Buy Halo: Reach (XBox 360) - Compare UK Prices & Deals

Set in the year 2552, the game follows ‘Noble Team’, a crew of elite Spartan soldiers from the United Nations Space Command (UNSC), through their battle against the alien race known as the Covenant and the continued long waging war for planet Reach, an earth-like colony home to more than 700 million inhabitants.

As a player, you will take the role of a new soldier known as ‘Noble 6’. Led by Carter-A259 and his second-in-command, Kat-B320 who has a bionic arm, the team’s other members include include heavy weapons specialist Jorge-052, Emile-A239, and marksman Jun-A266. Each team member is equipped with deadly abilities, customised kit and brand-new weapons.

This is a dark tale, detailed with harsh, stark and awe-inspiring graphics, using characters, enemies and scenes that are portrayed in astounding detail. And once you complete your operation, you can continue the battle online using the multiplayer experience, which commences May 3rd next year.

Using new engine technology this game displays next-generation graphics, audio, special effects, artificial intelligence (AI) and animation. It also builds on the huge range of qualities featured in ‘Halo 3’, such as the four-player cooperative campaign play, split-screen support, saved films, screenshots and other new thrilling surprises. Among the brand new combat abilities introduced in Reach, are brand new weapons, a hologram which allows players to generate a "dummy" twin, a jetpack, active camo, sprint, and "armor lock", giving players the capability to become invincible, in exchange for the loss of mobility.

Forge, which first made an appearance in Halo 3, has been modernised, the tools enhanced, and is now set in a large map known as Forge World. Forge World will ship on-disc. 

When multiplayer is released, two Spartan players will be given the ability to use the armor lock and jetpacks and Reach will feature ‘Loadouts’, allowing players to pick a predefined choice of weaponry at spawn. You can vote for your preferred map and game mode from a few choices too. Players will also be rewarded with "credits", which can be spent on armor customisation and you can choose which gender your Spartan soldier will be. Support will be provided via Xbox Live, System Link, and Split screen.

As well as the usual multiplayer modes such as ‘Slayer’ and ‘King of the Hill’, Reach has gametypes which are new to the franchise. ‘Headhunter’ has players drop skulls upon death, allowing other players to collect them and deposit them at special zones in exchange for points. If a player is killed, then their accumulated skulls will be dropped as well. "Stockpile" features teams racing to collect neutral flags and hold them at capture points every minute for points. "Generator Defense" sets three Spartans against three Elites. The Elites' will aim to demolish three generators, while Spartans defend the installation. Players will swap roles after each round. "Invasion" is a six versus six mode featuring three squads of two for each team, with Spartans against Elites. The Elites compete for control of territories in order to disable a shield which protects a navigation core. Once the shield has been disabled, they must transfer the core to a dropship. The Spartans’ objective is to stop this from happening. As the game progresses, it opens up new loadouts, vehicles, and regions of the map. "Invasion" gives both teams a goal to reach a certain number of kills in an allotted time. Vehicles and weapons are unlocked by controlling a moving territory.

Together with other multiplayer options is "Firefight", where players take on an ever-increasing difficult group of enemies in the game for survival. Firefight options can be customised, including the number of and types of enemies. Firefight versus is also playable, featuring an elite team that will attempt to keep the Spartan team from scoring points. Certain game modes, including Generator Defense, will be playable in Firefight.

This game can be enjoyed on all versions of the XBox 360.