2-Bit Gaming - Video 009 - Halo: The Fall of Reach (Book Review)
Submitted by kain_kusanagi on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 11:44pm.
Text Version:
2-Bit Gaming 009
This is a quick review of the first novel based on the very popular Xbox game Halo: Combat Evolved. It’s spoiler free so don’t worry if you haven’t read the book yet.
Unlike what seems like the vast majority of Halo players, I don’t play the game for the multi-player mode. I’m most interested in the single player campaign. I find the characters interesting, the enemy alien forces fascinating, and most of all I enjoy the plight of the human race as underdogs in a war for our survival.
I love Halo for the same reason I love Star Wars, the universe it exists in feels like it has a history, which makes it seem real. So when I heard that a prequel was being written for the first Halo game I couldn’t wait to read it.
I wasn’t disappointed either. Halo: The Fall of Reach was written by Eric Nylund using a story bible prepared by Bungee to keep it within cannon. The book narrates the development of the Spartan II super soldiers and leads up to the opening of the first game. This is the story of how a little boy named John was taken from his parents, given the number 117, and eventual became the Master Chief.
My favorite parts of the book deal with the many hardships that John 117 and his fellow youngster cadets endure in the cruel, dangerous, and secret government program to create the ultimate solders. It’s a harrowing tail of duty and honor. It does have some humor sprinkled in so it’s not some bleak depressing war story.
I don’t want to give anything away, but when the Covenant attacks an unsuspecting human colony, everything changes for John and the surviving Spartans. From that point on it’s an epic sci-fi action thriller. It’s entertaining, but at the same time it lays the foundation for all the characters featured in the first Halo game.
My 2 Bits:
1. If you only read one book based on Halo, make it The Fall of Reach. The other books are good and fill in the story between the games or give side stories, but The Fall of Reach is the place to start. There are now five Halo novels, if you’re like me you’ll want to get the first in the box set.
2. I know what you’re thinking, “What about the other novels?” Don’t worry, more book reviews are on the way and not just for Halo. Mass Effect, Resident Evil, Gears of War, Doom, the list of books based on games is ever growing.
That’s my 2 bits. Go ahead and argue if you want to, I’m still right.
Submitted by DanteElDiablo on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 12:46am.
Chef i might have those laying around in a box (ill check)
but I'm waiting to hear what you have to say on the mass effect novels, (I personally loved them, probably due to me loving the game but that besides the point)
I obviously agree, since I basically told you to put this on the block (you probably would've seen this anyway). I've been watching these videos for a while now, and I enjoy them. Keep up the good work kain.
I've never been a big Halo fan, but I bought the book when it was released on paperback and loved it. It actually made me want to play the games more than just a drunken multiplayer sprawl with friends.
Submitted by kain_kusanagi on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 4:58pm.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy the show.
As for my collection, I started out as a kid who loved games with a very small allowance and lawn mowing money. Just about every penny I saved went to new and used games. In highschool I got a part time job and yep I everything i didn't save for college I spent on new and used games. Garage sales, mail order, flee markets, swap shops, ebay, you name it I've added to my collection from it.
There's still a ton of stuff i want to add to my collection. I've slowed down, but I doubt I'll ever stop.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
Submitted by scottydoo32 on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 12:14pm.
Yes this was an amazing book based on a great series. But my favorite part of this book was when he was a child and the traning senarios they did. Especially when he had to take taht pelican from those guys gaurding it and fly it back. That was my favorite part of the book
Submitted by kain_kusanagi on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 4:38pm.
Yeah, that part was fantastic. I didn't want to give too much away so I didn't mention any specifics. The book really makes you car about the characters.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
Submitted by DestinRL on Sun, 07/27/2008 - 12:07am.
The fall of reach is the #1 reason that I'm a Halo fanboy. Meeting characters like Sam, Catherine Halsey, and Kelly the female spartan is the highlight of the novel. One thing I could not get over is the mathematical errors in the novel. We never have an accurate count of the Spartans due to one passage that has an error in it. Also the grammatical errors are very apparent. I still love this novel and agree that if you like Halo then you will not be disappointed in this novel, even with its flaws. I know when I got it I had to sit down and finish the book that day. Worth every minute.
Submitted by kain_kusanagi on Sun, 07/27/2008 - 1:50am.
