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Halo 3 for Xbox 360 – Reviews

December 9th, 2008 Xbox Reviews No comments
The epic saga continues with Halo 3, the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise. In this third chapter of the Halo trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.

Halo 2

October 25th, 2008 Xbox Reviews No comments

Halo 2




Halo 2 continues the story of Master Chief, the heroic super-soldier who defied the invading alien Covenant and survived. The Covenant leaders within Halo are angry at this unheard of event. To save face, they launch an invasion of our planet. Earth’s defenses are breached, and we’re all in danger — unless Master Chief can lead a small military squad to victory against Covenant forces, in all-out guerilla warfare!

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars good purchase
This one of the best deals i have found on a game by far. Halo 2 is a game where the multiplayer is not that interesting but the in depth story line is all there this game should be played for the story line if nothing else.

5 Stars Grandson loves Halo 2
I have no idea how to play this game, but my grandson does and he loves it.

5 Stars Good Game, But Could Be Better
Halo 2 is a good game, but not perfect. The campaign is fun, a little short, but fun. The levels are great on any difficulty, and I love the Elite missions. They are fun and challenging, a great twist to the game. The only two things I wished that did not happen in the game was the short storyline, and the ending. They leave you hanging, waiting for the third Halo. Campaign is fun, but it is not a fun game unless it has a good multiplayer. The multiplayer maps are great, but there are not enough of them. Bungie could have waited a while to bring out the game to make more multiplayer maps. Overall a good game.

Campaign- 4 stars

Multiplayer- 4 stars

Fun- 5 stars

4 Stars Not as good as the first, but still an excellent follow-up
After the incredible installment of Halo it seemed like every gamer around simply couldn’t wait to play the follow up! Well here it is, finally in my hands! I’m happy to report that overall this is a very solid follow-up to the first installment. There are a couple minor things that I didn’t like, but there are a lot of things they added into the game that are just awesome.

After the first game I was kind of wondering how they would follow it up since the Halo facility blew up and the Master Chief with Cortana were the only two sentient beings left alive. Well Halo 2 brings us deeper into the lore of the rings and their Forerunner builders. Apparently there is definitely more than one ring, or else this game wouldn’t have made as much sense without a Halo facility. I really don’t want to give away any of the story line because it’s a really intriguing story so far. To be honest the story is really what held this game together for me, but let’s just say that they end up coming upon another Halo ring and there is already a major Covenant armada on site. The best chance for survival is to get onto Halo and fight from there because we all know the Covenant will not destroy the ring. The best part of the story is that the covenant between the species that make up the Covenant doesn’t seem to be nearly as strong as we all assumed. In order to take us down that path we get to play as a Covenant elite named the Arbiter. This is one of the better changes they made to this game! It was a lot of fun to play on this side of war and see things from their perspective.

That’s all I’ll get into for the story. Honestly the game play and mission details are fairly rehashed from the first Halo. This is sort of unfortunate, but somewhat expected because what’s Halo without Halo? But running missions through the Library to find the Index again seemed tedious and uncreative, although they managed to spice them up a little by throwing in the new Brute character named Tartarus (and the brutes in general). The thing that really saved these repetitive elements was the backdrop story of the Covenant. Also they threw in new lush atmospheres found on Halo. Halo is a big place and it stands to reason that not every place is going to look the same, so it was nice to see them try and capitalize on newer elements. This gives us some familiar maps and ground as well as giving us whole new terrains to explore. One of my favorite is that at one point we end up on Earth and go through a whole urban warfare sequence. That was probably one of my favorite parts of the game.

Aside from the repeated levels the only other major problem I had with this game was the HUD. If you read my review for the first game you would remember that I mentioned that the view was great because it gave you sort of a mock peripheral vision. In this game it feels like you’re looking through a very confined screen, which makes it a little more difficult to play in co-op mode. This is unfortunate because it feels like they removed something that I thought was an improvement to a First Person Shooter game, maybe they felt it was an error? Of course I think this was more than made up for by being able to dual wield weapons and being able to use the Covenant energy swords. Though they got rid of the MA5B standard issue assault rifle from the original game and that made me sort of sad. Oh well, I can now wield two Needlers!

Overall I thought this was a very fun game. I even enjoyed going through the Library again, so while some may find that “uncreative”, which it is, I still enjoyed it. The Flood takes a bit of a back seat in this game and show up more as an annoyance until a big revelation at the end. Story wise this game is much bigger and more ambitious. I think if you were into Halo for the unique world and story you will also like Halo 2 just as much. So be prepared for a wild ride to save the universe and see how precarious the Covenant’s species allegiance just might be.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

3 Stars just average
played the first halo. it had some great moments. mind you, it wasn’t perfect. game was too dark, some maps were reused, & too much backtracking. i dont understand why bungie couldn’t have included a map so i’d know where i was going. also, the library chapter was plain repetitive tedium. halo 2 was basically the same, probably even worse. i mean, playing as the arbiter sucked. basically too much hype. but the multiplayer is where halo shines. solo campaigns are just ok.

