Halo: Reach is a shooter developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios in 2010. The game is the sixth installment in the Halo series and combines both first and third-person perspectives. As a direct prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, this shooter connects to the events that unfold in the initial game in the series. In Halo: Reach, players engage in humanity’s desperate war against the alien forces of the Covenant. These events directly lead to the escape of Master Chief from the planet. In this article, we’ll take a look at what Halo: Reach offers as a game and in terms of cheats.
Halo: Reach Premise
In Halo: Reach, players experience the story from the perspective of Noble Six, one of the members of an elite supersoldier squad. The game takes place in the human world known as Reach, which is a target of a devastating Covenant attack. The gameplay alternates between first-person and third-person perspectives, depending on the player’s actions and choices of weapons or vehicles. This installment is reminiscent of the original Halo: Combat Evolved in terms of gameplay, with an emphasis on large, open-space encounters and a diverse range of tactics and weapons. The game also introduces dogfight sequences set in space, adding a new gameplay element to the Halo series.
The campaign allows both solo and cooperative gameplay. Players battle against various types of Covenant forces, each with different abilities and strategies. Noble Six is equipped with a recharging energy shield and health system, which allows continued engagement with enemies. Halo: Reach also revamps the series’ guns and other equipment. This includes replacing single-use equipment with reusable ones with new abilities like sprint, jetpack, and active camouflage.
Halo: Reach Characters
While Halo: Reach is a first-person shooter with a lot of emphasis on action-oriented gameplay, the game’s world and lore are strong as well. The game takes place before the events that unfold in Halo: Combat Evolved, following the Noble Team. The player controls the latest member of the team, known as Noble Six. The game features a host of characters from fellow Spartan team members to the iconic Cortana and new acquaintances.
- Noble Six: The player character, a silent protagonist, and a new member of the Noble Team. He’s tasked with the most important mission, taking Cortana to safety.
- Carter-A259: The leader of the Noble Team, known for his tough and straight-to-the-point soldier mentality. This wartime commander’s callsign is Noble One.
- Catherine-B320: Noble Team’s second-in-command, also known as Kat. The Lieutenant Commander is recognized for her tactical prowess. Her right arm is bionic after she lost the arm in a mission.
- Dr. Catherine Halsey: The creator of the SPARTAN-II Program and the Mjolnir armor. Dr. Halsey plays a crucial role in the game and the larger lore of Halo.
- Jacob Keyes: An iconic captain of the UNSC Navy, whose tactical knowledge is legendary. He is a key character involved in the evacuation of Cortana from Reach.
- Cortana: An advanced AI who is under threat during the attack on Reach, and is key to the plot of Halo: Reach. Also, perhaps the best-known character in the Halo universe alongside Master Chief. Microsoft eventually named its virtual assistant after her.
- Ardo ‘Moretumee: A Covenant Elite Field Marshal who is one of the game’s main antagonists.
- Jorge-052: The heavy weapons specialist of Noble Team, and a veteran Spartan-II.
- Emile-A239: This fierce kukri- and shotgun-wielding combatant specializes in assault operations.
- Jun-A266: The sniper of Noble Team, skilled in marksmanship and reconnaissance.
Games in the Series
Halo is one of the more important game series in the first-person shooter genre, known for its deep lore and exciting gameplay. The series, developed by Bungie and later by 343 Industries, has been pivotal in shaping modern first-person shooters. Alongside games like Quake and Half-Life, it set new standards for storytelling, multiplayer gameplay, and world-building in shooter games. The Halo universe spans not just games but has extended into books, comics, and even a television series, expanding the lore further. The series includes the following games:
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
- Halo 2 (2004)
- Halo 3 (2007)
- Halo Wars (2009)
- Halo 3: ODST (2009)
- Halo: Reach (2010)
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011)
- Halo 4 (2012)
- Halo: Spartan Assault (2013)
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection (2014)
- Halo: Spartan Strike (2015)
- Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
- Halo Wars 2 (2017)
- Halo Recruit (2017)
- Halo: Fireteam Raven (2018)
- Halo Infinite (2021)
Halo: Reach Cheats
Halo: Reach doesn’t support a traditional cheat code system, but offers various glitches and exploits to abuse plus secret items that players can discover. Additionally, there are unlockable cosmetics, helmets, and nameplates. They can be accessed either with specific gameplay achievements for helmets or by certain other activities online.
