Halo 3: ODST Review
Written By Gaetano Prestia
Halo 3: ODST went from being purely a scope add-on for a silencer to an all-new weapon for extra grunt. It’s difficult to determine whether or not that’s really a good thing after having played through the ODST single-player campaign, but one thing is for certain, and that is that it still maintains the Bungie accessibility and enjoyment that has made the Halo franchise what it is today. While ODST is far from perfect, it still holds up in the wake of its predecessor, offering a fun (albeit horrendously short) single-player campaign, some new multiplayer maps and the new Firefight online mode.
If anything holds ODST back, it’s the short single-player campaign and inability to distinguish itself from Halo 3. While it may have been released as a single title, this is without a doubt an expansion pack, no matter how Microsoft or Bungie spin it. This title could essentially have been released as DLC, considering every weapon and enemy are pretty much plucked straight from Halo 3. Despite the game’s different setting and sparingly used new alien race, there’s no strong differentiating factors that scream out “ODST” and make you think that maybe this isn’t just a Halo 3 spin-off.
Yet that’s pretty much as disappointing as ODST gets. While it doesn’t really offer anything new to the franchise, it’s still incredibly fun to play and still offers the same level of challenge and accessibility that has become a staple of the Halo brand.
ODST puts you into the boots of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST), otherwise known as “Helljumpers”. Not quite as genetically enhanced as our little known hero in Master Chief, they still pack plenty of punch on the battlefield. The differences may split the Halo fanatics straight down the middle, as Bungie has completely changed the physical nature of our main protagonists and taken away the much loved durability and out-right strength of hardcore marines. An ODST soldier can’t duel-wield weapons, nor can they knock out a brute with a single melee punch. They also can’t (for whatever reason) sprint, which often makes moving through combat-void areas quite tedious.
Yet through these changes shines a new level of challenge and unpredictability. Shooting your way through an area is no where near as simple as it used to be with Master Chief, as taking advantage of the environment is incredibly important in the heat of battle. You’ll also have to take better care of your ammunition expenditure, as some enemies (namely Brute captains) move a hell of a lot quicker than you, making it difficult to target them at long range, a problem that was once unheard of in previous Halo games.
The game doesn’t follow the simplistic, linear driven story that was accustomed to the Chief. Instead, you’ll retrace the steps of each ODST as they crash and spread out across the land after a drop gone wrong. Each chapter of the story is told impeccably, with Budgie’s execution once again creating an emotional and memorable narrative. When you couple the storytelling techniques with some action-packed combat sequences, you have an experience that, while short, is still really enjoyable to play through.
Furthermore, the level design and introduction of the ODST soldiers make this title slightly less linear than previous Halo offerings. While you’ll definitely feel like you’re playing a Halo game, some aspects of the campaign wreak of individuality, such as the opening New Mombassa level. You’re introduced to the new ODST hub and enemy scanning system, and while not a total necessity in the battlefield, it does make spotting enemies easier in darker areas. This makes up for the lack of durability the ODST offer when compared to Master Chief, so Bungie have done a great job in balancing out the gameplay by changing the way our main protagonist plays out.
The coop offering is quite superb and the experience seems to get better when playing through it with a friend. Just like Halo 3, the challenge seems to be upped and the combat slightly more excessive when you’ve got a mate playing beside you. The environments seem less restrictive, yet you’ve got a little more incentive to be as tactical as possible to get through the combat. Coop is definitely something that needs to be experienced in ODST, as it offers probably one of the best coop experiences this generation, just as its predecessor did.
The multiplayer experience shines through the new Firefight. While not at all a new concept, Firefight is incredibly addictive and one of the best reasons to buy ODST. It has up to four players going up against a never-ending hoard of enemies, using a limited number of weapons and resources to survive as long as possible. As you unlock milestones, more items become available, but it gets intensively difficult as you progress. You don’t play against your teammates, but rather go up against the enemies that continue to flow into the environment with a sole aim of taking you down. It really complements the great coop experience ODST has to offer and continues on the sense of team and friendship that is portrayed through the campaign’s story.
The Final Verdict
Halo 3: ODST doesn’t really stand out as anything spectacular considering its obvious similarities to Halo 3. It’s an expansion pack no matter how you put it, but still one worth checking out if you’re a fan of the series. It’s such a shame that this is a full-priced affair, which is ludicrous considering it’s pretty much Halo 3.5. While it offers something new in the form of the playable characters, some new weapons and Firefight, there’s really no justification to charge gamers the same price as a full game. In saying that, it’s a shame that the price is an issue, because the experience itself is still pretty fun and it’ll be disappointing if some gamers and Halo fans turn away because of it.
Gameplay
9.0/10
Just as accessible and fun as always. Some new weapons and enjoyable multiplayer. Bungie have done a great job of balancing out the gameplay in changing the dynamics of the main character.
Graphics
8.5/10
Nice lighting effects during the day, but the quality dips significantly in darker areas.
Sound
9.8/10
As near perfect for a game soundtrack as you can get. Absolutely epic.
Value
6.5/10
Roughly four hours to finish the campaign. Then there is coop (which is great to play through at least once) and Firefight. But at full-price for an expansion pack, it’s quite disappointing.
Overall
8.3/10