Why is there so little hyping for Halo 3 ODST?

[Pulsar_t]

Marathon was first released for the Macintosh in 1994 and introduced many concepts now common in mainstream video games. These features included dual-wielded weapons and real-time voice chat in multiplayer sessions. It had the most sophisticated physics modeling built into a game engine up to that time, which allowed for such features as adjustable gravity. The physics could also be altered via fan-made physics files, that could be created with third-party applications and eventually with Anvil, Bungie Software's own official editor. It is also noted for a far more sophisticated plot than had previously been apparent in first-person shooters. The sequel, Marathon 2: Durandal, was released in 1995 and expanded the engine technologies and the story universe. Notable new features in the engine included ambient sounds and liquids that the player could swim through. Compared with its darker predecessor, Marathon 2 has often been perceived to be a brighter, more vivid and more atmospheric game. It introduced several new types of multiplayer modes beyond the deathmatch and cooperative game such as king of the hill. In 1996, the game was ported to Windows 95, and the third game in the trilogy, Marathon Infinity was released for the Macintosh only, built on a slightly modified Marathon 2 engine. The game additionally came with "Forge" and "Anvil", the applications used originally by Bungie Software to create the game's levels, physics, and to import the game's sounds and graphics. Within the next few years, Marathon 2's engine was reused by other developers to create the games ZPC, Prime Target and Damage Incorporated.

Apparently the Marathon engine was more advanced than Doom's and it came out before Duke Nukem 3D. it was probably the first "2.5D fps" on the market.

[RadarScope1]

I think Microsoft is counting on the Halo brand to carry it up front with the hardcore crowd. Look at Halo Wars -- the game was a freaking RTS on console and it sold several million copies just because it had the Halo brand on the box. With the extra disc of all the multiplayer maps packed in, I think ODST will do just fine for now. They will probably pump up the marketing closer to Christmas and get another bump out of it then.

[Ack]

I would also like to point out that Marathon was also a lot of fun. I may not have enjoyed Halo, but Marathon and I had some good times.

[dsheinem]

Halo confessional time!

Halo 1 -
I've played through Halo twice.
The first time I played Halo was when it first came out on the PC in late 2003/early 2004. I never owned an Xbox so this was my chance to finally see what everyone was excited about. I thought that, for its time, the single player game was pretty good but nothing other PC FPSs of the time (late 2003) didn't do better. The story was interesting enough to want to play it through, but I didn't play any multiplayer.

The second time I played Halo 1 was a few weeks ago when I picked up my first Xbox 360 - I am playing through the trilogy now. In my opinion, the game has aged much better than plenty of other console FPSs from the early 2000s. Considering it was out on consoles in 2001, it still strikes me as pretty impressive - easily on par with what Goldeneye brought to the N64 in 1997. The scope of the game, the amount of features, the graphics, the production - for 2001 these were all quite good. The driving controls were horrid, though.

Halo 2 -
I'm currently about half way through my first run of Halo 2, and have been floored repeatedly. I am impressed that this was a last-gen game. It is so much better (production values, story, control, options, etc.) than any other last-gen FPS that I've played on the Gamecube or PS2 (and I've played most of them). It is also leaps and bounds better than Halo 1 - I don't know how people can say they prefer the repetitive environments, enemies, and weapons of the original after playing the sequel. These impressions are based on the campaign - I still haven't dipped into multiplayer, which is supposed to be the strength of the title. I don't get the hate for the game itself.

Halo 3 -
Though I haven't started the campaign, I've played 5 or 6 hours of Halo 3 multiplayer over the past few weeks at LAN parties (since I now have a 360 and can join in with a few friends with the console). Some of the game modes are pretty fun, and I am impressed again by the amount of options available. That said, the basic mechanics and of Halo 3 are good but not great - I've enjoyed UT3 and Resistance 2 much more on consoles this generation. I can see why people would like the game, but there are better sci-fi themed console shooters out there.
-----
In short, I've enjoyed my time with the series and have a new-found respect for the games.

It seems to me that the anti-Halo sentiment is usually more about how the series has hurt the development of FPS on PC (a fair claim) or about the fanboy assholes why frequent Xbox Live (also fair). But as a series of console based FPS games, it is really a pretty solid franchise. Each entry has certainly been better than the average console FPS for its time, and at points the series has been innovative and groundbreaking. So I'd disagree with the arguments that the series is dull, drawn out, boring, below average, etc.

It is certainly not in the same league as Valve's games or the best of iD from the past decade or so, but then again those games usually translate pretty poorly when consolized.

[izdead]

Halo confessional time!

Halo 1 -
I've played through Halo twice.
The first time I played Halo was when it first came out on the PC in late 2003/early 2004. I never owned an Xbox so this was my chance to finally see what everyone was excited about. I thought that, for its time, the single player game was pretty good but nothing other PC FPSs of the time (late 2003) didn't do better. The story was interesting enough to want to play it through, but I didn't play any multiplayer.

The second time I played Halo 1 was a few weeks ago when I picked up my first Xbox 360 - I am playing through the trilogy now. In my opinion, the game has aged much better than plenty of other console FPSs from the early 2000s. Considering it was out on consoles in 2001, it still strikes me as pretty impressive - easily on par with what Goldeneye brought to the N64 in 1997. The scope of the game, the amount of features, the graphics, the production - for 2001 these were all quite good. The driving controls were horrid, though.

