Halo 3 ODST
ODST is an expansion for Halo wrapped up in a nice full game package. It’s actually a really interesting idea, and the package itself turns out to be a good value for Halo fans.
The default controls themselves play much like previous Halo games, but if you’ve been playing a lot of other shooters (CoD, Killzone, Etc) then you’ll have to readjust to this very different control scheme.
Halo 3 ODST’s main piece is the new campaign mode. Like the previous game, this can be played alone or with up to 3 other players.
The game features group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs) who are fighting back against the Covenant’s Earth invasion during Halo 2 and 3. The game begins with your team dropping from orbit and leaves the separated members searching for each other and investigating what the Covenant are searching for on the planet. While you mostly play as “Rookie” you frequently will take control of your squad mates to experience what they’ve gone through since landing.
Overall the game creates a more interesting narrative then the previous Halo games, there are more main characters, and there are several audio logs around that give some more back-story.
The environments are also much more interesting; with the game starting off in the devastated city of New Mombasa it’s a nice change of pace for Halo games. You’ll spend a lot of time running around the city which is very different from where most of the Halo series took place. The city itself is also much more open, leaving more room to explore and find audio logs. The downside is that it’s also much easier to get lost, and it can be a pain to navigate the city, and find out where you’re supposed to go.
That’s why ODST has added several features to help you get to where you need to do. The first is map data like Metroid Prime. You can download maps of the city and check them at any time, they’ll show you areas of interest, and you can set your own way points to follow. The next is a compass at the top of the screen kind of like the Oblivion one. It always shows the direction you’re going and your waypoint/objective will be highlighted on the compass as well. Also if you just need a quick hint on where to you, you can press up or down on the d-pad to bring up markers on screen that direct you to objectives. The markers will show you the direction, distance, and height of objectives and are easy to follow.
As an ODST you are no Master Chief, that doesn’t mean that you can’t kick some serious ass, but it’s not going to be as much of a walk in the park. If you were one of the gamers who though Halo 3 was too easy on normal difficulty, you won’t have that problem here. The difficulty is ramped up, and there are way more enemies to deal with in large open areas. This demands a much more tactical approach to killing than the usual run ‘n gun that Halo is known for. This is an interesting change of pace, but with no cover system it can make the game a little frustrating.
As an ODST you can’t jump as high or run as fast. Also you don’t have a regenerative shield like Master Chief; instead you have a stamina bar that depletes as you get hit. Once it’s gone you start losing health. If you wait long enough your stamina will refill, but to restore health you need to find a health kit. Also it seems the weapon of choice for ODST is a silenced submachine gun instead of the usual rifle. All the Halo 3 weapons are still around; it just seems the SMG is featured more prominently. Also the vehicles from past Halo games are accessible in certain parts of the story. Because a lot of the game takes place in close quarters in the city, you can now sneak up on covenant and perform a silent take down (basically a 1 hit melee kill from behind).
Being in the devastated city has you running through dark buildings and alleys constantly. Because of this it’s great that ODST troops are equipped with a VISR system. Activating this system will outline enemies, friends, pickups, etc, and will light up dark areas. There’s a ton of pitch black buildings to go through, or firefights in dark areas so it’s really handy. In the light however, it’s really brightens everything up so you’ll have to turn it off when you’re not in the dark.
The other new mode in ODST is the Firefight. Again you can play solo or with up to 3 other players. The mode is very reminiscent of Horde mode from Gears of War 2. In fact it’s nearly the same. Basically you fight through waves of covenant, and every so often a different skull effect will be added. Skull effects were introduced in previous Halo games. They are special effects that change up the gameplay and enemies quite a bit, so it really adds some challenge to this mode. The mode is fun and a nice addition to ODST.
For multiplayer, Bungie opted not to segregate the current Halo 3 online experience, and instead simply pack in a bonus disc with all the Halo 3 multiplayer features, including all dlc, the forge and theater mode, and 3 new maps. I think this idea works pretty well. We don’t need a new Halo multiplayer so soon and also we did get the new online campaign and firefight modes.
All in all, this is a pretty good package. I’m not a huge Halo fan, and while this game does feel very different from past Halo experiences, it also feels very familiar. The new modes are a good toss in, and the game itself provides access to the upcoming Halo Reach beta (in 2010), so it’s a decent value for the price. Worth owning for hardcore Halo players, and definitely work checking out if you are interested in the series at all. The new multiplayer disc is a nice add-on for gamers who’ve sold Halo 3, but may want to get back into the online.
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