Review: Halo 3

Halo 3 - everyone knows about this game already right? Well that’s OK, because I’m going to review it anyway. I know I’m not going to make any new friends by saying this, but I was a bit underwhelmed by this one. I know it’s probably just a result of year’s worth of hype and speculation but I’m gonna just say it, I wasn’t impressed.

Don’t get me wrong - I did enjoy the single-player campaign on the first trip through but the multi-player was over complicated coming from a Call Of Duty background. Also I am really just done with the whole Halo thing all together. I know I’m making enemies by saying that but this game didn’t break enough new ground to make an impression on this old, jaded gamer.

I get that the hardcore Halo-heads out there are just happy as pigs in shit to have more of their favorite shooter to play but that’s just the problem, it’s just MORE. More of the same gameplay we’ve been getting carpal-tunnel from since what 2001? I’m over it. Nowadays I’m looking for innovation in my games (still hard to come by) and a graphically updated version of a game I wasn’t that into when it was originally released seven friggin’ years ago just isn’t doin’ it for me.

The graphics are pretty good but you never see the Master Chief’s face so a shiny helmet is all you get. The characters whose faces you do see aren’t that impressive either. I’ve seen better voice matching on some Japanese RPG’s that are better than this. There’s also still the issue of texture pop-in that tends to take you out of the story. The enemies are poorly defined and are sadly just more of the same bad guys we’ve been killing for three games now.

The story in halo isn’t too bad if you’re a fan of overly cliched sci fi. I didn’t think I’d ever say this since I’m one of the biggest SF nerds around, but this one just didn’t do it for me. I guess it comes back to Master Chief not being a relatable character to me, and that is mostly due to his hidden face and the tired video game theme of the one man army saving the day. I’d say rent it from if you want to give it a shot. Don’t waste your sixty bucks on it until you try it though. Just to be safe.

I know that nothing pisses off a fan boy like a negative review of his favorite franchise so I’ll apologize to you folks now. I’m sorry, the Halo series has never really gotten me interested enough to give it the time that’s obviously required to get good at it. That being said I’ll admit to having my own guilty pleasures in gaming (Lego Star Wars, anyone?) so to fans of the series, more power to you, they made the game for you, not me. You go take on the flood, I’ll be over here killin’ Nazi’s. To each his or her own right?

The Gamer Hero

Gamer Hero Score: 6/10