A longtime Halo fan gets an incredible surprise after letting a friend borrow his vintage copy of Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox.
Usually, when someone lends something to their friend, they expect to get it back in the same condition. Occasionally, however, their friend manages to go above and beyond and somehow improve the lent item.
That’s what happened to a longtime Halo fan named Dan. Also known on Reddit as AnxietyRoyal9903, he recently lent a friend his copy of Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox. Of course, Dan didn’t expect to get it back autographed by the Master Chief himself.
Dan’s friend found out that the Master Chief’s voice actor, Steve Downes, was attending a gaming convention in his area. He then borrowed Dan’s copy of Halo: Combat Evolved and got it signed with the autograph, “Dan, I need a weapon,” followed by his signature and “Master Chief 117.” Unfortunately, Downes’ handwriting is a little hard to make out, with the signature being just squiggly lines apart from the S and the D. That may be why some in the Halo subreddit had trouble telling what they were even looking at.
Still, it’s not every day that someone gets surprised with an autographed copy of their favourite game signed by one of the industry’s most recognizable voice actors. Those on the subreddit who managed to decipher the black Sharpie were impressed by both the autograph and Dan’s ability to choose incredible friends. Even Xbox’s official Reddit account noticed and commented on the thread.
Halo: Combat Evolved was highly influential even beyond its dedicated fanbase. For better or worse, the modern gaming landscape might be radically different without the game’s influence. While it was far from the first FPS on consoles, it was the first to be designed primarily with consoles in mind. Halo: CE also radically changed what an FPS was, dropping the genre’s traditional puzzles and maze-like levels.
While being more linear isn’t inherently a benefit, it did help the game maintain a steadier pace. It also helped turn the FPS from a primarily solo experience to a multiplayer-focused genre. Whether that’s a good thing is a separate question, but no one can deny Halo: CE’s role in shaping the last two decades of gaming.
But more than that, Halo: Combat Evolved also has a very special place in the hearts of longtime Xbox owners. Manly longtime players have fond memories of late-night marathons in the early days of Xbox Live. It’s also not hyperbolic to say many gamers got into the hobby at least partially because of Halo’s influence. Xbox’s “20 Years of Play” video last month might have been a bit sappy, but there’s a reason it managed to tug at so many gamers’ heartstrings.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
