Halo: Combat Evolved's opening mission "Pillar of Autumn" contains hidden collectibles that reward players willing to explore beyond the critical path. Polygon's guide maps out every skull and terminal location across the level.
Skulls in Halo function as difficulty modifiers that players can activate after discovery, fundamentally changing how the campaign plays. Finding them requires backtracking and examining side corridors that the main mission doesn't force you through. "Pillar of Autumn" hides skulls in multiple sections, rewarding methodical players with access to harder difficulty settings and alternative gameplay mechanics.
Terminals provide lore context for Halo's universe. These interactive logs scattered throughout levels deliver narrative depth without interrupting the main storyline. They expand on events leading up to Master Chief's awakening and flesh out the setting's backstory through environmental storytelling.
The Pillar of Autumn serves as the tutorial level and campaign opener, making it accessible for completionists even on first playthroughs. However, finding all collectibles requires knowledge of their positions. Some skulls demand specific actions or careful examination of your surroundings. Terminals sit in easily-missed corners, tucked behind destructible walls or in dead-end alcoves.
Players pursuing 100% completion will return to this mission multiple times. The guide identifies exact room numbers and detailed directions to each collectible, eliminating the trial-and-error approach that plagued players before community wikis emerged. Knowing skull and terminal positions saves hours of searching and allows players to design their ideal campaign experience from the start.
For speedrunners and achievement hunters, this resource proves essential. Halo's community still actively plays the original Combat Evolved through the Master Chief Collection on Xbox and PC, keeping guides like Polygon's relevant years after launch.