One of the things cited as refreshing, if not actually innovative, about Halo is the fact that it doesn't depend on the usual key-door-boss sequence that has plagued the shooter genre since Doom. It seems not everyone feels the same:
Despite the exciting multiplayer modes, Halo does have a clink within its shiny coat of armor, the lack of a final boss. Even with its nerve-racking race-to- the-finish dash to your ship at the end of the game, Halo still should have had a final confrontation with a boss. Half-Life had one, so did Doom. Defeating the last boss in any game is its own reward. It would have been frosting on an already sweet mountain of a cake, but perhaps Bungie wanted to break away from the norm by straying away from that gaming cliche? Only they know for sure, and they ain't talking!One thing is for sure; Halo is a cinematic pleasure rollercoaster without the guardrail. Armed with an engaging plot, hours of intense legendary battles, and an arsenal of intergalactic weapons, this aria of a space opera helps to define the next generation of first person shooters for years to come-- or until Halo 2.
The 'Lost Hours' column at Coming Attractions gave Halo a 9 out of 10, but did note that the Spartan cyborg looks a lot like the Doom marine, at least in terms of color.