With a solid campaign and a a multiplayer package that has something for everyone, it’s nearly impossible not to recommend Halo 3: ODST. The game is clearly an effort on Bungie’s part to give the fans more of what they love. But it’s sure to draw in at least some new converts to the Halo flock along the way. LoadingReality strongly recommends this game for hardcore Halo fans, and encourages newcomers to the franchise give it a try as well, if after giving Halo 3 a spin.

Game Details			Loading Reality Scoring
Format	Xbox 360 (all 360 reviews)		Score Meaning: Fantastic game! In spite of small flaws, this game brings something different to the table and executes incredibly well. Any game receiving this score is a contender for game of the year.
Publisher	Microsoft
Developer	Bungie
Category	Shooter		Presentation
ESRB	M		Gameplay
Online Players	16		Graphics
Offline Players	4		Sound
Price	59.99		Value Factor
Release Date	September 22, 2009		Final Score

Halo 3: ODST

Just when Halo fans thought they could begin spending some of their spare time on more worthwhile pursuits than repelling The Covenant and wasting each other online, Bungie has again sought to draw them in, this time casting its net with Halo 3: ODST. For Halo fanatics, this couldn’t be better news. For non-fans, the news could still be great, provided they’re willing to steep themselves in Halo culture and lore. For it is smack in the middle of the main Halo storyline that ODST’s campaign takes place, and for the neophyte, there is no hand holding to explain just what he or she has dropped into.

The campaign mode’s story opens as the Covenant, having discovered Earth’s location, launches its initial attack on the African megacity of New Mombasa. A group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs), tasked defending New Mombasa from the invading Covenant hurtles toward the war torn city. Just as the assault team is nearing it, the Covenant carrier from which the attack was launched enters slipspace. The resulting shockwave scatters the ODST assault pods, causing the main character, the Rookie, to become separated from his team. Knocked unconscious during his rough landing, the Rookie awakens 6 hours later, at night, and the player takes control as he sets about locating his lost squad members.

The player controls the Rookie in as he picks his way through Covenant-occupied New Mombasa looking for clues as to his teammates’ whereabouts. As well, player can gather audio recording scattered throughout the city that shed light on mysterious subplot involving one of New Mombasa’s residents and the city’s AI, the Superintendent. But the Rookie’s task is no mundane scavenger hunt. While searching for the clues, the player encounters patrolling squads of Covenant. These units can prove formidable (especially in Legendary mode), but can usually be avoided with some effort. It is up to the player to weigh the relative benefits of engaging the enemy versus opting for evasion.

Aiding in the search through New Mombasa’s darkened streets is the VISR (Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance), a display system that highlights features in the environment for easy identification. When the VISR is activated, terrain features are outlined in a faint yellow, while enemies are highlighted in red and allies in green. Objects essential for the advancement of the main storyline and those associated with the previously mentioned subplot are highlighted in bright blue and yellow, respectively. The VISR is well suited to dark environments, and is quickly washed out by bright light. For this reason, its use is confined mainly to the sequences in which the Rookie is exploring New Mombasa.

In addition to the VISR, the city’s artificial intelligence, known as the Superintendent, lends a navigational hand by providing mapping and waypoint guidance. With a simple flick of the d-pad, the player is put on the right track to the next destination, and the city’s handy overhead map allows for easy location of enemies and objectives. Unfortunately, helping the Rookie find his way is about the extent of the Superintendent’s role in the gameplay, owing to the fact that, unlike Master Chief’s smart AI companion, Cortana, the Superintendent is a dumb AI, filling a utility role. However, the AI’s greater role in the story is revealed later.

The game isn’t all hunting and gathering, though. Whenever the Rookie locates a clue as to his team’s whereabouts, the player is taken into a flashback scene. The player takes on the role of one of the Rookie’s squad mates and relives the events that took place during his period of unconsciousness. These scenes provide all the Halo goodies gamers have come to expect, delivering a more traditional Halo experience. They take place during daylight, involve multiple computer controlled allies, and unfold in a more linear fashion, with the player smashing through one objective after another. As well, these scenes give players the chance to pilot a variety of Covenant and UNSC vehicles in the pursuit of wholesale carnage.

ODST’s gameplay will be familiar to any Halo veteran, and will seem no great departure from the norm to fans of first person shooters in general. Mechanically, there’s not much here that’s revolutionary, with the most notable changes in the player’s repertoire coming courtesy of the VISR and New Mombasa’s AI assist. However, those who have played previous Halo games will notice some key differences between the ODSTs they control and the famous SPARTAN, Master Chief, from previous games.

