Review
Mini Fact-file
Platform: Xbox 360
Developed by: Bungie Studios
Published By: Microsoft Game Studios
Released: 26th September 2007 (EU)
Game Type: Sci-fi/First Person Shooter
Players: 1-4 (Offline Co-Op)
1-4 (Online Co-Op)
1-4 (Offline Multiplayer)
2-16 (System Link)
2-16 (Online Multiplayer)
General Plot in Brief
You have a war to finish with the Covenant. Take the role of the Master Chief as you pick up your Battle Rifle, attempt to rescue your AI Cortana , pick up Battle Rifle ammo and travel though levels involving your favourite aliens and the dastardly Flood!
Graphics: 5/5
This game can only be described as visually beautiful. On the very first level, you can see the detail of the undergrowth of the jungle before your eyes. You look at a nearby marine and you can see the details on his/her face. The amour that you wear shows signs of battle damage (You can see this by playing back your latest victory in the theatre). Your HUD also now looks more like its actually a visor, like what has been done with Metroid Prime. A good move, in my opinion, as it makes it look more realistic.
All in all, you won't be disappointed if you are a graphics whore. To be really amazed by graphics, play Bioshock.
Sound: 5/5
As before, the music in Halo 3 has been composed by Marty O'Donnell, and it's as epic as it has always been. I may be the only one, but when going though the last level and hearing the music that he has composed for it, I feel pumped and I also feel like the world is collapsing around me at the same time (Which, ironically, is what happens). Your usual sounds are included in the package as well, including; gunshots, footsteps, swords clashing (Wait.....), plasmas going off, etc.
Gameplay: 5/5
The gameplay, in which I'll include its features, is outstanding. Firstly, it will seem like every other Halo game before it. However, before thinking that the controls will also be the same, you would be wrong. Reloading, for example, is done via pressing the right bumper, and changing grenades (Which you know have 3 off, 4 including the fire bomb) is done via the left button.
Played Halo 2? Remember when you dual wielded and pressed x to reload manually, both guns would reload, leaving you open to a counter attack? In Halo 3, each gun can be reloaded individually! This is done by pressing the right bumper or the left bumper. Take Dual Wielding the Pistol and SMG, for example. The SMG will run out of bullets very quickly, you've used some of your pistol bullets as well but not enough to warrant a reload. You press the left bumper to reload your SMG and an enemy comes around the corner. Now you have the means to defend yourself by shooting him and then attempting a melee afterwards.
Gameplay wise, Halo 3 feels like your old friend Halo 2. It plays in a similar fashion storywise and you’re facing the same old enemies. Halo 3 keeps the formula that has worked so well in the other Halo games, which the developers like to call the "Golden Triangle Of Halo" - Melee, Grenades and Weapons - and doesn't stray from this.
They have also added a new type of weapon called equipment, which can be deployed by simply pressing x (the old reload button). These new equipment options range from the Bubble Shield to the Regenerator. These add a new level of strategy to the playing field. Getting shot from behind can be cancelled by placing down that Bubble Shield you have been saving from earlier, or by placing a Regenerator down, causing your shields to get a well needed recovery, letting you turn round and take on your enemy.
As always, Multiplayer is one of the features where Halo 3 excels (Although this has now been overtaken by Call of Duty 4) and has become more balanced in terms of fire-power then it ever has been. Unlike Halo 2, however, there is no clan system to speak of, which in my eyes is a disappointment. However, the new features that have been added to it more then make up for this loss.
Speaking of Multiplayer, remember those times in Halo 2 when you played a sword type game, lunged at your opponent only for them to kill you first because they where that split second in front. Well, no more. Getting into sword duels now has become complicated in the fact that you can now deflect each other. This can cause that one simple kill that you thought you had in the bag to become a long duel to the death. This is an exciting part of Halo 3 and indeed does fill you with joy the first few times you do it.
Add your new weapons, overpowered needler (Which can no longer be duel wielded), amour customization, forge (which is a game mode in its own right) and achievements and you have one hell of a game here.
My only disappointment with this game is the fact that the campaign is too short, and can be easily completed with a four man crew in less than 10 hours, which is generous. The skull element, that has been present since Halo 2, adds a new element of challenge to the campaign, maybe making you want to replay it all again
Lifespan Medium -> Long
This all depends on if you have Xbox Live or not. Should you have Xbox Live, the world of online multiplayer has been opened to you in the typical Halo fashion
The campaign is, however, short. Achievements will make you want to continue playing to get your full thousand, making replayability high. Multiplayer, as mentioned before, is where this games beauty lies.
Overall Verdict: 5/5 An Excellent multiplayer game
The Campaign was a disappointment, but it more then makes up for it in multiplayer. That alone could keep you hooked on this game for months.
