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Halo 3: ODST
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie Software
Genre: First Person Shooter
Release Date: September 22, 2009
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: M - Mature
Reviewer: Eric
Wouldn’t it be cool if they made an expansion to Halo 3? No not just no
multiplayer maps, a full expansion you could buy in stores or pay to download
for four hours? That would rock…oh wait a second Halo 3: ODST was going to be an
expansion for Halo 3 at half the cost but then it got changed to its very own
game. Did I miss something here?
Alright so Bungie decided to scrape the whole expansion idea and make a new
game. That is fine with me but why the fuck would you call it Halo 3: ODST? If
this is its own game why not just call it Halo: ODST? To me that would make more
sense because it seems like this was going to be an expansion but then retailers
got word to charge full price for it. Just saying people.
The game starts you off as Dutch, Romeo, Mickey and the Rookie talking about
plans on attacking the Covenant Prophet of Regret’s ship. Shit happens that
changes their plan and at the last minute they miss their target. Pretty much
now you are trying to find clues on what happened and where your other teammates
are (you are playing as different characters throughout the game).
Playing as multiple characters in the Halo Universe is interesting. Before we
really only played as Master Chief and the Arbiter (he wasn’t like the others,
that’s all I am going to say just in case some of you haven’t beaten/played Halo
3 yet). It is cool and all, this concept, but to me all of it is meaningless
when I couldn’t even get into the whole mystery. Who gives a flying shit about
this, the so called shocker can be figured out right away.
I honestly felt like I was playing a detective game in finding Master Chief’s
missing peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I really did and I felt that way since
Bungie wanted gamers to know that this is a detective game as well as a typical
first person shooter. So just by letting your character see blood stains on the
floor makes the game a detective one? To me I wasn’t seeing blood stains, I was
seeing cu…let’s just say I saw stains that can be seen with a black light.
So what else is awesome about ODST? How about the new map screen and all the
other bull shit that comes with it. If you want something confusing then by all
means look at the map screen in ODST. When I first played ODST I was a little
drunk so maybe it was hard to read. Once I sobered up I could see how bad this
screen was done. What the fuck is going on? Where am I going? What does this do?
Would that voice shut the hell up so I can get out of this headache-like screen?
God, there is a cheat arrow in the game to tell you where to go, I don’t need to
pull the map up just to advance. Poor design and poor choosing on forcing gamers
to do bull shit.
With all of the detective and option screens put aside ODST plays just like the
other Halo games. The controls are simple and they feel great. I have no problem
in the way the Halo series plays, even the lack of recharging army didn’t bother
me. That added challenge to the game since all first person shooter games now
have the recharging shit (except Bioshock and maybe one or two others I can’t
remember now).
What does bother me about this game is the total length. I am paying a full
price to get a 6 hour game, max. That shit really bothers me but then I am
reminded of how long Modern Warfare 2 was. So what I am trying to say is ODST is
saved this time, yet at the same time I am still pissed off that the game sort
of feels like an add-on at heart.
The graphics are just like the last three Halo games (Halo Wars is in a league
of its own (I liked it)). When will Bungie realize that the Halo series needs a
makeover? There are still clipping issues and backgrounds get real dull fast.
Bungie should feel something with putting the same shit out there, graphically.
No I don’t mean by them having more money in their bank account than most third
world countries. At best Halo: ODST is right on par with the other slightly
above average looking Xbox 360 games.
With the lack of time shown in the graphics department, Bungie put it into the
audio. ODST is right on par with the best sounding Halo games. The soundtrack is
a nice blend of science fiction with some real epic songs that would get even
the strongest Halo haters excited for battle. Now I am one for good music but
believe me the music here is better than good and awesome combined.
Each copy of ODST comes with a second disc. On this disc fans can play all these
different stages in so many different online modes. Can you see how excited I
am? I enjoy playing online games as much as the other guy but every Halo game
has the worst online community. Children come out and play these games. I don’t
give a shit if you tea bagged me. Why don’t you do it to me in real life, then
you can brag to everyone in your fucking blog you short, blonde haired, four
eyed son of a bitch.
The newest addition to the Halo Universe, online wise, is Fireflight. What is
Fireflight? Halo fanboys will say it is the greatest thing since the limited
edition Halo Zune. While others (like myself) will remind those fanboys that
Fireflight is a rip off of Gears of War 2’s Horde mode. The only different here
is you earn medals and new abilities, giving you more reasons to keep playing. I
enjoy the mode but I honestly do see why it is that great and why I should
praise Bungie so much for copying off of Gears of War 2.
So am I done complaining? No, I do have a nice thing to say about ODST. I really
enjoy being able to play through the whole campaign online with buddies. Some
titles won’t let you do this and it pisses me off. Bungie lets you have fun with
your friends and it never lags while doing so. Well that isn’t 100 percent true
when it comes to battling online, there are those who cheat with lag to get wins
or sign out without hurting their scores. But still playing Halo 3: ODST online,
the campaign, is a boat load of fun.
Final Verdict
I was looking forward to this game and then it hit me. ODST is still that
expansion we were going to get from Bungie but it got a few minor tweaks to get
more fun from fans. I was upset with the small campaign and the stupid detective
aspects. Online play is still the only reason to play Halo games. If you are
sick of Halo 3 then you might as well buy this game, but if I were you then wait
for the next Halo game because Bungie is promising much more with this one (I’m
not holding my breath).
Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 5 out of 10
+ Same way to play this Halo game as all of the others.
- Let’s see the small campaign is boring, the detective features are fucked,
multiple characters is dumb, etc.
Graphics: 6 out of 10
+ Same look as the other Halo games.
- When will Bungie take the series into a high definition format?
Audio: 9 out of 10
+ Epic science fiction music.
- Can’t compare to other titles music like Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect 2.
Replay Value: 6 out of 10
+ Online play is the only reason to hold on to this game.
- Same old shit. Fireflight also makes me want to play Gears of War 2’s Horde
mode instead.
Overall
6.50 out of 10
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