Halo 3
Xbox 360
Rating 3.5/5
When Bungie Studios returned to work in 2004 to create Halo 3, it must have done so begrudgingly.
After several years of work and two Halo titles, the novelty of recreating the ‘world’s greatest game’ in an era where others had surpassed it obviously smacked of a cash cow strategy for Microsoft’s favourite games studio.
While gamers drooled in awe at the visual feast that is Gears of War and marvelled at the innovative and eerie gameplay in BioShock, Bungie Studios was clearly receiving lashes from a big whip to ensure it milked the Halo brand for a few more dollars.
And doesn’t it show – because Halo 3 is essentially Halo 2 upgraded, with improved controls, more balanced online play, and high-definition graphics that fail to hide the game’s ageing appearance.
The underlying problem with Halo 3 is that it never feels new or refreshing – it feels like an expansion to an older game. It’s undoubtedly fun, and Halo fans will welcome its return to the video games foray.
But those who steered clear of Halo because they wanted something different again have reason to be disappointed.
For those unfamiliar with Halo, you assume the role of Master Chief, a futuristic cyborg soldier.
He battles alongside a coalition of the willing of sorts, comprised of marines and soldiers from Western nations such as Australia and the United States to suppress an invasion by the Covenant alien forces. There is a single-player campaign, which this time ends the Halo plot, rounding out the trilogy. But there is also an elaborate online multiplayer mode that is perhaps the saving grace of Halo 3.
The single-player campaign looks and feels like previous games, with some minor tweaks in the controls department, some new weapons, and array of shields, mines and gravity lifts to spice up gameplay.
But it is far too easy and short-lived. Multiplayer, with about 11 different maps to play on and an unlimited combination of game modes, is an incredibly fun experience.
It is possible to replay a match from any angle, moving and zooming in real time. One can then take a high-resolution screenshot, or edit a small film, both which can be sent to friends to prove those otherwise tall tales of success.
Halo 3, while a little stale in its first Xbox 360 appearance, should not be overlooked by those after a comprehensive multiplayer experience.
But for gamers looking solely for a refreshing and solid single-player game, Halo 3 pales compared to BioShock, or the coming Call of Duty 4.