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Halo 3

August 26th, 2008 Xbox Reviews No comments

Halo 3




Halo 3 is the third game in the Halo Trilogy and the thrilling conclusion to the events begun in Halo: Combat Evolved. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. The Covenant occupation of Earth has uncovered a massive and ancient object beneath the African sands – an object whose secrets have yet to be revealed. Earth’s forces are battered and beaten. The Master Chief’s AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Gravemind – a horrifying Flood intelligence, and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant. It’s all been building to this — a desperate, final war that leads to a soul-shattering climax of epic proportions. Take control of Master Chief to defeat the Covenant and destroy the Flood to prevent the annihilation of the human race.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star COD4 is much better. Pick it up instead.
I was not too impressed with this game after the dust settled. I haven’t touched it once since I got COD4. Honestly if I compare this to COD4 I would say halo loses on all fronts fun, online, graphics. I just fell for all the hype of halo and I liked the first one, this one is a lot better than part 2 though.

5 Stars Great Game Overall, Halo 4? Halo Movie?
Halo 3 was a great game and has a great multiplayer experience but does the legendary ending mean halo 4, a new book, expansion, or even a movie, but the campaign was awesome and was very fun so i give it 5 stars

3 Stars Warming Up
I wasn’t a very big fan of the earlier Halo games, but my brother pestered me into buying this for him. It’s actually more interesting than I thought it would be. Game play isn’t too difficult and the graphics are pretty intense. It’s definitely easy to say that I’m warming up to the series.

5 Stars Best multiplayer for the 360
The whole game is awesome but the multiplayer is the best for the 360 I feel because of the all the different game types and the fact that you can make your own maps from scratch which is one of the coolest features of the game.

5 Stars Fun game overall
Its not as good as people were expecting but thats because of all the hype, its a fun game, the single player mode will keep you busy for awhile but multipalyer can provide hundreds of hours of fun. Even if you don’t like shooters much its a great game.

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Halo 3

August 17th, 2008 Xbox Reviews No comments

Halo 3




Halo 3 is the third game in the Halo Trilogy and the thrilling conclusion to the events begun in Halo: Combat Evolved. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. The Covenant occupation of Earth has uncovered a massive and ancient object beneath the African sands – an object whose secrets have yet to be revealed. Earth’s forces are battered and beaten. The Master Chief’s AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Gravemind – a horrifying Flood intelligence, and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant. It’s all been building to this — a desperate, final war that leads to a soul-shattering climax of epic proportions. Take control of Master Chief to defeat the Covenant and destroy the Flood to prevent the annihilation of the human race.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars halo3
Once again Bungie has created an amazing game. The campaign mode is much better in this installment then in Halo 2. The multiplayer mode rocks as always. There are some great maps in this version. File sharing and the Halo theater are great additions. If you are a halo fan, this game is a must.

4 Stars Great Addition To The Series!
Being a big fan and avid player of the Halo series since its first release in 2001, I was really excited before the release of Halo 3. This game is ridiculously good in the single player and multiplayer but has some flaws.

The graphics in Halo blow the other two out of the water. The scenery, the look of the environments, and the character models, the gun models, explosions and amount of things on the screen at once make Halo 3 great when it comes to graphics. I didn’t really find any flaws graphic wise.

The sound in this game is of course good once again. The sound in Halo 1 and 2 were both great, and they came correct once again in part 3. Also didn’t find no flaws here.

The controls in H3 are very very easy to learn. If you have played Halo 1 and 2, you will have no problem what so ever learning this game. Only difference is using the right bumper instead of the button “x”. You use the right bumper to reload, and enter/exit vehicles etc. Besides that, easy.

The amount of features in this game is really good. The single player has better and more fun levels. The enemies are smarter, and usually a mix of the covenant and brutes while fighting. Another good feature is being able to play the campaign with 4 people total, so for people that want to beat the game on Legendary, this can be done with ease :-) and also makes it more fun. The single player has a decent length and is basically comparable to Halo 1/2 in how long it is.

