Before we dive into anything, there is one thing that I think I should mention, just for reference. I am not, nor have I ever been, an employee of FUNimation Productions, Bungie Studios, 343 Industries, Microsoft Game Studios, Ensemble Studios, Warner Brothers Home Video Productions, Robot Entertainment, Freeverse Studios, Realtime Worlds Studios, Ruffian Studios, Tecmo, Team Ninja, Lionhead Studios, Mega Bloks Corporation and the various animation studios that worked on Halo Legends. When reading this thread, I want you all to keep in mind that this is just a fan-made directory. These aren't words from the companies; they're words from me. Here is the main focal point of the franchise: The games [Please note I will try not to spoil anything].

How can you not talk about Halo without talking about Halo: Combat Evolved? This the game that started it all. Developed by the now famous game studios, Bungie, this was one of the launch titles for the original Xbox released on November 15, 2001. It features 4-player multiplayer, 2-player cooperative campaign mode, and 16-player multiplayer through system link. The setting takes in the year 2552 during amidst intergalactic war between humanity and the collection of alien races known as the Covenant, and you might be humanity's only hope. The game's current retail price is $19.99, however the game became part of Xbox LIVE Marketplace as an Xbox Original and can be purchased with 1200 Microsoft Points and downloaded to your Xbox 360 hard drive. The game was later ported (by Gearbox Software) to Windows (September 30, 2003) and Mac OS X (December 3, 2003). The Windows and Mac versions feature online multiplayer. Bungie recently confirmed that those who have the PC version will get a "visual flair", a nameplate, for Halo: Reach if they use their product key on www.bungie.net (you have to login with the e-mail address you use for your Xbox LIVE, go to your profile, click on "Game Settings" and go to "Nameplate Settings". There, you type in the product key code as instructed). The retail price is still $19.99. Halo 2 continues the fight of humanity's survival against the Covenant onslaught. The game has all the features of the last installment, but has greater customization options (Ex: You can switch your MP character to be either a Spartan or a Covenant Elite). The game was released on November 9, 2004 and had two editions: the standard edition and the Limited Collectors Edition which came with a special DVD on the making of the game and a booklet titled "Conversations with the Universe". Halo 2 was the first Halo game to feature Xbox LIVE online multiplayer and continued until April 15, 2010 when the servers were officially shut down. Halo 2 also was the first Halo game to downloadable content in the form of Multiplayer Map Packs. On July 5, 2005, a Multiplayer Map Pack was released on disc format which player had rip the content on to their Xbox harddrive (and can be done so on the Xbox 360). All other map packs were available for download via Xbox LIVE until the servers were shut down (any player who had the maps downloaded before the servers were closed can still play them). Those players who played Halo 2 online before April 15, 2010 will get a nameplate in Halo: Reach (see Halo: Reach). The game's current retail price is $19.99 and the Multiplayer Map Pack disc is also $19.99. This game is not on the Xbox 360's Xbox LIVE Game Marketplace as an Xbox Original, therefore not available for download (same for the DLC Map Packs). On May 22, 2007, Halo 2 was released on the Windows PC as part of Games for Windows-LIVE. The game has all the features of the Xbox version, but comes with two exclusive multiplayer maps and has the current Xbox LIVE with the Xbox 360. As such, it is the first Halo game to have achievements (41) and can be added to a player's total gamerscore. Also, all Games for Windows-LIVE games can be played with an Xbox 360 controller. The current retail price is $19.99. Total Halo Gamerscore: 1000 (see Halo Waypoint for more details). Halo 3 concludes the Human-Covenant War and the original trilogy. There was a huge marketing campaign prior to the game's release that helped fuel the sales (Ex. Mountain Dew released "Game Fuel" which featured Halo 3 images on the bottles). Players were also given the opportunity to participate in the multiplayer Beta by purchasing Realtime World's game, Crackdown (see Crackdown for more info). The game was finally released on September 25, 2007 on the Xbox 360. Like Halo 2, the game had different editions but there are three editions instead of two. The first is the standard edition which, upon the game's release, came with a free poster. Halo 