A respectable last installment to the Halo series, and one which will leave you entertained for months. NO SPOILERS
SINGLE PLAYER:
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the campaign mode was within Halo: Reach... the characters seem much more "thought out" compared to the other Halo games, and the story is more enthralling. You wouldn't necessarily "care" if something were to happen to one of your comrades in arms, but you will enjoy having your fellow Spartans in combat with you. It's a refreshing feeling of not being the "lone soldier" in a game, and to know that you can count on a fellow soldier to kill some enemies that you missed. The action within the game seems very well paced and no one section in the campaign seems slow or too "hectic". The developers really took their time in making the campaign enjoyable and it's worth playing again by yourself or with friends.
MULTIPLAYER:
The multiplayer is the main reason I chose to get this game, and for good reason - Halo has always been the "poster child" for Xbox Live (online play). There are so many different game modes that you can choose from, you won't be bored with multiplayer for a LONG time. I've been playing this game like crazy, and have yet to even scratch the surface to all the different game types and game levels to enjoy. Firefight mode is also a great way to have fun with fellow online gamers, and will give players a nice change of pace.
CONTROLS:
Now this is where I have to "critique" Halo: Reach a little... while in time I have gotten more used to the controls, it will take time for any player... you can't just start playing competitively and expect to do well. I'd recommend any new player to go through the campaign at least once, then maybe start with Firefight mode before entering a Big Team Battle or something of that sort... you'll get slaughtered, frustrated, and stop playing. The controls are quite a bit different from Halo 3, so even veteran players won't be used to the controls right away. I also want to note that players of games like Bad Company 2 (like myself) may have trouble with accuracy with precision rifles at first... unlike in Bad Company 2, your aiming reticle continues to move quickly when you zoom in. What I mean is, if you are sniping an enemy in Halo: Reach, you may very well over-exaggerate your aim by mistake due to this increased "zoom" sensitivity. Like I stated earlier, the controls will take time to get used to.
CONCLUSION:
This game is a "must have" for any fan of the Halo series, and also a game which will bring a great deal of fun to any new gamers playing a Halo game for the first time. The campaign is short but sweet and well executed, and the multiplayer is something which will entertain you for months on end. I'd recommend this game to all Xbox owners.