environment and atmosphere
A revolutionary suite of features
An original premise

[Edited on 09.11.2009 2:18 PM PDT]

  • 09.11.2009 1:51 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Halo Combat Evolved
I got dem BrAiNDAwGS in me

Posted by: Jak O Bladez
You have a point. Mechanically and gameplay wise Halo 3 is the best.
But I will always hold the original with very high esteem. (It was my first)
I love Halo.


Gameplay wise, are you serious?

  • 09.11.2009 2:17 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Halo Combat Evolved
I got dem BrAiNDAwGS in me

Posted by: Tyguy101
Posted by: Liquideffect


Again this is wrong. It is the best Halo game and it has nothing to do with nostalgia or whatever. The game imo was much better. It was more fun the levels were awesome and so forth. So your opinion means nothing.


It's like you're saying it's a sequel so it is better.



Your logic is skewed. By what you are continually stating you are assuming that if Halo CE was added to xbox live (and I would even give it all the extra features that H3 has such as forge) that everyone would return to it and it would be the #1 Halo game on live. They just wouldn't. I can't say for you personally, and there certainly would be a small following, but I would bet my house that the majority of players would stay on H3.

H3 is better. HCE had great points, the simplicity and innovation of the FPS made it rise to the top, but the games have gotten progressively better. Graphics, gameplay, features, weapon variety, vehicles, etc. the game has gotten better and the number of players prove it.

FYI for the most part I am speaking of multiplayer which consumes 95% of most Halo players time.


What's a matter with you? How do you not get that I like the game the most and nothing will change that. You come up with some bull-blam!-, saying this is the only reason people like the game when it's not. Nostalgia does make you remember the fun times but won't change my feelings that Halo CE is the best.

Also I could give 2 -blam!-s if it had Xbox Live support now and no one would go back to it. How would that change my opinion on the game?

You say my logic is skewed but yours isn't any better. You keep trying to prove to people Halo 3 is better, I dunno why, maybe because it's your favorite? It still won't change me from liking CE, the feel of CE, the levels, quality is what I like.

I'm ready for your college knowledge to prove me wrong though, legendary member.

[Edited on 09.11.2009 2:29 PM PDT]

  • 09.11.2009 2:28 PM PDT

Do you really care? you can't automatically see my signature anyway.

H:CE (my first halo game) had the best Campaign of all 3! that's not the n-word either. The Weapons were fantastic, the replay ability was amazing, (I can replay The Silent Cartographer for days) there was everchanging environments, and new dangers around every turn.

H2 had the best Multiplayer (see right there I admitted H2 multiplayer was better than H1 multiplayer) The BR was still superior to all but you still had a chance to take multiple people out with the SMG.

H3 had nothing. forge. theatre. lol that's it. I'm serious.

  • 09.11.2009 2:35 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Halo Combat Evolved
I got dem BrAiNDAwGS in me

Posted by: Spearmint
H:CE (my first halo game) had the best Campaign of all 3! that's not the n-word either. The Weapons were fantastic, the replay ability was amazing, (I can replay The Silent Cartographer for days) there was everchanging environments, and new dangers around every turn.

H2 had the best Multiplayer (see right there I admitted H2 multiplayer was better than H1 multiplayer) The BR was still superior to all but you still had a chance to take multiple people out with the SMG.

H3 had nothing. forge. theatre. lol that's it. I'm serious.



BAM!!! I agree.

  • 09.11.2009 2:41 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: Tyguy101
Your logic is skewed. By what you are continually stating you are assuming that if Halo CE was added to xbox live (and I would even give it all the extra features that H3 has such as forge) that everyone would return to it and it would be the #1 Halo game on live. They just wouldn't. I can't say for you personally, and there certainly would be a small following, but I would bet my house that the majority of players would stay on H3.
Of course it would, because you can't just pick up and play Halo 1, you have to get good at it, something Halo 3 really doesn't require.

H3 is better. HCE had great points, the simplicity and innovation of the FPS made it rise to the top, but the games have gotten progressively better. Graphics, gameplay, features, weapon variety, vehicles, etc. the game has gotten better and the number of players prove it.It has gotten popular, but not necessarily better. Popularity=/=Quality. Graphics have gotten better, you're right, but I don't play games for graphics. Maybe that's just me, as I'm an old-school gamer.

It's really up to opinion on whether gameplay has gotten better. In my opinion, it hasn't. Dual-wielding has made weapons that were once good, bad. It also made countless clones of the Assault Rifle. As for weapon variety, I guess Halo 3 wins, because it has the largest # of weapons, but they all function very similarly. I consider weapon variety by function, not number, and Halo 3 doesn't pass in this department.



