Campaign was never the series’ strongest point and that truth is extended in
ODST, with the multiplayer being where gamers will spend most of their time. Bungie is aware of this but instead of a renewed multiplayer, players are given the exact same multi-player from
Halo 3 (forge, theatre, the lot) with all the previous DLC thrown in and three new stages. It's a shame Bungie didn't carry the new HUD or the way that the ODSTs can't bunny-hop as high as Spartans in to the multi-player - instead it is near impossible to differentiate between the two.
Thankfully the addition of Firefight goes some way to justify the full price tag. Following the same formula as
Gears of War 2's Horde mode, Firefight sees teams of up to four players take on wave after wave of Covenant, sharing health packs and weaponry. With four players it's a ton of fun and will steal a large number of players from the game's traditional multiplayer. One glaring omission from Firefight is the lack of matchmaking - meaning you can only play locally or with members on your friends list - a real missed opportunity on the part of Bungie.
In grading ODST it is hard to look at it without thinking of
Halo 3. For hardened fans of the series there is little here that they won't enjoy, but likewise there is little new for them either. If
Halo 3 had never existed and this had been released two years ago it would have been held in high regard, with the multiplayer more than making up for an interesting if a little short campaign mode. Being released in present day,
ODST falls a bit short as over time the
Halo engine has aged and been surpassed.
What hasn’t changed is how much fun you can have playing a
Halo game, either alone or across multiplayer. How many times Bungie can repackage this fun is the question. Judging from
ODST , it’s looking limited. If they don’t come out with something incredibly impressive with
Reach, we will rightly be able to say that we have been there before, more times than once.
Conclusion:
Halo 3: ODST plays like a Halo greatest hits collection with some new material thrown in there to persuade diehard fans that they are getting something fresh as well. As with any greatest hits collection the quality is there but some parts feel dated. But likewise, you know what to expect. It’s big, it’s loud; while it lasts it is a ton of fun. It is clear that Bungie has some new ideas for the Halo franchise - the risks they have taken have paid off and lead me believe that we should look forward Reach in 2010.
SPOnG Score: 85%
