Halo 3
Category: Xbox 360, Posted: 09/23/2007 at 02:04PM CDT by Brendon Lindsey, Editor-in-Chief- Halo 3
- Xbox 360
- Bungie Studios
- Microsoft Games
- September 25th, 2007
I've been sitting here for two hours now trying to figure out how, exactly, to write this. I've started four different reviews, and scrapped them all after one page. The fact of the matter is, Halo 3 is unlike any other game I've ever played or reviewed. There's never been a game this hyped -- this anticipated. Chances are good that if you're reading this you're one of the people who have preordered the game already, or know for a fact whether or not you're going to get it when it comes out. (For many people, this fact is 100% based on whether or not they have a 360 or the money to get one.) I have no problem admitting that even if I gave Halo 3 a 2, it would still sell more copies than any game in recent memory by far.
I also know our audience, and I won't kid myself. People will go to IGN and GameSpot first, read their reviews, and learn all about the new features. (And if they don't, Wikipedia does a much better job explaining new features than I ever could, and in a lot less space -- so if you honestly have no idea what a Halo 3 is, like many things Wikipedia is the best source if it's insanely popular.) What can I do, then? After such a long time agonizing over the solution, it's actually really simple: just explain how much fun the game is, and how much I love it.
Before I actually played it, I admit I was expecting to be disappointed. There's no way a game could live up to this much expectation. No matter how good it is, I'd be disappointed in the final product because I expect too much...right? After a less-than-stellar outing in Halo 2, I wouldn't have been surprised if Halo 3 dropped a notch further compared to the original Halo: Combat Evolved. But no; Halo 3 surpasses even the first game, and shockingly delivers upon the hype surrounding its release. Everything that made the first Halo game such a memorable experience? It's back. Everything that made Halo 2 a disappointment? It's gone. (Well, for the most part; Elites are still at a big disadvantage online, the shotgun is more nerfed than ever, and the pistol is still a shade of its former self, but everything else is all good.)
The 4 player co-op via Xbox Live may not seem like a huge feature in a game which will obviously live for years via the multiplayer matchmaking play, but it's actually one of the best parts of the game. In 2001, chances are a lot of us lived in a different area, or had friends and neighbors we played the first Halo with who have since then moved away, and gone on with their lives. If you're like me, you miss playing the campaign mode splitscreen with your buddies. Now, you can play it with them again, and this time all at once. On Legendary, that makes the game infinitely more fun.
I'm really glad the campaign turned out well in Halo 3 after the fiasco that was Halo 2's. At first, I admit that I was very disappointed with the ending (or lack thereof). I ranted and raved, and the friends I beat it with expressed similar anger at an ending which was just as bad as Halo 2, if not worse due to the expectation that Bungie did it right this time. Then, we found out there's an after-credits cutscene which is infinitely better, and does bring an end of sorts to the saga. So make sure you stick around for that, because if it weren't for a few friendly people who had the game even earlier than me, I would have never known better.
| GamePlay: For the most part, it's the same Halo gameplay we've seen time and time again. A few new additions vehicle and weapon wise spice things up, but mostly, Halo 3 is about Bungie perfecting their craft. | |
| Graphics: If I had to pick one area Halo 3 was weak in, this would be it. The visuals look nice, but not as good as other recent titles. Still, they aren't bad -– just not fantastic. | |
| Sound: There's a very good reason that the Halo OST is so popular. Sure, the music hasn't changed too much -- but does it matter? It rocks. | |
| Replay Value: There is absolutely no reason this game shouldn't last well past the 360's life cycle. There will be people playing this as long as there's the ability to do so, and user-created content adds a lot of unknown replay value. | |
| 9.5 | Final Word: You probably already put your money towards the game. Don't worry, because it's worth every penny. Halo 3 is an incredible game which goes above and beyond the insane hype machine preceding it. |
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Kyle Stallock
Holdin' on to that little spark of madness.
Brendon Lindsey
Updated May 6th, 2008
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I have to admit, I came closer to giving this a 10 instead of a 9.5 than any game I've ever reviewed. Only my belief that only the PERFECT games should get a 10 kept me from doing so, and Halo 3 has enough tiny things (not-so-great graphics, stupid ally AI, short campaign) to keep me from doing so.
