QJ Review: Halo 3 (part 2 of 2: multiplayer madness and more)

This article was originally posted on September 28, 2007 at 12:29 p.m.

Taking off from our initial review, the QJ.NET team presents the second part of our special review of Bungie’s Halo 3. As we promised everyone, we’ll be taking a deeper look into the details of the multiplayer aspect of the game. Also, we’ll be covering the other features the game has thrown into the mix, namely the film replay mode and the file sharing.

Local Multiplayer

Amidst the Xbox 360’s step up for the series, we still have to remember that Halo 3 is still essentially a shooter game. And one of the best ways to enjoy to enjoy a shooter is through good old fashioned head-to-head deathmatch.

Being the gung-ho FPS fans that we are, we took the quickest way to get right into the middle of the action – and that was through a nice one-on-one firefight with our fellow QJ.NET teammates.

Click on the Full Article link for the full review!

This article was originally posted on September 28, 2007 at 12:29 p.m.

Taking off from our initial review, the QJ.NET team presents the second part of our special review of Bungie’s Halo 3. As we promised everyone, we’ll be taking a deeper look into the details of the multiplayer aspect of the game. Also, we’ll be covering the other features the game has thrown into the mix, namely the film replay mode and the file sharing.

Local Multiplayer

Amidst the Xbox 360’s step up for the series, we still have to remember that Halo 3 is still essentially a shooter game. And one of the best ways to enjoy to enjoy a shooter is through good old fashioned head-to-head deathmatch.

Being the gung-ho FPS fans that we are, we took the quickest way to get right into the middle of the action – and that was through a nice one-on-one firefight with our fellow QJ.NET teammates.

While the details of the maps themselves were appropriate for large team skirmishes, one-on-one matches leave something to be desired when it comes to the size of the maps. Simply put, the whole multiplayer experience cannot be enjoyed by just two people.

The multiplayer co-op mode, on the other hand, is a literal godsend considering the limited capabilities the friendly AI has. Seeing that Master Chief has the thankless job of going on countless suicide missions just to save his fellow humans, having a human-controlled Arbiter on your side makes the job a little easier to bear.

Team tactics, while not a true necessity to play the game in the easier settings, is very important on harder modes. Aside from looking really awesome in the replays, establishing areas of responsibility will help avoid casualties and keep the game moving along really smoothly.

Online Multiplayer

Online multiplayer for Bungie’s Halo 3 is both a joy and a nightmare. All things considered the most difficult part was getting a game started. In general, we found that it was easier to find ranked matches rather than casual games, though we had the most fun with the latter.Once the game is on the way, the nightmare ends and the fun begins.

As expected, the competition is very stiff and trying to play an online match without mastering the controls is a sure fire recipe for disappointment.

Once you do get your stripes (both literally and figuratively) you begin to see the differences between a good player and a bad one. For example, you do not under any circumstances stop in front of a player with a sword while you’re holding a Needler. It just doesn’t work…

The game has various game modes including Slayer, Oddball, King of the Hill, Capture the Flag, Assault, Territories, Juggernaut, Infection, and our game of choice VIP. Each one has its own charms and twists that should prove interesting even to the most jaded Halo veteran. (That’s saying a lot considering some of these modes have been around since the first Halo).

Because of the different game modes, it is advisable to go over the different objectives before hand. You might also want to go over all the maps you have through the “Forge” option. If you want to be a good player, take the time to memorize each one, that way you’ll spend more time stalking opponents than wondering where to pickup your weapon of choice.

   

Forge

Speaking of the Forge, the people at Bungie Studios decided to add this handy new feature in Halo 3 for those of you who want to try their hand at making your own customized battlefield. It essentially lets you play around with any of the existing maps and, with a limited number of resources at the start of the editing session, gives you the freedom to liter the map with a variety of objects you can normally find in the game.

Something you don’t see normally in other map builders is the fact that you can switch from the middle of editing mode and jump right to your character’s control to test out how your new sandbox feels like.

The true beauty of the Forge, however, comes into play after you save your newly created map. After which you can share it in a local game against any takers who are willing to play in your new creation. Also, you can upload the file to the Bungie network so you can also share it with other people online in a match of your choice.

  

File sharing

As mentioned previously, newly created maps for Halo 3 can be transferred to Bungie’s online network. However, you aren’t limited to just uploading the customized maps you make using Forge.

Other stuff like game films, film clips, screenshots, and even custom game types can also be uploaded to the Bungie servers. All of these can be shared with other players who are connected to the online network provided by Halo 3.

You can store up to a maximum of 25mb of memorabilia, which is more than enough space to record all of your adventures as Master Chief and his friendly alien sidekick.

Replay features

You have to hand it to the game developers when they said they wanted Halo 3 to look good. The in-game movie recorder can capture scenes from every mission in the single-player campaign, as well as provide a play-by-play replay of your latest multiplayer match.

To be honest, the movie recording feature provides very little use in the single player campaign aside from providing you a little vanity for your FPS escapades. But hey, if you’re a genetically engineered super marine saving the human race from total extinction, wouldn’t you want to look good when the cameras are rolling?

As for watching the replays in multiplayer, it could provide you interesting details if you want to study how the pros handle themselves on the battlefield. Also, strategies for team matches could be studied in detail after every match, especially if you seriously want to consider having a career as a squad leader.

   

Topping it off

While the single player campaign of Halo 3 is a good training ground, most every one agrees that the best way to play the game is with friends. Whether you prefer going up against opponents in single combat or teaming up to finish co-op missions, there is something in this game for everyone.

It would be a disservice to the game if we were to say that this review was able to comprehensively discuss the multiplayer experience. Not even Cortana with all her knowledge would be able to do so. We just hope that this short review will give players an insight of what to expect when you play online.