With the recent release of 343 Industries’ Halo Infinite and its transition to a free-to-play title, Halo remains a flagship series for Xbox. It’s clear that Bungie’s original trilogy inspired many loyal fans through its stunning graphics and innovative adventures.
The first installment was truly a revolutionary shooter, cementing its historic popularity with addictive sci-fi tropes and iconic characterization. True, its missions may have generated a lot of mileage out of some redundancy from time to time. But the grand storytelling was always well-paced, creative, and brimming with personality. The best levels of the game capture its essence, invoking spectacle, variety, or both.
Updated March 5, 2022 by Amanda Hurych: Halo Infinite brought the series back to its roots with an open-world setting highly reminiscent of Combat Evolved’s second mission. So now is as good a time as any to go over, once more, the best missions in the first Halo game. From the close quarters of The Library to the incredible level design of The Silent Cartographer, here we look at the best missions in Halo: CE.
10 The Library
Arguably the least interesting level in any installment, perhaps the storytellers got carried away with their interesting new enemy. The majority of the mission is spent wandering through identical chambers and hallways, or waiting for doors to open, all the while being attacked by Flood form after Flood form.
The Flood lose their mysterious novelty in such frequent masses and become more tedious than frightening. Some may forgive or even champion this level. But unless players genuinely enjoy the arcade-style repetition of Flood attacks, this will probably feel more like a chore.
9 Two Betrayals
If you weren’t quick enough on the bridge in Assault on the Control Room, a Banshee is finally just handed to you. The freedom to fly around and cause damage that actually progresses the story is definitely rewarding.
Unfortunately, aside from that novelty, it isn’t an especially inspired mission. It quite literally retreads “Assault On The Control Room,” moving the Chief in the opposite direction through the exact same terrain. Destroying the Pulse Generators may serve the story well, but it’s still unexpectedly boring.
8 The Pillar Of Autumn
Like many great action movies, the indelible Master Chief’s adventure begins in the middle of a crisis. And anyone who feels it’s too easy can play it on Legendary, but there’s certainly a constant sense of urgency throughout.
This is an exciting, interesting way to establish basic gameplay mechanics, and it definitely has players itching for a weapon. Exploring the ship actually grounds the story with the UNSC. It also illustrates crucial characters who drive the story.
7 Halo
Despite its redundancy, this is still one of the most quintessential missions, providing much of the game’s iconic artistry in one fell swoop. Every other mission is rooted here, even when they branch out with a novel atmosphere or setting. It’s full of lush, distinctive landscapes and classic vehicles.
Enemy dropships spill groups of aliens onto the ground, and the architecture above and below has come to define the series. While the repetition of the level can be frustrating, rescuing various marines does feel like a sprawling epic akin to exciting sandbox gameplay. And the goal feels central to the Chief’s heart, valuing every human life.
6 The Truth And Reconciliation
This thrilling chapter is recognizable for its early sniping and nightfall battles. The cliff-side movement also adds to the overall atmosphere of stealth, although one can barrel through like any mission. It produces even more enemies, including Hunters, whose size and strength are very intimidating at first.
All the strategies that make them manageable in tight quarters now had to be learned. After boarding the titular ship in pursuit of Captain Keyes, the mission becomes rather redundant with a battle to the brig. This is mainly due to the environment, which must sensibly feel consistent.
If you’re playing on Legendary, the moment when you first enter the Truth and Reconciliation from the grav lift becomes incredibly difficult thanks to the onslaught of invisible sword Elites that storm the room.
5 The Maw
This moody epilogue is the perfect bookend, closing the story where it began. The Chief continues his one-man-army approach to saving humanity. It returns players to the “Pillar of Autumn” ship level, having them contend with unusually powerful Covenant and countless more Flood.
The process of tossing grenades into open vents can feel stifling, cramping the Chief in one room for a while. But this is quickly reversed by the famed Warthog escape, which is a timed event and doesn’t offer the clearest directions. It’s a superb ending, fast-paced, with thrilling leaps and tough turns.
4 Keyes
This is the level where all hell breaks loose. It drives the Master Chief directly through a conflict between the Flood and Covenant forces. And the game successfully captures an overall sense of chaos without getting out of hand.
The gloomy, noxious pathways at the beginning of the level feel claustrophobic and cluttered, yet play smoothly nonetheless. And exploring the cruiser again feels legitimately exciting this time around, because it’s already teeming with desperate battles. It really delivers with that gut-punch reveal about Keyes’ fate.
3 343 Guilty Spark
More so than any other level, this is a fun and blatant nod to Aliens. This iconic mission transforms the game entirely, enriching the story with an infestation plot. The entire atmosphere invokes outright horror, on par with any of the greatest zombie movies or games.
The dark swamps are eerie, and the Flood proves to be the most intimidating enemy in the franchise. Their erratic behavior, aggression, and numbers are oppressive and challenging.
2 Assault On The Control Room
Aside from the extensive series of congested gray rooms, this is another game-defining level. The tight, repetitive interiors are massively contrasted by the unexpectedly grandiose, snowy exteriors.
This level is well-renowned for its vehicle play, including the Scorpion and even a Banshee as drivable options. The vast, icy settings invite novel gunfights and vehicular spectacle, confronting powerful Wraiths and turrets around every corner. The lengthiest mission in the game, it offers just about everything Halo can muster, which cements its nostalgia in fans’ hearts.
At some point while crossing a rocky, snow-covered bridge connecting two interior sections, you will see an Elite hop into a Banshee and take off. If you take out the Elite and yoink that Banshee from him, you can skip almost half of this mission by flying directly to the pyramid-shaped Control Room.
1 The Silent Cartographer
This mission is possibly the pinnacle of the entire series in many regards. Storming the beach feels unlike anything else in the game, and the island itself is practically a literal sandbox. The area can be traversed in any direction, though the plot sends Master Chief exploring every square inch anyhow.
The level introduces the concept of the energy sword to players, and the combination of gorgeous artistry, epic music, and breaching gameplay is innately exciting. And the frantic escape against invisible Elites is the perfect finale.
