It has now been four days since the highly anticipated release of Halo 3. Some may argue it is too late for a review, well strictly speaking you can't review Halo 3. A review gives a reader a general idea of whether they should purchase the game or not - Halo 3 without question is a must buy.
Secondly, with the stereotype left by the horrible second installment, I wanted to make sure I had enough face time with the game to genuinely judge Bungie's performance on their latest title. In a nutshell, the formula which made the original Halo so fun to play is now back with better gameplay, better level design, better weapons - well its just better.
As a Halo purist through and through I never would have thought Bungie could top their first effort. I mean it had mediocre graphics and poor level design yet you just keep coming back for more because the game play was unrivaled. The enemies were so interactive, the first game I've ever experienced where the enemies aren't mindless drones fully committed to some battle, but will instead run away often hilariously in fear.
Of course, onto Halo 3. Bungie have done a brilliant job executing shock and awe during the opening cut scene in a way which would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Gone is the glitchy cut scene which loads textures on the fly to save load times - although maybe its still there, just better implemented because load times are seamless.
The first level of Halo 3 had me in doubts as to whether they had corrected the mistake that was Halo 2. Instantly it seemed I was thrown into a crowded hallway with a gun - fantastic, more canyon game play. The major letdown for Halo 2 was the level design and emphasis on vehicles, each level became almost like a racetrack which you could travel from beginning to end without firing a single bullet.
However it quickly becomes obvious the highly detailed scene around you is nothing more than a flawless means to prepare you for the battle waging just around the corner. Once the training is over, you are immediately thrown into the Covenant fray in a beautifully crafted area. No longer have they used high surrounding walls to keep you within their sandbox, now a stunning river is your boundary, which even allows special-ops style water insertions through the muddy blackness.
As you continue through the campaign you realise two things; one: easy and normal difficulty should never be chosen and two: deja vu.
Areas and scenarios from the original Halo are instantly recognizable through the game. Perhaps not very original on Bungie's behalf - but who cares? They are giving us more of what we loved so why would you complain? Perhaps the most blatant example of this is much to the tune of 'Truth and Reconciliation' from the original, one level begins by taking the high ground and picking off the fray.
Originality: Zero. Care factor: None! I'm having a blast!
Upon my first completion of the game solo, I could only see its flaws. It wasn't until I replayed the game in co-op that I began to realise just how often I used the phrase "You're gonna love this part". I soon realised "this part" consumed most of the game which is when I had an epiphany, this game is brilliant!
This third - but not so final - installement is without a doubt the best of the series with loads of replay value. The more I play it, the more I love it and I'm yet to get into any kind of online play.
Bungie is back!
With so many niche elements of the Terminator series available for writers to build upon, and the realisation that no sequel made without Arnie would do the franchise justice, a television serial is just what was needed to conclude the story.