3's Limited Edition came with everything in the standard edition plus an interactive Xbox 360 disc that had several featurettes and a Bestiarum, a book which features the different species of the Halo universe. The Halo 3 Legendary Edition came with everything on the previous editions (the Bestiarum is now on DVD format for Legendary Edition) plus the Legendary DVD which had content exclusive to this edition and a replica of Spartan 117's helmet. As part of the hype, Microsoft launched a Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 console with the colorations of a Spartan armor (it also included Halo 3-themed Controller and headset) on September 16, 2007. The Halo multiplayer experience once again was improved with new features (won't delve into it to not spoil anything). The Campaign now features 4-player co-op (via Xbox LIVE and/or two player splitscreen plus two players via LIVE). Halo 3 also has a game mode called Forge where players can create their own maps. Bungie recently confirmed that those who have Halo 3 will get a nameplate for Halo: Reach (see Halo: Reach). Like Halo 2, Halo 3 also has downloadable map packs (current prices): Cold Storage Map: Free Heroic Map Pack: Free Legendary Map Pack: 160 Microsoft Points Mythic Map Pack I: 400 Microsoft Points Mythic Map Pack II: 800 Microsoft Points The game also has achievements (79) to add to a player's gamerscore and currently has the most achievements in any Halo game. The game's current retail price is $29.99, however, after 3 years since the game's release, Halo 3 became part of Games on Demand and can be downloaded to the Xbox 360 hardrive for the same retail price (or it can be purchased with 2400 Microsoft Points). Total Halo Gamerscore: 1750 (see Halo Waypoint) Halo Wars deviates from the rest of the series for several reasons: It is a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, not a First Person Shooter. It is currently the only Halo game not developed by Bungie, rather it was developed by Ensemble Studios, creators of the famous RTS series Age of Empires (ironically enough, Halo: Combat Evolved started off as an RTS early in the development process). It is also currently the only Halo game with an ESRB rating "T" for Teen, all others are rated "M" for Mature. Despite Bungie not officially developing the game, many Ensemble's staff turned to Bungie for advice and guidance (Ex. Halo Wars' composer, Stephen Rippy, often consulted with Halo composer, Martin O'Donnell, for his opinion on the musical score). For what Bungie had to say about the game, check here: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=bwusept29osix Halo Wars has also brought many firsts to the franchise. Halo Wars is the first and currently only Halo game that has an active, free demo of the game that be downloaded on the Xbox LIVE Game Marketplace. Halo Wars also the first Halo game to have pre-order bonuses. By pre-ordering the game at certain retail stores (Ex. GameStop), players would earn a code to unlock the exclusive "Spirit of Fire"-themed Warthog (the "flamming" warthog) for in game use. Halo Wars also had two editions: the standard and Limited Edition. In addition to the pre-order bonus, the Limited Edition included a graphic novel titled "Halo Wars: Genesis", which explained the backstory of some the characters in the game. It also had Leadership Cards whic had the stats of the 6 playable leaders in multiplayer. The Limited Edition also included a redeem code to download the first Mythic Map Pack of Halo 3 for free and had a code to unlock the "Honor Guard"-themed Wraith for in game use. The setting of Halo Wars is 20 years before the events of the Halo trilogy, when the Human-Covenant War was in it's early stages. The campaign is 2 player Co-op via Xbox Live and 6-player multiplayer in either free for all or teams. Sadly, this was Ensemble's last game and the studio was shut down almost immediately after the game's release on March 3, 2009. All updates and downloadable content was handled by Robot Entertainment, a company founded by many members of Ensemble. They continued this until early 2010 when Robot Entertainment handed over the charge of updates to 343 Industries' Halo Waypoint team. Halo Wars has two DLCs created by Robot Entertainment (with current prices): "Strategic Options", adds game types "Keep Away, Reinforcements, and Tug of War": 800 Microsoft Points Historical Map Pack: 800 Microsoft Points Halo Wars has 58 achievements in total to add to a player's gamerscore. The current retail price is $29.99, however Halo Wars was the first Halo game to be on Games on Demand, it can be downloaded straight to the Xbox 360 hard drive for the same