Daily Joystick: Halo 3: ODST Review

Scott from Daily Joystick writes: "I needn't give the typically pre-requisite introduction paragraph to the game, or the developer...or the title font as everyone and their Hamster knows Halo. You may not like the game-play style but one must admire the sheer success of a game that was destined to come out on the Mac initially – of all things. So here we are with the 4th instalment of the strictly Halo canon and to the surprise of many, we actually have some alteration of the chuck grenade, shoot, whack-on-bonce gameplay style that has been core to the Halo experience for the eternity that it's been with us."

[DAVID BRENT]

..

[Ausbo]

that the xbox and ps3 fanboys are making sites so they can review odst and give either a high or a low score

[wxer]

so if a blog or an un known site
gives this game a low score
every one just starts to talk sh!t about the site
+ they report it
but if a blog or an un known site gives this game a good score then its okay

hypocrisy ?

[_vx]

will see when IGN and Gamespot drop their reviews

[Double Toasted]

I agree with you. I can't deny Halo's legacy and it is a great game, but I prefer Gears...

[Saaking]

never heard of this site.ANd why give overpriced dlc a 9.5/10.

[PS3 Eternal 3rd]

Sony fans are so worried about Halo ODST, all their wild predictions that it would be horrible are false, will be false, so their crying like babies. XD

Lets wait for IGN and others.

[lokiroo420]

Read ODST reviews, then read an Among Thieves review, try and tell me they deserve similar scores, than wait for me to finish laughing.

[DMason]

Why are you even comparing the two? This is a HALO review. This isn't "Lets see who has the bigger penis by comparing review scores" thread. Grow up. This game can stand alone on it's own merit. I don't see any xbox fanboys in the Uncharted 2 review threads, so please troll somewhere else.

[PS3Freak]

This game comes on 2 discs!
One for campaign and one for multiplayer!
Wow... a shooter on two discs.

[lokiroo420]

Why am i comparing the two, hum, lets see, a rating system is used to compare quality between titles, saying the quality of ODST is equal or even close to U2 is just laughable, and yh no trolls ever in an uncharted story. Question, are you touched in the head?

[sonarus]

I have heard of this site don't know or care if they are on metacritic by the way. But you fanboys have to chill with your metacritic wars its lame and stupid

[360FTW2]

Man open your eyes, you are starting to see things as black or white, off or on, hot or cold. Which is a dangerous fanboy way of thinking.

I have played some classic games that look like crap that I would give a 10 review score. Have you ever heard of a game called M.U.L.E this game has given me years of fun I loved it.

There are so many games out there that don't compare to Uncharted 2 yet they deserve great scores. At the rate you are going, GOW3, GT5, and other games will deserve lower scores if they are not as nicely put together as Uncharted 2, great graphics isn't the only thing that determines a winner.

Chill out.

Edit:

@ps3freak18

"A FPS on 2 discs can never be considered anything close to perfect. Have fun switching the disc when you want to play multiplayer. "

First off "DUMB" that's how I describe your comment, have two disc has not correlation to the quality of the materials the discs contain.

I see nothing wrong with switching discs when I want to play multiplayer as I see no problem switching discs when I want to play a different game. You must weigh 400 pounds being you're too lazy to get off your A$$ and swap a disc.

[Voice_of_Reason]

Bubbles for bringing up M.U.L.E. I loved that game. would like a new DL one to come out

[SaberEdge]

ODST is going to rock. I can't wait.

[Fire4444]

Yeah, it has a 2nd disc for multiplayer, but that disc contains Halo 3's multiplayer + all of the map packs.

[DMason]

Touched in the head? Not quite. But you might be, seeing as you're making comparisons about 2 games that you HAVENT EVEN PLAYED YET. Quit your whining, and stop being such a blatant fanboy.

[Poopface the 2nd]

There are a bunch of new gaming sites and blogs popping up every day. As far as metacritic goes, they only include reviews from certain sites. They dont pick and chooses reviews, they just include any reviews from the sites on their list. You can look at the list and see who they include. There have been alot of reviews of this game so far that are not sites that metacritic uses, both good and bad ones.

