Opening Day Game Review: Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360)

Today, September 22, one of the world's most popular gaming series, Halo, introduced Halo 3: ODST. The game takes a step into the shoes of an ODST, or Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, the top of the line of the human military in the game. The campaign takes place in New Mombassa, an African city being raided by the Covenant.

After a few hours of gameplay, Halo 3: ODST has proved to be an excellent game as well as a newer style of play for players of the past Halo games. The controls are all the same, except the style of the game in general is different. As a normal soldier, one does not have the high jumping capabilities and recharging health that a Spartan did. Also, when your life has been depleted, you must find a health station (there are many) to get back to full health. There is also a new type of grenade that unleashes a string of fire upon enemies.

The game's look and feel seem as if a game developer mixed Halo 3, Left 4 Dead, and the military aspects of Call of Duty: World at War. As an ODST, players carry more human-like guns that have cross-haired zooms similar to the battle rifle.

The graphics are spectacular, and they seem to be a step up from the previous Halo games. Also, the scenery is different considering you are now on planet Earth, and although over a hundred years into the future, there are still futuristic yet normal looking police care and buildings.

The final thing that one needs to know about Halo 3: ODST is the great fun that Firefight, a new game style that is modeled a lot like Gears of War's horde. Up to four players are cast into a large map, where endless waves of enemies come one after another. Players can turn on different settings and skulls to give them different skills or weaknesses that will make the game more entertaining. Overall, its an extremely fun game style, as well as one that Halo has never fully seen before.

Overall, Halo 3: ODST has not fallen short of the previous gems in the Halo saga. The game offers many new, unique features and a different style of gameplay that is very entertaining and satisfying.