by Helen Suenaga

Created on: July 15, 2010

Halo, Halo2, and Halo Wars were released prior to Halo ODST (Xbox 360) was released in September 2009. This game was developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft.  The players are not Master Chief, instead the role is that of ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers).  There are two different play modes, Campaign mode and Multiplayer.

In Campaign mode, the players explore and search the ruined city of New Mombasa to uncover what happened to missing comrades in arms during the alien invasion.  Players can succeed through the various levels of Campaign to discover more about the history and cause of their teammates demise.

In Multiplayer mode, the players battle upon battle a relentless horde of invading aliens.  They score points and survive as long as possible during this mode.  The range of difficulty can increase and will possibly kill your teammates too.  Along with the Multiplayer mode there are 21 multiplayer maps in Halo 3: ODST.  In additions there are additional maps, Citadel, Heretic, and Longshore.  The maps can only be used once certain achievements are unlocked.

There are scenes, which play after you have succeeded in completing a level in Campaign mode.  The scene will depict the next step or next mission you and comrades will face.  The lighting is better in the city scenes and the option on your weapon to activate a light to view your darker lit areas is an added bonus.  The graphics are far better in this version of Halo.  The detail to the characters, aliens, and surroundings is much clearer than prior versions.  Of course, this game as well as its predecessors can be played on Xbox Live.

Another point to consider is the difference between Master Chief the predecessor of Halo 3.  Master Chief is able to withstand more damage, survive longer falls, jump higher, move faster, and use two weapons at once.  The ODST does not have the damage absorbing energy shield Master Chief possesses, instead they have a recharging stamina mechanic.  If the ODST withstands damage, the recharging stamina mechanic recharges and the life of the ODST is not reduced.  In the case the ODST is hit with another fatal shot and the recharging stamina mechanic does not charge to full capacity; his health is reduced.

After playing this game several times over the past few months and succeeding in the all levels of Campaign, I can honestly say this is one of the best games produced under the Halo trademark.  We are looking forward to the upcoming movie, which will depict a shorter version of the Halo series.

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