 "Photo: Evan Andrews")
"Halo 3: ODST" started as a mere spinoff from the critically acclaimed "Halo 3" but turned into quite a bit more. Included in Bungie's package is a shorter campaign mode, a "Firefight" mode similar to "Horde" mode in "Gears of War 2" and a disc containing the complete "Halo 3" multiplayer experience. That being said, "Halo 3: ODST"'s shorter campaign and copied competitive multiplayer mode will run you the same price as any new Xbox 360 game - $60. There's no question regarding whether or not the game is fun; the Halo formula is a proven one. However, the real debate concerns the price and whether or not what you get is worthy of your hard-earned $60.
As you may know, the campaign does not follow Master Chief this time around. It tells the story of a group of skilled, highly-trained soldiers known as Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, or ODSTs. ODSTs will take fall damage and receive noticeable recoil from almost all weapons. They're unable to dual-wield or carry gear such as power drains or bubble shields. Gone is the regenerating health bar from "Halo 3"; instead your character has a regenerating stamina meter that will diminish after taking gunfire. Avoiding further gunfire will give you the time that refills your stamina meter, but taking more damage will deplete your health meter, which can only be refilled by finding health packs throughout the map - a nod to the first Halo installment.
While your character is noticeably weaker, he has a distinct advantage over the Chief in the form of his visor. An ODST's visor is equipped with "VISR" which will keep track of your objectives and map out the city of New Mombasa complete with a compass, customizable Navpoints and enemy locations. The "X "button, instead of deploying gear, will activate a mode in the VISR that illuminates dark areas and outlines objects, enemies and friends in yellow, red and green, respectively.
The campaign is split into two different sections - the exploration of the hub city at night and the linear action and battle missions during the day. "Halo," like most shooters, has typically been very linear in its past installments, so the implementation of a hub world is brand new to the series, but Bungie has done a good job with it.
The night sections focus less on action and more on the moody atmosphere. The disposition emitted by these night sections can best be described as the mix of unsettling isolation and curious wonder that made the atmosphere of the "Metroid Prime" series so memorable. The feel is accomplished by the use of a darker, less vibrant art pallet than that seen in previous Halo games as well as a new score by returning composer Martin O'Donnell.
The hub world's style of play consists primarily of exploration to find clues that activate day missions. You will find New Mombasa large, daunting and captivating at first, as it subtly tells of the Covenant takeover. However, the more you return to the twilit hub world from the thrilling action-packed day levels, the more you find yourself ignoring your surroundings with the sole intent of treading on to activate your next day mission. What Bungie offers here is an aesthetically pleasing, atmospheric hub world that ties into the story and connects the events witnessed in the daytime levels.
You'll find the daytime missions reminiscent of the classic "Halo" gameplay you've come to love over the last three versions. Firefights, explosions and vehicles are abundant and in adequate variety. The 'run n' gun,' vehicle and sniper missions are all present and well-designed, but in the end, thrilling as they may be, you'll feel as though you've played these levels before.
Overall, ODST's campaign is a satisfying one, but there's no denying it's a bit shorter than one would come to expect from a full project. Depending on the difficulty you play on, your story will last from four to 6 hours. Even so, the campaign will appeal to players if only for its atmosphere and compelling character-driven story, and it's best experienced by avoiding the co-op option.
What really shines in this package is the Firefight mode, in which you and three others will choose from 10 selectable maps and defend it from relentless waves of Covenant. Bungie makes their survival mode unique with the use of the handicapping conditions known as "skulls." Each round includes a more dangerous combination of skulls than the previous one, which makes for a variable experience. The game ends only when you run out of lives, making this mode a throwback to classic high-score chasers seen in arcades.
"Halo 3: ODST" is a well-polished package and an absolute must-play for any Halo fan. The campaign provides a gripping story with fantastic voice-acting, and Firefight will have you glued to the TV for hours. However, the $60 price point is a steep investment considering that half the package (online multiplayer) has been available to everyone two years now. Bungie hasn't included enough for me to recommend a purchase at the premium price. At the very least, give this installment a rental, and if you like it, pick up a pre-owned copy a little later down the road.
3 out of 4 gig 'ems
Anthony Gerhart is a sophomore computer science major.
Be the first to comment on this article!