Game Review

Review of Halo 3

            Prior to its release, Halo 3 was one of the most highly anticipated video games ever made.  The Halo series has one of the most devoted fan base seen in video games, comparable to the “Dead Heads” that follow the Grateful Dead on tour.  With such anticipation for a game three years in the making, it may be hard to believe that Halo 3 would live up to its billing.  Start believing.  Halo 3 not only looks better with the improved Xbox 360 console but the additions to the game make it a complete mix of the previous Halo games delivering the same adrenaline rush the loyal gamers of Halo expect. 

            Halo 3 has a long campaign mode that can be replayed again and again on different difficulties providing new challenges to the gamer.  Although, there are some negatives to the game, for example the A.I. in campaign at times is mediocre at best.  Allowing computer controlled teammates to drive vehicles is a bad decision, the computer will often times drive in circles without approaching enemies, making using the .50 cal machine gun almost impossible unless in co-op mode.  Another negative to campaign mode involves the A.I. of the “difficult” enemies known as “brutes”.  Game developers promised gamers that the brutes would be more difficult to kill because of the improved A.I. but this development may have been fudged by developers just a little.  It is still easy to kill brutes in close combat because of their wild melee attacks that can trap brutes into corners.  These negatives are strongly outweighed by the positives in campaign mode.  The story of Halo 3 is very cinematic with large landscape shots and amazing graphics of explosions.  The game also provides a full warfare experience, incorporating not only shooting, but the use of vehicles and aircraft.  Most importantly, the campaign mode gives the gamer an ending to the saga of Master Chief.

            Although campaign mode is fun, the best part about Halo 3 is the online game play.  The matchmaking for online games sorts gamers by rank and skill level and the system keeps a vast array of statistics that can be viewed on Xbox live or on the Bungie website.  The online games have significantly less lag than Halo 2 experienced and matchmaking usually only takes about a minute.  The online game play alone is worth paying the $60 plus the Xbox live fees. 

            The addition of new weapons such as the Spartan laser and the power drain and new online levels keeps the game fresh for loyal fans.  After playing this game for the past three or four months without losing interest I would have to rate this game an -A.  The only reason it is an -A and not an +A is because of the high expectation of improved A.I. that was advertised and not delivered in the game.  Even with that considered, gamers are hard pressed to find a shooting game that delivers the excitement and replay ability of Halo 3.