price (or 2400 Microsoft Points). Total Halo Gamerscore: 1200 (see Halo Waypoint). Halo 3: ODST (originally know Halo 3: Recon) was released on September 22, 2009 and is set during the events of Halo 2 and the Covenant's occupation of the city of New Mambasa in Africa. You play as a rookie member of the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST) sent to retrieve an asset in the city while trying uncover the whereabouts of your squadmates. Originally thought to be a downloadable expansion to Halo 3, it became a stand alone release. The game's pre-order bonus was the ability to play as Sgt. Maj. Avery Johnson in the game's Firefight mode, a new addition to the Halo franchise. Halo 3: ODST did not come in a special edition other than "Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack", which included the game and a Halo 3: ODST-themed controller. The game included a disc that had "the entire Halo 3 multiplayer experience", which means it was a disc that you can only play all the Halo 3 multiplayer maps (and also made it possible players to gain the coveted "Recon" armor). On the main disc, the Campaign options are the same as Halo 3, which are used in Firefight. Firefight mode is a mode that forces players to take on waves Covenant forces with it increasing in difficulty as it goes along. Also included with the game was the invitation to play the Halo: Reach multiplayer Beta when the time came. The Beta was available for download off of (and playable from) the Halo 3: ODST main menu on May 3, 2010 to May 20, 2010. Bungie recently confirmed that those with Halo 3: ODST will get a nameplate Halo: Reach (see Halo: Reach). The game has 47 achievements to add to a player's gamerscore. The current retail price is $59.99 (this game is not Games on Demand, yet). Total Halo Gamerscore: 1000 (see Halo Waypoint) Halo Waypoint is not actually a game, but rather a hub created by 343 Industries (named after 343 Guilty Spark, it is a Microsoft Division created for the sole purpose of handling the Halo franchise) and released on November 5, 2009. It is only available to those who have an Xbox LIVE Gold Membership. During it's first few weeks, Waypoint was known to show 4 of the episodes of animated short film collection, Halo Legends. Waypoint hosts videos and other Halo related topics in it's archives. Waypoint is also where a player can update their Halo Career by having their achievements scanned. When Avatar Awards were introduced, Waypoint offered Halo exclusive Avatar items which most can only be earned by completing Halo achievements (mostly Halo 3: ODST). Strangely, the Halo 2 (PC) version's achievements are not added in the total. Currently, the only way to get to Milestone 50 on Waypoint is to earn all achievements on at least 2 Halo games and 90 percent of a third game. If players played the Halo: Reach Beta and scanned their profile on Waypoint, they would earn the Halo: Reach Beta hoodie for their avatar. It has been announced that Halo Waypoint will have an app for the new Windows Phone 7 and will be released when the phone is. The app will be free. The retail price is $0 and 0 Microsoft Points, it's absolutely free, however it is only available in the Xbox LIVE Game Marketplace. Halo: Reach is to be the last Halo game developed by Bungie (all future Halo titles will released through 343 Industries) and is set as the direct prequel of Halo: Combat Evolved on the Human colonized planet of Reach, just before the Covenant attack it. You play as Noble 6, the new guy on the elite, top-secret Spartan unit, Noble Team. The game was released on September 14, 2010. Like previous installments, Halo: Reach will have numerous editions and pre-order bonuses. The pre-order bonus is the Spartan "Recon" helmet and, if players pre-order from GameStop, they get the UA multi threat chest. The standard edition's retail price is $59.99. The Limited Edition includes an ONI (Office of Naval Intellegence)-themed case and artifact bag (which includes Dr. Halsey's, creator of the Spartan II Project, Journal), Halo Waypoint avatar gear, and an exclusive Covenant Elite armor for multiplayer. The Limited Edition's retail price is $79.99. The Legendary Edition includes everything from the Limited Edition plus the "flamming" Recon helmet effect for in game use, exclusive digital content, the large UNSC-themed case it all comes in, a statue of Noble Team created by MacFarlane Toys. The Legendary Edition's retail price is $149.99. Microsoft is also releasing a Halo: Reach-themed Xbox 360 console that will have built in Halo sounds, a 250G harddrive and two Reach-themed controllers and headsets with the price at $399.99. It will also include the