[Official] Halo 3: ODST

[coresx]

I'd rather not squint to read them. Need higher res ones.

Alas, some of the juicy details.

Halo 3 Recon goes open-world

First details: Explore New Mombasa and relive the fate of your teammates in Bungie add-on

The first details on Bungie's ambitious Halo 3 expansion Recon have finally emerged, detailing new equipment, more human characters and surprisingly, an open-world city.

Revealed in the latest issue of US magazine Game Informer, players take control of The Rookie, a faceless, voiceless Orbital Drock Shock Trooper part of a five-man team rocketed into Ground Zero of Earth city New Mombasa, during the events of Halo 2.

On the ground you've got new equipment, such as a PDA to set waypoints on a wireframe map, and you're left to explore the city in an order that you wish.

"The reason we chose the ODST is it's absolutely a character that we've had ideas about how to develop and put more front a center in the Halo games," Bungie creative director, Joseph Staten explains to GI.

The goal is to find and investigate the last known locations of your four ODST team mates, using the new 'Visual Mode', which as shown in the debut trailer highlights enemies an items with a hi-tech neon glow, to path your way though the moon-clad metropolis.

Once you reach one of the last-known waypoints of your four teammates you'll find a crime scene - such as a sniper rifle hanging from a street light - and enter a Lost-stlye flashback to earlier that day, where you'll control the squad member for an entire level.

Through the 30 minute flashback, which is said to play more like a traditional, linear Halo level, you'll discover the fate your teammate and unravel the mystery of what went on in New Mombasa.

"This isn't a crazy dream sequence or metaphorical journey that the object allows you to do.

"It works just like any detective show, Cold Case or Law and Order or whatever, where a detective can arrive at a crime scene, look at the chalk drawings and bullet holes and see what's going on. He hears some echoey voices and the camera crossfades and now you're at the scene of the crime two hours ago."

Squadies you'll be controlling include Dutch, "a big guy," who carries heavy weapons to take on vehicles, and Romeo, a sniper who's "kind of a dick".

Nathan Fillion of Firefly, who played a random ODST in Halo 3, is signed up the play one of the squad members. "So if you like the voice cast in Halo 3, we've elevated some of them to a cinematic level".

"In Halo games you've been the Chief for a thousand years and the Arbiter for a little bit of time too. It's a really nice feeling to jump into somebody else's boots for a while," says Staten.

But while you're character gains new toys like the PDA, Visual Mode and a silenced SMG, the puny non-super soldier loses the Chief's shields (but not the ability to regenerate health), motion tracker and ability to dual-wield weapons. The ODSTs are also shorter and slower.

This makes for some scarier and more interesting encounters, says Bungie. In the mag the developer gives the example of Master Chief going up against a Brute Chieftain with a hammer. As Chief you're faster than the Brute, can jump over his head and see where he is with your motion Tracker. As an ODST it's bit trickier; the Brute is bigger, closer and as fast as you, so if you turn around and run you know he's going to catch you, and you don't know exactly where he is.

"You don't feel like a chump. You feel like a very Capable ODST marine, but it's a different feeling," says Staten.

All of sudden this "straight forward" expansion sounds a whole lot more attractive. It's due for the end of next year.

In other Halo news, look out for our massive Halo Wars preview landing this afternoon.

Sounds good. Looking forward to a Brute encounter. Nice idea with the flashbacks and I guess with the character being a no name, jumping to and fro won't matter.

Edited November 17, 2008 by WooHoo!!!

[spenser.d]

Sounds good. Can't wait for this :D

-Spenser

[Emn1ty]

Thank you Bungie for realizing what made your games great. I know everyone in here hates invisible barriers in the two games succeeding Halo: Combat Evolved. I am glad Bungie answered that hatred by giving us what appears to be a free-roam FPS game, where we can explore to our hearts content.

I am also liking the gameplay changes such as lack of dual wielding as well as the characters other physical deficiencies compared to the Chief. It puts it into perspective just how much easier it is to be a Spartan. I also am looking forward to the flashback mechanic, will be fun :).

