I think if you were to look at ODST as a complete release instead of an expansion you might be a little bit disappointed as the main campaign tends to be a little on the short side and I am sure there are many out there who think that the full price tag means that it’s a full game in its own right. After playing through the campaign I would probably say that the game is a bit pricey, but my opinion changed when I played through all the extras that are contained in the complete package.  

Halo 3: ODST ends up being more than a mere expansion.  It breathes new life into the classic Halo games and adds extra modes, extra maps and modifiers and all totally supported with Forge and Bungie.net.  

First lets start with the main campaign.  In ODST you can forget about filling the boots of a Spartan uber-soldier.  You play as an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) and you couldn’t be more different from a Spartan if you tried.  You are smaller, no genetically enhanced, your armour can’t protect you like the fancy Spartan armour can, you’re not as strong, can’t jump as high and usually have to rely on your squad mates if you want to live to see another day.  Being an ODST is like being a Para-trooper, one step above your average grunt, and one step below the true warrior class.  For my money, it’s the best place to tell a story and the ODST troopers end up charming, funny and quite heartfelt in the end.  Something you can’t always say for games that follow similar themes – Killzone 2 anyone? 

The campaign has two sides to it.  You’ll spend half the time traversing New Mombasa during the night, using stealth to avoid or surprise small packs of Covenant scum and the other half you’ll partake in flashback scenes that tell the story of the disastrous outcome of your squad and their mission.  It’s a story that doesn’t play out over the span of a galaxy, just the span of the city limits, but there is still plenty of epic set pieces and conflicts that somehow took my breath away more than Halo 3 managed to.  There is something warm about it all, the story of a squad trying their hardest to defend humanity against an enemy that is more than capable of Earth’s destruction.  Being a part of that war, even if you are just a small cog in the machine, makes the fighting in ODST somehow more important than the one that Master Chief took part in with Halo 3.  If I had a complaint it would be that it was over all too quickly.

5 stars easy

There is also the appearance of a new Covenant enemy that has only been mentioned in other materials and it was great to see them included here. New weapons that belong to the ODST are excellent, from the pistol and sub-machine gun, both of which can be used to zoom and snipe are heaps of fun and will have you cursing that you couldn’t play with them in other Halo games.  It’s also worth noting that the pistol isn’t exactly the same as the one from the first Halo game, but it’s damn close.  Whenever I got the opportunity I used that gun.  There is also plenty of fan service for those that read the graphic novels and books and you’re going to have a lot of fun unlocking audio files and finding a few Easter eggs along the way.  

Bottom-line when it comes to the campaign, it’s good while it lasts…actually it’s more than good, it’s great.  

ODST offers more than just a small campaign.  As you would expect there is plenty of Xbox Live support and the multiplayer is just as good as you probably remember.  Actually, with the inclusion of Firefight, it’s better.  Firefight is a mode that is similar to what you would find in Left 4 Dead or the Horde mode in Gears of War 2, but if you ask me I think it’s about ten times more fun due to the very nature of Halo’s gameplay mechanics.   You can play with a friend of course, or you can just practice your skills alone, although for both I seriously suggest ramping up the difficulty level to maximum.  The chaos that this game will spew at you is just so much fun to fight against and you and your friends are going to have a laugh or two, especially when you watch the replays.  Firefight almost makes ODST worth the full price tag it is seriously that much fun.

Maximum Pew = maximum pwnz

All the maps ever released on Halo 3 are found here as well as extra ones specifically created for this release bring the total up to 24 maps overall.  I know there are those that have fatigue with the Halo MP but it’s one of those things that just sucks you in time and time again until you finally say ENOUGH! And then sure enough a few months later you’re back playing it again.  It’s addictive, it’s still some of the smoothest matchmaking you’ll see on XBL, and there is always a match going on somewhere for both casual and hardcore players alike.  I really can’t say anything that you probably don’t already know except that this is the most complete package of the Halo 3 MP experience released.   

Another major reason why you’ll want to get ODST is that the Multiplayer Beta for the upcoming Halo Reach game will be made available to those that own a copy of ODST, similar to what was offered with Crackdown.  It’s been revealed that the Beta will be going up very soon so it will be very interesting to see how it differs from the experience we’re used to thus far.   

This is what it looks like on Legendary...expect to lose.

So that’s the entire package.  If you think the package is good enough to pay top dollar for than you’re not going to be disappointed by what ODST offers. Those that are only casual Halo players might wanna see if they can track down a cheaper copy or wait until it comes down in price.  Personally I bought this game on Day 1, I just lurves me some Halo and ODST didn’t disappoint.  With the new modes, MP options and excellent story, ODST filled the Halo void I’ve been craving for some time now.  Now we just got to be a little bit more patient before we can sink our teeth into the Halo Reach beta!