One thing bad about this is that it means less people will be playing team fortress 2 for the 360....i really don't know whether to buy this or not....I hated the second game and i haven't played the first game....so perhaps i don't have the best viewpoint.
Excellent review Brendon =]You've made me even more excited for this game.
"all the little things Halo 3 does and how it's done that makes it great. The gameplay isn't far superior to other FPS games, the story isn't as epic as we like to think it is, and the multiplayer modes really aren't unique if you ignore the "for a console" moniker. Like I've said before when talking about the Halo franchise, it's how Bungie fits it all together that makes it such a special experience. While Halo 3 doesn't do a lot innovatively, it does everything right. They've had years to perfect their Halo craft, and they did it damn well this time around."
Why did I quote that?Because it needed to be QFT
This game will be played well past year 9999, so that kid who got banned may have a chance if he freezes himself.
Thank you so much for this great review. I was growing increasingly fed-up with other reviewers' inability to show their genuine excitement. It's like they don't even enjoy playing video games anymore. Gamernode just became the top gaming site in my bookmarks.
I really thought it would get a 10, it is good to see an honest, not over bloated review that i am sure the other sites and magazines will surely give next week. As i said before, i am not a multi-player kind of player, but 4 player co-op sure sounds fun on Live. Almost makes me want to renew my Live account.
But this IS an excellent review...well done :D
jedi, if you have a friend who has a Live account you don't need one. You can have two people on one console playing online co-op, so only one of you needs a Gold account.
Wow. I'm suprised. I did actually expect this to suck, but it looks like it delivers.
Just so you know, Microsoft didn't develop it, and Bungie didn't publish it :P
That's weird, Bob. I have no idea why they got switched like that. Everything's fine behind the scenes.
It seems to be happening on every review. I'll have people look into it. Thanks for the heads up.
I had a feeling that Halo 3 would be insanely good and look what happens =] Have fun with this one all you 360 players.
Well, I sadly saw that 9.5. Silly Brendon, don't you know that until they get a perfect ten from almost EVERY reviewer then the halo franchise will continue to be made into different games. First they make an RTS then a movie. IT WILL NEVER STOP!!!!!! Soon we will all be up to our necks in Halo RPG's and musical based guitar games.
Well, I sadly saw that 9.5. Silly Brendon, don't you know that until they get a perfect ten from almost EVERY reviewer then the halo franchise will continue to be made into different games. First they make an RTS then a movie. IT WILL NEVER STOP!!!!!! Soon we will all be up to our necks in Halo RPG's and musical based guitar games.
Halo 3 deserves a strong standing score, can't wait to pick up my copy.
Brendon, was my 12 minute drive the reason you feel the need to rip on sandtrap's infection value? :-P
Great review. I'm really on the fence about getting it now...
I want a 360...
Brendon, thank you for the information, i did not know that, saves me money.
Now that the launch is inching closer and closer ... who is looking at this and wondering how Halo Wars will fair? Alos, what other Halo universe games will be spawning up? This formula is GREAT but is the universe deep enough to nurture different types of games. I would hate to see Master Chief in a Subzero type game.
Personally, i can't wait for Halo Wars. The dev vids looked promising. I hope it doesn't get swept under the rug. I will be playing that alot more then Halo 3 when that finally comes out.
Speaking of different Halo genre's, i think the only way to go from here is a mmorpg in the style of maybe Tribes? I can see that happening with pvp and clan vs clan, but not so twitchy in your face, button mashing game-play like current Halo multi-play. I am thinking along the lines of adding more RPG type of elements.
Additionally, Bungie can always release a totally separate multi-player only game like Shadowrun if people want a more fast paced style of game-play.
Personally, I'm hoping for a tactical shooter where you play as Marines, or perhaps even a Battlefield clone. Halo 3 is seriously delivering so far, and I'm only on the third level. Multiplayer is a blast, and I haven't been disappointed with a single aspect of the title so far.