As a Science fiction fan it may seem a little odd that when it comes to video games my interest rests mainly in sports simulation. I've spent many hours with my Chicago Bears in Madden Football or as team USA in ISS Pro Evolution Soccer. There are a number of reasons why I enjoy these games. The primary one is that I really like football and I really love the Chicago Bears. However I could not enjoy the games if they were not accurate simulations of their respective sports. That is, the computer game must accurately depict both the physics and gameplay of football. If the QB gets hit while passing the football then the ball should flutter end over end. Even more importantly the program must also know how to play call, how to defend, and how to manage the clock. In essence the game must approximate thinking. These issues are just a sample of what constitutes modeling and simulating a game environment i.e. physics and AI. Until recently I thought that, given current tech, only sports games could be succesfully modeled. In a sense, sports games are ideal for modeling. The rules of the game pose a well defined intelligence problem i.e. a limited set of options given a limited set of conditions for the AI to act within. For example, it is not difficult to see that you might want to pass on 3rd and 23, or go for it on 4th and inches at the opponent's 36 yard line. Again intelligence problems in sports sims are well defined. Although this does not mean that they are trivial. The AI in these games needs to be quite complex to function as a worthy opponent. And it has only been with the introduction of the latest next generation consoles (PS2, Xbox etc..) that sports game AI has started to come of age. This vast improvement in game AI has also made possible impressive new uses of AI in other types of games. This finally brings us to Halo.

        Halo is a first person perspective shooter set in various SF environments: on board a starship, on a "planet" surface and in underground bunkers. This is not what makes Halo unique and revolutionary. It is the physics, the AI, and finally the storyline that make Halo a sign of good things to come.

        The game story begins on a starship that has recently encountered ancient relic in space (sound familiar?). During this encounter the ship is attacked and invaded by aliens known as "The Covenant". You play the role of an elite armor laden warrior. From the beginning moment of the attack one gets the feeling that Halo is extraordinary. The pace is furious as you scramble down hallways amidst fire and explosions. You soon learn that the aliens are not just targets. They react to your presence and they are pretty clever at it. Furthermore it is not uncommon to find an alien who, once he learns of your presence, will disengage from the battle so as to either alert his comrades, withdraw, or attack.

        The clever AI in this game is visible throughout . Aliens will wait in ambush, attack and then withdraw. They will sneak up on you to place a grenade on your back or attack with overwhelming force. However what I find most enjoyable about the game's AI (and what I believe is the foundation of a solid AI) is the game's ability to adapt to your strategies. A technique that worked once at a given location may not work again at the same location. The aliens may be ready this time. This part of the game makes playing Halo very immersive . One feels is if the covenant aliens are really out there and making plans on how to deal with you.

        Another part of the game that adds to the immersive experience is the graphics. Ordinarily I am loathe to commend a game for great graphics because usually the developers neglected good gameplay and AI so that you can look at pretty pictures. Fortunately this is not the case with Halo. The graphics are as beautiful as the AI is advanced. There are many rich and detailed scenes of snow covered landscapes, sunny beach fronts, and industrial starship interiors. In fact, there are so many graphical details that I can not do them justice here so I will give two examples that sum it up. The first is when you are on the interior surface of Halo (Halo is a huge ring structure floating through space. Its inner surface has an atmosphere and resembles a planetary surface) a look toward the horizon reveals the giant arch of the ring rising from the landscape and spanning the entire sky. This is not just a great moment of gameplay, this is a great science fiction moment. The second example is more dynamic. While on the surface, an alert will sound indicating an alien attack. A quick look toward the sky will reveal an alien missile blazing ominously across the sky. This is a wonderful effect that lets you know that all hell is about to break loose.

        The soundtrack for the game is outstanding. The music is intense and often kicks in just as the battle gets underway. The net effect is to put you on the edge of your seat. In this sense, the experience is very cinematic. Indeed, the game begins with Gregorian monks singing. It almost screams epic.

        The plotline is fun and imaginative and has lots of twists. I don't want to give any details here since that would spoil the experience of discovering for yourself.