A few more tweaks and this could become a perfect game, but what it is now is an extremely well polished one. At least it lived up to the hype
Hellbound
Mini Fact-file
Platform: Xbox 360
Developed by: Bungie Studios
Published By: Microsoft Game Studios
Released: 26th September 2007 (EU)
Game Type: Sci-fi/First Person Shooter
Players: 1-4 (Offline Co-Op)
1-4 (Online Co-Op)
1-4 (Offline Multiplayer)
2-16 (System Link)
2-16 (Online Multiplayer)
General Plot in Brief
You have a war to finish with the Covenant. Take the role of the Master Chief as you pick up your Battle Rifle, attempt to rescue your AI Cortana , pick up Battle Rifle ammo and travel though levels involving your favourite aliens and the dastardly Flood!
Graphics: 5/5
This game can only be described as visually beautiful. On the very first level, you can see the detail of the undergrowth of the jungle before your eyes. You look at a nearby marine and you can see the details on his/her face. The amour that you wear shows signs of battle damage (You can see this by playing back your latest victory in the theatre). Your HUD also now looks more like its actually a visor, like what has been done with Metroid Prime. A good move, in my opinion, as it makes it look more realistic.
All in all, you won't be disappointed if you are a graphics whore. To be really amazed by graphics, play Bioshock.
Sound: 5/5
As before, the music in Halo 3 has been composed by Marty O'Donnell, and it's as epic as it has always been. I may be the only one, but when going though the last level and hearing the music that he has composed for it, I feel pumped and I also feel like the world is collapsing around me at the same time (Which, ironically, is what happens). Your usual sounds are included in the package as well, including; gunshots, footsteps, swords clashing (Wait.....), plasmas going off, etc.
Gameplay: 5/5
The gameplay, in which I'll include its features, is outstanding. Firstly, it will seem like every other Halo game before it. However, before thinking that the controls will also be the same, you would be wrong. Reloading, for example, is done via pressing the right bumper, and changing grenades (Which you know have 3 off, 4 including the fire bomb) is done via the left button.
Played Halo 2? Remember when you dual wielded and pressed x to reload manually, both guns would reload, leaving you open to a counter attack? In Halo 3, each gun can be reloaded individually! This is done by pressing the right bumper or the left bumper. Take Dual Wielding the Pistol and SMG, for example. The SMG will run out of bullets very quickly, you've used some of your pistol bullets as well but not enough to warrant a reload. You press the left bumper to reload your SMG and an enemy comes around the corner. Now you have the means to defend yourself by shooting him and then attempting a melee afterwards.
Gameplay wise, Halo 3 feels like your old friend Halo 2. It plays in a similar fashion storywise and you’re facing the same old enemies. Halo 3 keeps the formula that has worked so well in the other Halo games, which the developers like to call the "Golden Triangle Of Halo" - Melee, Grenades and Weapons - and doesn't stray from this.
They have also added a new type of weapon called equipment, which can be deployed by simply pressing x (the old reload button). These new equipment options range from the Bubble Shield to the Regenerator. These add a new level of strategy to the playing field. Getting shot from behind can be cancelled by placing down that Bubble Shield you have been saving from earlier, or by placing a Regenerator down, causing your shields to get a well needed recovery, letting you turn round and take on your enemy.
As always, Multiplayer is one of the features where Halo 3 excels (Although this has now been overtaken by Call of Duty 4) and has become more balanced in terms of fire-power then it ever has been. Unlike Halo 2, however, there is no clan system to speak of, which in my eyes is a disappointment. However, the new features that have been added to it more then make up for this loss.
Speaking of Multiplayer, remember those times in Halo 2 when you played a sword type game, lunged at your opponent only for them to kill you first because they where that split second in front. Well, no more. Getting into sword duels now has become complicated in the fact that you can now deflect each other. This can cause that one simple kill that you thought you had in the bag to become a long duel to the death. This is an exciting part of Halo 3 and indeed does fill you with joy the first few times you do it.
Add your new weapons, overpowered needler (Which can no longer be duel wielded), amour customization, forge (which is a game mode in its own right) and achievements and you have one hell of a game here.
My only disappointment with this game is the fact that the campaign is too short, and can be easily completed with a four man crew in less than 10 hours, which is generous. The skull element, that has been present since Halo 2, adds a new element of challenge to the campaign, maybe making you want to replay it all again
Lifespan Medium -> Long
This all depends on if you have Xbox Live or not. Should you have Xbox Live, the world of online multiplayer has been opened to you in the typical Halo fashion
The campaign is, however, short. Achievements will make you want to continue playing to get your full thousand, making replayability high. Multiplayer, as mentioned before, is where this games beauty lies.
Overall Verdict: 5/5 An Excellent multiplayer game
The Campaign was a disappointment, but it more then makes up for it in multiplayer. That alone could keep you hooked on this game for months.
A few more tweaks and this could become a perfect game, but what it is now is an extremely well polished one. At least it lived up to the hype
Hellbound
