There’s no denying that as a single player campaign, Halo 3 is an amazing game. We’d go as far as to describe it as one of the best gaming experiences you can get on the 360, providing a solid and worthy continuation of the series.
But single player isn’t what many people think of when you mention Halo 3. They think of XBOX Live and the extensive multiplayer experience that the game offers. The game’s online community continues to thrive despite its release in 2007. We take a look at what the game can offer to players who may not have considered the Halo series as an online play option in the past.
Although many players jump right into one of the game’s many competitive modes, the cooperative mode deserves the first mention. Playing with other people to defeat an AI might seem like less fun than fighting real human players on a team, but it’s actually an incredibly rewarding experience. Nothing compares to playing Halo’s excellent campaign with three other friends. The mode relies heavily on you having a good group of people to play with, as teamwork and conversation are some of the most crucial elements in making cooperative play fun.
However, if you can find good players, co-op brings a lot of life to the campaign mode. It might not be as good as playing with your real life friends, but the benefit of having a full screen to yourself, four players instead of two, and virtually no lag makes Xbox Live mode a community experience. For those people who like their co-op to be a bit more competitive, you can even turn on settings that record how good each player is at killing the AI.
For the times when you just want mindless violence, Halo 3 has a plethora of options. The game has as many different modes, maps, and options as some 360 games like Unreal Tournament 3 that are designed solely for online play. The maps from all 11 games revamp some old ground in the form of maps like Valhalla and Last Resort, but add enough interesting twists and updates to be forgiven for recycling them. There are also 9 maps available through the purchase of Halo 3 DLC packs, although these are not free. The latest pack was released on April 9, 2009, and there are no further plans to release more content for the game.
Halo 3 also has the usual game modes associated with first-person shooters, as well as some more unique ones, such as the aptly named “weirdo”, which awards points to the player who can hold onto a skull the longest before dying. . The infection is also interesting: you turn other players into zombies as the remaining ‘alive’ player who chases you, a bit like a game of tag, just with weapons.
Halo 3 can be one of the best experiences of any online console game. The only drawbacks are the game matchmaking service and the abundance of immature and annoying Live users. As you continue to play, you’ll make friends on the service and often find yourself playing only with people you know and enjoy playing with. That way, you can enjoy a more intimate experience and avoid abusive or annoying players.
Community issues aside, Halo 3 is as complete a gaming experience as you’re likely to find this generation, online or offline. Both the game and its downloadable content have dropped in price, so there’s never been a better time to enjoy the Halo series.
