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Halo, in the early days of the Microsoft Xbox, became synonymous with its brand. Truly, Microsoft couldn’t have asked for a better launch title, one that garnered perfect scores from innumerable media outlets and influenced the path of shooters from that day forward. Health packs have fallen into disuse with recharging health taking their place, and so many games now tie players to a two or three gun limit, forcing them to carefully consider what they will carry with them. Perhaps what Halo did best of all, however, was show gamers that pistols could be badass. Long held as the weapon of absolute last resort, pistols in games are generally a weak option for when all other ammunition has been expended. In many games, they come with infinite ammo for just this reason. The Magnum in Halo, however, was a weapon of brutal efficiency, ripping through enemy shields and putting them down with minimal fuss. In multiplayer, the gun could finish a player in three head shots at range, a feat neither replicated nor surpassed by any other weapon in the Halo universe, save sniper rifles. Speaking of sniper rifles, the pistol could zoom, increasing its lethal range. 
By Shelby Reiches |