Cortana (Jen Taylor) is one of the first characters that comes to mind when you think of the Halo universe. With a live-action Halo series on the way on Paramount, we thought a guide to Cortana (without giving too much away for those who haven't made their way through all the games) was in order. Cortana serves as a guide and ally to the player throughout Halo gameplay, and in that sense and many others, she is essential to the Halo experience. Her mannerisms as an AI make for a sort of dry humor that makes her stand out among other recurring characters in the game. It will be interesting to see how this character, who fits so easily into the video game format, will be adapted to a live-action television series.

First-person shooters, including Call of Duty, would incorporate this game's regenerating health system, forever changing the dynamics of the genre. Faced with the limits of the Xbox console, Bungie would force players to keep only two weapons at a time, introducing a new strategic element to the shooter genre known for giving players dozens of guns at their disposal at any time. Its music reacted dynamically to the player's on-screen progress and actions, a groundbreaking audio storytelling technique that's everywhere today. And, of course, it finally cemented the right analog stick's function to controlling cameras, forever changing how players would aim and look around in shooting games for the next two decades and beyond. Even after 20 years, it's remarkable how modern and evocative the Xbox launch title can be. "Halo: Combat Evolved" is a game so future proofed, it's as easy to pick up to play today as a Super Mario game would be to anyone who grew up in the 1980s.

Its memory manipulation makes us hyperinflate the value or quality of past relationships, experiences, things we loved. When we see them again, the disappointment can be a shock. No, Speed Racer was not a good cartoon show. No, your grade school crush wasn't that impressed at your spelling test scores. But yes, the first Halo game was, and still is, the greatest first-person shooter video game ever made. It all adds up to an unforgettable experience that begins what becomes an iconic trilogy of titles.

The last time video game players witnessed an Xbox launched with a Halo game was nearly 19 years ago. So, it's only fitting the latest chapter in one of Microsoft's most important video game properties draws inspiration from the original. On Thursday, Xbox unveiled the first footage of the campaign for Halo Infinite, slated to launch this holiday along with the Xbox Series X console. It not only marks the comeback of Halo, but of its signature star, Master Chief. In an interview with USA TODAY, Halo Infinite director Chris Lee describes the game as a "spiritual reboot," centered on continuing Chief's story while paying tribute to where it all began: 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved. Lee says the team at 343 Industries developing Infinite wanted to "go to the roots of Halo, bring those elements forward, and then modernize them for gamers today. That's really been a key creative inspiration for us."