Seems like alot of people who will never play this game are really worked up about any review this game gets.

The only true way to see the worth of a game is to play it yourself. no one has the same tastes or expectations.

[Jake1111]

I have both systems... There is no way that Halo and UC2 should be rated both 9.5... Halo is just another knockoff of the same old thing we have seen over and over int he series..

Mind you, I was in shock when I played the first Halo on the original Xbox and actually had a jaw drop when I landed on the beach and faught along the beach.

But now... So much has changed. drakes 1 hasnt (IMO) been challenged by anything the 360 has to offer and the point is, Drakes 2 is much better than drakes 1. So how can anything on the 360 compete?

I havent played my 360 in months.. I really hope Natal makes me want to jump back on the 360 bandwagon again...

Until then, it is PS3 exclusives all the way.. :)

Jake

[KeenanTheSavage]

I'm with you dude. I'm trying to talk sh!t about other sites or anything, but I mean I really think that it's a whole trying to get popular fast thing because it's like when a hugely popular game comes out like ODST or Uncharted 2, the reviews of it are going to be the hottest thing on this site for a couple of days and I sincerely doubt that this site got a review copy.

But what do I know?

[Peter North]

I have never heard of this website in my life.

[The-Warranty]

Me neither.

[General Jewels]

PS3 Owned Again?

[El Botto]

Have fun playing your overprices Underwhelmo 3: ODST.

Haha betabox only good for playing 4 year old games.

[eagle2401]

Check out the Eurogamer review. These guys are such no life fanboys, THEY COMMENTED FOR BIAS REVIEWS ON BOTH REVIEWS! HAHA LMFAO!

[ShadowCK]

So what if you've not heard of it? It's still a very good review.

I guess people like you Peter fear change.

[Model]

Written by Scott Saturday...lol

[54percent]

Some bot create it to redeem and justify his $60 on this garbage

[Peter North]

When was this website established, was it before or after Microsoft mailed the Halo 3 checks and $2,000 giftbags

[Scotracer]

I wish, I could really do with the money ;)

[UNCyrus]

It's it weird that bots and celebrating their HIGHEST review score so far of a 9.5??? Is it just me, or isn't that the LOWEST score that UC2 has received so far?

[Halo_Reach]

Making Sony droids crying since 2001

[FiftyFourPointTwo]

lolwut

[iDystopia]

poor last place Droids.

[ULTIMATE_REVENGE]

Direct quote:

" The Halo 3 engine is showing its age, graphically. The game, frankly, is kind of ugly. A fair bit of aliasing, lower-res textures than Halo 3 (that I’ve seen anyway) give the feeling of a game left behind in the GPU arms race. "

In all Honesty this game should have gotten a 7.5/10

If IGN gave Uncharted 2 a 9.5 then this game should be getting a significantly lower rating

[MGOelite]

" The Halo 3 engine is showing its age, graphically. The game, frankly, is kind of ugly. A fair bit of aliasing, lower-res textures than Halo 3 (that I’ve seen anyway) give the feeling of a game left behind in the GPU arms race. It’s not a big deal as it looks like a Halo game should but I will hedge a bet that I’m not the only one waiting for the new Halo: Reach engine to show its face."

yet it got 9.5? man this game is so riding on its "halo" name

[Scotracer]

The graphics don't distract from the game. Yeah it would be nice for it to have some more effects but it's not a negative...it's just not a plus for the game. I would rate a game down if it had frame-rate problems or screen-tearing but ODST doesn't, it just isn't that pretty.

[MGOelite]

well haze got absoultly raped by reviews because it wasnt that pretty, that had no frame rate problems either... its 1 rule for 1 game and a different rule for another.

[Chubear]

^^ Exactly! If IGN gave a game like Haze a 4.5 then this game, being over a year later and showing similar or about the same stuff, should get a 4.5 too.