  • 09.11.2009 2:44 PM PDT

Reach MMO. Here's to hoping.

And the people that believe "the hardcore playlists would be more popular if the rules were strictly MLG" can come off it, now. If you're not willing to support something close to your own setup, there's no reason for us to believe that cloning our own lists and stripping the variety down will attract more people. -- Shishka, Bungie.net

Posted by: porkstein
That is a sound psychological analysis. I wonder how many people will be able to appreciate it.

Actually, the principle you referred to in the OP happens to be one of the underlying reasons behind movies become gradually less popular with each sequel.

However, there are other factors contributing to the popularity of Halo CE, the most identifiable of which being the experiences and memories that people associate with it. That is to say, the absence of an online functionality forced people to get together with friends (and ensured there were never any network issues), and these experiences are often what define our view of the game.

Other minor factors include:

A darker, more alien environment and atmosphere
A revolutionary suite of features
An original premise



Thanks for the positive feedback. My wife is a School Psycologist and we actually talked about this very thing at length the other day. I can't remember what she called it, but it is much more common than just movies and video game sequels. She said it often causes dissatisfaction in subsequent teachers, friends, and even partners.

It is nice to see someone who agrees with something that is based on a sound principle.

  • 09.11.2009 2:49 PM PDT

Spartan119 the Red Raven.
"So officer tell me how it feels to be at the wrong end of that barrel?"

i started with halo 3 because thats when my parents finaly let me play M games. at 15. i had an xbox when halo was out and cryed when i couldnt go to the halo 2 lan partys my friends held. once i finished halo 3 and played MM for a while i went to my friends and got the other 2 and played them through. and really halo CE was the funnest to play becasue as ive see time after time its been proven to require more skill than the other 2 witch is utterly true. halo 2 i had a blast going through the campaign and never really played the MM because i played halo 3. however ive watched plenty of videos and know enofe to make an informed opinion. witch is halo CE
halo 3 is just a slug fest witch who ever shoots first is probably gonna win and whats that oh no 2 people against u, you will lose unless they screw up big time, witch isnt probably cause its so noob friendly. personaly halo 3 has only kept my attention with forge and infection (im the biggest zombie fan) with my friends. if reach isnt like halo CE like so many people are asking for (and bungie loves their fans right so please the older crowd and throw back) now throwing back doesnt mean no progress like so many people think it does it means to be similar in the skill department, make it HARD to play and not base who wins solely on weapon in hand. make all the waepons on practically on the same level. unlike the halo 3 weapons where there are some weapons on low tier and some on high tier. with reach everything needs to be around medium tier. u should all read my suggetions in the halo reach thoughts and ideas sticky thread pg 77 i have 2 really big posts on stuff. ull probably like it.

  • 09.11.2009 3:07 PM PDT

I speak the truth, and truth speaks itself.
The lies disguise what you despise.
Run. Flee and be, what you've always dreamed.
What happens now won't matter later.
What you see will not be, nor what you imagine will not happen.
The end is close, so take your dose.

Posted by: Tyguy101
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
No! It lacked autoaim and melee lunge and those things alone made it better than Halo 2 or 3.


Have you ever talked to someone who played Halo 3 first? And was very good at H3 and thus would have been good at Halo CE.

When they play the whole series they almost undoubtably say that Halo 3 is far superior to Halo CE. It is no contest. It is where they started that made the difference, not because of slight gameplay differences.


I've played all three, and even CE on PC.

Halo: CE is the best generally.
Halo: 2 was good, too, but the dual wielding concept threw me off.
Halo: 3 was good, too. But, all it felt like was an upgrade to Halo 2.

  • 09.11.2009 3:12 PM PDT

Posted by: Tyguy101
Thanks for the positive feedback. My wife is a School Psycologist and we actually talked about this very thing at length the other day. I can't remember what she called it, but it is much more common than just movies and video game sequels. She said it often causes dissatisfaction in subsequent teachers, friends, and even partners.

It is nice to see someone who agrees with something that is based on a sound principle.


Thats a ridiculous thing to say.

Just because there is such a thing as nostalgia doesn't mean nostalgia applies to everything. You're basically saying that every sequel is better, but people just have fond memories of the old one so they think its better. Thats your "sound principle?"

The gameplay and weapon balance of Halo CE is far superior to both Halo 2 and Halo 3. Nostalgia has nothing to do with that. I have played Halo CE recently, and I still enjoyed it much more than the other two Halo games. The multiplayer is a far more balanced experience than any of the following titles.

  • 09.11.2009 3:14 PM PDT