Halo: The Xbox 360's Flagship Franchise?

It's a worthy statement: since the Xbox 360 has launched, not one, not two, but four Halo games have been released onto the console and with more sure to come from 2011 onwards courtesy of new developer 343 Industries, the Microsoft-exclusive franchise shows no signs of slowing down. But does that make it the series destined to be associated with the console? Let's take a look at each of the instalments...

HALO 3- Ironically enough this title was said to be the 'flagship title' for the Xbox 360 in 2007, the game that every owner should purchase- and what a game it was. Superb HD graphics, a plot which culminated the trilogy successfully and the best game-play mechanics since the original made for what was then the series high. 10/10

HALO WARS- The announcement of a strategy-based Halo took everyone by surprise, but Ensemble Studios proved it could be done with Halo Wars, an excellent spin-off/prequel telling a tale set decades before Combat Evolved, and allowing players to control armies of Spartans as they pleased. This only faltered with slowly fading replay value and a lack of DLC, but Halo Wars was a shock hit for most fans. 9/10

HALO 3: ODST- This was what, for me, let the side down on 360. ODST followed a group of rag-tag human troopers as the city of New Mombassa crumbled around them, and attempted a free-roam structure at times. Trouble was, most of the game had me wishing I was back in a mission, not trying to find one. A solid plot and the introduction of Firefight kept this as a decent Halo, but nothing more. 7/10

HALO: REACH- Now boasted as the 360's flagship title for 2010, Reach combines all the best elements of the series including an amazing prequel campaign, improved Firefight, a huge online world to create and excellent replay value. Where Reach falters is in its occasional unwillingness to innovate from past games, but the sheer value of the title at just £40 is incredible. 10/10

So is Halo the flagship franchise for the Xbox 360? I would say yes: the sheer amount of games already out here in comparison to just two on the original Xbox shows the dedication Microsoft is putting in to the sci-fi story, and suggests that we will be seeing a lot more of the Chief and his friends before the console dies!