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Halo 3: ODST

Halo 3: ODST

3.5 Good
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- Halo 3: ODST
3.5 Good

Bottom Line

Halo 3: ODST is a prequel to Halo 3, but with plenty of tweaks to the original game and new multiplayer options, this first-person shooter still feels fresh.

  • Pros

    • New multiplayer options.
    • Different weapons.
    • New main character.

  • Cons

    • Some environments are too dark.
    • Not a big departure from Halo 3 in campaign mode.

Halo 3: ODST Specs

ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Genre: Action Games
Platform: Xbox 360
All Specs

The newest iteration of Microsoft's Halo doesn't leave you much time to catch your breath; Halo 3: ODST literally drops you right into the action. In terms of the Halo timeline this game sits right between Halo 2 and the events of Halo 3. In ODST, you are not yet the familiar super soldier "Master Chief," legendary United Nations Space Command (UNSC) marine; you are actually a rookie member of the ODST team. As the name suggests, ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troops) soldiers are dropped directly into combat in tiny one-person pods. And the differences don't end there; the newest hero of the Halo series has a few tricks (and some new weapons) up his sleeve, along with plenty of revamped game play options.

The scene opens on you and your squadron as you are dropped into battle over the African city of New Mombasa. Naturally something goes wrong and all the pods don't land where they are supposed to. When you wake, your squad is scattered across the city.

As you proceed through the environment looking for other members of your team, you quickly realize that your character is far from the familiar Master Chief. ODST armor has different characteristics and you have different weapons. The familiar assault rifle has been replaced, at least at first, with a M7S submachine gun and a M6S pistol. The armor is different as well: The health recovery system relies on time to recover and less on random health packs around the map. The armor also provides a cool display map in the helmet and a brand new low-light vision system. When in a dark environment you can hit the "x" button and all of the objects on the screen are outlined. It is definitely needed to get through the game effectively, as there are some very, very dark levels. It almost reminded me of the "Detective mode" in Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The game changes in ODST are not just in the campaign mode; there are expanded multiplayer options as well. The new Firelight co-op multiplayer mode allows up to four people to play together. The four players work together as a squad of ODST soldiers and gun down wave after wave of Covenant forces. The waves of bad guys get larger and more difficult to defeat as you progress in the game. You can also play this mode locally but you will only be able to play with two people. Halo 3: ODST also ships with a separate disc of multiplayer games. This standalone disc features 24 maps in total including all of the original Halo 3 multiplayer maps and three new Halo 3 multiplayer maps. As an added bonus Microsoft included access to the upcoming beta release of Halo: Reach, the much anticipated Halo universe online multiplayer game.

If you happen to be new to the Halo universe, I still recommend starting at the beginning of the series. But if you are one of the millions of people who enjoyed Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST is a solid spin-off that will certainly tide you over until Master Chief is back in action.

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