Halo 2 -
I'm currently about half way through my first run of Halo 2, and have been floored repeatedly. I am impressed that this was a last-gen game. It is so much better (production values, story, control, options, etc.) than any other last-gen FPS that I've played on the Gamecube or PS2 (and I've played most of them). It is also leaps and bounds better than Halo 1 - I don't know how people can say they prefer the repetitive environments, enemies, and weapons of the original after playing the sequel. These impressions are based on the campaign - I still haven't dipped into multiplayer, which is supposed to be the strength of the title. I don't get the hate for the game itself.

Halo 3 -
Though I haven't started the campaign, I've played 5 or 6 hours of Halo 3 multiplayer over the past few weeks at LAN parties (since I now have a 360 and can join in with a few friends with the console). Some of the game modes are pretty fun, and I am impressed again by the amount of options available. That said, the basic mechanics and of Halo 3 are good but not great - I've enjoyed UT3 and Resistance 2 much more on consoles this generation. I can see why people would like the game, but there are better sci-fi themed console shooters out there.
-----
In short, I've enjoyed my time with the series and have a new-found respect for the games.

It seems to me that the anti-Halo sentiment is usually more about how the series has hurt the development of FPS on PC (a fair claim) or about the fanboy assholes why frequent Xbox Live (also fair). But as a series of console based FPS games, it is really a pretty solid franchise. Each entry has certainly been better than the average console FPS for its time, and at points the series has been innovative and groundbreaking. So I'd disagree with the arguments that the series is dull, drawn out, boring, below average, etc.

It is certainly not in the same league as Valve's games or the best of iD from the past decade or so, but then again those games usually translate pretty poorly when consolized.

Thank you.

[equalsign]

dsheinm's Halo "confession"

Thank you.

Ditto. Also, I like Halo 2's campaign more than Combat Evolved's as well, so you're not alone there .

[soniklife]

I find it interesting how much hate Halo gets. It certainly isn't the greatest game, heck not even the best for the genre nor does it really have all that interesting of a story (and seriously who plays Halo and cares about the story?) but it does what it does very well. I happen to find the Halo games to be rather fun, and the difficulty in the campaign modes has been rather pleasantly challenging in contrast to most modern games. The multiplayer aspect is filled with the usual hooting fools on Xbox live which thankfully the mute button remedies but no one can deny that it is one heck of a fun experience to be had. Mindless? Perhaps. But Halo definitely knows how to excel at being a fun game.

[the7k]

My distaste for Halo is both a combination of "It ruined FPS gaming" and that when I did play it, my reaction to it was "... and that's it?"

It's a pretty average to above average game. Reviews of the time did not reflect this. I was expecting the second coming of Jesus, and I got an experience that wasn't even as good as many of the free Half-Life mods I've played.

[fastbilly1]

I will admit, the main reason I own an xbox is for Halo 1&2. I enjoy the coop of both titles, and the multiplayer of the first. The curved hud of the second and third makes it feel alittle claustrophobic and makes me rubbish at the titles.

Even when it came out I didn’t think Halo did anything really revolutionary. And despite its repetitive environments it is a solid title. Sure most of it had been done in Half Life mods, but it brought one of my favorite genres back into a world where we could squeeze four people per screen. Introducing lan party play to people that would have never seen it is something I have to give Halo credit for.

Halo 2 on the other hand was a good bit too buggy when it was released – the extra distance on the jump seems like it was added late in the production cycle, you could easily get “out of” any stage - ie my roommate and I climbed one of the towers in the stage where you ride those big floatly elevators.

Halo 3 was a great mix of the first two. And who doesn’t like having a guy with infinite rockets riding behind you on an ATV?

One thing I will say that I really like about the series, and why I will continue to buy them as I buy Microsoft systems, is that I can play them. Bungie has alternative control schemes available and four player splitscreen. Meaning I can have my legacy controls and left trigger as primary fire, while my friends have their own setups (one plays southpaw with left trigger being melee) and we can all play it one room. That alone warrants a purchase for me.

ODST I am wary of though. What I gather from the reviews is that it should have been an expansion pack. But if it supports four player splitscreen, the usual battery of control options, and firefight is worthwhile, well Ill end up with it. I may not be very good at any of them but the first, but playing through Halo 3 with the guys I use to play Goldeneye with was a lot of fun, and this should be even better. Hell I might even buy a 360 if it is good enough.


But I will agree that the popularity of Halo has caused stunting in the PC FPS field. It has also caused for many games to be built for console then ported to the pc, only making the game have poor performance. Which is a damn shame. Valve better not start doing that. Granted if all console fps offered Mouse/Keyboard controls, I would be more ok with it… I can dream damn it.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

My distaste for Halo is both a combination of "It ruined FPS gaming" and that when I did play it, my reaction to it was "... and that's it?"

It's a pretty average to above average game. Reviews of the time did not reflect this. I was expecting the second coming of Jesus, and I got an experience that wasn't even as good as many of the free Half-Life mods I've played.

Exactly, although my reaction is a combination of "So why can I only have 2 weapons?" and the "...and thats it?" that many people seem to have. Think about it, back then, you were generally allowed 3 weapons; 2 main, and a pistol at least. Then it was way to easy to not die, and the enemies were boring, the locals minus the island and the first night level, were boring.
The Library is actually the only part I really enjoyed, but everybody else hates it.