Halo 3: ODST is a fresh installment in the world of Halo. But the title falls short in some areas.
Gone are the large amounts of shields, the regenerating health, and the feeling of being near unstoppable. ODST introduces a new stamina system and health bar. Take a few shots and your stamina drops, making you vulnerable to damage. A few more shots and Brute Plasma Rifles will burn right through you. This may seem like a flaw, but it does is forces the player to thinking more covertly. In legendary mode, a lot of time is spent hiding in shadows and popping of Grunts with headshots to single out the lone Brute for a desperate charge with your new silenced submachine gun.
Silenced weapons blast their way into this title also. The beloved pistol has reappeared in a silenced format, scope and all. Along its side is the silenced submachine gun, a much more deadly and scopeable version of the Master Cheifs subs.
ODST throws you into the rich environment of New Mombasa as use gorilla tactics to fight the hordes of Covenant baddies and take as many out in your desparate efforts. You will immediately miss Cortana in your efforts, but fortunately, the city has a custodian AI that wil guide you on your efforts by lighting up street signs pointing the way and giving you access to video feeds.
What all this combined provides is a new take on Halo. I started my gameplay on Legendary, so my experience might differ a little from your own, but the tactical and stealth action really tailor to my tastes but there are also times where an all out assault is necessary and create fun moments that you will want to replay over and over again with friends through the co-op mode.
Co-op mode is back and should be funner than ever, allowing you to experience the campaign with friends and creating scenarios where the covenant has no idea where the firing is coming from. Firefight is where the real meat of this game is and where Halo fans will be spending many long hours playing.
In Firefight you are pitted against wave after wave of Covenant enemies, much like the Horde game mode in Gears of War 2. The Covenant will gain skulls as you progress, much like the skulls in Halo 3. For example, one skull makes all grenade weilding uglies chuck plasma like a primate chucks feces.
Where ODST is severely lacking is multiplayer. I was very dispappointed to learn that ODST's multiplayer is a direct port from Halo 3. There is not one difference other than three new maps. That means no ODSTs, no Pistol (QQ), no fall damage, no health bar... Essentially, all the things that we loved in Combat Evolved's multiplayer was not included in this title. In my eyes, this is a slap in the face to the fanbase since Bungie refuses to release a Halo CE 1.5 with Xbox Live capabilities.
Seeing as how this is not a full title and more of an elaborate expansion priced as a full title and that the game differs from other Halos, I would suggest you rent this title before buying, especially with all the great titles coming soon.