[Ayepecks]

I'm looking forward to that, too. When you play as Master Chief you really don't feel intimidated by ANYTHING in the game. I really hope this gives more of sense of scale to the game and what should scare you really does. In other games, when you see one of the hardest guys to kill you say "Oh crap, RUN!" (such as Grinders in Gears of War 2). In Halo, it's just "oh, I've got this."

Kudos to them for making some much-needed changes to vary the pace (Y)

[magik]

I'm looking forward to that, too. When you play as Master Chief you really don't feel intimidated by ANYTHING in the game. I really hope this gives more of sense of scale to the game and what should scare you really does. In other games, when you see one of the hardest guys to kill you say "Oh crap, RUN!" (such as Grinders in Gears of War 2). In Halo, it's just "oh, I've got this."

Kudos to them for making some much-needed changes to vary the pace (Y)

True, but I love that feeling!!

While I agree it's also very fun to see a huge opponent and actually feel a sense of fear and intimidation, it's also just as fun to feel like you can overcome anything. They both have their place in gaming and I'm glad Bungie has mastered one (imo) and is about to attempt the other. :)

[Sethos]

Open-world? Brilliant! (Y)

[ludeboy12]

Man i'm really starting to get excited about this game now. Can't wait for it to come out.

[Ayepecks]

Name is now officially Halo 3: ODST. A mod can change the title.

http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?ty...s&cid=16289

New name is pretty crappy for a title, IMO. I mean, I know what ODST is, but it's not a good title in my mind.

[PL_ Veteran]

ODST sucks :/

[magik]

Yea, I personally liked Halo 3: Recon better. ;)

[Revolution.]

as long as their graphics native resolution atleast 720p then im happy, i wasnt satsified as much with there graphics for halo 3.

i hope they do a good job, and of course, i will buy it!

:)

[Smigit]

Recon was wayyy better. ODST probably means nothing to anyone not invested in the series to a large degree. Sure Reacon's meaning would have been lost but at least it stands alone as a decent title too rather than a bunch of seemingly random letters.

[Guest]

*NSFW* They might have changed it because recon.com is already taken.

[magik]

I think they changed it because "Recon" gave the impression of a stealth-type game, which it is most certainly not.

[spenser.d]

as long as their graphics native resolution atleast 720p then im happy, i wasnt satsified as much with there graphics for halo 3.

i hope they do a good job, and of course, i will buy it!

:)

It's using the exact same engine as Halo 3. It'll render in '640p' (which you can't tell the difference from 720p) and it's going to look pretty much the same, but darker. They'll probably smooth things out and such, but I wouldn't expect too big of a leap as far as overall look goes.

-Spenser

[Ayepecks]

Just IMO, but I think you can see a difference whenever they use pixel stretching because it's a bit blurry, but nothing anyone can't handle (Y)

[rajputwarrior]

damnit.. i checked out recon.com...

[XiXora]

You'd think they've had enough time to work out any issues with performance and manage to squeeze 720p out of it :p

[Smashing Pumpkin]

I think they changed it because "Recon" gave the impression of a stealth-type game, which it is most certainly not.

It certainly seems a lot stealthier than Halo 3.

With the night vision or whatever it is called, and the silenced weaponry, and the investigative qualities.

Obviously it won't be uber stealth, but Recon was a much better title. ODST is just not as cool or anything.

[NoLiMiT06]

Depending on the price I may pick this up, I am just Haloed out right now... :)

[DR3AMxCATCHER]

I have come to conclusion that I will be getting this even though much is not exactly known about it. Fall 2009 seems to be right.

Also, Halo 3: Recon was the best.

[Sethos]

I have come to conclusion that I will be getting this even though much is not exactly known about it.

You would probably get the game under any circumstance :p

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I'm not quite sold on the game yet until I see more. I'm sure it'll be great, but with Chief missing I just want to be sure before placing a preorder.

[DR3AMxCATCHER]

You would probably get the game under any circumstance :p

You know me so well. Well I've been revived with the Halo series recently. It's really fun again. I'm actually thinking about making a short no scope montage of what I've done since December 14th just need to get the files and a program to do some video editing. It will probably be about a minute long and not very good as it will be my first I've ever done so it's all good though.

[Ayepecks]

I'm almost sure I'll get this game... sounds interesting and unique :)