David Takes On: Halo 3

Inspired by friends of mine, I've decided to start writing a more, shall we say, valid and contemperary blog. I have opinions too, and sometimes (more like usually), I don't express them at all. So this is mostly going to be rants on current events, pop culture, self-defense, martial arts, swords and swordplay, music, gadgets, cars, guitars, and all the cool shit that I deem relevant enough to show up on my personal radar. So let's jump right in with a review you might enjoy:

David Takes On: Halo 3

I'm not going to lie to you. I waited in line at midnight on September 25th with the scum of the earth to get this game. Ever since I first blew the blue goo out of my first Elite in Halo: Combat Evolved, I have been hooked on the franchise. Ask anyone, and they've got a story about how they stayed up till 3 am, jacked up on Jolt Cola they bought on eBay and Nilla Wafers fragging the everloving hell out of their friends. And rightfully so. Bungie Studios have really knocked this IP out of the park. Well, mostly. There are some nagging issues with Halo that are easy to overlook, but are present nonetheless. For the most part, however, these games rule. And H3 is no exception. Master Chief is back to finish the fight.

From the first cutscene to the final credits, Halo 3 is a rollercoaster of exhilarating fun. The campaign mode is great, as we've come to expect, and the story elements unfold like a summer blockbuster written by Michael Bay. Twists and turns are present and unexpected, and aside from the story being somewhat convoluted (less so, however, than Halo 2, which I don't think anyone understood), the plot is well told, the characters are fleshed out a tiny bit more, and the action is so thick you could cut it with an Energy Sword (and you do. Constantly). The only real problem with the story is that there's no "Review" for those of us who haven't brushed up on our Halos 1 and 2. It picks up immediately where 2 left off, and it would have been nice to have a refresher, for those us who didn't quite understand who the giant plant thing was from the last game (Little Shop of Horrors?).

Let's talk briefly about sound. The soundtrack has been revamped and tweaked yet again, to keep it fresh, I assume, and has shied away from the Joe Satriani stylings of Halo 2. This time, the themes are a bit simpler, with a focus on emotional attachment instead of blood-boiling gung-ho rock bits. That sparseness just plain fits better in Master Chief's world. Of course, there's nothing compared to being all keyed up when the sweeping orchestral scores usher you into a battle sequence. They really are second to none.
The sound effects are awesome, too. Everything, from the woosh of a rocket to the thunder of the Battle Rifle has depth and substance. Ambient noises also help add atmosphere to the action. There's the grumble of a Warthog engine as you fishtail into a group of bad guys and listen as they all scream in fear, the lap of water on the beach, the muffled jingle of spent brass as it falls to the ground. The voice acting, not to mention, is also done well. The battle chatter from your troops and even from enemies (who, as aliens, all speak very good English) is fun and believable. Cutscenes are well-acted, and there's no gripe from me that Master Chief doesn't talk much.

Gameplay, for the most part, is excellent as well. Enemy AI is tough and smart. They'll seek to flank you when they can, make use of cover, toss grenades, and generally make nuisances of themselves. On the harder difficulties, they get smarter still, and are more or less relentless. To add to the fun (and sometimes the humiliation), Bungie has added and tweaked a number of weapons, grenades and equipment in addition to new vehicles and enemies. They've really struck a fine balance on this iteration as far as weapons are concerned, too. Making a heroic comeback is the Assault Rifle in all its fully-automatic glory, for example, now trading rounds per magazine for increased firepower. New equipment, like deployable cover, bubble shields, and power drains all add a new element to what could sometimes be a straightforward run-and-gun. Your enemies have access to the new toys too, and will use them against you in devious ways.
Level design is varied and immersive, with all the right little details to draw you in. Whether it's battling your way into a Convenant-controlled facility or leaping atop a Scarab (they're back!), it's enough so you won't be bored, whatever it is you're doing. Battles can sometimes get a little overwhelming and frantic, however, leaving you disoreinted and turned around.

Graphics in the game are well-done; Bungie got this area right again. The blur effect during movement in the solo campaign is a nice touch, for one. Water effects, lighting effects, shadows, texturing, particle effects, they're all great! Some rough spots exist, however, if you look hard enough, but they don't detract from the overall gaming experience. You're still going to have an eyeful of polygon porn as you play through this really beautiful game.

Multiplayer! For some gamers, this is the only reason they bought this game. There's nothing quite like the agonizing pubescent screams and shrieks from a 13-year-old in Massachusetts as you set his ass on fire and proceed to gun him down in front of all his friends, then beat his corpse out of spite. But all the fun is not just to be had online, though online play is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Co-op and split-screen deathmatch played locally is another tight and perfectly-tuned feature of the game. Now you can see the look on your friend's face as you set his ass on fire, stick him with a grenade, and proceed to gun him down in front of everyone you know. New features and maps flesh out the experience, and there's a TON of replayability when you take into account all the custom matches you can set up.
Of course, I would be severely remiss if I didn't mention the Forge, a new feature that Bungie's been itching to add for ages, so the prophecies say. Now you can truly tweak your favorite maps to your heart's content. You can't change level geography, but you can add and subtract spawn points, weapons, and vehicles, then play a match in real time.

To conclude, all the new features, from the Forge to a Video Recorder (so now you can tell all your other friends how you set Steve on fire, stuck him with a grenade, gunned him down, then dropped a tank on his corpse-and have proof!), this game really packs it in. Add in the great graphics, satisfying story, and solid gameplay, and you have a classic on your hands. My recommendation: go grab it. Immediately.

Consider yourself taken on, Halo 3.