I can understand how this could be confusing. :)
Let me try to help by providing industry reception for Haze and the Halo Series. Hopefully this will shed some light on why gamers have decided to play one, instead of the other.
Analysis, The Halo Series
-Halo: Combat Evolved Metacritic Score-
97 /100
-Halo: Combat Evolved Awards-
* Game of the Year, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, 2002
* Console Game of the Year, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, 2002
* Editor's Choice, Game of the Year, IGN.com, 2002
* Editor's Choice, Game of the Year, Electronic Gaming Monthly, April 2002
* Best Console Game, BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, 2002
* Best Multiplayer Game, BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, 2002
* Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, 2002
* Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, 2002
* Best Game of Year One, Official Xbox Magazine,November 2002
* Best Multiplayer Game of Year One, Official Xbox Magazine, November 2002
* Game of the Year, EDGE magazine (UK), April 2002
* Technical Innovation of the Year, EDGE (UK), April 2002
* Audio Achievement of the Year, EDGE (UK), April 2002
* Best Original Soundtrack, Rolling Stone, May 2002
* Editor's Choice, Best Xbox Game of 2001, IGN.com, 2002
* Reader's Choice, Best Xbox Game of 2001, IGN.com, 2002
* Readers' Choice, Best Xbox Game of 2001, GameSpot, 2002
* Editors' Choice, Best Xbox Game, GameSpot, 2002
* Reader's Choice, Best Combat Game, GamePro, July 2002
* Readers' Choice, Best Xbox Game of the Year, Electronic Gaming Monthly, April 2002
* Editors' Choice, Best Shooting Game, GameSpot, 2002
* Best Graphics in a Console Game, Electric Playground, 2002
* Best Console Shooter, Electric Playground, 2002
* Best Multiplayer for a Console, Electric Playground, 2002
* Best Developer: Bungie, Electric Playground, 2002
* No. 1, Best First-Person Shooters, PLAY, February 2002
* Best First-Person Shooter, GameNow, February 2002
* Best Multiplayer Game, GameNow, February 2002
* Platinum Editors' Choice Award, Electronic Gaming Monthly, January 2002
* Game of the Month, Electronic Gaming Monthly, January 2002
* Revolutionary Xbox Game of 2001, Game Revolution,January 2002
* Best Xbox Action Game of 2001, Game Revolution,January 2002
* Editors' Choice, Best Xbox Action Game of 2001, IGN.com, 2002
* Readers' Choice, Best Xbox Action Game of 2001, IGN.com, 2002
* Editors' Choice, Best Xbox Storyline, IGN.com, 2002
* Readers' Choice, Best Xbox Storyline, IGN.com, 2002
* Editors' Choice, Best Xbox Graphics, IGN.com, 2002
* Runner-up, Readers' Choice, Best Xbox Graphics, IGN.com, 2002
* Editors' Choice, Best Xbox Sound, IGN.com, 2002
* Readers' Choice, Best Xbox Sound, IGN.com, 2002
* Game of the Year, Toronto Sun, 2001
* Xbox Game of the Year, GameZone Online, 2001
* Best Console Game of the Year, Voodoo Extreme, 2001
* Action/Adventure Xbox Game of the Year, GameSpy, December 2001
* Gamer's Choice Xbox Game of the Year, GameSpy, December 2001
* Premier Choice Award, ActiveWindows, December 2001
* Viewer's Choice: Game of the Year, TeamXbox, December 2001
* Editors' Choice 2001, GamePen, November 2001
-Halo 2 Metacritic Score-
95 /100
-Halo 2 Awards-
* Best Console Game of E3 2004, Game Revolution, May 2004
* Best Console Game Game, E3 2004 Game Critics Awards, May 2004