If you use the same standards to rate these games then there's not frikgen way halo3: ODST gets more than a 6 rating while Haze gets a 4. They have similar graphics, similar pacing, similar online structures and gameplay. Atleast Haze was a new IP... what's OSDT's excuse?

Any reviewer that gave Haze a 4 or 5 and give ODST a rating above 6 is completely FULL OF DOODOO and is simply riding on the halo name. This is to show you editorial reviews mean jack s*. If you actually listen to these gaming sites for your gaming then you're a dummy cause it's simply business to these guys.

[patterson]

MGOelite you da man.

You make very good points. This review is basically saying, "well because it's Halo it automatically gets a +2".

Gimme a f@cking break.

[maverick1191]

completely agree mate, if this game is basically showing the same graphics and animations and gameplay as halo 3 then why is it worth £60?

if you buy it you're a dumbass or you've got to much money in your bank it just goes to show its living off its name same game as halo 3 but put a new name after halo and re sell it tut i can see alot of people being dissapointed with it same as halo wars people didn't even know what it was about but bought it and took it back because it was a RTS shows its living off the name

[MetalGearRising]

I wish Uncharted was as popular as Halo Sony should buy Bungie.

[Chubear]

They don't have to. Bungie is right now working on a game that'll be on the PS3. Oh how the 360fans will mope like wet dogs when this game is announced.

[MajorJackHoff]

lol.

I'm sure ODST is real neat and all.

But let's not make false reviews just because Uncharted 2 is going to kick the livingshit out of it.

[Major_Tom]

Tit for tat with the no-name sites.

[mrv321]

SO this game is close to perfect? I'll believe it when I don't see the words Halo 3 multiplayer(which you own)+ a 6 hour singleplayer for $60.

[Pizzagaki]

Yes, the gameplay and story are that good, that what Halo is known for.
Besides, the gfx are not asbad as people try to make it out to be.
In motion halo has been pretty nice to look at.

[vecha]

There is no "perfect game".

Haven't you come to realize if a game gets over 9/10 it means "there are a crap ton of people who love this game!"?

[PS3Freak]

A FPS on 2 discs can never be considered anything close to perfect. Have fun switching the disc when you want to play mulitplayer.

[DevastationEve]

FEAR on the PC was 4 CDs long (or 1 DVD)...and recieved amazing accolades.

The number of discs doesn't have any impact on how great the game is. FF7 has 3 discs, Resident Evil 2 had 2, Metal Gear Solid had 2, GT had 2...many games on PlayStation had multiple discs. I don't see how changing a disc can really be such a mind rape to you PS3 fans :\

[Jamegohanssj5]

ApocaPS3 this is a whole new gen that is why people hate the disk swapping.

TGSI

[Greywulf]

People pretending that swapping discs is ok because we did it 10 years ago is fine = living in denial.

Why is a MORE SPACE HDD a selling point then? From Ipods to PS3's and 360s. More space is better in every single facet of the electronics industry...

except in 360 owners minds.

[lordkemp007]

"We at daily joystick would like to take this opportunity to thank microsoft for the free laptops and goody bags. This game is a graphical masterpiece that pushes boundaries. With its short single player campaign and dated engine, it is a game like no other.

Microsoft you are not kidding me with your bs.

Its sad that the games industry nowadays is such a huge multi billion industry that is now tainted with microsofts deceit.

[JonnyBadfinger]

got an issue?

here's a tissue.

[GameOn]

Jonny "The Poet" Badfinger.

[mistajeff]

Having played this myself (my friend has a flashed 360), I honestly have no idea why it's getting such high scores. Halo has never been in line with my personal tastes, but my friend has always been a huge Halo fan and even he says it's useless.

But, as we all know, reviews are simply glorified opinions, so to each their own.

[STICKzophrenic]

I seriously doubt you even have a friend.

[mistajeff]

Thanks.

Seriously, why do you have to stoop to personal insults? This is why this site gets such a bad rap. I'll admit my comment was a little tasteless, personally I don't like Halo though I've played all of them but Halo Wars and I DO understand why people like the series, and I'm sorry for implying that everyone else should share my opinion. But jesus, cmon.

