Halo: Reach is the upcoming (and final) chapter from current developer studio Bungie, bringing to an end their service over the Xbox Halo franchise. Set in 2552 on the controlled planet Reach, and gamers once again adopt the Spartan armour as Noble 6 and, along with Noble Squad, the player will have to defend their home from the terror that is the Covenant. However, Halo: Reach will be a prequel to Bungie's first award scooping "Halo: Combat Evolved" title.

Originally designed to be an updated version of the Xbox Halo franchise mammoth Halo 3, the notion was dropped, Bungie urging they would redesign and improve the calibre of the Halo 3 designs. Referring back to the Halo: Combat Evolved concept designs, this means the new weapon, armour and enemy designs in Halo: Reach will differ dramatically from prior entries but uphold the ethos of the Xbox Halo franchise.

Hinting that they will not cap the Xbox Halo franchise without a bang, the company are seeking to dramatically improve the visual performance of all gaming areas, right down to the weaponry. This obviously needed Bungie to produce an all new engine for Halo: Reach, with the AIbeing improved and tweaked to deliver better support for the player as they take on the Covenant.

And so following all this talk of combining vastly refined graphics and improved AI and designs, will Bungie depart the Xbox Halo Franchise with a bang and maintain their reputation for creating the best FPS for the Xbox 360? Theonly way to be sure is to pick up a copy when it is released later this year!