Halo 3: OSTD

[duckman2000]

I'd play with you, but you refused my FR. 

[Bocsius]

I didn't know who Laplander831 was at the time. Wasn't my fault.

[Smooth Groove]

Duckman, talk me down from the hype!

I'm this close to picking up STD at TRU tomorrow. 

[duckman2000]

Duckman, talk me down from the hype!

I'm this close to picking up STD at TRU tomorrow. 

Looking at gameplay clips does it for me. Also, the campaign seems short as hell, 6 hours on Heroic. I imagine that's of no concern if you're into halo MP, though.

edit: Also, it is making Xtards behave like Stards. Buying this will certainly only make that worse.

[Bocsius]

Duckman, talk me down from the hype!

I'm this close to picking up STD at TRU tomorrow. 

Looking at gameplay clips does it for me.

Won't stop you from buying it.

Twice.

[duckman2000]

Duckman, talk me down from the hype!

I'm this close to picking up STD at TRU tomorrow. 

Looking at gameplay clips does it for me.

Won't stop you from buying it.

Twice.

I'll rent it.

[demi]

Who wants to 4p this bad boy. Legendary only.

[Smooth Groove]

Who wants to 4p this bad boy. Legendary only.

You wanna be even more legendary by protecting my sorry ass? 

[Tieno]

hater duckman still gonna play Halo, it's that good

[Third]

A 9 in graphics, lulz

So, basically the ODST graphics are better than Batman's, since Batman received a 8.5 in graphics.

moneyhat confirmed.

[drew]

just found the tru ad in the newspaper

im gonna take it there in case they try to sass me

[drew]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-halo-3-odst/56112

[AdmiralViscen]

Alo 3's campaign was only 6 hours for me anyway. And I hve homies for firefight

Surprised it is reviewing so well

[fistfulofmetal]

I would like to play this game quite a bit.

Halo 1 is pretty great.
Halo 2 was garbage.

But then Halo 3 was pretty good.

This concept and design of this game interests me. Especially since it's all on Earf. Maybz i'll rent it around Winter.

[drew]

giantbomb video review says the game still runs when your in the map

i hate when games do that

[Tieno]

Alo 3's campaign was only 6 hours for me anyway. And I hve homies for firefight

Surprised it is reviewing so well

Surprised a Halo game is good? smh, smh, smh

Bungie rules, Halo is good.

[fistfulofmetal]

isn't Reach next fall? I'm looking forward to that a great deal.

[AdmiralViscen]

Alo 3's campaign was only 6 hours for me anyway. And I hve homies for firefight

Surprised it is reviewing so well

Surprised a Halo game is good? smh, smh, smh

Bungie rules, Halo is good.

No, I said I'm surprised it was reviewing so well.

[GilloD]

I have never played a Halo game. LIES. I played Halo 1 and it suckedsuckedsucked. Half of the game was the first half in reverse! Boring environments etc etc. I never caught the bug

[SantaC]

Halo baby, Halo

Get hype 

$60 for an expansion pack! Rip-off ahoy!

[demi]

I bought a Wii man. I know rip-offs... and this aint a ripoff.

[bork]

Halo baby, Halo

Get hype 

$60 for an expansion pack! Rip-off ahoy!

Awful troll attempt.  "Expansion pack," lol.

[SantaC]

Halo baby, Halo

Get hype 

$60 for an expansion pack! Rip-off ahoy!

Awful troll attempt.  "Expansion pack," lol.

How is it a troll attempt when even reviewers think the $60 price tag is a rip-off?

[Tieno]

how is it not a troll attempt when even demi doesn't think it's a ripoff

[bork]

So the game is getting high marks, but it's a "rip-off?"  What are you talking about?  

[SantaC]

So the game is getting high marks, but it's a "rip-off?"  What are you talking about?  

high marks? Not compared to the previous games.

[bork]

So the game is getting high marks, but it's a "rip-off?"  What are you talking about?  

high marks? Not compared to the previous games.

It's not a full-on sequel, either.

Who fucking cares, anyway?  By now everyone knows if they like Halo or not.

As for the price, sure I'd prefer it were less, but I'd prefer it if EVERY game were priced less.   

[Third]

The hope was for something new, or at least interesting, but it just isn't there. If this game actually succeeds at retail it'll be because it's carried by the Halo name; were it simply called FPS X it would be cast aside nearly immediately as a mediocre release.

The Good

    * New campaign missions adds to the Halo story
    * New multiplayer maps, two new weapons in single-player
    * Good voice acting, with some funny lines
    * All released Halo 3 multiplayer content on one disc
    * Firefight mode is a blast


The Bad

    * Short campaign
    * Sub-par graphics
    * Rehashed multiplayer
    * Cheesy music
    * Set pieces lifted from past games
    * Linear game play in missions
    * Hub level used to pad length
    * Low value for the money
    * Co-op that breaks the game's internal logic


The Ugly

    * The fanboys reaction to a panned Halo game, on both sides of the fence
    * Microsoft learning it can get away with charging $60 for $30 worth of new content

Verdict: Rent

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/reviews/2009/09/the-60-expansion-pack-halo-3-odst-underwhelms.ars/2

Best review so far, imo.

