Halo 3 is the third installment, and the most anticipated, of the very popular Halo game series created by Bungie Studios. Halo is currently the hottest game on the Xbox 360, and with the holiday season coming up I would expect it to stay just as hot. If you aren’t familiar with Halo 3 it is a first-person shooting game much like Gears of War, or Counterstrike. Released September 25, 2007, this game is making big waves. Halo 3 is supposedly the last chapter of Microsoft’s most successful series to date.

The Storyline
Halo 3 begins as Master Chief returns to Earth, with the ultimate goal of finishing off the fight that was started long ago. Earth is occupied by the Covenant and almost all its forces were beaten and battered. Cortana, an AI and is Master Chief’s companion, was under the captivity of The Gravemind. Civil war is on the horizon.

Graphics/Cinematics
As far as artistic vision is concerned, Halo 3 is as superior as it’s always been. The graphics and sounds were crafted perfectly and get across the desired effects. The framerate is smooth and I do not recall any slowdowns. The images are sharp and the lighting is exceptional, and generously applied. Needless to say, the game’s special effects are at its best. There are several environments to experience in Halo 3. Your battles take place on snow, desert sand, and under the jungle canopy. You will also do battle inside the buildings and on the open roads. Even the enemies look a better in Halo 3 than it did in the first and second parts, mainly due to the Xbox 360’s superior graphical power. The programmers and the designers have to be commended for the great job they did in creating a game with such strong visual impact.

Weapons
Halo 3 has a good number of new weapons. And there are hordes of items to use as well. An example of a new brute weapon is the Gravity Hammer. The Gravity Hammer was actually shown in Halo 2, but players never had the chance to use it then. This weapon is very large and has the innate ability to wipe out several enemies with a single swipe. Surprising improvements were made to the Energy Sword. However, this weapon is not popular during the single player campaigns. Yet, it is still a good choice in multiplayer mode. One new animation never gets old. When two players are equipped with the energy sword and try to kill each other, the swords will clash stunning the holders for a short time. To be victorious in such battles, practice pressing the melee button with perfect timing.

The Brute Spiker is another notable weapon in Halo 3. It’s a type of mechanical pistol that fires at enemies swiftly and easily. This weapon is so good the player who holds one in both of his hand has higher chances of destroying his opponents with little effort.

But the default weapon, not only in Halo 3 but also in the rest of the series, is the ever-popular battle rifle. This weapon is mostly regarded as the 26th century’s M16. Players should also check the Mauler. This weapon is also best used for up close battles. However, because of its size, this one-handed gun can affect the player’s speed.

Vehicles
Halo 3 wouldn’t be complete without the distinctive Halo vehicles. Experience the ride of your virtual life with the extended vehicle battle sequences in this game, which eventually leads to on-foot action. The Ghost is still the primary craft of choice. The Ghost is a floating vehicle that can accommodate one person at a time. The Brute Prowler is another Halo 3 improvement. It’s a two-person vehicle with turrets to boast about. Generally, all vehicles are fun to use, but you can’t say the same for AI’s. They have yet have to learn how to drive. So if you are trapped in a vehicle with any of them, you’re better off minding the wheel rather than thinking about weapons.

Multiplayer
A stellar addition to the Halo multiplayer gameplay is Forge mode where you get to edit the map. You can easily move, spawn, and remove both items and objects and everything happens in real time. When you push D on the game pad, you pop out of the edit mode and resume your game. Pushing D again puts you back in the edit mode. Discover exciting things as you experiment with the positions of the different objects of the game.

Level of Difficulty
For hardcore Halo gamers, who have played the series since day one, are better off starting their Halo 3 campaign on a higher level of difficulty. Having played Halo for six years, the game’s normal mode would just be a walk in the park for them. Also, the enemy AI isn’t as aggressive on the lower difficulty settings, so intermediate and advanced Halo players may find it too easy and boring.

Overall, Halo 3 is the must have game of 2007 and Bungie Studios lived up to most, if not all, of the fans expectations, making it all worth the wait. On my review scale Halo 3 is a 10/10. On a non-biased review scale the game is a 9 – 9.5/10.