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3.0 out of 5 stars
The Fall of Reach falls short of Halo reality, Nov 27 2003
I enjoyed the book it feels in the for what is not know in the video game. But in the video game if u here hit by plasma form a plasma rifle it would not damage u severly unilke the end of the book when the master chief goes one on one with and elite and a elite would not go down so easily in the game. In the book the weaponry used such as the MA5B assult rifle would be able to out grunts with one round a peice in the game the amount of amunition that would be used to kill a grunt would be more. The book also has some false in formation where they say that they made the MJOLNIR capable of deflecting needler rounds even though in the game they are not deflected. I also find it hard to belive that the spartans whent so long with out their sheild in the game halo that it what u rely on the most is your sheild. If the armor is armor then why do u take damage from a round even with ou the sheild. Another part is the book several marines were trying to get to the HQ and trying to out run the covenant at the same time, on the way a banshee sees and begins to engage the marines fleeing in their M 12 LRV or warthog and were following a stream a plasmar ound hit the jeep and the book says that the jeep would have been a gonner if it wasn't for the water that was below them. All im tryin to say is that the book doesn't keep up with what is the reality of the game. If that master cheif was so fast and then how do the marines last that long a gainst the covenant and u still struggle and if ur so fast and u piss off marines on the game when they oben fire they still hit u. The book is good it has plenty of action it fills u in on alot, enjoy it and just dismiss the false reality of the book. AN if ya wanna hit me up u can at spartan130@hotmail.com
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An adaptation which does not suck., July 6 2004
Most cross-media tie-ins are disastrous--just look at all of the videogames based on movies that are absolutely horrible, or at the very least, completely disappointing. Not so with Eric Nylund's Halo books. The developers at Bungie did an amazing job on what could have been just another plotless shoot-em-up, showing creativity of design, atmosphere, and character, but they couldn't jam all the backstory into the opening of the game. Nylund fills in the holes very deftly. While there are elements of sci-fi pillars like Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Card's Ender's Game, Nylund still manages to craft nuance into the building-a-soldier formula. While there are some annoying typos and continuity gaffes (two junior-grade lieutenants stand and salute a non-commissioned officer, for one) the books stand out from the cross-media dreck we're usually stuck with. They are easily good enough to stand on their own without the game itself. If you like Halo, order these immediately. If you like military sci-fi, ditto. If not, order them anyway. You may just be surprised at what you find.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST READ novel if you enjoy the game!, Jan 3 2002
The Fall of Reach is a prequel telling the story of humanity's war against a technologically superior race called the Covenant, a mysterious race on a religious crusade to destroy humanity. The story focuses on the hero of the Halo Xbox game and his fellow Spartans, enhanced human beings bred as soldiers for humanity's military and the best chance the humans have for victory in the losing war against the Covenant. The events in the book directly lead into the events in the game. Even without playing the game, it's a pretty good book by itself. The sci-fi universe created by Bungie (the makers of the game) which Nylund expands on is detailed and believable. Nylund's descriptions of space battles and futuristic militaries are excellent, as well as his portrayals of the human military strategy and tactics while fighting against a superior enemy. The book flows well and is an easy read. But the book is raised to a new level if you play the game alongside reading the novel. Nylund's otherwise average character development and background instead become outstanding insight into the life of the game's hero and opens your eyes to the bigger picture of the Halo universe. You become truly immersed, which makes both the book reading and video game experience that much more rich. Sci-fi nitpickers will criticize some of the technological aspects of the Halo universe (for example, it is 500 years in the future where humans have mastered faster-than-light travel and true artificial intelligence, yet soldiers and ships still use solid ammo as their primary weapons), but those issues are minor. Nylund is still able to suspend disbelief. And it doesn't hinder the overall good story. Overall, good book by itself. But I recommend you play the game as well. If you enjoy the game, then this novel is a must read! I can't wait until the sequel for both!
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