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Halo 3: ODST
Initially billed as an expansion pack, the only thing the two-disc Halo 3: ODST will expand is your appreciation for the Halo universe — yes, even without Master Chief. Bungie’s latest masterpiece clocks in with a healthy seven-hour-plus campaign (on Heroic difficulty), an endlessly entertaining (literally) Firefight multiplayer mode, and a second disc packed with the full Halo 3 multiplayer suite (including three new maps). So no one should have any qualms about ODST’s value as a $60 offering! Better still: believe it or not, ODST is Bungie’s best-designed Halo yet.
A bold claim? Absolutely — especially without that silent but charismatic MJOLNIR-clad Spartan around to carry the day. But the even-quieter Rookie and the three Helljumper squadmates you’ll alternate between are more than up to the task of shouldering the narrative weight for this tale of the Covenant invasion of New Mombasa (it’s set during the timeline of Halo 2, just as Spartan 117 leaves Earth).
With a failed low-orbit drop scattering the squad at the game’s onset (thrillingly chronicled from the Rookie’s first-person perspective), the ODST campaign’s piecing together of the puzzle and eventual reunion of the group becomes, essentially, the Halo 2 you never got to play, recalling the infamous E3 2003 demo level that ended up on the cutting-room floor. Just as that level showcased tense urban combat both on foot and behind the wheel, ODST paces its seven-ish hours with an amount of excitement equally proportional to that scrapped five-minute sequence, smartly mixing in themed missions like a rooftop sniper standoff with Beam Rifle-wielding Jackals and short-tempered Brutes. The tension and chaos of the battles slowly ramp up, ebbing and flowing while mixing daytime romps with furious nighttime encounters that call for ODST’s new nightvision-esque VISR mode, which highlights friends and foes in green and red.
Much to our delight, additional tweaks give Halo its fear factor back, notably the you’re-not-a-Spartan-anymore health system. Functionally identical to the original Halo’s segmented setup, it’s much easier to receive and sustain damage in ODST. Combined with the smaller stature of your Helljumper, your Covenant foes suddenly become a lot larger and more dangerous, much like they felt in Halo 1. Brutes are problematic when they have numbers, while Hunters are downright terrifying.
Also mixed in are vehicle-themed stretches — including an adrenaline-pumping Warthog caravan, a Banshee escort that eventually makes you feel like a fly caught in a spider’s web, and a riveting penultimate highway chase — that rival anything the series has ever done, short of Combat Evolved’s legendary finale.
In fact, it isn’t until you complete the impeccably paced campaign that you realize why it’s the best of the series: it doesn’t have a momentously bad level that sours the rest of the experience the way “Library” did in Combat Evolved, the where’d-it-go ending did in Halo 2, and “Cortana” did in Halo 3. Lessons learned from previous Halos are clearly in play for ODST.
Equaling the campaign in excellence is the new Firefight mode, covered extensively in our recent issues but worth giving its final, deserved props here. Fundamentally similar to Gears of War 2’s you-versus-waves-of-AI Horde gametype, you and up to three friends tackle endless streams of Covenant, with each set of five rounds culminating in a tension-filled tussle with a pack of Brute Chieftains. The lone vehicle-themed map of the 10 (all based on campaign areas and unlocked as you progress through the solo game), “Lost Platoon,” is the highlight for us, though the rest of the maps delight in their relative claustrophobia. That’s probably the biggest difference between Horde and Firefight, and which you prefer will be purely subjective. We give the slight nod to Firefight.
Presentation in ODST, meanwhile, is up to the series’ high standards. Though the graphics engine itself is starting to get a bit long in the tooth — in 2009 it no longer wows you — it does a fine job of painting New Mombasa and animating its life forms and vehicles.
Audio, on the other hand, is unrivaled. In Halo 3 the music felt a bit too familiar, merely remixing already-brilliant themes introduced or reinvigorated in Halo 2, but ODST frees longtime Halo composer Marty O’Donnell to craft his best work yet, and he weaves in everything from a piano to an alto saxophone in a score that becomes thematically darker in the game’s literally darker nighttime sections where you play as the Rookie. The soundtrack, in fact, merits a standalone purchase.
