Halo ODST

Halo 3: ODST is coming!

Many Halo fans have high hopes for Halo ODST. Wait sorry, Halo 3: ODST, apparently it is just an expansion. An expansion that has few if any recurring characters, follows an entirely different plot, at a different time, and moves into an entirely new direction as far as how the campaign goes. I hope video game developers take note of how ridiculous it is to call this an expansion, it does not expand on the gameplay at all, it creates an entirely new game!

I myself liked all three Halo games, but I am happy to see the franchise go in a different direction. The series, although graphically enhanced over the years has really not delivered any major forward movement as far as gameplay. Of course some can argue that really there is no way to improve the gameplay in any major fashion. There in lies the delyma, how do you improve a game that really came out incredibly strong in the first place? Well you really can't so you make a sideways move an milk the game's universe for all its sweet universe milk...or something....anyway moving on.

ODST takes place after Master Chief and the gang follow the Prophet of Regret's ship into slipspace. You take the role of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper who is sent in to well, do all the cleaning up after New Mombasa has all its charm and beauty beaten out of it by the Covenant. Luckily it was just East Africa and probably wasn't too built up anyway.

This game will play different then games previous. Since you lack Master Chief and his ability to take an amazing amount of abuse you have to be a bit more careful as to how you go about the game, and since you aren’t a super-human and lack the super-spartan armor you can't jump 5-6 feet in the air. That’s right not only can you no longer take 3-5 shots to the chest, but you cannot Halo jump your way to safety!

Since the physics engine is the same as Halo 3 the game's mechanics will largly remain (apparently Microsoft wanted this out in 3 instead of 4 years so the team couldn't make a new engine). But because of the aforementioned ODST vs Master Chief differences you are basically like a well equipped Marine. So after all those years of making fun of the marines and cursing them for getting in the way you now get to be in their shoes. Knowing one or two good shots will down you means that you may think twice about running through the wide open spaces you come across, or peaking around the corner that second time.

Man, I shouldn't have wasted the spartan laser on those grunts....

Hopefully this game will not backfire for Bungie, but I have faith in their staff, they are a good company, take good care of fans and generally don't screw up to badly when they screw up at all. The big question is whether Halo fans will get on board. Sure casual Halo fans like myself will probably like the change of pace, but the Halo fanboy community (and it is a large community) may very well compare the game to Call of Duty and curse ODST.

I will be curious to see how this unfolds on all fronts, will the fact that this is Bungie's second to last Halo game hurt the game at all? Of course we will just have to sit back and wait to see the result.

Look out for my game review of Halo ODST later this September.

PS, sorry for taking so long for a new post, have been trying to find a job (well two actually) etc, etc.