Halo 3

[B1gBeard]

The problem is that those who don't like Halo (which is perfectly fine on its own) seem to have a MAHOOSIVE problem in acknowledging the pretty blatant innovations the game made to the genre. It took B1gBeard a huge number of posts to acknowledge the melee attack and he isn't alone.

It's seems odd that people can't dislike a game and yet also respect it. I'm not a fan of Half Life 2, but I can certainly respect the art, the setting and the storytelling.

There are a lot of inbetweens though. I don't just not like the game fullstop. I'm in the middle. I respect what it has done for the community and what it offers as a complete package for ?40 but then there are some things I don't like.

I think on the opposite side of the coin to the Halo haters, the lovers see any sort of criticism as that person completely hating the game. When you read a lot of the negative posts, a lot of them have positives as well.

[Jebus]

So people are saying this doesn't push boundaries? Maybe not in single player but the live/multiplayer integration and options have set the bar to a new height.

Gears of War 2 for example, must surely now demand 4 player co-op?

[Concept]

The problem is that those who don't like Halo (which is perfectly fine on its own) seem to have a MAHOOSIVE problem in acknowledging the pretty blatant innovations the game made to the genre. It took B1gBeard a huge number of posts to acknowledge the melee attack and he isn't alone.

It's seems odd that people can't dislike a game and yet also respect it. I'm not a fan of Half Life 2, but I can certainly respect the art, the setting and the storytelling.

While I'm not engaging in the Halo Vs the entire first-person shooter PC market argument here, I've found in my personal experience that a lot of the contempt towards the series is usually a veiled dislike towards the 360, Bungie or snobbery which disregards the series strengths based on its perceived 'dumbing down' of the genre (chiefly it's satisfying combat, weapons' balance and strong AI).

[B1gBeard]

So people are saying this doesn't push boundaries? Maybe not in single player but the live/multiplayer integration and options have set the bar to a new height.

Agree 100%. Its the new standard and anything else now will seem inadiquate.

[Concept]

the story is poorly told in the cutscenes, i think this is out of question. what do the terminals add in terms of story telling? someone already checked this out? i came across a terminal once but i didn't seem to be able to access it? how does it work?

something in Halo 3's storyline still puzzles me: why does the Prophet of Truth not

->Open Spoiler<-

fire the Halo ring when he finally has the chance? Master Chief clearly says in the cutscene they'll be coming too late to stop him but then they make it nonetheless!?

someone actually got this? is it maybe because

->Open Spoiler<-

he would have needed the Index key too?

Right Bumper - there are seven in all and a lot of them are a nod towards the Marathon games (the achievement is even called Marathon Man). It surprisingly adds a lot of untold backstory which wouldn't have fit in the main narrative and looks damn cool to boot.

[Gerry Helmet]

And a theater mode, which truly does push the boundries :P

[B1gBeard]

If I were basing my argument exclusively on that point, then I'd say you were correct. But I'm not, so you aren't. My argument is much more complex and you seem happy just to pick up on a very small aspect of it (and not the main point either).

Therefore it seems pointless to argue with you until you stop being so selective in your responses.

Add me to your friends list chief, B1gbeard is my tag. I'd be happy to run through some co-op with you if you fancy it to show me the error of my ways.

[Simmy]

I'm only on single-player too. Are you playing Heroic?

It's what I'm going through now and it's almost a completely different game, like the first Halo was on Legendary.

I can quite see how people don't understand all the 10/10 scores if they only touch the single player. While I think that is superb, it does not contain the innovation which you would expect for a 10/10 game, that can however be found in the online implementation and all the bells and whistles that come with it.

While I appreciate some people don't wish to venture online for one reason or another, I don't think it is fair to rate the game only on part of the overall package.

Sorry if you think I jumped on you Annie, I have to say though if I posted what you posted I would of expected it ! Anyhow I've got no energy for a Beard/Brats style arguement so lets just leave it at that

[dataDave]

I'd have said the multiplayer in Halo 2 was 10/10 also, but that never got fully acclaimed before (excellent matchmaking was as special, if not more special back in 2004 than it is now).

Reviews/opinions/scores are always flawed, unless you're the person dishing them out of course.

[EvilBoris]

I can't even think of a triple AAA PC fps of recent, other than Half Life 2.

[Concept]

I think it's fair to rate the single-player based on your personal preference if you think of the game compartmentally. It's relative.

Personally, I wouldn't ever rate a game 10/10 which directs most of it's energies towards multiplayer anyway, because it ultimately has a limited shelf span of a few years (the way Halo 3 will kill Halo 2's multiplayer - is the game a 9/10 based on it's singleplayer mode?). A 10/10 to my mind has to have the potential for timeless gameplay in terms of what it offers.

That isn't to say I can't understand why people think highly of Halo 3's online though. It doesn't take much to realise that Bungie have given people a lot to enjoy something which will probably become the gold standard for Live on the 360.

[B1gBeard]

I can't even think of a triple AAA PC fps of recent, other than Half Life 2.

I'd have to say Stalker from a single player perspective. The problem with the PC now is that it has very few exclusive FPS's because of the popularity and capability of the new consoles.

[Concept]

I can't even think of a triple AAA PC fps of recent, other than Half Life 2.

Crysis is the big one on PC this year. Hopefully it'll be great.

Whichever way you look at it, if people put down their prejudices, this holiday is absolutely awesome if you're a first-person fan. Instead you get dick measuring contests.

[EvilBoris]

Well that is just it, how anyone can turn around and say they are a fan of the genre, then spout 'but Halo is ****' is total lunacy.

[Uli]

video interview about the future of Halo and our beloved Master Chief - sorry if this has been posted before:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/25727.html

have still to watch it though. however, interesting subject this is. my guess is Halo 4 is already in the pipe but of course there officially exist no plans.

update: the interview unfortunately doesn't provide much info on the topic.

i also came across this one here mentioning a STORY GAP (!?) between Halo 2 and Halo 3, which is going to be filled by a Halo comic series!?

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/25595.html