User Review : Halo 3

Ups

• Multiplayer (&
• MP Options){Lighting{Music &
• amp

Downs

• Could use more multiplayer maps

Best Online Multiplayer Game to Date

For some reason there's a lot of controversy surrounding the Halo franchise; people seem to either love the games, or they hate them. There is very little middle ground. I'm no exception.

Halo 3 is, hands down, the best online multiplayer FPS game on any console to date. There are many areas where Halo 3 is simply superior to other games in its multiplayer offerings:

1) Matchmaking. The matchmaking/lobby system is something that started with Halo 2 and Bungie has continued to evolve it into what it is today in Halo 3. The ability to enter different matchmaking playlists with or without friends is something that is only now beginning to be replicated by other games (Call of Duty 4 comes to mind) although none of them are yet able to do it quite as effectively as Halo 3 does. The numerous tweakable settings, charts that show your skill relative to other players and details regarding the number of people playing in each playlist are all icing on the cake. Add to that the new Veto system and you have an obvious winner. Nobody does matchmaking better.

2) Video & Screenshots. It's just plain cool to be able to go back and watch that clutch cross-map sticky grenade that saved your flag from being captured at the last second. Add the ability to upload and share your films with friends (or enemies) and even detach and rotate the camera, or take screenshots, and you're golden. Bungie outdid themselves on this one.

3) Competitive play. Sure, there are a lot of other great FPS games out there. Call of Duty 4 is particularly popular right now. Resistance is a popular option on the Playstation 3. They're great games, no doubt. But none of them have the competitive aspect down quite as well as Halo 3 does. Halo 3 does a great job of matching you against players with a similar skill set (granted, it does take a few matches until your true 'rank' is established) and encourages tight, close games. It requires team work, a multitude of skills, great hand-eye coordination, and precise-yet-lightning-fast reflexes to be truly competitive and successful at this game. It's no wonder it's the game of choice of Major League Gaming, the world's premier elite gaming league.

4) Forge. The ability to customize most aspects of the multiplayer maps allows for seemingly unending creativity and a multitude of new online gaming scenarios.

5) Number of unique players. At any given time in any given 24 hour period, you can expect hundreds of thousands of people to be online playing Halo 3 - there will be no shortage of new and unique competition to play against.

The single player aspect of the game is also great, although I won't go on a limb to call it an amazing, unforgettable experience. If you're a Halo fan, you'll likely be interested in seeing how this arc of the Halo story ends. It's far from disappointing, it just isn't anything mind-blowing, which many were expecting.

The graphics, in particular the HDR lighting, are exceptionally impressive. Some might complain about the bright colour palette because it isn't at all "realistic". To them, I say, "It's a video game!" Again, just to make it clear, the lighting is fantastic!

There is much more to praise about this great game, but for now I'm going to leave it at that because I have to get back to playing!

Score

10.0

Graphics

9.0

Sound

10.0

Gameplay

10.0

Fun Factor

10.0

Online

The only thing that could lower this score is the occassional game against a person/team with a bad internet connection. Lag can get frustrating, like with any other multiplayer online game, but for the most part its not an issue.

Overall

9.8

[toughNAME]

good review

while reading it I realized there were a couple points I forgot about in my review:P

it seems the ups/downs is still buggy though

[IzKyD1331]

to many fanboy points, and this is FAR from the best online game, COD4 owns this game's balls

[BenzMoney]

I also own Call of Duty 4. Played it, beat it (on Hardened, and part way through on Veteran) and played the multiplayer for about 2 solid weeks. Go to rank 41 or something. Then I put Halo 3 back in my tray and it hasn't left since (except for a little bit of Guitar Hero 3 here and there).

I don't see what makes Call of Duty 4 a better online game. It's just not. The "skill" in COD4 involves being the first guy to see the other guy - 9/10 times this happens, you'll win the 'fight'. In Halo that's not true - you almost always have the means to fight your way out of a bad situation (if you're good enough).

...and so COD4 turns into a camp-fest, or, if you have retarded random teammates, they just run around the level getting killed out in the open.

Anyways, that's my opinion. Some people, perhaps people who can't take the heat, prefer COD4 to Halo 3. That's their perogative. Doesn't mean they're right.

[lonestarmt]

well I like call of duty a lot more because you really get to customize yourself. How you look your weapons and even your play style. Halo its really just what color you are. You go up levels and unlock cool skills. You also have a lot more people playing in a match unlike halo's 8 vs 8. There are even more type of games to play than halo. There are more weapons. Everything halo has and more. Sounds like you just happened to play with bad players. lol

[BenzMoney]

To me, the ability to 'customize yourself' isn't what determines a good game. You do, by the way, have the ability to customize your armour and appearance in Halo 3. The feature is there. It's just not that important to me (hence it not even getting mentioned in my review).

