2008 Woodie Awards
Halo Series Continues to Improve With Third Installment
Master Chief returns to finish the fight and steal all of your free time.
Jeremiah Magan
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Online Exclusive
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The game pulled in more than $170 million on its first day, according to Microsoft. The only thing coming anywhere near that number is the movie "Spiderman 3," making $150 million in its opening weekend.
"Halo 3" starts exactly where the second "Halo" left off. At the very beginning you see Master Chief lying on the ground completely motionless, being examined by his allies who are presuming him dead. He wakes up just as they are about to leave with their newest ally, the Arbiter, leader of the alien race and former enemy of Earth, the Elites.
As the story progresses, Master Chief is plagued by visions of his friend and artificial intelligence program, Cortana.
These flashes reveal little bits about the story and are important to pay attention to, though it is hard not to because they slow down the game play to a near stand still, which can be quite annoying in the middle of a battle. Master Chief's main adversaries are still a conglomerate of alien races known as the Covenant and the Flood, a parasitic alien race that assimilates all living creatures into its ranks.
Long time fans of the series will recognize a few of the levels from previous games.
Several weapons that were only available in the first "Halo" game have made an appearance, including the Assault Rifle and the original game's version of the handgun.
New weapons were also created for the game, which include the Brute Spiker, the Mauler, Spike Grenade and the very powerful Spartan Laser. There are also new equipment items that can be picked up throughout the game which vary from shields to mines.
Two new vehicles were created as well; an ATV vehicle which can seat two, called the Mongoose and a three-person aircraft known as the Hornet. These new additions bring a new depth to a game that could have become stale and repetetive without them.
The main draw and reason for the game's immense popularity has always been the multiplayer feature and as recent as the second installment, online multiplayer.
The multiplayer levels are similar to levels you will play in the single player mode, but tweaked for a different experience. It seems as though the game's creators at Bungie have designed their levels to even the playing field.
In "Halo 2," it was entirely possible for one person to dominate everyone they were playing against by staying in one area. This in no longer the case and makes even the most seasoned players, susceptible to someone new to the game.
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