ODST brings new life to Halo series

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James Flath, Sports Co-Editor
September 28, 2009
Filed under A&E, Featured A&E

The much anticipated release of the fourth Halo video game, Halo 3: ODST hit the market Sept 22. It puts a new twist on the Halo series and has many people excited.

ODST follows the stories of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, which is a very different take on the way Halo used to be played. The old Halo games were played from the view point of a Spartan.  This meant players could take large amounts of damage before being killed. 

The story is based in the same time period as Halo 3. Gamers will notice immediate differences in the gameplay, but it still maintains the feel of the old school game.  The storyline is based around a nameless character that searches around an abandoned city for his comrades.  Upon finding clues to the fate of his squadron, the player relives flashbacks that advance the campaign.

As soon as the game starts the sense that it is just like any other Halo arises, but once you start playing, the differences come glaring out. With the change of being an ODST instead of a Spartan there is no longer a shield and the ability of dual-wielding guns have been removed. This makes ODST much harder than any other of its counterparts. The Brutes and Covenants are back to die at your will just as they were in Halo 3.

A big flaw that was found in the game is the fact that the online multiplayer is the exact same as Halo 3. Gamers get the same rank and even play against other people playing Halo 3. One main incentive for purchasing ODST is that it includes all 24 maps in matchmaking.

There is a new play mode called Firefight which puts gamers and their friends against endless hordes of aliens that test the player’s skill. This is the best new part of the Halo series. However, it was almost copied straight from Gears of War 2′s Horde Mode.

Owners of Halo 3 should not buy ODST. The lack of new multiplayer and moderate changes to a weak campaign does not create enough entertainment to be worth $60. However, people who aren’t owners of Halo 3 should consider this title.