Retronauts Episode 417: Halo: Combat Evolved

We're no strangers to sarcasm, sir

Hot on the heels of last week's episode about the launch of the Xbox, we have another episode about the most famous launch title for the Xbox, a game that may have single-handedly secured that brand a lasting relationship with an audience and thus changed the face of console gaming forever. I'm talking, of course, about Dead or Alive 3.

That joke would have landed better if the article title and the gigantic artwork that sit above these words hadn't spoiled the actual topic of this week's episode, Halo: Combat Evolved. What was once teased as a third-person action game for the Apple Macintosh became a defining first-person shooter for home consoles. Today, of course, it's playable on the phone sitting in your pocket right now, but 20 years ago, it was the number one reason to buy Microsoft's brand-new PC-like video game box.

Joining host Stuart Gipp to recall the impact of Halo on all our lives are Master Retronaut Jeremy Parish and Digital Foundry's John Linneman. If Jeremy sounds a little emotional during this episode, please forgive him: He's been a Mac user for a long, long time, and betrayal isn't something he takes lightly.

Description: Stuart Gipp, Jeremy Parish, and John Linneman of Digital Foundry crash-land on the bizarre structure known as the 20th anniversary of Bungie's Halo: Combat Evolved and immediately set about blowing things to smithereens.

Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get exclusive episodes every month, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon.

MP3, 56 MB | 1:56:07 Direct download Retronauts on iTunes Retronauts at Libsyn

Artwork for this episode by Shaan Khan and editing thanks go to Greg Leahy.