Reviews Xbox 360 Reviews Halo 3: ODST

Halo 3: ODST

		3.7
		4.0 (1)

Written by alienstout September 20, 2009 Favorites

Game Reviews

Publisher	Microsoft
Studio	Bungie
Genre	FPS
ESRB	Mature (17+)
Co-op	Yes
Multiplayer	Yes
Game Type Reviewed	Both

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.

Editor review

Halo 3: ODST - The DLC Edition

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Game Reviews

Leet-sauce	The music, felt like a Halo game, engaging story, Firefight mode, you get all Halo 3 maps, vehicles were great, flashbacks, VISR
4-noobs	Felt like a Halo game, Rookie character not fleshed out, non-linear story, campaign too short, battles all too similar every time, the price
Review	Halo 3: ODST is pure Halo for better or worse. Bungie has come up with a new way for you to part with your money but if you haven't bought all the map packs for Halo 3 and like Horde mode from Gears of War 2 then its definitely worth the price. That may not sound like a ringing endorsement but it's the truth. ODST is a good game, of that there is not doubt. The problems I have with it are small but they are still problems. In the end I can't help feeling that this is still an expansion pack for Halo 3 and not a whole new game. Bungie knows this and that's why they threw the 21 Halo 3 maps in the package along with a beta voucher for the upcoming Halo Reach game. So, we have a good game with some new stuff but not enough new to stop Halo 3: ODST from being the most expensive DLC yet. What I liked: Feels like Halo - You'll be able to jump right into this game because it still feels like a Halo game and that's a good thing. Sure you can't jump as high or heal as fast as the Master Chief but that's the point, ODST are simply human soldiers that just try harder. This forces you to use your brains and cover more than you normally do in Halo but still not so much that it feels like Gears of War - not even close. You also get the new VISR toy that plays a lot like Batman's detective mode in Arkham Asylum. Because of all the dark battles the VISR is a necessary item but it's well done and not simply night vision, it's more like augmented vision. Also included, and one of the reasons why Halo 3 remains so popular, are plenty of opportunities to drive some vehicles around. It's still fun to run some aliens over, that never gets old. Storyline - The Halo meets detective storyline is intriguing and through the use of flashbacks you as the Rookie try to figure out what happened while you were out of action. Clues are found and flashbacks bring you back to the action letting you live what happened. This is new to Halo and it was nice to see Bungie give this a try. I usually hate flashbacks but it was well-done here. Firefight Mode - To say Firefight is like GoW 2's Horde isn't that far from the truth and it certainly feels that way. In Firefight each team gets a set number of respawns and resources in successive rounds of play. See, like Horde. What is noticeably different is that the maps are bigger and that helps out a lot by keeping you from getting jammed up as much as in Horde. ODST makes it clear that every game should have a Horde mode because it's just fun and Tetris-like in its addictiveness. Music and Polish - Just like in the other Halo games, Bungie has spent production money wisely. The game feels finished and not a beta which unfortunately is rare nowadays. Along with the high production values that come with Halo games you always get first-rate music and ODST is no exception. The music is appropriately moody and inspirational at the right moments. You're also treated to great voicework by folks like Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and Adam Baldwin. What I didn't like: Felt like a Halo Game - Yes this was in the "What I liked" section too but the fact is that Halo just doesn't have the same grounded feeling you get with FPS games like Modern Warfare. You feel a bit too light, a bit too strong and fast. This hasn't changed significantly even though you're not a Spartan. You can't jump as high but there still feels like a disconnect between the controller and the character. Who is this Rookie Guy? - While developing their flashback storyline Bungie forgot to get us emotionally connected to the character we play the most. The Rookie seems to live only to tell you what happened to his squad. Some flashbacks or backtory about the dude we're playing would have been really nice. Non-Linear Storyline - The ODST storyline can be played in the order the player wants for the most part. While this seems like it would be a good thing and more open-worldy, you just won't see the benefits of this. You do not learn anything new by playing out of order, you just play out of order. In other words, there didn't seem to be scripted events that happened because you did this or that first. No if-then. If there is not benefit, it might as well have been on rails. Battles Predictable - While there are some enemy tweaks the battles all feel the same. Without the Flood or Elite baddies you just don't get the unpredictable surprises so it all feels repetitive. Wash, rinse, repeat (just like Gears of War...) Multiplayer helps this game out immensely because there are very few, if any, single player battles you will want to play again once you get past them. Short Campaign - The single player campaign will take about 7-8 hours on Heroic. Don't play on anything but or the game will too easy, really too easy. Now 7-8 is in line with a Halo game but 8-10 (which is a pretty standard number for FPS games) would have been better, especially if it game Bungie the chance to flesh out some characters a bit more, like the one you play for instance. The Price - Now we get to the final didn't like. This matters little really because people are going to buy this game anyway because it's Halo and that's fine. I have a problem with the price and it's not just because this game started out as DLC (remember the name Halo Recon?) With the shorter campaign and the lack of a new engine or real surprised Bungie got off cheap. They were able to use existing tools and churn this out in about a year. They know this isn't a full game, hence the addition of all the Halo 3 MP maps and the Halo Reach beta voucher. ODST is essentially DLC just like Rockstar's additions to GTA IV and it should have been treated that way. Gamers that already have the Halo Map Packs should feel ripped off because they are getting robbed here. $30 is the right price for this game, not $60.

Overall rating:		3.7
Gameplay:		4.0
Graphics/Sound:		4.0
Story:		4.0
Addiction:		3.0

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Reviewed by alienstout
September 20, 2009
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Last updated: September 20, 2009

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Overall rating:		4.0
Gameplay:		4.0
Graphics/Sound:		4.0
Story:		4.0
Addiction:		4.0

Halo 3 ODST

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Game Reviews

Leet-sauce	Good story, the controls are well done and the gameplay is enjoyable. The addition of the Halo 3 multiplayer game is great if you aren't a Halo fanboy that has all things Halo.
4-noobs	Too short. Not enough multiplayer options, firefight is great fun but really that is all there is. Sure there is the Halo 3 multiplayer but most people will already have Halo 3.
Review	As a newer halo gamer I am not comparing this title to any previous releases because I have never played them. Aside from the story being too short it was a well told tale. The controls were well done and the pacing of the action felt just right to me. A few issues with the repetitive nature of venturing through New Mombasa but the challenge of finding the video trail left by that girl adds to the subplot and game. The weapons are okay but why is it that the standard guns are so weak against the baddies, I mean really you've been fighting this war so long you should know how to effectively kill the enemy by now. Overall this is an enjoyable game but as stated almost everywhere it is way too short for a full length title.