Halo Waypoint avatar gear, the exclusive Elite armor, and the Halo: Legends episode "the Package". The headsets and controllers will also be sold separately. The Reach headset cost $49.99 and the controller is $59.99. The controller comes with a redeem code for the Covenant Banshee avatar item. Players with various Bungie games will also get nameplates to add to to their profile. Players have to login with the e-mail address they use for their Xbox LIVE, go to their profile, click on "Game Settings" and go to "Nameplate Settings" to see what is available to them. Campaign mode's options are assumed to be as the same as previous installments, Forge has been upgraded, and Firefight returns, but with customization and the multiplayer appears to the best version than in previous games. I won't spoil anything else. The game has 49 achievements, but more is added with DLC. Like the other recent Halo games, Halo: Reach has DLC: Noble Map Pack: 800 Microsoft Points Defiant Map Pack: 800 Microsoft Points Currently, Total Halo Gamerscore: 1000 (see Halo Waypoint), but the Noble Map Pack adds 250 gamerscore. The Defiant Map Pack adds 150 more gamerscore and was made by Certain Affinity in partnership with 343 Industries. But, here is Bungie's take on it: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&link=Defiant_FAQ . It was recently announced that Halo: Reach would become available for Games on Demand. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is the 10th Anniversary Edition of the original. It features not only the original graphics, but a remastered version where the entire campaign and multiplayer with Halo: Reach graphics. It also will feature Xbox LIVE co-op and online multiplayer (achievements included as well). It has been recently stated that it will have Kinect support (first Halo game to have it). It is slated to be released on the 10th Anniversary of the original game, November 15, 2011.Halo 4 was recently announced by 343 Industries at E3 2011 to continue the journey where Halo 3 left off and would be the start of a new Halo Trilogy. One of the confirmed designers is Certain Affinity, who has been associated with past Halo titles. There is not else known about Halo 4, except it expected to be released in the Holiday Season of 2012. Marathon: Durandal is the Xbox LIVE Arcade port of Bungie's Marathon 2: Durandal. The game is the second of Bungie's Marathon series, from which the Halo games has a lot of references to (Ex: the Marathon symbol is seen throughout the Halo games). The original game was released on the Macintosh on November 25, 1995 and later released on Windows on September 6, 1996. The game was later ported to the Xbox LIVE Arcade by Freeverse Studios, a company founded by many people who worked on the original Marathon trilogy, in association with Bungie Studios on August 1, 2007. The game's setting is 17 years after the events of the first game. You play as an UESC cyborg, Mjolnir Recon #54, led by the A.I. Durandal to halt the advance of an evil alien race known as the Pfhor and the rampant A.I., Tycho. Sound a little familiar? The game offers 8 player Co-op, a Survival mode, and 16 player multiplayer. The graphics seem a little dated, but they have been improved, believe it or not. When the game was initially released, people were getting motion sickness from the speed of the the frames per second. In response, Freeverse fixed it in a patch that immediately updates a player as they first play the game. Any Halo fan should at least download and try the free trial (which only the first level in campaign and Survival mode). Bungie recently announced that players who have Marathon: Durandal will get a nameplate for Halo: Reach (see Halo: Reach). The full game currently has the price of 800 Microsoft Points. The game also offers two multiplayer map packs: Jjaro Multiplayer Netmap Pack: 400 Microsoft Points Total Carnage Multiplayer Netmap Pack: 400 Microsoft Points This game has 15 achievements for gamerscore. Total Gamerscore: 250 Crackdown is Realtime World's third pearson sandbox game, similar to the Grand Theft Auto series. The setting of Crackdown is in the fictitious city of Pacific City where crime has run rampant and three powerful gangs, Los Muertos, the Volk, and the Shai Gen Corporation have pushed the City to the brink of anarchy. The Agency, an organization like the CIA, has sent the their ultimate weapon to take down the gangs and restore order to Pacific City: YOU, the Agent. The game was released on February 20, 2007 and features two-player Co-op via Xbox LIVE. Crackdown has several DLC (current prices): Free-For-All Pack: Free Four-Play Pack: Free Getting Busy Bonus Pack: 400 