[STICKzophrenic]

Sorry about that.

It just felt like your comment reeked of bias...saying your friend said it was "useless." I just find it hard to believe that someone who has always been a huge halo fan (your words) would call it useless.

I don't know, it felt like you were slamming the game for no reason, and saying a friend said it making it justified.

[mistajeff]

Thanks for the apology.

Admittedly, it WAS a little biased. Like I said, I made a tasteless comment. To be perfectly honest, I was being misleading: what he referred to as "useless" was the campaign itself, and I'll admit that we both had fun playing firefight.

Lessons learned, hugs all around.

edit: Though I have to say, coming from him, I thought it was really weird that he disliked the campaign so much. I wasn't into it either way, but I would've expected him to love it. I feel like most Halo fans wouldn't find it as "useless" as he did.. maybe he just wanted more Master Chief?

[STICKzophrenic]

No problem man.

I played a little bit of Firefight at the ODST Mobile Tour that came through here and the 20 minutes I was able to play was awesome.

Personally, I think the ODST campaign looks like it'll be awesome. Everyone has their own tastes though, and I can accept people not liking it. I just don't like complete and total bias towards something with no real reason.

[GameOn]

Why does every one say this is a full-priced game when here in the UK it's £10 cheaper than other new releases. What's the dealeo.

[only on playstaychun]

Yes it is cheaper, and there are other many new releases just as cheap. Uncharted, PES10, Ratchet... just to name a few. The RRP is cheaper though, £40 as opposed to £50.

[GameOn]

Well on Amazon ODST is £29.96 and Uncharted 2 is £37.96. So basically ODST is cheaper than other new releases and I don't know what you and others are on about. £29.96 IS cheaper than other new releases.

Just thinking about it, that is much better value the I originally thought before you made me look into it.

[PS3Freak]

It's the same price as everything else in North America.

[PS3Freak]

So apparently its not the same price in North America? I'm sorry but i work at a retail store and i happen to see the price that it is coming out at. Stop spazzing on the disagree button when you don't know what you are talking about.

[Tee7soo]

bs

[Odin777]

I thought this was a different site...but I was mistaken. I've never seen this site before, not to say the game doesn't deserve the score, but I'll wait until Gamespot and IGN give out reviews before I consider buying the game for $60.

[MajestieBeast]

Lol yeah right a 9 even shane satterfield(gametrailers) doesnt think its worth the price tag like he said on invisisble walls this is the guy that gave halo 3 a 9.8 it has firefight thats it and a 6 hour campaign and your telling me activision is ripping off gamers.

[Brionkendo]

and while were at it! Lets all bend over and kiss the mighty a** of Microsoft!!

[NecrumSlavery]

Graphics suck but hey it's got all the maps you halo fanboys already have. No MP since it still milks a 3yr old game. It's short but it's halo so um 9.5....

All the money M$ has to buy reviews you'd think they can actually make a good looking game...

[MajestieBeast]

Scott you are a example why gaming journalism is going down the crapper how was that 2000 dollar gift bag you got from ms.

[ElementX]

To be fair there were all sorts of unknown websites with reviews on here when Arkham Asylum was released, not to mention Killzone 2, soon Uncharted 2. I wait for Gamespot, Eurogamer, and IGN. I also look at metacritic for a quick overview. Quit saying "I've never heard of this site". Just look at any big name game out there and you'll find tons of "nobody" sites with reviews on here.

[Double Toasted]

I'm so used to using the top 25 list of video game websites that I just look at all others as homemade blogs, its silly I know, but can't I help it.

[bjornbear]

Oh sorry forgot to mention, i'm just quoting the xbox fanboys =)

[tehk1w1]

ALL OFFICIAL REVIEWS ARE EMBARGOED UNTIL 9 PM PDT

If anyone posts it before, it's either a fake review, they got a copy from Newegg and are willing to piss off Microsoft, or they're willing to burn bridges with their PR contact with Microsoft by posting it early for a few extra hits.