So if there’s no Achilles heel in the campaign, does ODST falter at all? Not much. But why no 10 out of 10? Well, the absence of the popular battle rifle and energy sword from this Halo is disappointing, as is the lack of equipment from Halo 3. Also, it saddens us to not be able to use ODST’s VISR mode and Halo 1-ish pistol against other human players (the Mythic disc plays by Halo 3’s rules). And as good as the multiplayer is, it's the same thing we've been playing for two years already. Plus, times and standards change, too. A 10 in 2007 isn't one in 2009.
Still, this Halo manages to earn its own keep while learning from its predecessors’ mistakes and balancing fan expectations. It’s no small feat, particularly with that Master Chief guy nowhere in sight.
On Xbox 360
+ Stellar pacing makes the campaign Bungie’s best yet.
+ Firefight is a riot that never ends.
- Various series favorites (some weapons, equipment, Covenant Elites) are missing.
? Can we get some more Firefight maps via DLC? Pleeeeeeeeeease?
9.5
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Spartan_hell_killer
November 13, 2009 at 4:22am
I'm a big fan of the halo series and can't wait to get my hands on this one for my collection. C.P.Larkin
BaronFel181st
October 10, 2009 at 7:17pm
If OXM had given this game a 10.5 they would not have been over-generous. When I bought this game I was not looking forward to a great new chapter, but by the first Flashback level I had deleted my Heroic game and started it on Legendary, all to make sure that I did not blaze through it to fast. Martin O'Donnel completely changed the score, and it was perfect. Bungie changes the gameplay, the hero, and the focus of the game, and it was perfect. As the Rookie you feel so alone, and also intrigued. The Superintendent is almost a friend by the time you meet up with Dare, and I actually missed it when it went offline. As the other ODST members you feel like you are stepping into a little family, and the story is not cheesy or stupid, you actually like the characters (personal favorite was Buck, Nathan Fillion is awesome and witty but not sappy. But of all aspects of this game the score is the highlight. Mood is everything, and I actually got a bit misty-eyed at the blend of gameplay scenery and score music. I had decided to buy it within the first mission as Rookie. The Rookie theme is almost heartbreaking in its progression, and the cut scenes are right on track for the themes. I recommend this game to anyone that likes the Halo universe, but especially if you have read all the books. The single most outstanding reason to own this game it that it brings humanity back to the Halo universe. All in all my only question is why 9.5?
Spybreak
October 04, 2009 at 11:53pm
I quite enjoyed ODST and find I relate it to Lost and the Damned for GTAIV. Not so much as an excellent DLC but a quality side story with enjoyable characters and missions. Firefight is a lot of fun and yea it would be good to have matchmaking, I'd like to play around with people the same level as me since I don't play Halo 3 online though.
psbox362
September 30, 2009 at 9:32pm
This is my favorite Halo game yet. But, I honestly believe that it's the writing and new characters that had actually made the game more enjoyable for me. Playing in firefight as the cast of Firefly amuses me to no end, especially when the IWHBYD skull is turned on.
Kethmach
September 30, 2009 at 7:21pm
I just finished the game... day before yesterday. At 3:30am. I finished it- sat back and watched the 'hidden' ending and felt... well... I felt like I'd just eaten the best meal I'd ever sat down at a table for. This was the best Halo story (in the games world- the books are a very different genre). It was perfectly paced. Perfectly balanced (I played it on Heroic my first time through) and PERFECTLY soundtracked. I'm a huge Halo fan and an even more enthusiastic Browncoat. So this was the best mix ever (after Halo 3). But then I went back today and played some Halo 3 maps. That was what blew my mind. I like ODST better. I like the feel more than being a Spartan. I loved that in the game- I mean a LOT- but I didn't realize how much so until I went back to being a super hero. I ordered the soundtrack on Amazon a few days ago and now that I've heard it all in the game, I'm as excited for that as I was the game. Marty O'Donnell really outdid himself this time. To anybody sitting on the fence- GET OFF. This is my favorite Halo out of the four FPS's and that is saying a mouthfull. I did miss the BR, and I want more levels with vehicles in my new favorite Firefight mode- but that's just me being greedy. I'm extremely pleased with my $99 purchase!