[maxy]

some review,blah,blah,etc,zzzz

Best review so far, imo.

Hmm,i suppose that imo means that you already have the game,played it through the end...so enlighten us with your review...what is your verdict?

Sucky or yucky?

[Don Flamenco]

ars technica dropping the truth. 

[SantaC]

Halo was a fine fps when it came out like 8 years ago, but today the market is flooded with them and I think other fps games does a better job now.

[duckman2000]

lulz at the ODST avatars, overdone OP and review/troll attack force on forums elsewhere.

You know, with Reach in development, I wonder if that teaser at the end of Halo 3 will ever translate into a game. I wouldn't mind playing as Master Chief in a brand new sci-fi romp, although hopefully it doesn't become overburdened with backstory like Halo.

[Third]

some review,blah,blah,etc,zzzz

Best review so far, imo.

Hmm,i suppose that imo means that you already have the game,played it through the end...so enlighten us with your review...what is your verdict?

Sucky or yucky?

Yep, played the game almost three weeks ago. Only the campagin. Even COD3 is better than this shit.

Don't have any comment on the MP. But I guess it's just the same old Halo 2 mp gameplay with added Firefight mode.

[Tieno]

lulz at the ODST avatars, overdone OP and review/troll attack force on forums elsewhere.

You know, with Reach in development, I wonder if that teaser at the end of Halo 3 will ever translate into a game. I wouldn't mind playing as Master Chief in a brand new sci-fi romp, although hopefully it doesn't become overburdened with backstory like Halo.

Genuine.

[Bocsius]

lulz at the ODST avatars, overdone OP and review/troll attack force on forums elsewhere.

You know, with Reach in development, I wonder if that teaser at the end of Halo 3 will ever translate into a game. I wouldn't mind playing as Master Chief in a brand new sci-fi romp, although hopefully it doesn't become overburdened with backstory like Halo.

Maybe the Bungie of yesteryear could have done something. But after Halo 2 and 3 just devolved into "lol, cults," I don't have much faith in them. So much wasted story potential.

[AdmiralViscen]

I really wish I'd paid more attention to Halo's story back in 2002 so I could relate to people who thought it was so good. I have a hard time telling the difference quality-wise between the plot of one game and another. I never paid attention.

[Bocsius]

Good is a relative term and your mileage may vary. The novels and the first game just seemed to set the stage for something far better than what eventually transpired. The tension at the end of First Strike (bridged the gap between Halo 1 and Halo 2) was so high and then...

Guh.

For example, you didn't really think the Prophets just wanted to set off the rings, right? I mean, if you had read the books, with the mystery of the Forerunners and the power of the artifacts and the way the Covenant systematically hunted and destroyed human colony worlds, no way it was just about some "Great Journey" of galactic annihilation?

Turns out, it was. 

[AdmiralViscen]

I don't think I knew there were prophets when I played Halo 1 lol. Maybe this has more to do with the books?

[tehjaybo]

Good is a relative term and your mileage may vary. The novels and the first game just seemed to set the stage for something far better than what eventually transpired. The tension at the end of First Strike (bridged the gap between Halo 1 and Halo 2) was so high and then...

Guh.

For example, you didn't really think the Prophets just wanted to set off the rings, right? I mean, if you had read the books, with the mystery of the Forerunners and the power of the artifacts and the way the Covenant systematically hunted and destroyed human colony worlds, no way it was just about some "Great Journey" of galactic annihilation?

Turns out, it was. 

They were religious zealots.  They would do anything to accomplish the goal of "salvation".  I think it fits, if you get into lore. 

Also, if I had money, I would be picking this up.  As is, I may get it friday when I get paid.  I have a reserve on it.

[Bocsius]

I don't think I knew there were prophets when I played Halo 1 lol. Maybe this has more to do with the books?

The prophets were first introduced in First Strike.

The Fall of Reach was the novel that preceded Halo 1 and told the story of the Master Chief's and the fellow Spartans' training from childhood and onward. It ultimately introduced the Covenant and ended with the battle of Reach. Master Chief got separated from the remainder of the surviving Spartans and eventually ended up on the Pillar of Autumn at the first Halo...

[game]

First Strike picks up after the conclusion of the game and details how Master Chief got away from the destroyed ring (not to mention how Sgt. Johnson survived), and took the Chief back to Reach to search for any survivors and somewhere along the way they learn of the looming Covenant threat to Earth. Yadda yadda yadda, big explosions...

[game]

Of course, within minutes of even starting Halo 2, you could see inconsistencies creeping in.

[AdmiralViscen]

Are the books still worth checking out then? I know my friend has them, I could borrow them if they are good.

How actively involved was Bungie in the books?

[The Fake Shemp]

Even if the campaign is good, I agree it's pretty much a ripoff at $60.

[Bocsius]

Are the books still worth checking out then? I know my friend has them, I could borrow them if they are good.

How actively involved was Bungie in the books?