Helmets
| Unlockable | Description |
| Carter’s Helmet | Clear a Campaign mission on Legendary without dying. |
| Emile’s Helmet | Earn a Bulltrue medal in either multiplayer or Firefight Matchmaking. |
| Jorge’s Helmet | Earn a Killtacular in multiplayer Matchmaking. |
| Jun’s Helmet | Kill 100 enemies in a row without dying in either the Campaign or Firefight. |
| Kat’s Helmet | Avenge a teammate’s death in multiplayer Matchmaking. |
Nameplates
| Unlockable | How to Unlock |
| Assault Rifle | Have played the Halo Reach Beta in May 2010. |
| Bungie Nameplate | Activate blue flames through the iPhone app to unlock. |
| Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) | Subscribe to the Bungie Pro hosting service. |
| HALO | Unlock the Halo, Halo 2, and Halo 3 nameplates. |
| Halo 2 Logo | Have played Halo 2 on Xbox Live before April 15, 2010. |
| Halo 3 Logo | Play any Campaign level in Halo 3 while connected to Xbox Live. |
| Marathon Durandal Symbol | Have Marathon Durandal in your recently played games list and log in at Bungie.net. |
| MJOLNIR Mk VI Helmet Logo | Unlock any 4 of the Halo PC, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, or Halo Reach Beta nameplates. |
| ODST Logo | Play Halo 3: ODST while connected to Xbox Live. |
| Original Halo Logo | Register your Halo PC product code at Bungie.net. |
| Star Nameplate | Activate through the Bungie Mobile app. |
| The Septagon (7th Column Symbol) | Join Bungie.net and log in with your Gamertag’s email address. |
Easy Unlock for Avatar Carter’s Helmet
To unlock Avatar Carter’s Helmet, players usually need to complete a level on the Legendary difficulty without dying. However, there’s an easier method. Play through the level until just before the end and select Save and Quit on a checkpoint. Then, resume the game from this save and finish the level, ensuring not die in these final moments. After completion, the Avatar Unlock notification should appear, giving you Carter’s Helmet.
Lowering Your Gun
In a local game of Halo: Reach, players can lower their gun by simultaneously pressing and holding down on the D-pad, the right stick (R3), the reload button, and the switch grenade button. This simple combination of actions allows for a unique in-game effect where the character lowers their weapon.
Master Chief Easter Egg
When you finish the last level, The Pillar of Autumn, a cut-scene triggers showing the ship’s departure. As this cut scene begins, turn to the right with the stick. During the moment the UNSC shuttle docks with the Pillar of Autumn‘s bay, if you’re turning to the right, the camera will pan to reveal the legendary Spartan in an escape capsule.
Halo: Reach Cheats FAQ
What is the main setting of Halo: Reach?
The game is set in the human world known as Reach during a Covenant invasion in 2552. This is the same realm that Master Chief escapes at the beginning of Halo: Combat Evolved on the starship Pillar of Autumn.
Can Halo: Reach be played in cooperative mode?
Yes, players can experience the campaign cooperatively with up to four players playing the game simultaneously for the same team. Each of the players assumes the role of a team member on the Noble Team.
Does Halo: Reach take place before or after Halo: Combat Evolved?
Halo: Reach is a direct prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, although the timelines are fairly similar. Halo: Reach takes place before the Fall of Reach, while Halo: Combat Evolved after the fall of the planet under Covenant insurrection.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Screenshot of Halo: Reach.