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A noir-ish setting driven by story. That was my first thought as I considered how to describe a game whose origins stem from one of the most popular and successful FPS(first person shooter) franchises of all time, and not the groundbreaking physics and graphics of its immediate predecessor on which this game runs...and runs it does, runaway headlong into a backdrop story preceding the events in its parent "Halo 3". It does this almost nonstop, fluidly and wildly into new yet familiar directions. Gone is the hulking nigh invincible main character of the previous games, now replaced with a squad of normal human, though no less iconic ODST(Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) soldiers. The missions are non-linear and played one at time. They are generally from the perspective of the rookie member of the team as he navigates the confines of darkened city streets searching for clues to the whereabouts of his lost teammates, whom he was separated from during the story's introduction. There is also a mystery element, reguarding who is helping and directing the rookie. Game play features enemy AI is based on the player's tactics. For instance, if enemies have superior positioning or cover they keep it, not run headlong into combat as cannon fodder. If their battle line is broken, leaders try to regroup(tip, kill the leaders). Also, there is no infinite backpack or bag of plenty here. Ammo and good weapons are always in short supply, though players can carry a couple more grenades if they can find some. The rule for this game is conservation of ammo, fight only when necessary, and run and hide for your life the rest of the time. A new inclusion to the game beyond the story campaign is the frenetic 'Firefight' multiplayer mode, where one to four players defend against wave after wave of increasing difficult enemy attacks in locals based on areas traveled through in the campaign. The only drawback to this game, barring a dislike of FPS type games or the franchise itself, is its length. I rented this game and beat it in a weekend. That is not to say I did everything there was to do in this game, but even with the immersive and compelling story, the single player felt short. It played somewhere in the ten to fifteen hour range. Fightfight however is a great little gem that gives the game great lift, both on and offline. That, along with ODST including all the "Halo 3" multiplayer premium content previously available only as purchasable downloads adds good value as well. This game has tremendous multiplayer replay potential and can be a great addition to almost any gamer's library of titles. So whether you are 'Halo' fan or just a fan of great games this title can be considered a sure win.Read full review
Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the “Halo” saga that lets people experience events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant’s invasion of New Mombasa. The release adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved for close to eight years. “Halo 3: ODST” also introduces Firefight, a new cooperative multiplayer* mode where up to four players can assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies. Also included are three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps on a 2nd standalone disc, which includes all original “Halo 3” maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps. * Xbox LIVE Gold account required for online multiplayer game playRead full review
Great game overall. Halo veterans and new-comers alike can enjoy the many aspects of the game. The campaign is both stunning and fun to play. Its unique multiplayer has plenty of replay value, fighting off horde after horde of aliens in many different environments. My biggest problem with the game is the Halo 3-compatible multiplayer. For those of us who bought the maps and decided to buy the game, our money was wasted. If you haven't, rejoice! Halo 3: ODST features all of the maps released for Halo 3 multiplayer to date. On the plus side, you can trade in your copy of Halo 3 if you've exhausted the campaign, because ODST comes with its own Halo 3 multiplayer disc. Another cool aspect of the game is its built in ticket to the Halo: Reach public beta testing this summer. ODST owners will be the first to try out Bungie's most ambitious Halo title yet! The game itself is in a league of its own, among other Halo games in the top echelon of first person shooters. Halo is a legend in gaming, an instant classic. It's difficult to call yourself a gamer if you haven't indulged in the best today's technology has to offer in Bungie's epic franchise. Buy with confidence that you'll experience one of the best games ever made.Read full review
I just got the game last night, and finished it today. Took me about 5hrs on normal to run through it. The plot was interesting, I found it creative the way they did it. You basically wander around looking for beacons. At the beacon is an out of place object, you touch it and although your character (The Rookie) stays there you go back and play the events leading up to that anomaly. Then at the end all of the events blend together (rather well I might add) and you play the last of the story with everyone (relatively) and finish the story. If you read the Halo books or know much about the real story line it is not that much of a cliff hanger, just an interesting twist at the end. Campaign did have it's down sides though. First the banshee mission is way too short and was a huge knock off of H3... I mean really escort a Phantom around...common... Also some of the commentary get really bloody annoying and the AI could have been better (like actually keep up). The play through was fine except at the end I was somewhat tired of tunnels, streets and corridors. So campaign gets a 7/10. Firefight is a whole other story. First off let me get this off my chest. WTF IS UP WITH NO MULTIPLAYER SEARCH!!! THAT IS F*ING BS!!!. Now that is over really they have the technology to set up a search, how hard is that? Make me wonder if they themselves were doubting the success of the game. Out side of that I love firefight. To me it is a great blend of both COD and Halo. First, sure you can run and gun like halo but if you do that too much your going to die. I love how they brought back the health from H1. You have your stamina (shields) and your health. Stamina recharges, health does not (you need to get something like a med pack but really looks like a bacta tank from Republic Commando). Some times I wish there were more weapons but other times it makes me glad because it feel a little more realistic that way. The first time I played I was with two other people and we got to 344,956 points on normal. Simply put, if it is too easy turn up the difficulty, and if normal is too hard, well then...play more. I also love how the lives are shared, the whole weakest link thing really plays in here, I have played matches where me and one of my teammates never died yet the third guy being stupid lost all 7 lives. Can be annoying but work as a team, win as a team. I am sure your tired reading now so let me sum up. I love firefight but hate that I can only play when friends are on. Also in fights you just have to use the tool for the job (grunts pistol, brutes smg, tank laser, simple). Firefight 8.5/10 AustinRead full review
Halo 3: ODST was a departure from the traditional themes of the Halo trilogy. You get a darker, more personal story about a group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers amidst the battle of New Mombasa shortly after a slipspace rupture (basically, during the events of Halo 2 right after you leave Earth). Gameplay still has the "Halo" feel, but you are much more fragile since you aren't as resilient as a SPARTAN soldier. The music was great, with jazz and piano to capture the themes of loneliness and survival rather than the epic "Space Opera" you get with Master Chief. The length of the game, however, makes it feel more like an expansion pack rather than a full game. I was able to complete it at around 3 nights on Heroic. The depth of the game also leaves much to be desired, as there isn't much to explore in the hub city you spend most of your time in. A nice bonus you get with ODST is the complete Halo 3 multiplayer experience on a separate disc with all the DLC maps. It's good to note that it's compatible with your existing save if you've been playing with the original Halo 3 game disc. Overall, Halo fans will welcome this addition to their Halo collection with open arms. Others, however, may have mixed opinions on the campaign.Read full review
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