Compared to most XBOX games, the best game of all time
Graphics-The textures have a better resolution than Halo 2 and the graphics are still better than most XBOX games, but the single player level design is obviously not done by true artists, so if you are expecting Halo to be a game to be half as surreal as Metroid Prime, look somewhere else. Even though hard work was put into the game, lazyness is apparent since most of the levels are exact duplicates of each other (but with different weather) and the ones that aren't, aren't very well put together either. The single player levels all remind you of catholism.
Sound-There are only about 40 voice-overs. There are only about 15 melee and richochet sounds-combined. This is a problem in single player. And some of the covenant talk english, others don't. Totally inconsitent if you ask me. Lastly the music is inconsistent, some good, some bad, some just too repetitive and most not matching the atmosphere. That is just my opinion, though.
Value-The game is worthy of 30.00, but as I said before the awesomeness is cancelled out by repetition and non-matching music after the Flood is introduced. If you know nothing about this game and have no friends to play it with rent it instead of buying it. You will understand completely what I'm talking about.
Lastly, you are the MasterChief, a cyborg capable of flipping 2,000 kilogram tanks and cars, supposedly has stamina, yet you melee flimsy weapons like a normal person and can do nothing but walk the entire game. However it is game that is definitely worthy of rental.
Multiplayer-This is the reason why this game such a necessity. You will appreciate this greatly when you play such mediocre titles like Delta Force: Black Hawk Down and somewhat better titles like Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike. Blood Gulch is so awesome, it is like the best mapped out multiplayer map of all time, much better than Coagulation in Halo 2.\
Rent this game if you don't have friends to play it with.
Buy this game if you do.