Since its E3 debut, Halo 3: ODST hasnt made much sense. Bungie split from parent company Microsoft specifically to create games other than Halo; but its first solo game? Halo 3: ODST. Originally called Halo Recon, the name sent mixed messages to people who, not incorrectly, thought it was a stealth game (can you say, Ghost Recon?). Microsoft quickly changed the name, but the new moniker, Halo 3: ODST is more than a mouthful, and it begs more questions than it answers. Why the 3? And what does ODST mean?
Nearly everything is answered in the games first five minutes. Star Wars-like text drops across a starry background and sets the time table; and the opening cutscene, a spectacularly handled piece of production, sets the tone. Halo 3 takes place weeks before the events of Halo 3, filling in story gaps and giving fans what they have wanted since Halo 2more play time on Earth. Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are high-risk marines called in for especially difficult missions, and you play the silent ODST Rookie. Any other doubts are answered by the gameplay itself. Although different from its predecessors, it turns out Halo 3: ODST is an exceptional first-person shooter whose strengths are its differences, and whose overall quality might, in fact, exceed those of its predecessor.
Bungies title comprises a single-player campaign that lasts anywhere from 5-8 hours depending on your skill level (which can be changed to Easy, Normal, Heroic, or Legendary on the fly), and like Halo 3, can be played cooperatively with up to three others. The campaign, along with Firefight, a new four-player cooperative survival mode, is joined by a Theater option on disc 1. Disc 2 contains custom modes Forge and Theater, and 24 Halo 3 multiplayer maps, three of which are brand new. Also, by purchasing Halo 3: ODST youll also get a special invitation to the Halo Reach multiplayer beta coming next year.
The single-player campaign is arguably the biggest shift in gameplay Bungie has ever shown in the series. As an ODST, you wont have an overshield, hidden health packs are hard to come by, and youre short on both weapons and ammo. This means that instead of running, gunning, and jumping out of man-cannons with reckless abandon, youll play cautiously, conserving ammo, and employing guerrilla tactics. Equipped with a silenced submachine gun, Halo 1s M6S silenced magnum pistol, and a visor for the night-time setting, Bungie forces you to play better with less. The result, although contrary to initial reactions, is a surprisingly tight experience that creates an intelligent tension between attacking and retreating, and immersing yourself in the urban landscape.
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