Is it worth it?

[CaptainPoopface]

I'm seriously considering an Xbox 360, and Halo 3 would be one of the big draws. I have some concerns that it might become boring very quickly though.

- I'm not really into unlocking achievements and special hats and crap. I just want to kill people.

- To be honest, the campaigns for H1 and H2 are garbage in my book. The Flood make a very lame bad guy. Bungie is TERRIBLE at designing interior levels and corridors. I hate their style on indoor maps. Same old crap, over and over. Wasn't I just in this room? etc. Really, I just want to kill people. I don't see myself getting too many jollies from online coop either.

- If H2 is any indication, there is probably an armada of little gags and cheap tricks that can be mastered after long hours of practice and which put an otherwise skilled player at quite a disadvantage. I am not going to practice BXR and landing precisely on cracks in the BSP after crouching under a special awning - things of that nature. To be repeatedly downed by little tricks like that would sink my Cheerio.

- I don't like weapons that fire bullets or bullet-like projectiles. My favorite weapons are big guns that lob grenades, rockets, etc., which require aim and work at short and long distances, with a fairly quick response, but consequences for poor aim or indiscretion with ammo. The Spartan laser looks like junk. Not into swords or shotguns. I hate sniper rifles. The missile pod and flamethrower might be decent. What are the common weapon combos you see in online play? For H2: Sniper rifles, swords and shotguns, and plasma pistol + battle rifle probably constituted 95% of the games I saw on Xlink, and they all sucked. Only on rare occasions could I lure people into my rockets, nades and brute shots arena.

- As if the above isn't indication enough, I'm spoiled rotten by the ability to customize weapons exactly to my liking. I have a feeling I'd be peeved that the rocket reload time is a few frames long, or the rocket speed is too slow, or that the weapons I like have been balanced against weapons I hate and will probably never use, and therefore suck all around. Am I off base here?

- Forge looks fun, but like very watered down modding. People seem to hit those map limits fairly early. Bottom line: Are there new, funny, innovative or otherwise quite satisfying ways to kill people? I'd be hoping the replay value lies here, because I don't see H3 modding becoming feasible for smarter-than-average Joe and his retail 360, ever.

- How are the multiplayer maps? Surprise surprise, I like probably fewer than half the stock maps for H2, and far fewer than that on H1. I prefer maps that are suited for 2-6 players, and not too many corridors because the rockets get hectic. I never liked Lockout. Vehicle-based combat might be fun if it's one of the faster vehicles and the map is well suited for it.

Am I missing anything else? H3 looks much prettier and snazzier than old H2, but I still rock classic games on the NES, from back when graphics sucked and gameplay was the name of the game. I have a vague impression that people have quickly gotten bored with H3, and I see that happening sooner with me than with other players, for all of the above reasons.

Is it worth it? I really like the Havok engine and the feel of Halo, and that's critical. All I've done is grouse about it, I know, but I think every other shooter I've tried has really sucked, except Goldeneye from way back, and maybe BF2. Is there another game that might suit my fancy, for fairly small multiplayer games and rocket launcher-type weapons?

[ScottyGEE]

Getting a 360 solely for Halo 3? Don't know how much it costs where you are but no. No console is worth one game by a long shot (despite other people actually doing it anyway see:ps3 or wii).

From what you describe you probably wouldn't like Halo 3 all too much.
I could go on for a long time discussing its strengths and weaknesses but I don't have the time sorry.

But really, from what you have written, you don't want to really get it...Perhaps you're too critical Forge has created interesting ways to play, but you will not find much love especially if your going to want to apply the creativity that you put into your mods into halo 3.

I, however, have not gotten sick of Halo 3. There have been times where I find playing it a bit stale, but I always end up going back to it after a certain period of time or after playing another game and having a blast.

