This increases texture detail on many objects, boosts shadow map resolution and perhaps more importantly of all, enhances draw distance - all with a fairly minimal hit to performance on a modern games PC. Obviously, it's the enhanced mode we recommend. Alternatively, you can pull back visuals for enhanced performance.
You can match visuals to the Xbox One port or you can push further with a PC exclusive enhanced mode. Much like Halo Reach, Halo CEA on PC has access to enhanced graphics settings. Sure, the PC isn't exactly renowned for local coop play, but Halo definitely is - and this is the platform that can pull it off beautifully without having to worry about CPU or GPU resource issues. My only regret? Split-screen coop - a key aspect of the Halo DNA - is not in this release, just as it was omitted in Reach's PC port. I particularly love the details, like how the hammer slides back and forth when shooting the pistol, or how you can watch the assault rifle's ammo counter deplete during combat if you watch your coop partner closely. It works wonderfully and shows off just how amazing Halo is all these years later. Watch on YouTube A video breakdown of the Halo CEA port for the PC version of The Master Chief Collection. Unlike my experiences in Halo Reach, my coop partner and myself did not have to put up with any hang-ups or stuttering - and most importantly there was none of the perceptible input lag I experienced in the Halo Reach conversion. In terms of play, PC users finally get the ability to experience Halo in campaign co-op, something that was unfortunately omitted from the 2003 release. Hopefully both of these issues can be corrected. Also strange is that the original soundscape mode on PC seems to randomly insert shield or plasma pistol charge sounds at random. Watch the video below and you'll see - or rather hear - that a fundamentally superior audio mix is available but not included. Yes, you get the source Xbox audio, but what you don't get is the far superior EAX audio mode that shipped with Gearbox's Halo conversion way back in 2003. This leads us on to the first problem I can see with this port. However, new to this version is the option to change to the 'original' soundscape in the game, the audio that shipped with Halo from the original Xbox game, as well as the standard Anniversary Edition mix.
Alternatively, players can choose which version to play from the get-go via the options screen. Users can toggle the presentation between OG and remastered visuals in real-time simply by pushing the tab button on the keyboard. I'll lay my cards on the table here - I'm not a big fan of the changes to the art and the shift to the overall mood brought about by this remaster, but it's just as optional as it was in the original release. Important is the inclusion of the remastered graphical presentation from Saber Interactive, filled with screen-space ambient occlusion and shadows, character models from Halo Reach and new textures. In this freshly minted port of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, PC owners get access to a number of features from the original remastering effort, layered on top of a conversion of the original experience. However, by extension, as an Xbox One port, this also means that a host of smaller but heavily criticised issues inherent to console version make their way across to PC too when we really would have loved to have seen these problems properly addressed once and for all. Overall, it's a good port of the existing Xbox One edition of the game, bringing with it a range of options never seen before on the existing PC version. The original Halo Combat Evolved - or more specifically, its Anniversary Edition - is now available.
Another piece of the puzzle slots into place as PC owners receive a new title for Halo: The Master Chief Collection.