With a detailed universe, well-rounded characters and lots of action, it was a no-brainer that the world of the “;Halo”; video game series would be destined for the big screen. Someday it may well do so, but for now we have ”;Halo Legends,”; a direct-to-video collection of seven animated stories exploring more of the Human-Covenant war.

A collaboration between Microsoft Game Studios' 343 Industries and various large Japanese animation companies, “;Halo Legends”; is geared toward fans of the series—most relationships, species names and other key information go unsaid. The first two chapters, “;Origins I”; and “;Origins II,”; talk about the Forerunners, explain the creation of the Halo weapon array and describe the basics of the Human-Covenant war and the Flood but don't go beyond that.

The stories incorporate characters and details not only from the games, but from the “;Halo”; novels as well. But even those not immersed in the Halo-verse will not need much more information than what the games have so far given—aside, perhaps, the fact that Dr. Catherine Halsey was the creator of the SPARTAN-II program and that Thel is the name of the Elite who would eventually become the Arbiter that we know in the video games.

Women have their fair share of the spotlight in “;Legends,”; while Master Chief remains on a back burner, where he has been since the main “;Halo”; game trilogy ended. Still, fans of the beloved Spartan will get to see their hero in action one more time.

Each chapter is done in a different style. The more typical animation of “;Origins”; shifts completely away to a blurred blend of watercolors and impressionism in the third chapter, “;The Duel,”; which offers a look at rare dissent within the Covenant.

Following a different Arbiter named Fal after he is deemed a heretic by the Prophets, the episode is not only the most unique in terms of animation style, but is also the most clearly Japanese, with classic, eerie flute music and the samurai stylings of antagonist Haka and his soldiers. The virtue of honor, central to both Japanese and the Covenant Elites' culture, plays a central role as Fal decides to rebel against the Prophets and then must face the consequences of those actions.

WHILE MOST of the stories deal with the brutality of war and the necessary death and sacrifices that accompany it, “;Legends”; does have sillier moments. From the beginning of the episode “;Odd One Out,”; in which a Spartan crash-lands on an unknown planet and must fight a Covenant weapon, it's obvious that it's meant more as a parody. From the unceremonious falling to the surface of the planet Kronky of Spartan 1337 to the idiocy of the Covenant's super-weapon Pluton, this ridiculous take on “;Halo”; is—at least on first viewing—an inappropriate attempt at comic relief.

Yet, despite that initial blast of absurdity, “;Odd One Out”; quickly grows on you—it's definitely funny, and I enjoyed it much more the second time around.

But the best is saved for last with the final chapter, “;The Package.”; Master Chief makes his sole starring appearance in this computer-animated prequel to the games, in which he leads a team of Spartans to recover an important object that the Covenant has taken.

This episode, from “;Appleseed”; director Shinji Aramaki, includes new Spartan flying vehicles and Covenant fighter ships. The characters here look more like molded marionettes than computer graphics trying to look realistic. Thankfully, once the Spartans put their helmets on, the distracting rigidity is hidden.

Aside from that graphics grumble, “;Package”; really is the complete one—dogfights in space, gunbattles, sword clashes, acrobatics, close calls, trickery, desperation. And the ending ties back nicely into the beginning of the “;Halo”; games' story.

Those who played “;Halo”; might also get a kick out of the brief scenes that change the point of view to look out from the Spartans' visors—players will recognize the familiar interface showing the grenades they're toting, shield level, gun ammo, map, even the targeting circle that, true to in-game form, glows red when the superhuman soldier has a lock on an enemy. Aramaki's attention to detail is incredible—pause for a bit when the view shifts to Kelly's or Fred's visors and you'll see that their ammo meters (and targeting circles!) accurately reflect the weapons they're packing.

“;Halo Legends”; will be available on DVD as both a single-disc ($19.98) and two-disc special edition ($29.98), as well as a Blu-ray edition ($34.99), starting Tuesday.