Halo 3: ODST (2009) Online

After playing this well-crafted and gripping tale in the Halo universe, my conclusion is simply great. GREAT!!! It has the same feeling that I felt while playing Halo and them some, with great story and characters that you really care about while also filling in the blanks that Halo 2 failed to wrap up due to it's sudden and abrupt conclusion. With the voice talents of Nathan Fillion(of Firefly and Castle fame) as well as others, you are once again immersed and invested in the story. My only gripe is that it was too short and at $60 steep price tag. Bungie is known for pumping out awesome games, especially the Halo series, but I was a little bummed about the length and price. But the side quest involving a young girl caught in the midst of the Covenant invasion is a really nice bonus that makes the single player experience worth checking out. Kudos to Bungie for giving the game a little more depth; at least on the storytelling side of things. Well, for the most part I enjoyed it as I have with the first two games and will be on my way to finishing Halo 3. Although some see this as nothing more than an expansion pack but despite all that, I'm glad that I purchased it cuz as a Halo fan, it'll be a crime for me to pass this up.

And the "Firefight" mode is a blast. Very addictive.

This is the first Halo game I have ever played. Yes, I probably have been living under a rock for the past decade or that I haven't got an Xbox but I do have an Xbox 360. I have lost a lot of interest in gaming. The final 'spark' there was probably just the very second I got the 360 in Christmas 2008. Very bad timing indeed. Except Hexic HD, I haven't played the games much and I find them underwhelming. Also with my PSP and most other forms of gaming.

Now, one day, another game was bought and it was Halo 3: ODST. So, recently I have been giving the 360 a chance and all and tried out the game. Though it doesn't rekindle the interest I had with games, it is still a good game worth getting.

An interquel set during Halo 2 and 3, You take a role of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST). The aim of the game is unclear though you take role as one of them as 'Rookie' who each ODST was separated one by one including him. You take his role in the hub of the game and in the final level. You find objects that are highlighted yellow (this can only be done by having the 'light' on i.e. press the (blue) X button) and pressing RB on them, you would go through the levels of the other ODSTs. The plot in each one is familiar but varies. You often have to defeat the alien alliance known as the Covenant in various ways while doing other stuff.

The gameplay is consistent, addictive and generally intuitive. Being mostly a First Person Perspective (though it goes to Third Person if you carry a turret or use a vehicle), slaying each of the covenant is often mandatory. They also appear in the hub of the game as Rookie, also there trying to kill you. The enemies which are the covenant range in terms of strength, endurance etc. From Grunts, which are a short species with a cone like hunchback. Easy to kill and sometimes flees but fight in numbers which is not so easy to Hunters. Which are a large, powerful species wielding a powerful green energy weapon which you can't take after they die. They're tough to kill and often strong long ranged weapons and grenades are practically the only way to defeat them.

The story is also eye-catching and not boring. Even the meta game known as Sadie's Story. Which depict a young African woman or girl during the Covenant invading the Earth. The story can only be heard and finished if you collect all the audio files containing a segment of the story, which are found through sound machines hightlighted yellow through New Mombasa in the hub of the game.The graphics are nice. Detailed and nearly flawless. The rough frame rate kills some realism but they still shine through. The sound and acting were also fine.

Although like all if not many things, Halo 3:ODST has flaws. Firstly, the damage sensor which the player's HUD glows red all around when being attacked is distracting. The story is quite short. You could complete it in about 4 or 5 days for a casual gamer. Hardcore ones could complete it shorter. How long it would take is unclear, as there are 4 difficulty settings. From the easiest to the hardest; Easy, Normal, Heroic and Legendary. Completing them all is optional though you would unlock achievements i.e. get some gamerscores and probably some other stuff. The multiplayer disc that came with it is nice as well. It has a similar engine to Halo 3. You play or compete with players around the world. Xbox LIVE and online access is required.

A good game that is fine to play, Halo 3: ODST succeeds in taking the series to break a new ground. It may also spawn newcomers to approve the game in this new concept. Worth your money, it is a decent bargain and is welcome to any Halo collection.

I have always viewed ODST as the unwanted child of the Halo series. This game had the unfortunate timing of being the first game after the initial trilogy had ended, and fans were wanting Halo: Reach, and this game may have been justifiably viewed as filler between Halo 3 and Halo: Reach. The game has a fairly short campaign with effectively one very large main level and several medium sized side levels. The firefight mode was a nice addition that would be continued in later Halo games. Including a multiplayer disc that unlocked all Halo 3 maps I thought was very questionable, as I would rather they have unlocked content for everybody rather than try to make Halo 3 multiplayer maps a selling point for ODST.

