A great game but basically exactly what you expected. A highly polished Halo experience. Nothing more, nothing less
Graphics = 9/10 - Amazing to behold and looks extra special in HD. Very minor glitches which do not spoil the flow of the game. Loading times are fast with excellent cut scenes. So much details that most of the time you will miss it in between rapid fire moments.
Story = 9/10 - Epic in scale with some real emotive moments. We always knew the ending but the path taken in this game is great. After about the halfway point it does become a little predictable but if you love Halo you will love to see it all played out.
Gameplay = 8/10 - As mentioned its more of the same Halo. Shoot, toss grenades, evade, melee and shoot some more. Some new elements in this game mean that the franchise is safe yet again. New vehicles and weapons keep fans coming back for more (Love the DMR) The new space flight element is great and adds a little relief to the constant flow of covenant forces.
Campaign = 8/10 – A great effort by the writers as there is just enough of the old to make the fans remember but just enough of the new to make new fans engage. It's classic Halo at its best. Loads of thrilling moments with a real sense of desperation and in some cases loss. It does remind me of how I first felt with Combat Evolved.
Multi player = 9.5/10 – Simply excellent. All of the elements are there for the part time multi player as well as the hardcore fans. The unique matchmaking element means that you always get to play with people who are around your skill set rather than death, death and more death all the time. The customisable characters make this a very personal game which you want to invest time and effort in.
Re-play value = Most players will play the campaign through and then move on to multiplayer for their kicks. For the fans among us we will replay the campaign until we have all of the data pads on all difficulty settings (which could take a while) the multiplayer will keep most gamers occupied for years racking up experience and updates to armour. In its most basic form it's just a great laugh kicking some butt with friends.
Overall = 9.5/10 – Another great addition to the Halo universe and all without the Chief. I really bought into the drama of this game and wanted to be part of Noble team. The title is a highly crafted game from one of the leading studios. It's a true gamer's game and one that needs to be part of your collection.