Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Developed by Bungie,Halo: Combat Evolvedis the game that jumpstarted Xbox’s tenure in the games industry, inextricably linking it to the green-armored Master Chief and his fight against the Covenant.
However, the game’s development was far from smooth, filled with late-stage changes and frantic efforts to meet deadlines. A recent interview withCombat Evolved‘s original developers sheds light on a particularly dramatic near-miss – the potential removal of the now-iconic Scorpion Tank mission.
Halo: Combat EvolvedOnly Came Together In Its Final Year
Bungie’s initial visionforHalo: Combat Evolvedwas vastly different from the final product. Originally planned as a Mac exclusive, the project only took shape in its final year right before it launched alongside the Xbox in 2001.
“You were supposed to go back to Earth City”: Original Halo 2 Ending Made The Game Way Better By Erasing The Controversial Conclusion We Got
Speaking withEdge Magazine, original Bungie developers, including co-founder Alex Seropian and Chris Butcher, spoke about the challenges of making the game:
We made a lot of difficult decisions to make that [release] happen. We canceled [other] projects, we combined three teams together, we compromised on scope, [and] we shipped at least one level that we probably shouldn’t have.
Eight months before launch, which is when most studios start polishing their games, the core gameplay and features ofHalowere still being worked on, with even weapons and set pieces not being entirely set in stone. However, this period also saw a now-beloved vehicle come dangerously close to being cut from the final game.
Bungie Initially Decided To Scrap The Scorpion Tank
The fate of the Scorpion Tank, which has become synonymous with theHaloexperience, hung in the balance just four weeks before the game’s release. Lead programmer Chris Butcher revealed that designer John Howardmade the call to cutthe vehicle due to its technical shortcomings:
Four weeks before ship, John Howard decides we’re cutting the tank, because it’s not ready. The designer Paul Bertone was basically like ‘f*ck that, I’m not gonna listen to you, John – without the tank, this game sucks’.
Believing the tank to be crucial to the game’s overall feel, Bertone defied orders and rallied the artists and animators to keep the vehicle in the game, which paid off. The team dedicated themselves to a week and a half of intense work, pulling proverbial all-nighters to salvage the tank.
Halo Wars 2 Studio Reportedly Developing 3 Total War Star Wars Games
Their efforts were successful, as the tank was not only integrated, but also polished to a playable state. While this instance of “crunch” raises ethical concerns, it ultimately helped preserve a beloved aspect ofHalo: Combat Evolvedthat would go on to be a defining factor for future games.
As evident by the story of the Scorpion Tank and the rest of the interview, the firstHalo‘s development was quite turbulent, with developers facing intense pressure andhaving to make difficult decisions, as well as the occasional last-minute heroics that shaped the final product.
Forget the Promised Helldivers 2 Forge Mode, Xbox’s Halo Infinite Just Added a Call of Duty-esque Zombies Mode and It Absolutely Slaps
Despite the challenges, though,Halo: Combat Evolved‘s launch marked a turning point for Bungie and the Xbox, instantly making them a household name. While the two may be poles apart today, there’s no denying the greatness they created all those decades ago.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Content Writer
Articles Published :247
A lifelong gamer, lover of cars, and Master’s student of Automotive Journalism, Viraaj Bhatnagar is a gaming writer at FandomWire who aims to be one of the greats. When he’s not hunched over on his laptop typing out copy, he can be found lapping circuits in Gran Turismo or slaying draugr in God of War.
More from Viraaj Bhatnagar
With No Bloodborne PC Release, Game Pass Owners Wait for DLC Release of the Game That Comes Closest to the Sony Exclusive
“Type of armor dictates quite heavily what weapons they can use”: Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2’s Greatest Feature May Not Even be the 6v6 PVP Battles
“Every single mode is multiplayer”: Fans Wanting to Play Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Solo Have No Need to Worry, Confirms Creative Director
Recommended
These 5 Monster Horror Shows Are Like Alien: Earth, but Better
Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Isles of the Emberdark’ Ending Explained
Aubrey Plaza Says This Miles Teller Horror Movie Defined Her Grief After Husband’s Death
Tobey Maguire And Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man Era Dies In 2027: Reports
George Lucas vs. Steven Spielberg: The Ultimate Showdown of Hollywood’s Richest Directors
Good Boy Filmmaker Reacts To Keanu Reeves’ Film While His Trailer Triggers Odd Query
BungieHaloMicrosoftXbox