Microsoft Points Many would be wondering at this point "What does this game have anything to do with Halo?" All will be explained in three words: Halo 3 Beta. Bungie worked closely with Realtime Worlds to ensure that people could access the Beta using the Crackdown discs. The Beta could be downloaded from Crackdown's main menu under the "Downloads" option. However, you still needed the the Crackdown disc to play the Beta. The Beta was available from May 16, 2007 to June 6, 2007. Just because the Beta is not there anymore, it doesn't mean Crackdown isn't a bad game (although a good portion of the sales could be contributed to the Beta invitation). The demo is still available for download on the Xbox LIVE Game Marketplace. If you like it, you can purchase the full game. The current retail price of Crackdown is $19.99, however the game was among the first to be on Games on Demand can be downloaded to the Xbox 360 hard drive for the same price (or 1600 Microsoft Points). The game has 50 achievements. Total Gamerscore: 1250 Coincidentally, Crackdown 2 was released on July 6, 2010 by Ruffian Studios (a company founded by many of the Realtime Worlds employees who developed the first game), the same year as Halo: Reach. The setting takes place 10 years after the events of the first game and Pacific City is under attack by insurgents known as the Cell at day and the bestial Freaks (encountered in the first game) at night. You are part of the latest batch of Agents sent to clean up the city and eliminate the Freaks through Project Sunburst. The demo was released on June 28, 2010 and featured many things that are in the main game, such as 4-player co-op via Xbox LIVE. Crackdown 2 is also the first Xbox 360 game to feature demo achievements. By completing the demo achievements, you will earn the real ones once you play the full game. The full game features 16 player online multiplayer and avatar awards. There are 2 DLCs in the making, one called "Toy Box", which includes the "Keys to the City" mode of the first game, and "Deluge", which might be a multiplayer add-on. If you like the first Crackdown, I recommend the sequel. The prices of the DLCs: Toy Box: 560 Microsoft Points Deluge: 560 Microsoft Points The game has currently 70 achievements and 10 of them can be earned through the demo. The current retail price for Crackdown 2 is $59.99, however Crackdown 2 has now been added to Games on Demand and can be downloaded to the Xbox 360 hard drive for $29.99 or 2400 Microsoft Points. Total Gamerscore: 1500 Dead or Alive 4, the 4th installment of the fighting game series developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo, was released on December 29, 2005 for the Xbox 360, featured a very special character: Spartan-458 aka Nicole and featured a Halo-themed stage called Nassau Station. Bungie worked with Team Ninja on the designs of the character (Nicole has the Halo 2 design of Spartan-117 aka John) and Nassau Station. Bungie also made sure Nicole had a "Halo-feel" to her and her moves reflected that (Ex. one of her moves is called "Grunt Punt"). For more info, Here is also Bungie's article on Nicole-458: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=7349 The game features 4-player multiplayer on the same Xbox, Co-op, and 2-16 multiplayer via Xbox LIVE (including Co-op). The free demo is available on the Xbox LIVE Game Marketplace. The current retail price is $29.99. The game has a total of 45 achievements. Total Gamerscore: 1000 Fable II is the the sequel the RPG Xbox classic, Fable. Developed and released by Lionhead Studios on October 21, 2008. The game takes place 200 years after the first game and the player starts as a child and grows up to be the Hero of Albion, however the choices you make will decide the outcome of the game. What does this have to do with Halo? Well, those who purchased the Collector's Edition of Fable II could have access to special content bonuses. One was called "Hal's Outfit", which strikingly resemble a primitive version of Spartan armor, and the other was "Hal's Sword", which resembles the Energy Sword from the Halo games. Additionally, if players purchase the Knothole Island DLC, they could "Hal's Rifle", which looks a bit like the Halo Assault Rifle. The game features two-player Co-op and players can trade items with other players via Xbox LIVE. There is also some DLC: Knothole Island: 800 Microsoft Points See the Future: 560 Microsoft Points There are 66 total achievements in the game. The retail price is $19.99, but since the game is now on Games on Demand, it can be purchased (with 1600 Microsoft Points, alternatively) and downloaded straight your Xbox 360 hard drive. Total Gamerscore: 1350