It's a sad day when one of the greatest franchises in gaming history comes to so poor an end.
The game, aesthetically, is very pleasing. Every texture, every character, every sound and explosion has been detailed to an almost obscene amount. But this is not where my anger with HALO 3 lies. It lies - as it does with most games these days - with the story. Or, better put, LACK of story.
Years ago, before Microsoft entered the console business, before Sony crapped up their marketing and back when Sega wasn't owned (or almost owned) by Nintendo, games were based SOLELY on their single-player experience. It was assumed (as I still think it should be) that if a game was no good to a player simply playing on his or her own, the game wouldn't sell. Sadly, nowadays, this is not the case...at least it isn't apparent in this game.
HALO 3 offers virtually NO answers to the questions that plagued me in HALO 2. It also doesn't explain (as Gamespot says it does) why we were left hanging at the end of the previous game.
The story mode took me approximately 3 hours to beat. 3 hours...that's not even an afternoon of game play. The length alone makes this game sub-par. Throw in some inadequate voice acting, a plot that goes EXACTLY where you expect it to (OH NO! ANOTHER HALO! WHAT A FRIGGING' SURPRISE!) and of course, NEVER seeing the master chief's face...this game is a let down.
Now there will be someone out there saying "But Billsco! Try this awesome multi-player! It ownzorz lol."
I have no doubt of it. But what I propose is this. It's all well and good for a game to have a fabulous mutiplayer mode. As a matter of fact, I encourage the idea. But a video game started as, and always will be, a single player experience first and foremost. If your game sucks playing by yourself...what on Earth makes developers think you'll play it online with people? The fact that Halo 3's multiplayer is great should not be the only reason to buy it. There should be a story mode AT LEAST 10 hours long, with numerous locations, not just ANOTHER FRIGGING HALO! There should be answers to questions we've all had from the beginning of the series. There should be a solid, first person experience. And, sadly, it falls short.
So, if you disagree, you're entitled to. I know many people who buy games solely to play them online. But if you're like me, if you spend your hard-earned money on games and want to have a solid, one-player experience. Do yourself a favor...
...Believe...
...Believe in Renting it.