Halo 3: Recon Is 5-6 Hours Long, "Not A $60 Title"

Someone's already got their hands on the Halo 3: Recon-themed December issue of Game Informer. Spilled the beans. Those beans tell us that, as you could probably have guessed when you first heard it spoken of as an "expansion", Halo 3: Recon is only 3-5 hours long. Which is pretty damn short. Luckily, then, it'll have a pretty damn short price tag, Bungie's Joe Staten saying "we do not view this as a $60 title". Hopefully he means $30, and not $59.99. Also mentioned is the fact the expansion will allow users to unlock the previously unlockable Recon armour, provided you've completed the Vidmaster Challenge achievements.

[P]

I wonder why Epic decided to charge the full $60 for it

[Shaka2K6]

.

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

Halo game not worth 60 dollars

360 console not worth 60 cents

[Capt CHAOS]

if it's going to be cheaper as it sounds like the company is saying. I'd rather have that and my Halo 3 until Halo 4 hits the stores in a couple of years..

I hope it has online too, that's where it matters the most.

[The Matrix]

We have to wait 12 months for it and it's only going to be 6 hours?

[sonarus]

how come story says 3-5 hrs but title says 5-6hrs?

Why do i get a disagree for asking a question?

[Tubby McNutsack]

They should just rename this expansion pack to Halo 3: Ripoff.

[thor]

Halo 3: Ripoff indeed. We all know that however bad this expansion turns out, it's going to be lapped up by millions of people. I think they ARE going to try their best to make it as good as possible (Bungie don't want to spoil their reputation), but it's still milking the franchise.

I really hate the way that big names sell more than great games. Look at the popularity of Fifa, Smackdown, GTA etc.

[moe84]

You get the disagree because people are idiots. Mostly because they don't know what disagree means. Clearly it means you disagree that someone is asking a question.

My question to them. If you think 1.2 isn't asking a question.. what is he doing?

[wetowel]

Probably gonna be released in february to combat killzone 2. Thats my guess.

[Sitdown]

for 3 to 5 hours ($10 to $6 per hour) seems a little too steep for me. Especially when you consider online only games selling for a couple dollars more that allow hundreds upon hundreds of hours.

[shortax]

it is also dropping some new multi-player maps as well

[morganfell]

It's not a $60 title. It retails for $59.99. Maybe it will be cheaper. But I will believe that when I see it. I remember the Gears 1 DLC pack that was going to be free and then Clifford blamed that on Microsoft. And there have been numerous other cases.

I really like HALO and no matter the price I will get it. But I am not buying into such a vague comment until I see retail proof.

Why does Kotaku have the title 5-6 hours when Joe Staten says 3-5. Spin baby, spin for your money.

[Mr PS3]

This should be DLC for 200 credits
Or whatever it is the Dummy BoTs pay with

[pp]

3-5 hours long and it probably still sell millions.

[Tubby McNutsack]

And you're happy to say that? It just shows how retarded and blind Americans are for buying EVERYTHING that has an armored man on the cover holding a gun.

[AbdullaMTR]

looool 3 hour hahahahahahahahahaha poor pp(idiot) Microsoft paid 3party too much that they dont have money 4 1 party to make a full game come on pp(idiot) just buy a ps3 and leave the dirty ass business to them really all they want is ur money they rip u off with live acc and soon pay to play again there games is u that dumb to still support them or u work 4 them and get paid like other cheap website did really i cant understand all what ur doing even its not fun get ur self a life better than stay trolling 4 nothen on every news bcz really micro nvr care 4 ya and nvr they will

its the truth :)

[ReTarDedFisHy]

pp is right, it's Halo. It will still sell... I'm a fanboy, but not blind nor ignorant.

[ukilnme]

I sure as hell hope that it's $30.00. If better have major replay value if it's $60.

[BUKKAKALYPSE]

But when has a Halo title come along without Major replay value?

[Jack Bauer]

5 to 6 hrs long...so it is longer than halo 3?

[Tubby McNutsack]

LMAO and longer than Gears of War 2 as well.

[BUKKAKALYPSE]

try not playing through games on easy.

[Eamon]

Isn't gears 2 about 12 hours. I haven't finished it so I wouldn't know.
I think Halo 3 was about 8-9 hours if I remember. Finished it so so long ago

[butterfinger]

someone beat Halo 3 on legendary in 5 hours or less. It's been a while since I did it, but I remember it being ridiculously hard.

[morganfell]

Having to use the most difficult level in order to lengthen play time is a very poor excuse to say you are getting value for your money. I am not referring specifically to HALO or any product but rather that comment that was made. Frankly many extreme difficulty modes are not enjoyable to the vast majority of the gaming public.

I beat HALO3 the first time on Heroic. It took me just over 8 hours. And Heroic is likely the purest form of the game as the one that provides damage and capabilities most in line with the HALO canon.

Legendary can be just an exercise in frustration when played alone. And before any HALO fan talks about how Legendary is a remarkable feat all I can say is Big Boss Extreme > HALO Legendary.

Some high difficulty levels are great and something to which a handful of players aspire but many titles have upper difficulty levels that are just idiotic. Difficult does not equal challenging. Difficult does not equal engaging and the fact is engaging > difficult. If the only thing a higher difficulty offers is higher difficulty then that is just poor design.

[Pika-pie]

H3 took me about 8-9 hours on normal, but did feel a little short.

Bioshock took about 10-12 hours which felt just right.