gnark1ll420
September 24, 2009 at 6:23pm
good game but i would like matchmaking in firefight. even though i heard people say that it would not be as fun with random people just because not evryone would listen. but aren't all mutliplayer modes like that [url=http://profile.mygamercard.net/GNARK1LL420][img]http://card.mygamercard.net/GNARK1LL420.png[/img][/url]
Broheimer
September 24, 2009 at 9:05am
you guys talk about ign being ps3 fanboys. They have a team set for each console games to review and other things so I dont understand why you say they are fanboys and this magazine being one of the most bias things I have ever read and seriously no Batman AA review. Just because it is a tad better on ps3 I feel like thats why they havent reviewed it
docHOLLIDAY290
September 23, 2009 at 9:27am
Why no matchmaking in firefight? It seems like a big thing to leave out of the game and the review.
BauerCTU12
September 22, 2009 at 9:36pm
I mean to offer no offense to oxm, but i think they could've been a bit off target with one of their reasons when they gave a "-" in the review. They put that minus there, stating that ODST omitted various weapons and the covenant elite. And oxm stated that the events in ODST are taking place during the "Halo 2" timeline. Well during Halo 2, didnt the elites become phased out with the brutes as the protectors for the prophets? It makes sense because the 2nd most intimidating enemy in ODST are the brutes(hint for the 1st: aim at the back). You even see in small scenes [during Halo 2] of feuds between the two enemies. I agree about the weapons being omitted, but isnt ODST trying to be relevant with the overall story? Again, my goal is to offer an opinion as to why it "could be" wrong, not to offend OXM. I really do enjoy the reviews they compose and i am subscribed to their magazine as well.
VA1N
September 22, 2009 at 9:22am
I wasn't going to pick this up, but I think I am now. I've been hearing a lot of good stories about the campaign and I always wanted to get into the halo multiplayer experience. Seems this is the best way to do so.
Darth Strangle
September 22, 2009 at 9:02am
IGN is loaded with pros on the Sony bankroll. They are just distressed that one of the all time greatest series ever didn't die after its trilogy wore out. But...this is the Official Xbox Magazine website. If you think this free of any slant, you're fooling yourself. Either way, Halo is an awesome series that deserves to be purchased and played over and over.
1M4YL0V3F1SHT1CKS
September 21, 2009 at 6:41pm
i have read all reviews of halo 3 odst so far, and i fail to see any that say that it is over priced. none downgraded the score because of the price, if you go to the end of the reviews, it always states that this is one of the greatest deals in gaming, stating that it comes with $40 worth of map packs PLUS an entirely new game with a new co-op mode. even ign,
MajorVasily
September 21, 2009 at 6:02pm
This article perfectly describes the Sony Defense Force: http://www.destructoid.com/fact-ps3-fanboys-are-the-worst-149259.phtml
Commander Choas
September 21, 2009 at 4:59pm
@ shadowover93 Dude, you're right. IGN is swarming with PS3 fanboys. It's not just that, either. There's L4D2 fanboys bashing this game. And MW2 fanboys. PS3 fanboys I can understand, but for the other guys... why not buy all three games? That's what I'm doing.
MLGangster
September 21, 2009 at 4:13pm
well GODHimself, the reason it's not mentioned is because A)It's not out yet, and B)It's not part of ODST, so it can't influence the score.
shadowover93
September 21, 2009 at 3:28pm
Wow this is more calm than IGN. Go to IGN's review and look at all the Sony Fanboys....they are very harsh. Yea this game deserves to get this score...also it's worth 60 Dollars.
Commander Choas
September 21, 2009 at 2:20pm
Thank you OXM. Thank you for saying at the very start of your review what some online trolls fail to realize: ODST is absolutely worth $60. A lot of game critics have been bitching about the price and bringing down their scores, all because they still think it's an expansion pack. So thank you, OXM, for clearing that up. And for giving this game a review which it deserves.
GODhimself37
September 21, 2009 at 12:53pm
You forgot to mention the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta! :D
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