* Best Action Game, E3 2004 Game Critics Awards, May 2004
* Best Online Multiplayer Game, E3 2004 Game Critics Awards, May 2004
* Best Visuals of E3 2004, 1UP, May 2004
* Best Xbox Game of E3 2004, 1UP, May 2004
* Best Shooter of E3 2004, 1UP, May 2004
* Best Game of E3 2004 Nominee, 1UP, May 2004
* Best Console Title of E3 2004, Action Trip, May 2004
* E3 2004 Best of Show, Game Informer Magazine, May 2004
* Best Shooter of E3 2004 Runner-up, Game Spot, May 2004
* Best Xbox Game of E3 2004 Finalist, Game Spot, May 2004
* Best Xbox Game of E3 2004 Runner-up, Gamers.com, May 2004
* E3 2004 Editor’s Choice, GameSpy, May 2004
* Best Games of E3 2004, GameSpy, May 2004
* Best of E3 2004, GameZone, May 2004
* Best Xbox Live Game of E3 2004, IGN, May 2004
* Best Xbox Shooter of E3 2004, IGN, May 2004
* E3 2004 Xbox Game of Show Winner, IGN, May 2004
* E3 2004 Technological Excellence Runner-up, IGN, May 2004
* E3 2004 Best of Show Winner, IGN, May 2004
* E3 2004 Best of Show Winner, TeamXbox, May 2004
* E3 2004 Best Xbox Live Title, TeamXbox, May 2004
* E3 2004 Best First-Person Shooter, TeamXbox, May 2004
* Best Game of E3 2004, Xbox 365, May 2004
* Best Games of E3 2004 Winner, Xbox Evolved, May 2004
* Best Xbox Game of E3, Gamespot.com, May 2003
* The Best Games of 2003, Official Xbox Magazine, February 2003
* Hottest Games of 2004, Official Xbox Magazine, January 2003
* Best-Kept Secret, Official Xbox Magazine, February 2004
* Best Game of E3 2003, TeamXbox, June 2003
* Best Graphics of E3 2003, TeamXbox, June 2003
* Best Trailer of E3 2003, TeamXbox, June 2003
* Post-E3, Pre-Awards Best Games, IGN Xbox, May 2003
-Halo 3 Metacrtic Score-
94 /100
-Halo 3 Awards-
* IGN - "Best Xbox 360 Online Multiplayer Game"
* IGN - "Innovative Design of 2007"
* TIME Magazine - "Game of the Year"
* Geezer Games - "Multiplayer Game of the Year"
* Geezer Games - "Game of the Year"
* Geezer Games - Runner-Up for "Best Shooter"
* The Visual Effects Society - "Best Real Time Visuals in a Video Game"
* Calvin Award - "Best Videogame"
* GameTrailers.com - "Game of the Year 2007"
* G-Phoria Fan Vote - "Game of the Year"
* Spike TV - "Best Multiplayer Game"
* Spike TV - "Most Addictive Video Game Fueled by Dew"
* Edge - "Interactive Innovation"
Analysis, Haze
-Haze Metacritic Score-
55 /100
-Haze Awards-
(No Awards Found)
-Quotes About Haze-
* Eurogamer, "this year's most significant gaming disappointment."
* IGN, "horrible plot, weak gameplay mechanics and visuals that are truly underwhelming. Tons of visual issues abound within the game from texture tears and non-descript environments to pop-in and odd animation problems."
* GameSpot, "This madly inconsistent shooter offsets a number of thrilling moments with terrible artificial intelligence and an awful story,"
* GameSpot, "A seven-hour campaign and uneventful multiplayer modes just don't cut it in light of the far better modern shooters available on the market."
* X-Play, "stupid plot."
* Gamespy, "It's clear from the bare-bones multiplayer, glitchy graphics and incredibly short storyline that Haze is a game interrupted,"
* Edge, "few bright ideas and engaging set pieces are drowning in an ocean of mediocrity"
* Play, "Although ambitious, Haze is let down by generic gameplay, and a rough finish. However, if you're a FPS (first person shooter) fan and you don't mind these shortcomings, you may find elements here to enjoy."