I may come back and post more for you, but I'll wait and see if others post what I believe too (so I don't have to)

Got any friends that have a 360 and halo 3? Play theirs! Also, as always, I say Halo is much more enjoyable with friends that you know...This is probably the reason I haven't gotten sck of the game yet. So if you don't, then I would discourage you further from spending the money solely for Halo 3+360

[CaptainPoopface]

Well, it wouldn't be the only draw. I'm sure I'll like GTA4. Bionic Commando Rearmed for XBLA and the full console version look excellent. Maybe a few other games in XBLA. But H3 is a big draw, possibly the difference between a 360 and PS3.

But yeah, I really like my own zany style of modding, so playing it straight seems prosaic. Unless it's just very well done, Forge is great, and/or the online play has a pretty good standard of play. I know only one guy personally who has a 360, and I don't think he's into shooters. Go figure.

I am interested in people's opinions though.

[kibito87]

Personally I have found that when i'm playing other games, after getting through some stuff in it, or just overall get tired of it for the time being. I always seem to catch myself throwing the ol Halo3 disc in my 360 and blasting a few skulls. I see Halo3 as being my kind of fall back plan when I get bored of other things. It's always there and there is almost always a large number of people online to play with.

In halo3 you don't have to worry so much about glitching and all that. I've come into contact with little or no glitching. I can't remember if there were any but i'm sure some schmuck will stop by here and try to prove me wrong. Either way, it's of little concern. I promise.

It does seem like you are steering away from it but like I said, it's always there for me as a backup that I can enjoy and rarely get sick of. Plus, I understand your friend situation with not liking FPS' but if you meet a few good people online. You will have them to play with and enjoy the game further. For some reason I think you may like the campaign more than the other games.

P.S. Laser FTW. That is all.

[Eaton]

Halo 3 is the best game in my opinion and modding it is only going to make it better. If you have Xbox Live, I think you should get it because it is really fun.

[CabooseJr]

In my opinion, don't get an Xbox 360 just for Halo 3. Get it so that you can play other great games as well, such as GTA4, Mass Effect, Crackdown, and or The Orange Box. But if you get it just for Halo 3, then go ahead.

[unknownv2]

Well, the campaign was extremely overhyped. Not all that fun and of course I got the game for multiplayer because the campaign gets old quick.


Don't worry though. Even if you might get a 360 for Halo 3, you'll end up getting more games.

[ares-erus]

i have halo 3 and COD4 and halo 3 tends to be played the most out of the two not even completed COD4's campaign yet i have unlocked all of halo3's achievments.
that might give you some idea how much playability there is to the game.

[xXxCocoFangxXx]

Get a 360.

[SPARTAN-OMEGA]

Sounds to me you shouldnt be on a halo site

[L0d3x]

I thought the campaign was quite good actually.
Lot's of vehicle sections etc.

[DrXThirst]

I'm seriously considering an Xbox 360, and Halo 3 would be one of the big draws. I have some concerns that it might become boring very quickly though.

- I'm not really into unlocking achievements and special hats and crap. I just want to kill people.

That's what I said too. >_>

- To be honest, the campaigns for H1 and H2 are garbage in my book. The Flood make a very lame bad guy. Bungie is TERRIBLE at designing interior levels and corridors. I hate their style on indoor maps. Same old crap, over and over. Wasn't I just in this room? etc. Really, I just want to kill people. I don't see myself getting too many jollies from online coop either.

Not liking Online CoOp? Psshh. Bullshit. Play it first. It lags ... horribly, the first time you play it. Like, frame lag, and xbox lag, not network lag. But, after you've played it a few times (I'm assuming it builds cache?), it gets much better. Also, the campaign is fkn awesome. I loved Halo 3's campaign. I've beaten it on Legendary over and over and over and over again. It's much, much more enjoyable with 3 of your friends to laugh with, though. The gameplay is amazing with campaign. You have lots of sniper missions, vehicle missions, and only like 1 or 2 flood missions (I hate the flood as well). It's fun. Buy the game.

