-
Homecoming
Production I.G. | Aprox run time -credits 16minutes
The Homecoming is another sombre affair from 'Production I.G.' that explores the tragedies involved with the Spartan training program. This story has a more natural look than their last short, but still has the same haunting overtones. In ‘Homecoming’, you will learn about the genetically enhanced Spartan II program, and see battles on a larger scale. The main driving force in ‘Homecoming’ is a member of Battle Gamma 4, a girl Spartan named Daisy. In a flashback styled, you learn about her past, as she and group of children escaped the Spartan training grounds. Like ‘The Dual’, 'Homecoming' is more heavy material that is suited for a more mature audience.
- Odd One Out
Toei Animation | Aprox run time -credits 11minutes
In a total 180° turn from the previous shorts, 'Toei' (Dragonball Z) brings us a surprisingly silly tale of 'Spartan 1337'. This is an outrageous parody of the Halo Universe and adds a worthy dose of humour to the serious nature of all the other works on this disc. Prepare for “awesome heroism” as this Spartan takes on a superpowered Brute who tracks the Spartan to a caveman type of world (dinosaurs included). The story in this whacky tale predominately features a big combat sequence near the end, and some cheesy one-liners to drive home the absurd action on screen. Super-powered kids, ancient A.I., and an extremely mad Brute, oh my.
- Prototype
Studio Bones | Aprox run time -credits 13minutes
“Be Human” become the common thread in this empowering story. The story involves some big battle segments and a Mechanized Spartan suit. The production is a little more dynamic than the other pieces with some strong effects and big explosions. The tale is still a little darker than I expected to find on the disc, and like the other sombre numbers, Prototype ends on a down note.
- Babysitter
Studio Bones | Aprox run time -credits 18minutes
The “Hell-Jumping” ODST troopers who team up with 'Kal, Spartan-141' to complete an assassination of a Covenant Profit. The story focuses on the one-sided tension between the ODST troopers and the Spartan super soldiers, along with the stress of the mission. Having a strategic peek behind the scenes are interesting, although like I suspected, “Babysitter” gets into some more tragic areas and brings in the heavy, much like the other shorts. This short is a little longer than the others running at 18minutes, and gives the audience another perspective on the ongoing war between the two sides.
- The Package
Casio Entertainment | Aprox run time -credits 14minutes
'The Package' is the total package of the 'Halo: Legends' collection that "finally" highlights the one-and-only 'Master Chief'. This highly polished CGI animated short is more of what the common fan would expect out of a collection of Halo shorts, and it does not disappoint. The high-energy story follows a group of Spartan’s as they infiltrate a Covenant fleet of spacecrafts. Ontop of the action, you get to see some new vehicle designs, along with a better understanding of how awesome the Chief is in comparison to other Spartan warriors. This infiltration has a few twists that ends up separating the group, with an interesting climax. 'The Package' is so good, it is almost worth the sticker price, if you are a Halo fan, this one will make you proud.
The Extras
Expanding on what I mentioned in the begging of the review, 'Halo: Legends' has a number of extras available on the 2-Disc Special Edition, and even more on the Blu-Ray disc. This includes several hours of behind the scenes content including the impressive 'Making of Halo: Legends', 'Halo: Gaming Evolved'*, and 'Halo: The Story This Far'* (* available on blu-ray only). You will also have access to a commentary track with directors Frank O’Connor and Joseph Chou. Adding all this content up really helps deepen to narrative driven Halo experience, proving that Halo is much more than a “best-selling” game.
I was surprised on how depressing the material was in 'Halo: Legends'. Even though the game touches on the themes explored in these shorts, it is not shown in this light. Because of its dark nature, this collection of short tales is not for the young Halo fans. 'Halo: Legends' is more suited for a mature audience who really wants to learn more about the Halo Universe, and not just Master Chief. That being said, the Master Chief driven story 'The Package' is the highlight of the disc, and is probably what most fans expected from the entire project. It is not that the stories included in Legends are not up to quality, it’s their macabre nature, and unfiltered portrayal of death that might throw some viewers off. Even though 'Halo: Legends' is darker than expected, it still provides a deeper look into the Halo Universe that you are not going to find anywhere else.
Master Chief is unquestionably Halo’s star player, but Halo is bigger than his iconic green and gold stature. Halo is one of the most interesting sci-fi properties to come out in the last decade, and Halo: Legends reinforces this fact. Besides the young fans, Halo: Legends is worth a rental for those casual fans, and a must have for the Halo fanatics. Get your 'Halo 3' disc ready, because after watching Halo: Legends you will have the Halo bug itching at your trigger finger.
Lowdown: 7.8 / 10
Reviewed by Downtown Jimmy | 02.16.10
|
|
- Excellent reimagining of the Halo Universe
- Seven strong alternative perspectives
- For the majority, excellent art direction and animation
- The Package is what Halo is all about!
- Gain a deeper insight into the Halo Universe
- Bonus features are excellent and worth watching
- Master Chief on your Playstation 3?!
|
|
- Subject matter is darker than the Halo games
- Lots of Mature themes included death, war, and murder
- More Master Chief was needed
- The other shorts can’t compare to “the Package”
- Would have liked DTS support
|
|