You are totally right. The grammatical errors were strange, it's like they rushed the book through copy editing or something. At most it's a small distracting, and it never even comes close to ruining the experience, unless you're an English teacher.
As for the mathematical error about the number of Spartans, I must have over looked that. I sometimes get tunnel vision while reading and rarely question details unless they are blatant or gratuitous.
Thanks for comment!
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
:P
Good video man! Can't wait for more.
Thanks. -- --- .-. ... . /
Thanks.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
Did anyone ever read the
Did anyone ever read the Mega Man books in the late 80's, early 90's? They were awesome. I wish I still had those...
Awesome, I'm going to have
Awesome, I'm going to have to look into getting some copies of those. Thanks for the heads up.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
Chef i might have those
Chef i might have those laying around in a box (ill check)
but I'm waiting to hear what you have to say on the mass effect novels, (I personally loved them, probably due to me loving the game but that besides the point)
---------------------------
Socially Acceptable Gaming
My ScrewAttack Blog
I absolutely love your work.
I absolutely love your work. Please continue this series. Also, enjoy your time on the block and your 150 points. :)
Heh
I obviously agree, since I basically told you to put this on the block (you probably would've seen this anyway). I've been watching these videos for a while now, and I enjoy them. Keep up the good work kain.
Thank you, both of you. I
Thank you, both of you. I respect and enjoy both your work so your words mean a lot.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
love the series
i love the series man, i subscribed to your channel after watching this, it was awesome.
Thank you. -- --- .-. ... .
Thank you.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
I've never been a big Halo
I've never been a big Halo fan, but I bought the book when it was released on paperback and loved it. It actually made me want to play the games more than just a drunken multiplayer sprawl with friends.
--Finally have a 360! Gamer Tag: Thendalis
2 bits gaming is a top notch show
And kain makes me jealous with his collection :(
-----------------------
There are Games you might don't know
but that are still pretty damn Sweet...SWEET !
http://screwattack.com/blog/2110
G1 attack the ONLY G1 Podcast...
http://g1attack.universpodcast.com/
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy the show.
As for my collection, I started out as a kid who loved games with a very small allowance and lawn mowing money. Just about every penny I saved went to new and used games. In highschool I got a part time job and yep I everything i didn't save for college I spent on new and used games. Garage sales, mail order, flee markets, swap shops, ebay, you name it I've added to my collection from it.
There's still a ton of stuff i want to add to my collection. I've slowed down, but I doubt I'll ever stop.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
Training
Yes this was an amazing book based on a great series. But my favorite part of this book was when he was a child and the traning senarios they did. Especially when he had to take taht pelican from those guys gaurding it and fly it back. That was my favorite part of the book
Yeah, that part was
Yeah, that part was fantastic. I didn't want to give too much away so I didn't mention any specifics. The book really makes you car about the characters.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
The Begging Story part
Sounds ALOT like Halo copied or was inspired by Metroid.
Sorry, i meant begining.
Sorry, i meant begining.
I wouldn't say that, in fact
I wouldn't say that, in fact I'd say the only slight similarity is the battle armor and even in that regard the are different.
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
The fall of reach is the #1
The fall of reach is the #1 reason that I'm a Halo fanboy. Meeting characters like Sam, Catherine Halsey, and Kelly the female spartan is the highlight of the novel. One thing I could not get over is the mathematical errors in the novel. We never have an accurate count of the Spartans due to one passage that has an error in it. Also the grammatical errors are very apparent. I still love this novel and agree that if you like Halo then you will not be disappointed in this novel, even with its flaws. I know when I got it I had to sit down and finish the book that day. Worth every minute.
When you're right you're right.
You are totally right. The grammatical errors were strange, it's like they rushed the book through copy editing or something. At most it's a small distracting, and it never even comes close to ruining the experience, unless you're an English teacher.
As for the mathematical error about the number of Spartans, I must have over looked that. I sometimes get tunnel vision while reading and rarely question details unless they are blatant or gratuitous.
Thanks for comment!
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
I'm an old school gamer, but I'm still hip. Wait, when referring to oneself as, "Hip", does it reverse its meaning?
Theres a numerical error
Theres a numerical error during the part where they're all young and dropped in a field together.