Weapons. In COD4, you pick a weapon set and you're stuck with that until you change it (and then die to respawn with the new set) or come across a dead guy's weapon. At least in Halo you can switch up weapons, as appropriate, during gameplay - it forces you to "control the map" moreso than COD4, because the power weapons are limited and spawn in select locations. Therefore, the more strategic team who is better able to lock those weapons down is more likely (and deserving) of a win. Compare this to a cheap, AI controlled helicopter mowing people down because some dude went on a killing spree. I go on sprees all the time in Halo, but that shouldn't (and doesn't) give me any advantage in gameplay.

More players on a map doesn't equal better gameplay. If anything, it waters it down. Being able to play as a tight knit team of 4 vs. another group of 4, is infinitely better than playing some random 16 vs 16 fragfest match where it's nothing but spawn-die-spawn-die and your average life is 6 seconds.

Sounds to me like you just don't have the patience, or ability, to play strategically. You prefer run & gun, spray & pray, spawn-kill-or-spawn-die-rinse- wash-repeat gameplay. I don't. Simple.

[etownone]

I agree with this being the best online multiplayer console game, and thats probably why it is the game of choice in major league gaming.

[joemomma]

Ill bet you dont even notice the short single player mode or the facts that its just a halo 2.5. This is a complete joke giving it a 9.8. An 8.5 would sound more appropriate.

[Fr0ZzZeN]

I agree, I have played it offline and online and still think the original Halo was far better. No way does this deserve a 9.8, scores like that should be saved for perfect games that bring something new to the table, which this does not.

[joemomma]

Cool someone aggrees with me.

My only problem with reviewers like this is thet they only show the good side and ignore the bad because they are such fans of the game. You need critique in a review and he obviously doesnt want to expose halos bad side.

"It requires team work, a multitude of skills, great hand-eye coordination, and precise-yet-lightning-fast reflexes to be truly competitive and successful at this game. It's no wonder it's the game of choice of Major League Gaming, the world's premier elite gaming league."

Yeah sure so do other games. Most (actually ALL) games do require hand eye coordination and reflexes. As for the choice at major league gaming wtf? Halo isnt the most popular online multiplayer game WoW is. With xbox i beleieve COD4 topped halo 3 not too long ago. Overall you just making irrelevant points to make the game look better.

"Number of unique players. At any given time in any given 24 hour period, you can expect hundreds of thousands of people to be online playing Halo 3 - there will be no shortage of new and unique competition to play against"

True but you forget to mention that most halo 3 players are very vulgar people. Mostdrop the F bomb 5-10 times during a game while calling you gay and saying "HA ha im raping you" This really kills the experence when playingand just makes you want to leave the game.

"The single player aspect of the game is also great, although I won't go on a limb to call it an amazing, unforgettable experience. If you're a Halo fan, you'll likely be interested in seeing how this arc of the Halo story ends. It's far from disappointing, it just isn't anything mind-blowing, which many were expecting."

Finally some critique. The only thing you left out was the the single player game is about 8-10 hours long so you wont be playing it that long unless you want to play it on every difficulty.

"The graphics, in particular the HDR lighting, are exceptionally impressive. Some might complain about the bright colour palette because it isn't at all "realistic". To them, I say, "It's a video game!" Again, just to make it clear, the lighting is fantastic!"

The graphics are very bright. "Its a video game" is not an excuse and you should have taken that into consideration because it is a flaw.

As for the score

Graphics 9.0 Aggreeable but you mention no reason as to why you gave it that score.

Sound gameplay funfactor (all 10) Dude nothing and I mean NOTHING is a perfect 10. Have you ever seen a reviewer at ign give a perfect 10? Give some critique.

Online 10
The only thing that could lower this score is the occassional game against a person/team with a bad internet connection. Lag can get frustrating, like with any other multiplayer online game, but for the most part its not an issue.

Sounds like an issue to me and therefore not worthy of a perfect 10. Like I said before NOTHING is a perfect 10.

Downs:could use more maps?

Wtf? There is plenty more to to crique on this game. How about the short single player mode? The lack of innovation? The been there done that from halo 1 and 2 feeling?

Im guessing you must have just bought the game so your in the "ZOFGBBQ HALO!!!" state. Your ultimate flaw in this review was your utter lack of negative critique and that just makes you look like a fanatic.

