Halo 3
Bungie
Microsoft Game Studios
FPS
Xbox 360
25 September 2007




Halo 3, like it’s predecessors, is a basic FPS, meaning your not concerned with collecting items and using player awarded points to upgrade your weapons and armor. Which is just how I like it. Your main sense of game play is destroying what ever is deemed a threat and therefore a target. The weapons of choice you will use to finish the fight are an assortment of human and alien pistols, assault rifles, sniper rifles, shoulder fired rocket launchers, grenades and more. Do not let my quick explanation of Halo 3 over simplify this games heavily laden story line. Case and point the following summary of H3. Skip the following summary to continue reading my review of H3.


(SUMMARY *WARNING SPOILERS*)

Master Chief is joined by Sgt. Maj. Johnson a squad of Marines and the Arbiter shortly after crashing to the ground in Africa. A failed final attack on the High Prophet of Truth led by Commander Keyes and Lord Hood allows the activation of the Forerunner artifact. After sterilizing the infected area of Earth from the Flood, who crash landed there, MC, Keyes, Johnson, Marines, Arbiter and Elites pursue Truth through the portal following Cortana’s message. Once on the Ark, Master Chief discovers that Truth can now activate all of the Halos from this location. After the rings are activated, involuntarily by Johnson, Master Chief forms an alliance with Gravemind. After disabling the installations firing sequence Gravemind turns on MC, Arbiter and Johnson who then escape. Master Chief discovers that the Ark is building a replacement Ring for the one that was previously destroyed. Master Chief decides, in order to eliminate the flood, that he will now activate this new Ring. To do so he will need an Activation Index ergo, Master Chief knowing that Cortana is in possession of said Index rescues her from the High Charity. Before MC and Johnson can activate the Ring, 343 Guilty Spark explains, that since the ring is not completed, to activate it would mean the destruction of the Ark. Johnson ignores the warning proceeding to activate the ring and is thus killed by 343 GS. In turn MC destroys 343 GS and activates the ring. MC then escapes the ring’s blast by launching himself, on a warthog, onto the frigate “Forward Unto Dawn” that is being piloted by the Arbiter. Only the first half of the Dawn makes it completely through the portal returning the Arbiter to Earth. Meanwhile the latter half of the Dawn floats through an unknown part of space. Realizing this MC enters cryo telling Cortana to, “Wake me, when you need me.” Unknown to the two occupants the Dawn is drifting towards a mysterious planet.

(END OF SUMMARY)


This series, Halo, is the reason that I purchased an Xbox 360. I remember playing Halo CE with friends on there Xbox’s. I was there with them when Halo 2 launched and thoroughly enjoyed teaming up with them, online, using fireteam tactics and being amazed that they worked in a virtual world. That is probably the moment that I truly became obsessed with Halo. I picked up my 360 and H3 on New Years Eve for 2008 and played through and completed Halo 3 on Legendary, first, then at a later date I completed Halo CE and H2. About a week later, I began playing online every waking moment my girlfriend and job would allow me to. I did this for about a month straight then in February I put on the brakes and did a reality check. I could have easily continued on playing and I wanted to, Bungie did a fantastic job at creating a well rounded video game. Not only is the story line intriguing, which is why I felt the need to include an in detail description of the game in this review, but its multiplayer system is the most advanced of its kind to date. Once you have been online for a week you will have learned the ins and outs of how it all works. Everything from climbing up the ranks, to organizing group battles or testing your ability against Halo addicts across the globe, you will become so comfortable with your surroundings that you won’t want to leave... ever.

The Xbox 360 does a wonderful job at rendering the wide multitude of graphics from brilliant explosions to deep shadows and the sound FX allows you to immerse yourself completely into the Halo universe especially when you get into those ever intensifying battles with the covenant and flood. I was also awed by the ease at which I learned the controls for Halo and continue to be amazed at how they, every time, are able to make it even better then before.


The good; story line, replay ability, online multiplayer
The Bad; addictiveness, insomnia, nightmare of the flood

I don’t play online nearly as often as I first did, obviously, but I do wander onto the battle field once and a while under the Gamertag: semperneoeon. So if you are really bored and want to play some H3 give me a shout.

I give Halo 3 5 out of 5 Plasma Grenades