Is it just me, or is Halo 1 just more epic in scale than it's two sequels?

[sguy78]

I just played through 1,2, and 3; and Halo 1's levels and feel just seem so much larger in scale. I don't know if it is just the idea that it was so ground-breaking, but 2 and 3 while great in their own right, they pale in comparison.