On top of all that, there are also the little details that taken individually may not seem like much, but put together really add a lot. Things like the way enemies inflate when you stomp on them and slowly float off the screen or the expression on the mosquito’s face when it’s got a mouth full of stuff. It’s truly a stunningly created game that oozes visual charm from every pore.

Even if the story elements don’t interest you, the combat found in the add-on is on par with the most challenging segments of the main game. Enemies attack in swarms throughout and can make advancement difficult even on the default setting. There were actually moments when the screen became crowded to the point that I had difficulty locating my character amid the action. Those instances definitely felt over the top, but thankfully they were isolated.

The soundtrack features a subdued yet powerful score that never overpowers the on-screen action. It was actually striking to hear such a minimalist approach during large segments of the game, but the melancholy tones fit the darker mood of the story. There’s also no shortage of strong voice acting with characters displaying the type of range and depth that hadn’t been asked previously.

Vehicular sections are more of a mixed bag as that aspect improved over the years. The Warthog feels good in all its fishtailing glory, and the Ghost handles like it always has (sans speed boost). On the other side of the ledger, the Banshee feels extremely clunky versus later games in the series, while the Scorpion doesn’t maneuver well and has sketchy aiming.