In the modern gaming world there are few campaigns that evoke more positive anxiety than Halo. Aiming at the game’s hardcore fans, the last two or three campaigns (for 3, ODST and now Reach) have been mostly void of gameplay and heavy on cinematic style trailers that aim to leave the viewer wanting more. But did agencytwofifteen, the creators of the piece you see here, succeed in keeping the torch well lit?
First off, they couldn’t ever hope to. Halo 3’s campaign was far-and-away the best game campaign we’ve seen. But it wasn’t just the game’s campaign that made it so good — it was the culmination of nearly six years of anticipation. This would be the end of the saga (or so we thought) and it was big. It was Halo’s first foray on the newly released XBOX 360, and gamers were overeager to dive into the next adventure. And the much-ballyhooed multi-player system developed by the game’s creator, Bungie, promised to blow existing platforms away. Which it did.
So can Reach do what Halo 3 did? No. The zit hath been popped. What Reach can do is remind gamers why they loved the old campaign. By reigniting that spark they’ll give players something they want: that feeling of nostalgia, tied to a new whole new story. The back story. The beginning of Halo. Or whatever it is.
Credits after the jump.
More: “20 of the Best Video Game Campaigns, Ever”
Executive Creative Directors: Scott Duchon, John Patroulis
Art Director: Ben Wolan
Copywriter: Joe Rose
Agency Executive Producer: Hannah Murray
Agency Producer: Alex Spahr
Account Director: Peter Goldstein
Account Management Supervisor: Zach Rubin
Account Executive: Stephanie Scott
Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks
Director: Noam Murro
Line Producer: Jay Veal
DP: Simon Dugga
Production Designer: John Beard
Senior Executive Producer: Shawn Lacy
Executive Producer: Colleen O’Donnell
Editorial: Bikini Edi
Editor: Avi Oron
EP/Producer: Gina Pagano
Assistant Editor: Gustavo Roman
Visual Effects: Animal Logic
Telecine: Beau Leon, New Hat
Music: Original composition, by Human
Sound Design: Brian Emrich
Mix: Rohan Young, Lime Studios
Title Animation/Graphics: Roger