Halo 3 Review (360)

Finish the Fight

Halo 3 isn’t really something that can be summed up in a snappy sentence. It has such a following that no one is going to care about what the score at the bottom is – they’ll buy it because it’s Halo, they’ll play it because it’s Halo and, unfortunately, they’ll probably be a little disappointed because it’s Halo.

The first thing you notice is how incredibly clear everything is. The first level, which is set in a jungle, looks incredibly good. Branches sway, water trickles, and blood and gore flies. However, as the game progresses, the graphics strart to wear away a little and you realize that the game underneath is a little uninspiring. It’s set piece after set piece, and while for some that may be good, the rest of us like a little bit more substance. Levels may look open, but realistically you are shoved down a predetermined path of which you have absolutely no control. The controls, as always, are spot on, but the weapons are pretty much the same as ever. The game’s score is brilliant, with a range of awe-inspiring theater pieces that really get you into the mood for what you’re doing. However, the dialogue is pretty so-so, with lots of grunts and macho ho-hahs that serve to ruin the mood of what could be a great sounding shooter. Some will love all of this because that’s what they’ve come to expect, but for others, the single player campaign will act as little more than a precursor to the main event – multiplayer.

the rest of us like a little bit more substance

Multiplayer is the place where Halo manages to redeem itself. It’s everything that the main campaign is not – the maps are perfect for everything from capture the flag to straight up deathmatch. Marry this with spot on control and salivation-inducing graphics and you get one great game to play online. The only real problem with it is that most of the people you play with are those incredibly rude little kid types who tend to enjoy yelling obsenities about your grandma every time they manage to actually get a kill. However, if you can find some friends to play with then you’ll undoubtedly have a great time.

It’s online that Halo adds some of it’s finest innovations as well. Forge and Theater are built around the online component – Forge allows you to create and share your own maps, and Theater allows you to capture footage so that you can show off your best kills to your friends. There’s also a little thing called 4-player multiplayer, which allows you to run through the entire campaign with 3 other friends. Halo is the ultimate online game, with a broad range of things to see and do.

All in all, Halo 3 is basically the same as ever. It looks great, sounds great and plays great. Online is a blast if you can find some friends, and ultimately, you’ll have a good time playing it. However, with recent competition like Far Cry 2, Bioshock and the Call of Duty games, Halo is no longer the dominant FPS in console gaming. I warn you now – Halo 3 may be the last Halo game of its kind, so try to enjoy it while you still can.