- If H2 is any indication, there is probably an armada of little gags and cheap tricks that can be mastered after long hours of practice and which put an otherwise skilled player at quite a disadvantage. I am not going to practice BXR and landing precisely on cracks in the BSP after crouching under a special awning - things of that nature. To be repeatedly downed by little tricks like that would sink my Cheerio.

Well, there's already the 1 Hit Flag beatdown (In MLG), and a type of "BXB". However, there's going to be glitches in every game and you have to understand that. No game is perfect, and Bungie did their best to make it where button glitches weren't possible, nor were superbounces. Although, I don't think that there will be many glitches in H3, there's always a place for them...

- I don't like weapons that fire bullets or bullet-like projectiles. My favorite weapons are big guns that lob grenades, rockets, etc., which require aim and work at short and long distances, with a fairly quick response, but consequences for poor aim or indiscretion with ammo. The Spartan laser looks like junk. Not into swords or shotguns. I hate sniper rifles. The missile pod and flamethrower might be decent. What are the common weapon combos you see in online play? For H2: Sniper rifles, swords and shotguns, and plasma pistol + battle rifle probably constituted 95% of the games I saw on Xlink, and they all sucked. Only on rare occasions could I lure people into my rockets, nades and brute shots arena.

From what I've gathered, you don't like ... weapons ... in a First Person Shooter? Um.. uh... ... Well... Rockets, but they're slower and don't lock on. Missile Pod, makes you go slow. Flamethrower, kills people but makes you go slow. Also, online there's not really a common combo that you see people use. BR + Sniper Rifle is getting pretty popular. In Team Slayer, you get 'Shotty Snipers' frequently. Dude... omg. Spartan Laser = 10000x win.

- As if the above isn't indication enough, I'm spoiled rotten by the ability to customize weapons exactly to my liking. I have a feeling I'd be peeved that the rocket reload time is a few frames long, or the rocket speed is too slow, or that the weapons I like have been balanced against weapons I hate and will probably never use, and therefore suck all around. Am I off base here?

Yeah, definitely. Especially if you keep the attitude of something is always going to be wrong. Bungie really did a good job balancing weapons.

- Forge looks fun, but like very watered down modding. People seem to hit those map limits fairly early. Bottom line: Are there new, funny, innovative or otherwise quite satisfying ways to kill people? I'd be hoping the replay value lies here, because I don't see H3 modding becoming feasible for smarter-than-average Joe and his retail 360, ever.

Yes, Forge is amazing. Is so fun to create your own map on a map like Foundry, where you have an empty warehouse to build whatever you want. Mazes, Competitive Maps, Race Tracks, anything. Also, if you count dropping Scorpions on people's heads, then yes, there are new ways to kill people.

- How are the multiplayer maps? Surprise surprise, I like probably fewer than half the stock maps for H2, and far fewer than that on H1. I prefer maps that are suited for 2-6 players, and not too many corridors because the rockets get hectic. I never liked Lockout. Vehicle-based combat might be fun if it's one of the faster vehicles and the map is well suited for it.

Avalanche is great for vehicles and Bungie even skinned them to make them look snowy. I think you'll like The Pit, Construct, Narrows, Guardian, and some of the rest. You'll hate Isolation and Snowbound, just like everyone else. Those maps should've been left out. High Ground isn't the best, but people will play it. Valhalla is pretty fun, but only if you get BR starts or Shotty Snipers. They have an amazing amount of lifts in Halo 3 maps. I think only 1 map has Teleporters on it -- Avalanche. They all have Gravity Lifts, Man Cannons, etc. But it's fun. One of the funnest things is getting a stick up the purple lifts or gold lift on Construct. (Everything goes up a lift now ... including grenades.)

Am I missing anything else? H3 looks much prettier and snazzier than old H2, but I still rock classic games on the NES, from back when graphics sucked and gameplay was the name of the game. I have a vague impression that people have quickly gotten bored with H3, and I see that happening sooner with me than with other players, for all of the above reasons.

