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Microsoft's most popular FPS has returned. Developed by Bungie, Halo 3: ODST is an expansion to the 2007 best seller. Toting a $60 price tag, ODST may seem like a glorified DLC package with little to justify its expense, but with an intense and atmospheric campaign and a robust multiplayer mode, ODST is more than a mere expansion. It's the definitive Halo experience.
In Halo 3: ODST you take on the role of ‘The Rookie', an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper who has crashed on the streets of New Mombasa. Awakening alone six hours after the crash and with your Life Bar running dangerously low, you must locate your missing comrades. The story switches between you and the scattered Shock Troopers, a method which helps build the tension and keeps you engaged. Sure, some of the supporting cast is a tad one-dimensional but the voice acting is top notch and there are plenty of story tidbits to be found in the various Audio Logs. The lack of character development isn't as much of a surprise anyway since ODST's campaign is a bit on the short side.
Gunplay is the focus of ODST's gameplay. The controls will feel familiar to fans of the series but have also been tightened to make blasting away the Covenant even more of an effortless endeavor. Even with alien and military artillery at your disposal however, the action never feels too repetitive and you'll be surprised by how often you're on the defensive. You're no Spartan after all. The action overall feels a lot like the series'debut title, Halo. You cannot dual-wield, or fall from high places without killing yourself and your health will not regenerate on its own. You're also limited to carrying only two different guns at a time which forces you to keep your distance and seek cover even when dealing with only a handful of foes.
Fortunately for you, Bungie has included a new feature to give you an advantage over the alien menace. Visual Intelligence System Reconnaissance, or VISR for short, is a night vision mode which highlights points of interest such as objects you an interact with, items and enemies. This helps as you search the darkened streets of New Mombasa for your squadron by letting you know exactly where the Covenant are. It may sound like it takes away from the challenge but it doesn't. In fact, you're going to need all the help you can get because the Covenant has never been more merciless. You can also enlist the help of three friends if need be, by playing the main campaign four-player co-op style.
In addition to challenging gameplay, ODST has plenty to offer in terms of design and atmosphere. The campaign is divided into 8 levels with New Mombasa acting as the game's hub and for most of the game you're allowed to pick and choose between missions at your own discretion. It's a welcome mechanic but don't get too used to it. The last portion of ODST throws you right back into a more linear gameplay style, leading you from mission to mission until the very end. The graphics are a marvel, so much that even the particle effects of a simple plasma grenade will have you in awe. The level art too is something to take note of as Bungie has crafted some impressive scenery to admire. Considering that ODST is an expansion that spent only about a year in development, it has a fresh feel to it and a level of polish that its predecessors lacked. It also features an incredible soundtrack, making the experience all the more immersive.
ODST returns with Halo 3's trademark multiplayer modes with Firefight being the main attraction. In Firefight you and your friends take on an endless wave of Covenant baddies and the longer you last, the harder your adversaries become. Think of it like Horde Mode in Gears of War 2, only with Firefight, the insanity never stops. You and your team start with seven lives and can earn more as you survive and perform well during the mode's bonus rounds. With eight different maps to play, it's a challenging experience that never becomes dull and is the embodiment of what makes this sci-fi shooter so popular. If you're ever able to tear yourself away from Firefight, ODST also comes packed with a second disc containing all of Halo 3's multiplayer content.
ODST is an easy sell for fans of the series and 360 owners alike. Bungie went to great lengths to justify this expansion's $60 price tag and it's worth it for those who already own Halo 3. Its campaign builds on the mythology of the franchise and fills the gap between parts 2 and 3 while its multiplayer modes provide tons of replay value. This is as good as Halo gets.
Fun Factor: From the campaign to the multiplayer, ODST is simply a blast to play.
Length: The campaign can be finished in 4-6hours.
Difficulty: Newcomers will find ODST challenging while series veterans will be surprised by how defensively they will be playing. If only Master Chief was around.
On the Negative Side: Characters could have been a bit more developed; campaign is too short. No matchmaking in Firefight Mode.
Bang for your Buck: ODST contains everything you loved about Halo 3 and a whole lot more. Its asking price might seem a bit much for an expansion but there is plenty of content to keep you playing long after you're done with the campaign.
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