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

Websites are already preparing to raise their scores in order to raise their metascore. The "professional" websites are certainly bought by Microsoft directly, but the no-name fanboy websites simply want to see Microsoft do good (for whatever silly reason they may have)

[n to the b]

Zuper, could u at least give us the logic behind your ridiculous conspiracy theory (since we already know u have no proof)?

EDIT: more specifically, wtf do u mean by '...but the no-name fanboy websites simply want to see Microsoft do good (for whatever silly reason they may have)'??

[XBLGT B1GMACNFR1ES]

they just simply dont want gamees to do well

[PimpHandHappy]

a website with a N4G contributor at the helm.... i see scotty wrote this and scotty is also the user posting it on N4G

There is a embargo on reviews and anything that comes b4 it are fanboys with there fanboy sites trying to get hits! Its that simple

Even if im not buying a 360 for this game or EVER i will just wait to see what a few established websites have to say b4 i say its a TOTAL CASH IN
Gameinformer
IGN
Gamespot
maybe 1up
and very few others

@ N to the B
unless you didnt know there is this thing called a embargo and if you havent noticed "FANBOYS" need something to fight the Uncharted 2 reviews and are waiting BY THE MIN for this embargo to lift! Halo is a huge name for these fanboys and they want to read anything they can about it! Do you think if this was 2 weeks after all the established websites gave out the reivews this site would get any hits at all? I doubt it
btw i have been looking at this site for a VERY long time... (look at my score).... The 1st year and a half of the PS3 life cycle this site was ALLLLLLL 360 xbots and its just in the last year, not even, they have disappeared

[n to the b]

well if scotty is fishing for hits, wouldn't it have benefited him more to score this game LOW? or are u going to try and argue there are more 360 fans than sonyfans on n4g (yeah right)??

[CreepyB]

hmmm... i think this reviewer has been sniffing to much glue.

[ps12&3lover]

THIS SITE IS JUST AS UNPOPULAR AS THE ONES THAT GAVE IT A BAD SCORE BUT I BET THE FANGIRLS WILL JUMP AND FOR THIS ONE LOL..IM OUT 1

[PS3Freak]

You know that the Xbox is a failure when you can't fit a shooter on one disc. The campaign and multiplayer are on seperate discs, how pathetic.

[TROLL EATER]

great reviews for ODST

[Mc187]

Can someone look up my most awful fanboy moment and post it for me. I really could use a good laugh today.

Giving bubbles for response.

Oh yeah , Go Halo woo hoo !

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

Wow almost everybody that is commenting on here is a trolling sony fanboy. Good job mods. :/

[bjornbear]

its n4g, if it were otherwise it'd simply be full of 360 fanboys..I don't see your point =P

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

Comment#2

Hypocrite much? ;)

(just happened to be there atm =))

[BoneMagnus]

this article was written by a fanboy, and I question its credibility.

[dinsurya]

didnt even finish half the game... he said so himself in thr article.
seriously now, how can some1 who didnt finish half the game give it 9.5 ?! pure bias.

[air1]

drake who??

drake what???

[likedamaster]

Drake's Treasure...

Uncharted Territories...

Something like that.

[air1]

what about a treasure? where!?

[Obama]

UC2 raped ODST in reviews. Nice try :)

[pwnsause]

try harder air 1 LMAO HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA.

[PS3fanboy1100]

if they reviewed the game a 9 or 9.5/10. These are just two out of a dozen reviewers out there. Im sure the game will recieve its disappointing reviews on in the future.

[danielle007]

I'll trust IGN's review more.. I usually end up agreeing with the ones that they think are good. Sometimes they're a little harsh, but meh.

Either way, this game is a must buy. Same reason people bought crackdown in the first place. BETABETABETABETABETA. :) I'm excited.

[Majinzo]

what a surprise... someone i know will buy this. i'll just try it out at his place cause im not buy anything with halo anymore.