They're entertaining. I don't know that I could recommend them, given my opinion of where the story ended up with the games, but whatever. Bungie was involved in story approval and such, although I'm not sure if they guarded it down to the minute detail. (They certainly didn't seem to remain consistent with the details of them.)

The books go Fall of Reach, The Flood, and First Strike. (Before, during, after Halo: Combat Evolved). The Flood is written by a different author and is not quite as good, considering a large bit of it just details what you do during the game. There are other vantage points introduced (focusing on the surviving humans and a ill-matched Elite and Grunt, so those parts are enjoyable.

There are other books, too. Ghosts of Onyx takes place after First Strike and during Halo 2, but does not really have anything to do with the game. Master Chief is not a central character. Contact Harvest takes place before Fall of Reach, and I have not read it.

Fall of Reach, First Strike, and Ghosts of Onyx are all written by Eric Nylund. I kind of wish they gave him the keys to the universe after Halo 1 and Bungie never touched it except for multiplayer.

[The Fake Shemp]

When MAF posted, he said the Nylund books were pretty rad.

[demi]

HALO BABY, HALO

GET HYPE

LONGEST DAY EVER

[tehjaybo]

Are the books still worth checking out then? I know my friend has them, I could borrow them if they are good.

How actively involved was Bungie in the books?

They're entertaining. I don't know that I could recommend them, given my opinion of where the story ended up with the games, but whatever. Bungie was involved in story approval and such, although I'm not sure if they guarded it down to the minute detail. (They certainly didn't seem to remain consistent with the details of them.)

The books go Fall of Reach, The Flood, and First Strike. (Before, during, after Halo: Combat Evolved). The Flood is written by a different author and is not quite as good, considering a large bit of it just details what you do during the game. There are other vantage points introduced (focusing on the surviving humans and a ill-matched Elite and Grunt, so those parts are enjoyable.

There are other books, too. Ghosts of Onyx takes place after First Strike and during Halo 2, but does not really have anything to do with the game. Master Chief is not a central character. Contact Harvest takes place before Fall of Reach, and I have not read it.

Fall of Reach, First Strike, and Ghosts of Onyx are all written by Eric Nylund. I kind of wish they gave him the keys to the universe after Halo 1 and Bungie never touched it except for multiplayer.

I have read them all, and I recommend them.  Also, I have digital copies, if that's what you're into...  PM me and I'll hook you up later.  I think they're on audiobook though. 

[tehjaybo]

Also, I'm working the midnight release tonight at GameStop.   

[Bocsius]

I haven't preordered a game in forever but since I had a ton of old PS2 and GameCube games sitting around collecting dust, I traded them in for ODST. Got a text message about being there for the midnight release. Yeah... right.

It will still be there when I get off work tomorrow afternoon.

[The Fake Shemp]

Also, I'm working the midnight release tonight at GameStop.   

My brother is pulling the midnight release for GameCrazy.

I will wait until everyone trades it in and I'll buy it used.

[Third]

EDGE 9

http://www.edge-online.com/features/review-halo-3-odst

You can easily tolerate these problems. This is Halo.

a spin-off that’s better than the vast majority of original games.

Oh EDGE 

[AdmiralViscen]

So, you getting this game Third? It's hard to tell.


Also, why not post the whole quote. Those 'problems' are a shitty ending and bad AI vehicle drivers. Nothing new to the franchise and I doubt that'll be a dealbreaker.

And don’t place too much emphasis on that six hour figure. Thanks to Microsoft’s restrictive review process, we were forced to play with an eye fixed on finishing the campaign quickly – running from place to place without exploration, and passing checkpoints without taking time to defeat every enemy in an area.

If this is true then it is longer than Halo 3 was. What does MS require of their reviewers??

The campaign can be played co-operatively with up to four players, and Bungie’s usual metagame offerings are all present and correct – with new skulls and several specific Achievements adding even more longevity. On that note, there are smart Achievements dotted in among the usual level-completion types, a particular tempter asking you to complete a mission without firing a shot or throwing a grenade.

I wonder if there will be some kind of mission select or other quick way of replaying the flashback missions. These achievements could be kind of annoying if they require a full replay of the game.

[Third]

Nah, finished the campaign. Not interested in the mp.

I'd give the campaign a 7. It's better than Halo 3 campaign, imo.

[Bebpo]

I'd give the campaign a 7. It's better than Halo 3 campaign, imo.

 

The H3 campaign outside the Cortana stage is a great FPS campaign.  If this is better then, daaaamn

[AdmiralViscen]

Halo 3 > Halo 1 > Halo 2 in campaigns

The achievements in this game look even more fun than Halo 3's.

[Tieno]

EDGE 9

http://www.edge-online.com/features/review-halo-3-odst

You can easily tolerate these problems. This is Halo.

a spin-off that’s better than the vast majority of original games.

Oh EDGE 

Bungie

Edge 

[Bocsius]

Man, I should have been the one to spam the 117th reply.

[drew]

smh

[demi]

THATS HYPE BABY

HALO

[Third]

THATS HYPE BABY

HALO

Weird, you didn't get aroused by that fat person.
I thought you liked big men. 

[demi]

eh, i like them husky, not obese. lots of people get it confused, but its very easy to understand.