Surviving The Library

  
       Halo: CE's The Library is arguably one of Halo's hardest, most terrifying levels - besides Cortana. I remember dying countless times in the Library. Sometimes I would rage-quit, other times I would keep at it. Here, I'm going to give you the tips I've learned and heard that will help you get through The Library in one peice.

•        Take it a little at a time.

The first time I played The Library, I didn't know it was so long. So, I just started running, throwing grenades at my feet. This, of course, didn't work. So I tried a new tactic, and I've used this ever since. By taking it one "segment" at a time, and backing against a wall, I found that I didn't get surrounded. I would get in front of one "Flood duct", which spawned the Flood forms, and when they started coming out, I ran to the wall. Throw a grenade into their midst to thin them out, then go for the Combat forms first.

• Use the Shotgun/Assault Rifle combo.

 The Shotgun is great against the Combat/Carrier forms, and the ammo can sometimes be scarce, so I don't like to waste it on the Infection forms. So I use the Shotgun on the Combat/Carrier, and short bursts of the Assault Rifle for the Infection forms. Sometimes, if there aren't that many, and I feel relatively safe, I'll just let the Infection forms pop themselves on me to conserve ammo.

•  Play it safe.

If you see a particularly large horde coming at you, throw a grenade or two (preferably Frag) to cut some of them down. Don't go in guns-a-blazing, because it will be moot.

•  Help the Sentinels.

When the Sentinels come to help you, don't let them do all the work. Go for the Combat forms with your Shotgun, because sometimes they jump up and "kill" the Sentinels. Then, leave the Carrier/Infection forms to them. And remember to stay out of their way. A few intersecting Sentinel Beams can take out your shields, and sometimes (in my experience) kill you.

       So, that's all I have for now, but I may add/edit it sometime in the future. Keep an eye out, because I have several new posts coming soon, including: Halo Evolutions review, Halo Graphic Novel review, and Halo CEA Terminal and Skull locations.

Bandanna Skull, The Silent Cartographer (for the PFR inpaired)

Here is a video that shows you how to get the Bandanna Skull (unlimited ammo), without doing a PFR (plasma, frag, rocket) Jump. Don't tell me it doesn't work; I just did it.

Star Wars and Halo

       The other day, while standing in line for the Halo CEA launch party, I was thinking about all the Halo Media and merchandise. And then, I realized something. Halo is approaching Star Wars status.

       Just think. Halo may not have any movies out, (except for Halo Legends) but it's sure made up for that in video games. There are currently seven (nine, if you count Halo Custom Edition, and 2 Vista) games on the market, along with a couple cancelled projects. Then, at least three are on the way, as well as rumors of a Halo Wars 2. Then, there are nine novels out, with at least three on the way. There are six comics out, along with two on the way. There are seven official game guides, as well as five reference books, including The Art of Halo 3, which has become outstandingly collectible, going for anywhere from $200-over $1000. Halo 2, 3, and Reach all have Limited Editons, with 3 and Reach having a Legendary Edition as well, being even more collectible. There's soundtracks, numerous behind-the-scenes videos, and the famous Halo comedy, Red vs Blue. There are Mega Blocks, action figures, costumes, Limited Edition statues, Xbox consoles, controllers, as well as tons of little things including stickers, magnets, skins, computer wallpapers, posters, shirts, stuffed Grunts, etc.


       Give Halo a few year's time, and I think it will reach Star Wars status, if it hasn't already. So keep it up, all you Master Chiefs, Arbiters, Noble-Sixes, Rookies, and Cortanas out there. Keep playing, reading, watching, laughing, building, collecting, looking, waiting in line, modding, and forging. Because it isn't always the merchandise that makes up a franchise, it's the ones who buy it.

Halo CEA launch party

I went to the Halo CEA launch party at Microsoft Store. It was awesome! The first 100 in the door got a red (or blue) wristband, and a special CEA poster. 1st 100 to pre order the game got $5 off, a $25 Microsoft Store gift card, and a plush Grunt! It started at 10pm, and went through to 1am. Monster Energy came, and handed out free Monster, Pizza My Heart delivered pizza.





Kid trying out Halo CEA.












The line.













They're just missing in action....













Multiplayer.












Halo reaches all age groups!

You can see more pictures on wild949.com (then click on "photos"). And more pictures and video on the facebook page.

"Good" News! (for Reach players)

343 Industries announced last week that an Anniversary Map Pack will be available for Halo Reach. This means that Reach players wont have to buy Halo CEA to get the remastered maps. The pack will include six classic Halo maps, and one new Firefight map. It will release same-day as Halo CEA, for 1200 Microsoft Points. But anyone who buys Halo CEA will get a download code to add the map pack to Halo Reach.

Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary launch party!

Yes, it's true. Microsoft will be throwing launch parties for CEA at 13 of their stores across the US. It will be at 10 pm on Nov 14th. The 1st 100 will get a bunch of Halo goodies, and the 1st 100 to buy the game will get a stuffed Grunt. (No, not a real one... v.v).

Halo Anniversary Launch Party on Halo Waypoint (bottom)

CEA Launch Party on Facebook

Halo 4 story clues

         I'm sure if you're a Halo fan, you can't wait for Halo 4. You probably wonder what the story is going to be about. Here are some clues from other Halo media as to what it may be about.

          Halo 4. Set to release "Holiday 2012", part of a the new Reclaimer Trilogy. 343 says that it will "definitely" have "resonant connections" with Halo Glasslands, Halo Primordium, and the Terminals in Halo CEA. Based on what I know about Glasslands and Primordium, this gives a pretty good picture of Halo 4. Halo 4 will explore Master Cheif's character, who he is, and his relationship with Cortana.
          Many people think that the Legendary Planet is Onyx. That is a poor assumption, because the Onyx Shield world is located in slipspace. Many also think we will fight against the Forerunners. I hope not, I'd rather fight alongside the Forerunners. We could possibly see flood and covie stragglers, new enemies, and maybe even Precursors....

          Halo Glasslands was released yesterday, and is to be part of the "post-war series" by Karen Traviss. I read the first 2 chapters online, as well as other articles. It's going to be about humanity getting back on their feet after the nearly three decade war with the Covenant. We will also read about the Spartan III's and Dr. Halsey in the Shield world.

         Halo Primordium is to be released January 3rd, 2012. It will be the second book of the three-book series called the Forerunner Saga. It will follow the humans Chakas and Morning Riser, after Mendicant Bias' assault on the Forerunner capital. It will also delve deeper into the story of the Precursors and the Timeless One.

Halo CEA is set for release ten years to the day from Halo CE, November 15th, 2011. It runs on the same engine as the original, so it plays and feels exactly like CE. It has HD like in Halo 3. Don't know why they dropped it in Reach.... It will have Terminals like in Halo 3, which 343 has hinted will give insight and clues about the story of Halo 4.