Halo 3

[babs]

Halo 3 will be the last successful FPS based on the "classic template", unless there is a Halo 4. Guaranteed.

LOL


Strategy FPS have been around for just as long, and have had as much (or as llittle) innovation or change in the last ten years as any fast paced ones. I for one was left as cold by GOW as others in this thread already, the same goes for GRAW, R6 etc. To me, they're ok but fail to deliver in terms of longevity and making me want to come back to play again.

I'm with the others who say that Halo 3 is fun, looks good, and above all is enjoyable. So far my online experience has been good too, I can't wait to get stuck in with some of this lot

[Atticus]

I had a quick first look last night and started on heroic ... certainly feels harder than H1 & H2 were.

Not spent long enough with the game to make a judgement call but first impressions are positive.

I loved Halo, hated Halo 2 ... hoping this is a return to form.

[cavalcade]

LOL

I'm with the others who say that Halo 3 is fun, looks good, and above all is enjoyable. So far my online experience has been good too, I can't wait to get stuck in with some of this lot

I've already been stuck in. I can safely say NTSC-UK's display last night on team based games was a disgrace, and I shoulder a large part of the blame for that. Possibly all the blame.

Our performance on team based capture the flag was akin to a box full of kittens being tasked with shooting down a B-2 stealth bomber. At times I had to close my eyes to blot out the horror. I think I need to practice.

[Simmy]

Have to say I'm surprised by the number of negative opinions on this, but at the fear of being flamed, they are from the usual suspects, so no real surprises On the other hand I'm a Halo whore and I'm sure no one is surprised by my overly positive impressions

Didn't get to much time with the game last night, but managed to get through the start of the 3rd mission. Great to get into a vehicle at last, and

->Open Spoiler<-

taking out the first two choppers you meet, was a good laugh

The game has kind of pointed out one thing to me already, something which I suspected while playing it, that is how little in the end I enjoyed the combat side of Bioshock. I loved that game, and still need to and will finish it, but while the atmosphere and exploration within it was fantastic, I found the combat weak, especially now comparing it to the fantastically deep combat experiences you can have within Halo ! It is a major difference to me, as I do not really have any interest in replaying any part of Bioshock, as there no specific battle which I would wish to replay, but I will certainly replay Halo 3 over and over purely because the battles are such fun, and can be approached in so many ways. While I appreciate they are different types of game, combat is surely at the heart of them both, and to me one does that very well and the other does not !

[cavalcade]

Am I a usual suspect? I think I've posted on NTSC-UK about 50 times, so I'll be excited if I've reached "Usual Suspect" level.

[Simmy]

It's quality not quantity of Halo hating I consider m8, so your at the top of my list now But tbh no, I was not really referring to you !

[cavalcade]

It's quality not quantity of Halo hating I consider m8, so your at the top of my list now But tbh no, I was not really referring to you !

Damn.

[randombs]

started the fight yesterday evening

left it on the menu screen for about 10 minutes soaking up the music, then started on heroic.

initially at least, the graphics are pretty crap (especially after that gorgeous loading screen), but the lighting was really nice i thought.

it feels like an old friend you haven't seen for ages, only to find they haven't really changed much or done anything amazing since last time, but as you get reacquainted you remember just what it was that made you friends to begin with.

i could imagine someone looking in and wondering what the fuss was all about, but it seems it's much more interested in keeping the fans happy than inviting new players (and tbh who in their right mind would jump right into the third game?)

didn't like how the voices are louder than the gun sounds, and i wish you could turn off the visor's blue lines on the hud. oh, and that silly woman who kept saying things like 'good job chief' and 'wow you shoot like a biatch' or whatever it was. i would've killed her but i figured the game would probably just get another marine to take over annoying soundbite duties.

died too many times so started again on normal. hope to finish the fight soon.

i'm just glad it's back, to be honest, so i can get some closure. also can't wait to go online...

[NW2013]

Name and shame!

[sharky_ob]

Opinions certainly are like arseholes......

[ascender]

What's the best way to get in some multiplayer games with guys from here? I did some mp last night but struggled to get player numbers at times.

Which lobby and settings seem to be the most popular just now?

[recipher]

Friends list. The more people from here on your list, the more likely you are to be able to hook up with a decent group.

[Kotatsu Neko]

I had a quick first look last night and started on heroic ... certainly feels harder than H1 & H2 were..

I'm finding heroic to be pretty easy, and easier than in H2 (probably about on par with H1 though).

[MrKirov]

Okay then.

Got my legendary edition at just before noon yesterday.

Completed it on heroic just after midnight.

What a ****ing game. On with the multiplayer!!!!

[B1gBeard]

As someone who never really got the Halo 1 & 2 thing (mainly due to the PC just doing FPS much better) I wasn't really sure what to expect exactly (although I had hoped for certain things). I did play through the first two games just recently to get a feel for the story.

Overall I found single player a big disappointment. Its awfully generic. Level design, weaponry, style are just not what I was hoping for given the hype and production costs that seem to have gone into the game (and indeed the franchise).

I think even in an FPS we have come to expect some progression. Halo 3 has been designed just for Halo 1 & 2 fans which is maybe what most players are happy with, but I don't think appeasing the fans and moving forward aren't mutually exclusive. Even if there was no progression in gameplay I would have at least expected some big, brilliantly designed set pieces and levels but if they were there I didn't see them.

The most disappointing thing was that I never felt any connection with the characters or story. It all seemed tacked on and whoever was directing wouldn't recognise a tense and engaging story if it slapped them in the face. The voice-overs were awful as well. Far too much American jock crap which lessened the appeal. A similar accusation could be leveled at Gears but with Gears it never took itself too seriously and it all felt a bit tounge in cheek.

I didn't have to much issue with the graphics. Again maybe we all expected more given cost, hype etc but they do the job. No frame rate issue either for my eyes. I was suprised to see a lack of any decent AA which is something thats touted as being the norm on the 360. Music was simply sublime.

Overall its fallen way short of the single player experience of Gears and Resistance imo. Both of those games offered either some fresh mechanics or engaging storyline. The set piece battles in both had more wow factor as well.

I'm guessing multi player is where its at although last night a friend on Live logged off telling me he was disappointed with that as well. He is a big Halo 2 fan but his gripe was that it just wasn't different push the multiplayer side of it on to another level either. Having not really played Halo multiplayer I'll be fresh to it although its up against some stiff opposition from the PC games I've played over the years.