Halo is unique. At a time when the military shooter genre was closed in terrestrial (or at best, mars) spaces, Halo presented natural environments filled with gorgeous alien architecture that presents an ancient mystery and a sense of wonder at the scale and the age of a place. Perfectly augmented by the monk-like vocalisations, Halo defies the conventions of military shooters by putting you in a beautiful place that you have to explore, and slowly come to understand.
Halo 4, released in 2012, had the best graphics I’ve ever needed in a game. I have not been impressed with a graphical upgrade since then. I can understand the value of more powerful machines for simulation games, or to reduce loading screens, but graphics have been as good as they ever needed to be for more than a decade. In 2024, the only purpose higher definition graphics serve is to bloat file sizes and make newer games unplayable in poor regions with bad internet.
Although I will say, Horizon Forbidden West revealing the fact that many gamers have never seen a real woman was hilarious.