I think 11-12hours is the key time frame for a FPS

[Raptura]

I played Halo on the easiest mode just to get through it and get the achievements, LOL, LAUGH AT ME.
It took me about 6 hours non-stop. I hated the single-player so much.

The longest games I've played with a linear storyline are MGS4 and RE4 which took me about 16 hours to complete on normal.

[thebudgetgamer]

:)

[Gamer61]

Why release an expansion?

The only reason there is and expansion is because of the money, there are supposedly 4 Halo titles coming out.

They are milking the franchise to death, then again the story of Halo was a typical alien story with no character or emotion so i guess they could keep going on because no one cares about the story.

[thor]

When a dev says the length of their game they pretty much always exaggerate. Take about 2 hours off and you've got the time it would take to complete for the average gamer. And of course, remember that it's using the same exact mechanics that some people have got extremely good at - those kind of people are going to breeze through the game. Halo 3 has been completed in under an hour and a half by some people, those same people will complete the expansion in under 3 hours easily on their first time through.

[SixZeroFour]

i say the time it takes for a gamer to complete a game depends on how much experience the gamer wants to get out of it...any gamer can complete most games in a couple hours depending on the difficulty they play on and how they play it (ie, run through as fast as you can or explore)

knowing bungie, they would put a lot of easter eggs halo related and just for fun

im doing a course on level design this semester and the gamers that explore the level usually get more out of their game through extras(ie easter eggs, hidden paths, etc) and thus more bang for their buck

[RadientFlux]

At least they are being honest and upfront on the game really being an expansion.

[DiabloRising]

Regardless of the quality, because Bungie IS a talented team, I'm curious to see how reviewers take to this. A shorter stopover title on the way to a sequel. Sounds a lot like Quest for Booty, a title that was panned despite having all the strong mechanics of the main Ratchet series. Then again, reviwers have never been known for consistency.

Above all else, I just hope this is a good title, one that doesn't rip off consumers.

[Killjoy3000]

That's pretty obvious. Not a surprise at all.

[Tony600]

Killzone 2 doesnt need to be prepared for this crap!Same with Crap of Boar 2 aka Gears 2.

[Eamon]

Looks like it's more of a multiplayer expansion than single player. The new campaign is just a bonus.

It will probably add new multiplayer modes (which could be similar to COD4 since there is no shield), maps and armour. That's it

[butterfinger]

but unless the graphics are upgraded and the story is really good, I don't see myself buying this. I was sort of turned off by how they said the MP was just going to be the same as Halo 3, but I guess most people love Halo 3's mp (not my cup of tea, but to each his own:)). Until we get more information (which I know we will), this game is penciled in firmly on my "to rent" list.

[etownone]

If Sony can get away with selling that demo, GT Prologue, for 40 bucks then i see no reason why they coudn't sell it for at least 40 bucks too.

[DiabloRising]

I'm surprised they aren't just making this an XBL title. I mean, it would save on production and allow Live to push their whole "digital distribution" angle you would think.

Also, is this a trend we really want to see? Full packaged half games at lower prices? I thought it was silly with GT5, and I think its silly now.

[devilhunterx]

I agree! This demo should be priced just like GT:Pro

[GamingGeekPS3360]

Look at R&C Quest for Booty...$14.99 and its about 4-6hrs long...

[XxCYONIDExX]

It'll be $40 and have a collector's for $60 and have another one for $80 that also includes Halo 3.

[aggh im on fire]

Gears2 has taken me bout 10 hours, and much longer on insane. Throw in co op ,horde and multi player and i will be playing it a very long time. Got gears 1 day and played it right up until the launch of gears2 so there worth the cash.
I think we should wait until we get the official word from Bungie on Recon. Theres no scans of the magazine so it might not even be this length. If it is thats fine but don't expect me to pay more than £25 for it tops.

[Fan Tastic]

What a joke.

[Eamon]

Nobody ever said it's a killzone 2 killer lool

Why did you even think of saying that. Recon is a self-declared expansion pack. Not even a full game.

Some of you PS3 worshipers seriously need to calm down.

It's an expansion not a full game and definately not a killer to anything. How about comparing it to Wrath of the Lich King

[The BS Police]

Because last I checked, Killzone 1 was such a huge success compared to all three Halo games, right? lol.

Go to the open zone.

[Eamon]

Isn't that ironic. An expansion pack will sell more than a very anticipated title on PS3.

So in terms of sales, Recon is definately a "killer." But of course that's different compared in terms of graphics and gameplay.

[Eiffel]

Its a expansion pack.. Like Lost Planet Colonies which was $39.99

[GAMExxOVER]

No way I am going to pay full price for a game I can start at breakfast and have done by lunch. Sounds like a rental to me, heck maybe even just a 1 or 2 day rental. Unless it has some kind of kick ass online multiplayer or you are a halo collector I dont see the point of buying it.

[Silent]

does price really matter???

[Silent]

worth every penny

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Wow

[Reibooi]

unless it's in the 30-35$ price range i don't think it will be worth it.

[free2game365]

Why does it say 5-6 hours on here and 3-5 hours on Gamestops run of the story?

[Ko_Uraki]

than a 3 hours length expansion of a game with an engine already old in 2007.
And I am a great Halo fan. Where is Halo Chronicles?

[DirtyLary]

alot of jealous, nerd raging PS3 fanbois on N4G.

Don't you have anything better to do? Like maybe go play those few exclusives you circle jerk each other off to on these forums?