( CNN ) -- For all of its expected action and drama , the new `` Halo 4 '' boils down to an essential question : Are its central characters humans , machines or something in between ? The answer may still be unclear by the time you 're done playing this fantastic game . This edition of the hugely popular `` Halo '' franchise was developed by 343 Industries , which took over after Bungie Studios , creators of the first four games , split from Microsoft . To its credit , 343 Industries has retained the intense first-person shooter action `` Halo '' fans are used to but upped the emotional interplay between the iconic Master Chief and his artificial-intelligence companion , Cortana . The action begins with Master Chief in cryosleep and Cortana starting to undergo rampancy , a condition for older AIs in which they actually think themselves to death . At one point , Cortana likens it to having 1,000 arguments with herself , but she tries desperately to hang on to her sanity to help the Chief , her human ally . The connection between these two characters makes this campaign really special . From the opening scene with Catherine Halsey , the creator of the story 's super-soldier program , to its climax , the tension between humans and machines runs throughout the story . Web series builds anticipation for 'Halo 4 ' Cortana seems more emotive than before -- a welcome addition to the character . Master Chief retains his detached , no-nonsense soldier persona for most of the campaign , but there are moments you want his helmet to come off so you can see the facial expressions you sense he 's making . `` Halo 4 '' hooked me emotionally before I realized it . Some scenes made me feel waves of despair or elation before I recognized I was mirroring the emotions in the game -- truly a sign of an immersive experience . The graphics of `` Halo 4 '' are outstanding in their detailed depictions of characters and background environments . Whether foliage for a jungle setting or the individualized movement of little bits of wreckage , each scene is treated with careful attention to the smallest element . Characters look like live-action actors , and their movements and emotions have a realistic , almost filmlike quality . This technique has been used in other games , but `` Halo 4 '' raises the bar for others to emulate . The voice acting and dialogue are fantastic and help pull you into the story . You 'll quickly hate some characters based merely on the inflection in their voice . ( You may even wish you could shoot them in the face -- I know I did -- but you ca n't . ) The game introduces a new character from the recent `` Halo '' Web series , and I sometimes wondered if I was missing inside jokes from the related `` Halo '' books . But knowing the entire `` Halo '' universe is n't a prerequisite to enjoying this game . There are eight missions in the single-player campaign , with plenty of weapons and vehicles from which to choose . Combat in the game seemed more strategic than the straightforward , hard-charging style we 've come to know from previous `` Halo '' titles . For example , using the armor 's jump-pack accessory allows players to leap up to hidden spots and pick off enemies . And other armor abilities allow Master Chief to create a floating turret , which I found great for thinning out a battlefield before wading in . Do n't worry , fans -- the big action sequences are still there . `` Halo 4 's '' epic fight sequences require players to confront waves of enemies in one mission , then pick off bad guys one by one in another . And of course , co-op and online multiplayer action is available if you want to include a friend or try your luck against an opponent . Despite all the mayhem , what stood out for me about `` Halo 4 '' was the story . The new developers made an effort to delve into the characters we 've known over the years and morph them into something fresh . The `` man or machine '' question becomes more prevalent as the game progresses , and I found myself looking at different missions and scenes through that lens . Is Cortana more human as her mind begins to splinter ? Does John-117 , the solder we know as Master Chief , become a robotic killing machine ? Or have both influenced each other so much that the differences we expect between the two become mixed , creating a symbiotic relationship that only becomes evident when one side lets down the other ? During one tense scene , Master Chief tells Cortana , `` I was supposed to protect you . '' She replies , `` We were supposed to protect each other . '' The deepening interactions between these two main characters enhance the narrative and make `` Halo 4 '' a wonderful new addition to a beloved franchise -- and the best `` Halo '' campaign so far . It keeps me wanting to play over and over again . `` Halo 4 '' is available now throughout most of the world and will be available Thursday in Japan as an Xbox 360 exclusive title . It is rated M for mature due to blood and violence . Online interactions are not rated . This review was done with a provided limited edition copy and is solely focused on the single-player campaign .
` ` Halo 4 '' is a wonderful new addition to a beloved franchise -- and the best ` ` Halo '' yet . The game was developed by Sierra Entertainment , which took over from creators of first three games . It features emotional interplay between iconic Master Chief and companion Cortana .