History VideoGame / HaloReach

Until 2019, it was the only UsefulNotes/Xbox360-era game in the main ''Halo'' series not to be included in the ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' compilation for the UsefulNotes/XboxOne. In December of that year, ''Reach'' was added to the collection and was the first part of the MCC to be ported to the PC.

** Spec Ops Elites aren't as durable or aggressive as they were in ''Halo 1'' and ''Halo 2''[[note]]They only have 80 health and 80 shields, compared to the 100 health and 100 shields of a basic Elite Minor[[/note]], though they're all equipped with permanent cloaking devices now. Overall they're much more like Stealth Elites, with the Ultras having taken over their former role as the EliteMooks of the Elites.
** Elite Ultras are a lot less durable than they were in ''Halo 2'', only having about 150 shields and 125 health (compared to 100 of each for Elite Minors) rather than the 300 shields and 300 health they had in ''Halo 2''. However, they're also a lot faster and more agile than they were in ''Halo 2'', tend to appear in greater numbers and carry explosive weaponry. Overall they're much more like EliteMooks than the BossInMookClothing they were in ''Halo 2''.

* ObviousBeta: Downplayed; as the first game in ''The Master Chief Collection'' to be ported to PC, ''Reach'' had some issues (most notably the fact the graphics didn't function properly above 60 fps) that weren't present in later games in the collection. After releasing ''Halo 4'' and completing the collection, 343 Studios went back and brought ''Reach'' up to the level of quality of the later games.

* DarkerAndEdgier: You thought ''Halo 3'' was bleak? You'd be surprised.

** The Guta are just like [[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} deathclaws]].

* CosmeticallyAdvancedPrequel: Inherent in that the game came out years after the original and video game graphics jumped significantly in that time. The armor of Noble Team looks more functional than Master Chiefs in ''Combat Evolved''. On the strict canon side, much of it is explained as the ''Pillar of Autumn'' being a single ship with limited supplies and stock crew complement[[note]]The ship was actually meant to implement a top-secret mission utilizing the entire Spartan-II corps, with the ''Autumn'' itself retrofitted from an older model cruiser into an AceCustom, but the Battle of Reach changed everything and they were left with a mishmash of crew and equipment[[/note]], while Reach had some of the most advanced military research facilities in the entire UNSC.

Until 2019, it was the only Xbox 360-era game in the main ''Halo'' series not to be included in the ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' compilation for Xbox One. In December of that year, ''Reach'' was added to the collection and was the first part of the MCC to be ported to the PC.

** Dr. Catherine Halsey features significantly in the ''Halo'' ExpandedUniverse: in addition to being the creator and director of the [=SPARTAN-II=] program, she is also one of the leading human experts on the Forerunners. In the eventual [[Series/Halo2022 TV series]], she's played by Creator/NataschaMcElhone. ''Reach'', the ''final'' Bungie ''Halo'' title, is the first time she's ever appeared in any game.

** Most of Noble Team have their own establishing moments as well within the first two levels; [[CuriosityIsACrapshoot Kat has a very possessive attitude toward the data found on Lazlo Sorvad's corpse, seizing it from Six immediately]]; Jorge takes his helmet off to make a civilian feel more secure and comfortable, setting off Emile's own moment where he shows his [[WhatMeasureIsANonBadass contempt toward civilians]]; Carter [[TheMenFirst defends Kat against Halsey]], who gets her own moment by [[JerkAss showing contempt to almost all of the Spartan-IIIs of Noble Team]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold while showing a soft side toward Jorge, one of her Spartan-IIs]].

** Dr. Catherine Halsey features significantly in the ''Halo'' ExpandedUniverse: in addition to being the creator and director of the [=SPARTAN-II=] program, she is also one of the leading human experts on the Forerunners. In the eventual [[Series/Halo222 TV series]], she's played by Creator/NataschaMcElhone. ''Reach'', the ''final'' Bungie ''Halo'' title, is the first time she's ever appeared in any game.
** Likewise, the idea that Cortana is an AI clone of Dr. Halsey is never contradicted in-game but is first established in ''The Fall of Reach'', is finally confirmed by having Creator/JenTaylor do voice-acting for both of them (as well as by Halsey's journal).