Halo 3’s Graphics:

I have to laugh at the debate that has been going on since September 25th 12:01 am... Some people are complaining about the graphics of Halo 3. And I know everybody has their own opinion. So here is mine. I am totally happy with the graphics of Halo 3 and I have to praise Bungie for what they have done with this game. They have stuck with the formula that made Halo and Halo 2 so successful. People are trying to compare Halo 3 to the Xbox 360 smash hit Gears of War. And while Gears has shown the whole world what the Xbox 360 can do in terms of graphics, Halo 3 has always been about a form of art. A form of dirty, hardcore war art. Master Chief is a huge icon. He has been since the first Halo. And what I see in Master Chief as well as the other characters in Halo 3 is a enhanced extension of the first 2 Halo games. Am I losing you all yet? Please allow me to explain...

Have you seen Mario in Super Smash Bros Brawl? He looks the same. Only a little more detailed. How about Sonic... he looks the same only a little more detailed. Do I have to bring up Snake? Or Link... You do NOT change a formula when you have a successful formula. Besides, Bungie has always stated that they are not looking to make photo-realistic graphics with the halo 3 version. That would take something out of the trilogy in my opinion. Have two games that look and feel the same and then have the third in a while different level. Either way though this debate will never end. I know that I might be sounding like a hardcore Xbox fanboy here, but if you know me and read my articles and reviews from the last 7 years you will know that I am actually a Nintendo fanboy (well.. Now an official Wii60 fanboy). But I love all systems... I am just stating my opinion on Halo 3’s graphics...  

What do you mean I don’t look good?

So I will just say that the graphics ARE amazing for Halo 3. Master Chief has never looked better. The enemies are also detailed and move silky-smooth. Level designs are also nice and detailed. I will say that there are a few levels (online levels) that have a washed-out jaggy-edge look. But I am more busy worrying about a fellow player putting some pink needles or a rocket in my back. Some of the level design is beautifully done as well. One thing that made my jaw drop about the first Halo was the nature in the game. You start off in a lush green jungle in Halo 3. Beautifully done shrubs and mirror-topped rivers and streams. Complete with a shining sun that bogs down on you like a 500lb gorilla. I have always loved the look and the feel of the first Halo. And it has returned in full form for Halo 3.   

Halo 3 is also about little details. I will name off just a few cool details to give you all a taste of what I am talking about. When you are in the snow levels your character will leave footprints and when you get hit or die you will leave blood trails. Your dead body will also stay on the map for a good while. When your character gets hit by things, example those damn annoying pink needles from the alien needle gun, the needles will stick to your armor. Also nice details like if you die in water, your body will go under and you will actually see and hear yourself being under the water. I did find a few minor gripes though, actually mainly 1 gripe. You will experience a few frame-rate hiccups during the game as well. They are very minor but I have to wonder why they are there in the first place. You will be walking through a forest or a corridor and out of nowhere you experience a slight pause in the game. Other then this little gripe I found the game to be a beautiful experience for the eyes.  If you can look past the critics whining and complaining about the game NOT looking like Gears of War then you will see deep down that Halo 3 is a graphic marvel.

Halo 3’s Music and Sound:

Music in a game does not get any better then the music in Halo 3. A Halo soundtrack is a standard in excellence in the gaming industry. Never before have I been so pumped by a musical score in a game. From the start of the Halo 3 game menu booting up on your Xbox 360 right to the very end when you beat the game it is a non-stop roller coaster ride for your ears. Marty O’Donnel has once again composed a beautiful soundtrack. His music has so much depth and feeling and emotion to it. This is yet another amazing job by the composer. There are rumors that thankfully he will be providing the soundtrack for the Halo motion picture as well. I hope this is in fact true. A Halo movie without  Marty O’Donnel doing the score is like a Silent Hill movie without Akira Yamaoka doing the score...

I must also add that Halo 3 is far from b-movie cheese when it comes to the voice-acting department. All of the great voices from Halo and Halo 2 are back. From Steve Downes as the Master Chief to the amazing actor David Keith (actor from John Carpenter’s The Thing and John Carpenter’s They Live) as Arbiter and Jen Taylor as Cortana. If you want to hear some of the best voice acting in gaming, you have come to the right place. Halo 3 is also chock full of sound detail. Each laver has its own atmosphere. Some levels have such small details as birds chirping or sounds of metal and machine going off in the background. Overall, the sound, music and acting team of Halo 3 has once again put on a “A+” effort. 

Finish the battle...

The Bottom Line about Halo 3:

Are you kidding me? Halo 3 may have been the most-hyped game of 2007 (if not every) but it sure as hell lived up to that hype. To be honest, I am not sure why you read through this whole review? You should be on Halo 3 kicking ass with the rest of us Halo nuts (yes, I am playing WHILE I do this review.. I know.. I’m Pathetic). It does not matter if you buy the $60 version, $70 version or the $130 Legendary version you win either way. Bungie has made the ultimate Xbox 360 title in Halo 3. Beautiful storyline, pumping music that gets the adrenalin flowing, and a online set-up that is top-notch (give a few minor flaws that hopefully will be worked out). 

If you own a Xbox 360, you BETTER own this title... If you do not own a Xbox 360 then BUY one and own this title. I really do hope that this is not the end for Bungie and Halo. Give us Halo 4. Welcome to 2007’s Game of the Year...

[Review by Sean Foster]