Halo 3: ODST is a game with a bit of an identity crisis. When it was originally announced as Halo 3: Recon, it was billed as a short, value-oriented, standalone expansion to Halo 3. In the year and a half since then, it has ballooned to a fully-priced $60 title... or at least thats what Microsoft wants you to believe. The truth is that--even with everything that's packed in--ODST is not worth the same amount as its subtitle-less predecessor. However, if you put Bungie's previous game aside, it does justify the $60 price tag more than most games these days. After all...this is still Halo.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
For those just tuning in, here's what you get in the ODST package: Disc One contains the much-hyped new 6-8 hour campaign featuring the titular Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, who is weaker and has different characteristics than the usual protagonist, Master Chief (more on that in a bit). You also get the endurance game mode called Firefight, which is basically a Halo-ified version of Gears of War 2's Horde mode or Call of Duty: World at War's Nazi Zombies (albeit arguably much more robust). On top of the "main" attraction that is Disc One, you also get a second disc that is billed as "the complete Halo 3 multiplayer experience". Think of it as Halo 3's standard Spartan-filled multiplayer but chopped off from the Halo 3 campaign but throw in all the maps previously sold on Xbox LIVE (thats Heroic, Legendary, Cold Storage, and Mythic map packs) plus 3 brand new maps, bringing the grand total map count up to 24. In fact, as of now, this disc is the only way to obtain these 3 new maps; no downloading them if thats all you want, and thusfar Bungie has made no indication that they are planning to do that either. In the marketing for this game, you'll also notice that Microsoft is also pushing the inclusion of a ticket to next Spring's Halo: Reach beta, but in no way should a beta be judged as part of the value in the overall package.
HOW IS THE ACTUAL GAME?
Instead of the traditional Halo design of a set of mostly linear outdoor levels to blast through, ODST mixes is up a bit by throwing you in the open-world hub that is the urban streets of a nighttime New Mombasa. This new take on the Halo formula works extremely well and the superb soundtrack really embodies the moody, solitary atmosphere that your character, The Rookie, is dropped into. Throughout the city you'll find key objects called beacons that trigger flashback missions where you play as your fellow ODST squadmates; these levels are designed much more like a traditional Halo level. The ODSTs themselves feature a number of key differences from a Spartan like Master Chief, but really if you've played the original Halo: Combat Evolved, its actually a lot like that. For example, initial damage you take lowers your stamina, but take a little more and you start losing actual health, which will not regenerate and will only refill by collecting health packs that are strewn around levels. In addition, you get a pistol thats an uber-powerful headshot machine, just like in Combat Evolved, and you can't dual-wield weapons. From there, though, ODST adds its own refreshing stamp: the new VISR mode that highlights enemies, friendlies, weapons, ammo, health, and key objects. You also get a map in lieu of the Spartans' motion tracker to help find your way around the open streets of New Mombasa. Though these differences seem minor on paper, in practice they tweak the standard Halo formula in a very interesting and entertaining new way--but not so much that it feels uncomfortable or out of place.
Firefight mode is the new crack of Xbox LIVE. Much like the aforementioned Horde and Nazi Zombie modes, you and up to 3 friends fight increasingly difficult waves of enemies. In Firefight, Bungie employs Halo 3's skull difficulty modifiers to change up the way you have to tackle the firefights. The only problem is that they claim that the skulls activate and deactivate randomly, but in about ten games thusfar they have activated in the exact same order. This dilutes the excitement significantly, though it is likely a bug that will be addressed in the near future. What ODST also has going for it is a far more diverse cast of baddies to gun down, so its very refreshing to mix up tactics on a wave-by-wave basis (vehicles are a huge plus too!). As you progress in the campaign, you'll be able to play as the other ODSTs and also unlock a few new maps, eventually giving you 10 total to play on.
WHAT ABOUT THIS MULTIPLAYER DISC? AND WHAT'S REACH?
If you were expecting totally brand new multiplayer that mixes up the formula in a similar way to the campaign, you might be disappointed (or you might wanna check out Firefight). If you arn't yet sick of one of the best multiplayer modes out there, then there is only more to love, especially if you havn't bought all the map packs already. If you have, well... sorry, you're pretty much re-buying them, but at least you get 3 new ones and you can delete your old downloads off your harddrive! As for Reach, if you're confused, it's basically Halo 4... or more accurately, Halo Zero. That is, unlike the Halo 3-engine-based side-project that is ODST, Reach is the next (and final) full-fledged Halo game being developed by Bungie. It serves as a prequel to the original game and follows the events of an epic battle in the war in a time when there were many more Spartans than just the Master Chief. It's lacks a numeral title because, well, 3 was the end of Master Chief's story, so this is something different. After this, the Microsoft-owned subsidiary 343 Industries will be taking over the Halo franchise while Bungie moves on to new things.
SO IS IT WORTH IT?
Well, like I said before, compared to Halo 3 or something like the upcoming Modern Warfare 2, it is a little light for $60. However, compared to many if not most other $60 games, Halo 3: ODST has a lot to offer, and if nothing else is a refreshing new take on an established, polished, and fantastic formula. Maybe they can get away with it because it's Halo... or maybe because it's Halo, you know you're getting such a high quality product that its a much better way to spend $60 than a lot of games out there.
Overall Grade: B+
"We Are ODST" live action trailer:
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