Halo 3... oh yeah, ODST.
Wandering the empty streets of New Mombasa with my VISR turned on is a unique thing that I never had the chance to do in the previous Halo titles. Exploring the dark, deserted alleys looking for audio files, or a clue as to what happened to my team members is a very deviation from the original Halo games. Sadly, thats all that is new about this game.
It is called Halo 3 for a reason, it is essentially Halo 3, but with a slightly different formula. Instead of being launched into a linear story you are dropped (excuse the pun) into a deserted city, with no idea about the whereabouts of your friends. The city prompts you to look for clues, and will point them out on your map. Upon reaching the clue you will experience a cutscreen, and relive what happened to your friend.
The experiences that your other ODST's have experienced are more in-line with classic Halo scenarios, and include a lot of big explosions and vehicle-based stuff that you have come to love. It is through these experiences that you learn what has happened, and eventually re-unite with your squad, barely able to escape the destruction of the city that you previously wandered.
Not much has changed from Halo 3 in terms of game mechanics, so if you enjoyed Halo 3 you will most likely enjoy ODST. Halo 3: ODST also adds a gamemode called "firefight" which is Halo's take on the wave defense mode that countless of other games have done. It is fun and exciting, but lacks matchmaking of any sort, so you might have to scan forums for gamertags should you be in the mood for a match, but it also takes some teamwork on the higher waves, something you might not be able to find randomly.
It also includes the full Halo 3 multiplayer, but most people have that, so it is more of a bullet point for the back of the box more than anything else.
The story is emotional, the action intense, the gamepaly is unchanged, and firefight is a nice addition.
If you like Halo, you will like ODST, but it doesn't the new mechanics to satisfy someone who doesn't Halo.
But in the end the low score relates to content, and the fact that this is fully priced game. The short campaign and firefight mode (which has no matchmaking) does not warrant a $60 price tag. The multiplayer disc is pointless as everyone who owns Halo 3 already owns the multiplayer.