So despite all of these problems, why do I like it the most? Especially more than Halo CE or Halo 2? I like the game most for reasons why others hate it the most: because it is so different from other Halo games. I like playing as a character that is obviously more human than Master Chief. I can't lob grenades multiple football field lengths. Stealth weapons are introduced so that you can attempt to bypass large groups of enemies rather than taking them head on, especially on Legendary. The large map of the city is a great step for freeroaming, although unfortunately backtracking and certain gates blocking you in an attempt to linearize your actions can diminish this effect. I thought that the squad mission levels not on the main city map were done very well.

The best part for me is the simple story. Your character is simply trying to survive an occupied city and figure out what happened to his squad. This story is infinitely more engaging and relateable than any other Halo game. The stakes are fairly low by Halo standards, which I think was refreshing in comparison to always having to save the galaxy. The characters are serviceable, and I will always endorse a project that reunites members from Firefly. The part with the engineers I didn't particularly care for, as it very obviously does not fit into Halo lore (and was subsequently dropped from Halo games after) but it didn't ruin the game for me.

The last part of the game, what I loved the most about it, the soundtrack. This soundtrack IS my favorite soundtrack from any video game, let alone the Halo series. The use of jazz, of piano, combined with traditional sweeping Halo suites, it is truly a masterpiece of music, and is my go to example in pointing out musical scores done right in videogaming. I call the soundtrack flawless.

As I have indicated, there are issues with the game. I wish ODST had a better incorporation of stealth, as it seems that after getting the first grunt for free, the rest of the enemies know not only is there a problem, but almost exactly where you are, ruining silenced weapons. After the first kill, there is no point. The VISOR system is good as long as it is dark. Turn it on in mild lighting and prepare to be blinded. Also, the whole stamina and health system is rendered moot by the sheer number of health packs. There are hundreds of these things scattered throughout the city, making taking damage and avoiding combat not that high of a priority. Again, I can understand why this is most peoples least favorite Halo game. It has problems, but it also didn't follow the exact same formula in terms of story or combat. I liked that it took risks, and for better or worse tried to stand out from the other titles. If nothing else, it gave me my favorite soundtrack from a video game or movie.

You are not the Master Chief in this Game you are marines by the name of Buck, Dutch, Mickey, Romeo and Dare to save a mega city this plays like Halo it is way better than 2 and Halo Wars but on the same quality as one and 3 they are good quality game my favourite game mode is firefight (where it's multiplayer and you shoot regenerating brutes only after death) my favorite handgun is that brute one where it fires like a machine gun but has some knives on the bottom that's the gun I like. my favorite turret is the missile pod with heat-seekers. my favorite 2 hand gun is either the sniper or the rocket launcher. "I like this gun" - Men in Black (1998). Plot: you are clearing a mega-city for Aliens with your OSDT squad and not letting any of them get out to destroy Earth.

A confusing mess of half thought through ideas and badly done "levels" with no semblance of a coherent or worthwhile plot in any way shape or form .Besides the good voice actors it has very little to recommend it. The plot involves endless flashbacks but of course its all disjointed and the in between bit are dour, boring and pointless. The title halo 3 odst is misleading at best as it is set during halo 2 and for some reason has absolutely no elites in the game despite their purge/rebellion having not even occurred yet.The last few levels i must admit are quite exiting and very halo-ish but alas it cant make up for the boredom that it has inflicted on players all the way through the game. Don't buy it, truly its not worth it .It adds nothing to the story of halo its just a cash in, im sure will see more of them now bungie are out of the loop , something to look forward to I suppose

Halo 1 was a great game and which told us what has happened at the beginning with master chief. Also, you get to meet the beginning of the flood when the captain opens the door and dies.

Halo 2 was the best halo because you get to kill one of the profets of truth and at the end you get to kill a giant monster with a hammer Whit he has a force field on his body with makes him harder to kill. Also you meet the grave minder who is the leader of the flood.

Halo 3 is great because its shows us the final chapter of the covenant and there defeat. Also your robot friend kills Sargent Avery Johnson because you destroy the halo ring. Also the Arbiter and his people join forces with you to stop the covernent.

I have just started halo 3 odst and it is really good because you get to turn off the lights and shoot in the pitch black and the graphics are sweet. Also you get a second disc with all the maps from halo 3 so you don't need to download all the maps.

Halo reach is about how it all began