Well, the Brute Shot is an explosive weapon (Which you like, right?) and it's used fairly widely now. The shots don't bounce, they just explode. And you get like 6-8 shots instead of 4.

Is it worth it? I really like the Havok engine and the feel of Halo, and that's critical. All I've done is grouse about it, I know, but I think every other shooter I've tried has really sucked, except Goldeneye from way back, and maybe BF2. Is there another game that might suit my fancy, for fairly small multiplayer games and rocket launcher-type weapons?

If you want my dead honest opinion, you're way over worrying yourself. You're denying yourself from any possible fun with the games. Trust me, buying it will be one of your best choices in gaming. I hope I helped you decide.

[Kirk]

360 just for Halo 3? No. 360 for all the other freakin' awesome games out there? Yes.

[[CL]9mm-Man]

I got a 360 about 1 - 2 weeks ago and pretty much all I have done is play it.

I got GTA 4 the same day, after about 2 days I found a good deal on Halo 3 (was gonna get it eventually anyway).

Dont expect it to be the biggest best game ever, it was definitely over hyped, however it is still amazingly fun.

If your like me and only got Halo 1 for the MP side then you will love this. Halo 3 Sp is okay, some levels are tedious as fuck. MP really saves this game.

I'd say yes to getting a 360, make sure you get GTA4, for me Halo 3 and GTA 4 was enough for me to get one, even though its been out like 2 years. 360 has probably the best games, it has alot of them too unlike wii and PS3.

[JK-47]

Halo 3 MP was fun at times. The MP levels really aren't all that cool/fun. I only really played it after Campaign (the reason I got it.. which turned out to be a major letdown) due to the fact that it was my only 360 game at the time. Once I got games like COD4 and GTA4, I stopped playing it all together.
MP: I've had almost nothing but bad experiences and bullshit games whenever I try playing Halo 3 Matchmaking. I get stuck with stupid people who a) don't know what the hell they're doing. b) teamkill me because they think it's hilarious. c) teamkill me because I took 'their gun.
So as it stands, not even multiplayer is worth the buy.
Forge: It's fun for a bit.. but it gets old. There's not much else to say about that.
In a whole, the game gets old fast. I didn't make a very high rank in matchmaking due to the unnecessary frustration it causes.. and the fact that I couldn't sit through it through extensive periods of time like I can other games.

I just stick to Halo 1 and 2. I'll wait it out and let the 'Halo 3 hype' to cool down a bit more until I play it again.

I say buy the 360, but get a different game.

[ScottyGEE]

I disagree with you JK

[JK-47]

I'll kill you.
I've done it before and I'll do it again.

It was fun when I played with HM members, but matchmaking alone sucks.

[antszy101]

I find that even though I only have Halo 3 for the 360 cus I don't have money to buy any others, I play it evenly among the many xbox live demos available. It really adds a great dimension to console gaming to have many different styles available for free...

[Evilsnowflakes]

Get it for all of the sweet games like GTA, Mass Effect, etc. I personally love H3 and continue to play it non stop. The vehicle parts in the campaign are just too much fun and the saved films, forge, and mp increase the replay value through the roof. You can also get it for CoD 4 which to tell you guys the truth, I find is a much more over hyped game than H3, (but thats just me). But I would get it for H3 and all of the other sweet games the 360 has to offer.

Also to DrXThirst about you saying the highground was ok, I find it to be horrible on anything besides one bomb or one flag. Now if its those game types, it is probably one of the best maps ever made, very balanced and a ton of fun, much better than Last Resort or Zanzibar for that matter.

[ScottyGEE]

To put have my opinion thrown in, I never really got what was good about COD4. But so many people go on and on about it so I figure there's gotta be something fun in it.

It allows weapon customisation, so there's a little factor for your modding desires