In the distant future of the 26th century, cybernetically enhanced soldiers called Spartans battle against an alien race, the Covenant, for control of an artificial ring-shaped world. Such is the premise of the “Halo” first-person shooter video game series, which puts players in the role of Master Chief, an unstoppable warrior reminiscent of the Terminator.

Since the first game’s release in 2001, the “Halo” series has revolutionized and popularized the first-person shooter genre. Many of today’s modern shooters including “Call of Duty” and “Battlefield” have incorporated elements from “Halo.” The series has become Xbox’s flagship series and is often cited for the 
Xbox’s success.

With “Halo 5” on the horizon later this year, Microsoft released “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” for the Xbox One last November.

This collection includes all four of the past Halo games, “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4.” “Halo 2,” like its predecessor, will receive the anniversary treatment and be remastered with a better graphic resolution. Similarly, the collection includes the remastered version of the original game, “Halo: 
Combat Evolved.”

With the first two installments receiving remastered graphics and the last installment released not long ago, “Halo 3” seems oddly left out. While the graphics seemed great at the time, the past seven years have marked significant advancements in the industry. The divide between “Halo 3” and the other games may seem jarring to some players.

Each of the games includes all the original features and multiplayer maps. For the first time since the original Xbox Live shutdown, players are able to replay their favorite moments from the first two games. All the matchmaking and multiplayer features are separated by game, which may or may not create difficulty in finding an online game to play.

“Halo” has long relied on the notion of multiplayer and cooperative play. Even years later, it is one of the best first-person shooters to sit down and play with a friend. Being able to play through all four of the games’ campaigns will appeal to many gamers’ nostalgia and may even draw new ones toward the series.

With the promise of “Halo 5” soon, Microsoft has made a smart move by bringing almost all the “Halo” series under one console. With the rerelease, players can prepare and help shape the future of the “Halo” series. Whether “Halo 5” will live up to its hype is still a mystery, but Microsoft is looking into the series’ past for the future.