Halo 4
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Master Chief returns in sci-fi battle that's more violent.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Halo 4
Community Reviews
Based on 69 parent reviews
Report this review
IT IS THE BEST GAME EVER.
Report this review
What’s It About?
HALO 4, the Master Chief's first new adventure in five years, picks up right where its predecessor left off, with a broken UNSC ship floating dead in space. The Chief rests inside in cryosleep, the artificial intelligence Cortana holding watch. It's not long, however, before the vessel falls under attack by Covenant forces, and the Chief soon finds himself crashing onto the surface of a strange alien world. The story that follows reveals new details about the Forerunners (the ancient aliens who designed the series' titular halos), exposes a new threat to humanity, and delves into the Chief's close friendship with Cortana, who is suffering a kind of digital mental breakdown. In addition to the six hour campaign, which shows off new weapons and vehicles (including alien rifles and a towering UNSC mech), players can look forward to more of Halo's trademark multiplayer action, including a serialized cooperative campaign composed of new episodes releasing on a weekly basis.
Is It Any Good?
The Master Chief's long-awaited return manages to live up to the series' daunting reputation, delivering an experience that feels very much like a classic Halo game while adding a few new elements to the formula. Missions are fast-paced and often spectacular, new enemies are smart and challenging, and online play is extremely habit-forming. Plus, players finally get to peer a little more deeply into the Master Chief's soul thanks to a narrative that sees him fighting through hordes of deadly enemies to save his ailing digital friend Cortana. (Turns out he's a bit of a softie when it comes to his long-time A.I. companion.)
One wishes the campaign lasted a little longer, and that the co-op missions had more shape and a deeper narrative, but these are minor criticisms. Halo 4 is the sort of game that many players will keep in their consoles for weeks on end, making it a great value for the grownup gamers it's intended to entertain.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in media. Do you feel differently fighting fantastical aliens instead of realistic human enemies?
Families can also discuss online safety. What precautions do you observe in games with open voice communication? What do you do when you encounter strangers engaging in inappropriate behavior?
Game Details
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Skills: Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together, teamwork, Creativity: making new creations, producing new content, Thinking & Reasoning: strategy
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Release date: November 6, 2012
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating: M for Blood, Violence
- Last updated: August 26, 2016
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate