Stag said:
A very {'Kewl?' My native language is retard.} question, a lot of {It's "people". You can write legibly. Don't bother crying about it.} don't ask {I'm trying to say your, you are, or you're, but I'm likely too stupid to know which to use.} selves.
Interesting... the word filter made that post almost unreadable.
In any case, got Halo 3, played through the game on Heroic in co-op with my friend in a little over six and a half hours (the campaign takes longer to complete, around 10 hours, single-player).
Graphically, I like it. Everything looks really nice, there's no overzealous usage of bloom or other gratuitous effects. The organic Flood-levels look appropriately gross. Animations are good, models are well-done (
finally the human faces don't look like they were butchered by a bad plastic surgeon, although I think they still look a little flat), love the explosions and effects. Some people complain that it's not as good-looking as some other "next-gen" games, but I don't agree. Probably they're just used to being blinded with bloom.
As far as sound goes, guns all sounds good, voice-acting is great, no complaints. Music: always loved Martin O'Donnell's compositions, and it's no different this time around.
Now the first of the important parts: gameplay. It feels different from Halo 2. A little more similar to the encounters in the first Halo, which is a good thing, although it's not entirely like it either. I enjoyed it. Pulled my first all-nighter in a long time going through the campaign in co-op, followed by multiplayer (only with a couple friends, but it was still a blast). I have no real complaints. It's not an "thinking-man's" shooter, nor will it appeal to those looking for non-linearity or choice & consequence or anything in that vein. Then again, it doesn't really pretend to be (ridiculous fan-boy's clamorings don't count). It's just about action, and it delivers, as far as I'm concerned. I don't doubt it doesn't appeal to some people, but nothing appeals to everyone.
I do have a couple of bones to pick. First, although I didn't notice it playing through for the first time, playing through again, I've found the addition of invisible walls as I've explored more thoroughly. This, I dislike. They never used them in Halo 2 (with the exceptions of expanses of water off beaches and going higher than a map could possibly allow in a flying vehicle), or the first that I can remember, and I don't understand why they felt it necessary to bring them in. They always designed the levels so that it was unnecessary, which is better level design in my opinion. Second, even in the knowledge that going through the game in co-op is quicker than doing it single-player, it just felt too short. I very much wish there were more levels.
The second of the important things: story. I'm... still undecided here. I like the Cortana-flashes that go on, until later when it adds the Gravemind's angry ranting that happens too often. Also, I feel that the story was kind of forced along far too quickly for its own good, which corresponds to my wish for more levels. Knowing Bungie, I'm sure it wasn't their wish for it to be that way. Either they didn't have enough time, or Microsoft leaned on them to keep it short for their perceived target audience, which is unfortunate if true. Also, I'm not fond of the ending. It just doesn't sit right with me, at all. I'm still reserving final judgment of the whole thing for when I've completed my second play through, paying close attention to what's going on and having more time to digest it.
All-in-all, I'm happy with it. I don't think its perfect, or the best thing to ever happen to the planet Earth. I especially disliked the overhype going on when I was trying to watch Spike the night before release. Ugh. Hype sucks. But it's fun, multiplayer is a blast, co-op is a blast, fixes many mistakes from Halo 2 I think (but introduces those damned invisible walls, at least in the first jungle mission). I don't think it's going to sway anyone who vehemently disliked the first two, but it might sway those who weren't as fond of Halo 2 as they were of the first. It's still Halo for Halo-fans. Can't wait to get on Xbox Live and play some CTF, or try out that new Infection game-type.