The multiplayer is of course where Halo 3 shines! The maps are great, some are mediocre, and Bungie has already released 2 map packs. Just like in Halo 2, there is a number rank, up to 50. But this time in Halo 3, you get army like rankings which require you to get to a certain “number rank” before getting the tag. There is Recruit, Apprentice, Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant. To get those rankings I just listed you have to get EXP, which stands for experience, each time you win, you gain 1 exp point! Next rankings are Lieutenant(Lvl 10), Captain(Lvl 20), Major(Lvl 30), Commander(Lvl 35), Colonel(Lvl 40), Brigadier(Lvl 45), General(Lvl 50). So I basically thought this ranking system they added is cool, and adds more to the multiplayer.

Some of the flaws in this game come from the multiplayer of course. One thing I found that happened quite often, is when I’m sniping, I will hit a person, and it will show blood come out, but they are still at full shields/health. This has also happened after sniping them in the head which is very odd. Also, when there is lag in the games, some ridiculous and odd things can happen. Another flaw, is when using the swords. I have had a few times when I’d fly at someone with the sword connect with them and hit them perfectly, and it doesn’t bring they’re shields down one bit.

So overall, is Halo 3 with the buy? Of course it is, the few flaws it has doesn’t bring the game back too much. You’ll have fun on the multiplayer for sure. Pick this up!

4 Stars Great, but not superb.
Much akin to the previous installments, Halo 3 offers an excellent story, and an enjoyable single player experience. The mulitplayer aspect of the game, whether it takes place in the same room, or on Xbox Live, is where the game often shines brightest. There are many maps from which to choose, and a vast array of variables to create a unique experience every time you pick up the controller.

The game is an overall improvement over Halo 2. The single player mode has been lengthened, and the multiplayer has been deepened.

While not perfect, it is still a must-own for the Xbox 360.

5 Stars Halo 3- It’s not the Best, but what is?
(This is my dads account on here, not mine, still don’t have a credit card =P.)

This game has been criticized by some, loved by many, and accepted by the gaming community. Then why are there all these bad reviews?

1. Graphics: 9/10

I am sick and tired of hearing people say that this game’s graphics are horrible, or bad compared to other games. So what? Some say that it’s just slight improvment over Halo 2. If you say that, please, get your old xbox and a second tv out and look at the ddifference. It is phenomenal. So is the lighting and overall look at the game. Sure, if Bungie had released a month later due to more graphical improvements, but hey, it’s not a bad looking game.

2. Sound: 10/10

The Sound of this game is one of it’s biggest strong points. Almost everything that happens has a unique and wonderfully realistic sound in it. From the battle cries to the sounds of gunfire, this is amazing. And the soundtrack of the game is also incredibly good, setting the mood just right. I like how Bungie made it so everything you hear is real time, of real conflicts happenning somewhere in the game.

3. Gameplay: 9.5/10

I hate whenever people compare this to the original Halo’s gameplay and say it is crap. This game retains the same basic Halo gameplay, just with newer features. Gameplay is solid and versatile. The vehicles I found incredibly amazing to drive and shoot, and the weapons are perfectly balanced out. Everything feels just right for this finale of a series. And instead of just menial gameplay modes such as capture the flag and deathmatch, like COD4(I’m probably gonna get a lot of bull crap from this, but Halo 3 has way more flexibility) Halo 3 expands it’s multiplayer by adding many gametypes such as Oddball and Infection. Then, you can tweak the gamemodes to make it even more fun. Forge is also one of the best things in this game also. Create your own map, then share it with the Gaming World as whole. Theater is also cool, as you can see just how awesome that kill you ade was or whatever you want to do.

4. Story: 8/10

This is Halo 3’s weak point. Halo 2 added an overwhelming number of characters and plots that confused players. Halo 3 took Halo 2’s horrible eding and twisted everything up nicely into a neat finale.

5. Multiplayer: 10/10

This is everything Halo 3 is about. Halo 3’s multiplayer is better than anything else I have played. Even when compared to Call of Duty 4, there is almost nothing that compares to it, besides World of Warcraft. I have spent over 1000 hours playing and have not considered it old. If you have Xbox Live, this game is a must have.

2 Stars Its all right
In my opionon the game is not all that good . Its is a big let down for those who waited at the doors for it to come out. I mean people who have played Halo2 didnt really miss anything cause everything is the same. Except the stages suck and online is full of five year olds cussing thier mothes off.And achievments are so easy thats the only reason i played it for a week.

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Review: “First Strike” – Halo Audiobook

August 6th, 2008 Xbox Reviews No comments
In 2003, fans of Halo were already starting to drown in slobber over every new Halo 2 tidbit and screenshot. LAN parties and Red Vs. Blue DVDs did only so much to help keep the world busy. There was plenty of cool Halo stuff to keep the starving and faithful busy - admit it, you thought the Master Chief action figure was pretty much the bee's knees. Any self-respecting Halo fan should have wanted one back then, even just to perch on your desk to remind the world that the Covenant couldn't touch