Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Halo: Nightfall’s First Episode Gets Quickly To The Point
Note: While there are no new spoilers in the preview below, we will mention previously revealed and publicized information.
It’s easy to think of Halo: The Master Chief Collection as one in a long line of remakes and upgrades. Microsoft and 343 Industries have worked to make it more of an event than many others, though. A big piece of that strategy is Halo: Nightfall, one of the few fully realized projects from the now-defunct Xbox Entertainment Studios.
We had the opportunity to preview the first episode of the series, and it moves at a fast pace. Nightfall does not take long to get to the point, setting up a desperate rush to stop a Covenant plot to wipe out humanity.
Thankfully, there is an explanation for the Covenant’s aggression. Despite the peace treaty, the aliens continue to strike at human outer colonies. There is just enough exposition to set the stage before the action begins, as Office of Naval Intellgence (ONI) Agent Locke (Mike Colter) and his team hunt a smuggler on the colony world of Sedra.
Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of welcoming those new to the series. If you’ve never played a Halo game, you won’t understand what an Elite Zealot is or why Halo rings are important (or why we blew them up). It’s also fair to assume that Halo: Nightfall isn’t written and produced for the uninitiated, though. It's fan-service that directly connects to both Halo: The Master Chief Collection and the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians.
I’ve read a number of the Halo tie-in novels and it was interesting to see reminders that the UNSC and outer colonies aren’t always best of friends. Before the war with the Covenant, the UNSC spent a lot of its time dealing with insurrectionists (“innies,” for short). The undercurrents of political unrest are still present, even after humanity’s fight against the Covenant. It's a subtle reminder that the Covenant and humanity aren't so different.
I also noticed that the Master Chief is simply referred to as “Master Chief” at one point. That’s a slight error that will only irk the most devout of fans. There are also no AIs present, at least in the first episode. Those have been such an integral part of the lore, it’s a surprise that they are entirely absent.
All told, Nightfall gets off to a fast start that has me excited to watch the rest. It launches alongside Halo: The Master Chief Collection on November 11, with every copy (digital and retail) including access to the series via the Halo Channel.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
