Parents' Guide to Halo

This latest video game adaption strays pretty far from its polygon-fueled source material, but still pays tribute to its interactive roots in a number of fan-pleasing ways. Halo includes many elements followers of the first-person shooter might expect, from its iconic space marine protagonist and combat scenes featuring familiar weapons and vehicles to the unmistakable grunts of its evil extraterrestrials. Side characters, settings, and even occasional nods to that defining first-person camera perspective will similarly satisfy those who've typically experienced this sci-fi saga from behind a gamepad.

But those faithful call-outs to the source material are organically woven into a story that not only digs much deeper into the series' rich fiction, but diverges from it in welcome ways. In fact, you needn't have ever peered down the sites of a pulse rifle to be pulled in by Halo's character-driven drama, engaging conflicts -- both on and off the battlefield -- and absorbing world. The series occasionally suffers from lightweight production values and effects, as well as a sense it's trying a little too hard to deliver more narrative depth than the games. Overall though, it admirably delivers an experience that does right by Master Chief's most loyal fans, while also inviting newcomers to dive into its engrossing universe.