Antonio Hernandez
The air erupts with electricity. Shouts echo from every direction, machine gunfire drowning out any hope of understanding them. Bolts of plasma cut through line of trees ahead, leaving scorch marks in their wake.
The enemy is within sight. I see their alien eyes widen with surprise and just as I raise my weapon to pull the trigger-
The phone rings and I’m forced to press pause.
Sound epic? It should. This is Halo 3, arguably the most anticipated video game in the history of the industry. The last in an epic trilogy, the game ties together a storyline that the public has anticipated for three years.
So the question at hand is, was it worth the wait?
Halo 3 jumps right back into the story where the second left off, and offers no recap of prior events for gamers who may be new to the trilogy.
The storyline moves along at a good pace, assisted by the exceptionally well-written script and an amazing soundtrack.
The score, performed by a full orchestra, is beautiful and sometimes even moving. The sound effects and voice work for the game’s characters, even the Marines, is so spot-on that you might have thought they were originally recorded for a feature-length film.
While no doubt impressive, its storyline is not what Halo is famous for. The game play is the bread and butter for any videogame and Halo definitely sets the standard.
The controls are exactly like the last two games, players can dual wield weapons, jump at unbelievable heights and throw grenades with questionable accuracy.
As a first person shooter game, the gameplay takes place through the eyes of the protagonist. Are you looking for ways to enhance your in-game shooting skills? There is no substitution for some good aim training. Head to the Aiming.Pro website to discover an aim training course that could make a difference to your gaming experience.
The developers really didn’t break the Halo formula. Amongst the new weaponry and vehicles, they did add a brand new option.
The developers call it the “support option.” To use this feature, players press a designated button to wield defensive and offensive tools. I found myself using the Bubble shield most frequently, a support item that when in effect, creates a spherical shield around yourself and any teammates within a few feet.
The new vehicles are a treat as well. The two-seater “Mongoose”, most akin to the modern ATV, is sure to be the favorite in online matches. Although lacking on-board weapons, a man on the back with a rocket launcher is a force to be reckoned with.
Enemies’ artificial intelligence and ability to strategize this time around are also most impressive.
Unfortunately though, Halo 3 isn’t the best-looking game on the market for Xbox 360. It offers spectacular lighting and effects, but once you get up close, character models begin to look a little sketchy. This was a disappointment.
With next-generation hardware and a title this big I hoped they would have spent more time on making its visuals really stand out.
Playing in campaign mode alone is not enough to judge the game. Halo is most famous for its multi-player and again it delivers.
This is what really makes the game worth its $59.99 purchase price. You get the 16-player online matches, provided through the almost seamless Xbox Live service, 11 new maps, downloadable content and a new map creator called “Forge”. Halo 3 also allows you to customize your virtual avatar, allowing you more individuality in the huge multi-player world of Halo.
While Halo 3 is in many ways a regurgitation of the last two, the developers have perfected the formula to the point where you don’t even bother to complain about the similarities.
All in all, Halo 3 does live up to all the hype and still gives us that good old Halo fun we’ve come to know and love.
Overall rating: A