[Fr0ZzZeN]

Agreed again. Pretty much summed up what I thought.

[BenzMoney]

I'm not even sure it's worth responding to a known, blinded PS3 fanboy, especially the likes of one who takes another user's name and twists it around a bit. Your opinions are essentially trash, you've probably never even played the game you just hate on it because it's Halo and you have some sort of weird, emotional connection to Playstation. Halo threatens you. But, since this was my review, I'll address them (your trash opinions) anyways.

- COD4 topped Halo 3 as most played xbox live game for one month, Christmas. This isn't too surprising as COD4 was released in November, two months after Halo 3, and lots of people were probably receiving it as christmas presents, etc. This fact is irrelevant, however, because this is a review for *Halo 3*. It is not a commentary on the state of gaming on xbox live.

- Most Halo players are vulgar people? And this is in the control of the game designer.... how? This is a fault of the game? I'm sorry, I didn't know that pathetic, whiney, snot-nosed, obnoxious kids (like yourself, no doubt) should be used to pass judgement on a game! *ALL* online multiplayer games are full of vulgar morons. That's the price we pay for online anonymity! Just take a look at N4G. Think most of these people would talk to others in real life the way they do on here? Doubt it. They'd get knocked the f*ck out (especially considering most of them are 13, 14, 15 year old scrawny, pimple faced kids. If you're gonna let that bother you so much, you shouldn't be playing games online period! And if they're making fun of you because you "got raped" then it's probably because you DID and you suck at games!

- Yes, the single player is 8-10 hours if you play it on Normal. If you have any sort of skill, however, you'll play it on Legendary and realize that it takes you a LOT longer than 10 hours! (By the way, how long was Heavenly Sword, again? Oh - and did it have multiplayer?)

- There is absolutely no flaw in the colour palette that was used in this game. Perhaps we should be faulting all games for that? Ratchet and Clank? Bright colours, therefore it sucks! Uncharted? Bright colours, therefore it sucks! The graphics are lush and the lighting in gorgeous - plain and simple. Because it doesn't suit your tastes doesn't mean that its a fault with the game (although Bungie could change the colour scheme and graphics any way they wanted to, and you'd still call it a fault because you're anti-Halo. Like I said before, it threatens you. You're emotionally involved to a creepy extent in defending and promoting Playstation. It's sad.)

- The online got a "10" because in comparison to every other online game out there right now, it is my opinion (and this is my review, remember) that there is no other game that compares. If there is no better online game, then it is a 10. Is it PERFECT? No. But I never said that 10 meant perfect.

- The sound deserves a 10 because no other game has the original musical score that Halo does. The music is epic. The sound is amazing. Perfect? No. But the closest thing to it, for now.

Finally, no. I have not just bought the game. I bought it on Sept. 25th, along with millions of others. Like I commented in my previous post (comment 2.1) I bought COD4 when it was released, played it for 2 weeks, and went back to Halo 3. It hasn't left my tray since, except for a little bit of Guitar Hero 3, because it's JUST THAT GOOD.

Deal with it.

[joemomma]

Hm well think what you like but crtisizing me for being a fanboy is rather hypocrtical because you are one yourself. Its pretty obvious from how personally you are taking this. not to mention how you are taking a stab at other games out of spite in that last post.

My only point I was trying to make is give some negative critique in a review because every game has something bad about it. Even if its small its worth mentioning.

Does halo 3 suck? No. Is it perfect? No. But it is a great game with flaws like any other game out so therefore it should be critiqued with both positive and negative views of the game which you did not do in the least.

Just keep that in mind if you plan on reviewing again.

[Fr0ZzZeN]

A review should highlight all points about a game, whether they are negative or positive. You have shown that you cannot take critism and it's pretty obvious who the fanboy is.

[FirstknighT]

As you stated you either love it or hate it and as you can see a few haters showed up here. But I think it's more about jealousy than actual hate. Most of the people that complain about Halo 3 probably hasn't even played it.

Your spot on about Halo being the best competitive fps currently available. COD4 is a great game but is pretty easy to rack up the kills and easy to rank up while you have to earn your kills and rank in Halo 3. Since it's so easy to kill in COD4 you get ALOT of camping which is pretty annoying. Halo 3 atleast gives you a chance to defend yourself.

The multiplayer, the campaign story, the soundtrack, and the extras like Forge and the saved films feature easily makes this game one of the best around and is deserving of a high ranking.

Keep up the great reviews! :)