Whereas Master Chief could leap from great heights with reckless abandon, the ODST must be more careful, less damage is sustained. Players must take a different approach to combat, too. Unlike a SPARTAN, who enjoys the shielding benefits of MJOLNIR armor, an ODST takes hits directly, and must get out of harm’s way to avoid lasting damage. That damage, when taken, must be healed through the use of med packs. Thankfully, these are to be found fairly easily at first aid stations all around (apparently, very accident prone) New Mombasa.

The game’s graphics are beautiful, offering a noticeable improvement over the already visually impressive Halo 3. It’s clear that much thought was put into the level design. New Mombasa is appropriately dark and ruined, imparting a sense of loneliness and desperation as the player traverses it in search of his lost companions. The recollected battle scenes, by contrast, are brightly lit, and give the player a sense of cautious hope as UNSC infantry and armor give their all to strike back at the Covenant.

Adding to the mood during the various stages of play is an excellent soundtrack. Upbeat, bordering on rocking when it needs to be, somber and low key when it doesn’t, ODST’s music perfectly complements the game’s visuals. This is especially true during the Rookie’s solo scenes. One can’t help but feel sorry for the poor, isolated Rookie as the forlorn sounds of piano and saxophone drive home the feeling of despair.

The campaign’s story is compelling enough, but it suffers slightly for not being a part of the main Halo thread. This is to be expected. With the main story told, what’s left now game’s designers is to fill in around the edges. The Halo trilogy was only recently concluded, however, and ODST’s story is fairly tightly coupled with the events of Halo 2, so there’s still some room for side story telling. Fans should hope, though, that Bungie has the sense to pull the plug, long before ideas for titles like Cortana’s Adventures with Gravemind are bandied about. The reader is encouraged to consider the effects of side story inflation (or gaiden syndrome, as it is called here at LR) on other popular storylines if raising this concern seems at all alarmist or premature. One has only to flip on just about any episode the Clone Wars animated television series or consider the absurdity of rescuing Jabba’s son in the movie of the same name to see an example of side story exploration gone awry.

But the ODST package doesn’t end with the campaign. The ODST disc features a new multiplayer mode called Firefight. This collaborative mode is similar to Horde mode in Gears of War 2, with players fighting off wave after wave of Covenant, trying to last as long as possible while racking up points. This mode will appeal to gamers who prefer working as a team to fragging their friends and associates online.

For those who prefer competitive online play, the second disc bundled with ODST contains every Halo 3 Multiplayer map released to date, plus three new maps. This disc is a great value for those entering the Halo universe for the first time while still giving Halo vets some new environments in which to dispense online pain.

Halo 3: ODST is an excellent game. The campaign mode is fun to play through, even if the role the player plays doesn’t seem as pivotal as that of Master Chief from the main trilogy. The story is solid, but certain elements might be lost on those new to the Halo universe. For this reason, the game might not be the ideal point of embarkation for those who wish to experience the full richness of the Halo. Those who simply want the Halo gameplay experience, however, will find that ODST delivers in spades. This is doubly true of the online experience, which will bring new players immediately up to speed with Multiplayer while also providing new content.

4.5 / 5

Written by :

Vespasian

 

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Axe Argonian

Game Review: Halo 3: ODST Oct 04 2009 23:01:04 Epic and very detailed review, Vespasian. Although this is definitely a great game, I'll be renting this baby when - if - my Blockbuster gets a spare copy available to rent. I've said this two dozen times, but with a short campaign, I'd prefer to dish out $10 to experience everything. Besides, if I pay less, I'll enjoy it more when the fun has been had, and the day comes to a close.

#13339

Vespasian

Game Review: Halo 3: ODST Oct 05 2009 14:04:15 You'll definitely get your money's worth with a rental, Axe. It's a solid game. Thanks for the compliment!

#13354

TheShrike1466

Game Review: Halo 3: ODST Oct 05 2009 20:33:50 Nice review. I'm probably about 2/3 of the way through the campaign, and I like the dynamic it uses. To be honest I could've cared less about the 1P campaigns in Halo 2 & 3, I dunno it just wasn't the mind-blowing experience of the original. I wouldn't be too worried about bad offshoots of the Halo series, I trust Bungie. I think ODST was just a valid spin on the regular series.

#13359

Vespasian

Game Review: Halo 3: ODST Oct 08 2009 22:07:40 Thanks, Shrike! I'm with you on the offshoots for now. We've still got some wiggle room before we have to start praying for Bungie to out the brakes on.

#13456

edgeofblade

Game Review: Halo 3: ODST Oct 09 2009 15:51:26 Honestly, there was very little handholding in Halo: Combat Evolved. "Sorry for the quick thaw..."

#13467