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[The Elite]

Anybody find IWHBYD yet?

If Tyson's tease was any indication, I'm guessing it's a big fat no, but I figured I'd ask.

Someone said they did a couple of pages ago. Didn't know what the hell it did and it didn't seem to unlock anything.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Did anyone notice the nod to the first chapter of "Fall of Reach" in the opening cut scene.

Spoiler

Cortana mentioning John's "luck" factor is exactly what Dr. Halsley was testing for with the coin toss in the first chapter.

That was actually my favorite part of the opening cinematic and completely unrelatedly I started reading the book the next day and was like "OH!" Really cool. The book, by way, gives you much larger appreciation for the Chief, for those who haven't read it. Now I feel bad whenever I get blown up.

 

[StrikerObi]

I tore up a round of Hammerzeit (best custom game name of them all IMO) on Narrows earlier today on my lunch break. That mode is awesome. Two guys dropped out right away, but the other four of us stuck around (and the other 3 guys got their asses handed to them, I won by 9 points and we only played until 15). Anyway, while I was playing it I thought up what might be a sort of insane/fun custom match. All Hammers and a ton of Bubble Shields. I got the idea when I dropped a bubble shield during the match and though "Welcome to Thunderdome. Two man enter, one man leave."

 

[The Elite]

That was actually my favorite part of the opening cinematic and completely unrelatedly I started reading the book the next day and was like "OH!" Really cool. The book, by way, gives you much larger appreciation for the Chief, for those who haven't read it. Now I feel bad whenever I get blown up.

Make sure to read Ghosts of Onyx too. Hell, you might as well read First Strike while your at it but Ghosts and Fall are my two favorites.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Anybody find IWHBYD yet?

If Tyson's tease was any indication, I'm guessing it's a big fat no, but I figured I'd ask.

Dude I just checked out your Service Record. DAMN you've been keeping busy. Good lord.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Make sure to read Ghosts of Onyx too. Hell, you might as well read First Strike while your at it but Ghosts and Fall are my two favorites.

Yeah the third book is next, then Ghosts. Popular opinion is that the second is atrocious.

 

[Chiggs]

The multiplayer is fucked? W-w-what? It is the best multiplayer-experience on any console so far, bar none. I am having a *ton* of fun online!

Agreed. Sometimes I read posts on this forum and I start to wonder if the pod people have arrived. Then again, they probably think that about you and I.

Halo 3, to me, has been one of the best console gaming experiences I've ever had.

 

[StoOgE]

Someone should compile a list of awesome gameplay types that I should be downloaded (and if you have a link to the shared file on bungie.net would be awesome).

 

[Lakitu]

The Halo (1) references I noticed:

Spoiler

The corridors in "Cortana" were the exact ones from The Truth and Reconcilation.

Spoiler

Bit of an obvious one, but the whole last mission is based on the control room from the first Halo. Was so good facing off with 343 Guilty Spark in the control room.

Anyone notice any others?

 

[SketchTheArtist]

That was actually my favorite part of the opening cinematic and completely unrelatedly I started reading the book the next day and was like "OH!" Really cool. The book, by way, gives you much larger appreciation for the Chief, for those who haven't read it. Now I feel bad whenever I get blown up.

She actually says during one of her viral interuptions: "It was the coin's fault! I just wanted to make you stronger!" which I thought was beyond awesome.

 

[The Elite]

Yeah the third book is next, then Ghosts. Popular opinion is that the second is atrocious.

The Flood is just Halo in novel form and it isn't a great read.

 

[StrikerObi]

Someone should compile a list of awesome gameplay types that I should be downloaded (and if you have a link to the shared file on bungie.net would be awesome).

I want to try that Baseball mode Luke was talking about in a news update on Bungie.net recently.

 

[The Elite]

She actually says during one of her viral interuptions: "It was the coin's fault! I just wanted to make you stronger!" which I thought was beyond awesome.

I didn't notice that while playing the game but I heard it in the documentary afterwards. I'm so glad they are putting this kind of continuity in the games. Have they actually used the term

Spoiler

glassed

in the games before?

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

She actually says during one of her viral interuptions: "It was the coin's fault! I just wanted to make you stronger!" which I thought was beyond awesome.

Holy shit. That's so fucking awesome.

Spoiler

I'm guessing Cortana is based on Hasley's consciousness? I've, like, barely played through Halo 1 and 2 if all of this is common knowledge. I KNOW.

 

[Quazar]

Am I the only one feeling that this game, even though being entertaining, feels outdated? I mean, the action is so simple compared to Rainbow Six: Vegas, Gears of War or even the Call of Duty 4 beta.

A 10/10 for this game is ridiculous. Right now I'm hovering around a 8/10, depending on how fun co-op will be.

I've only beat first mission, so cant fully say yet. But from what i played = snore fest. I hope it picks up. It does feel like the same old same old. Online is fun but I think I'll be going with COD4 when that drops.

 

[Tieno]

I've only been tooling around with campaign stats and files but damn, bungie.net is so fucking impressive. The fun doesn't stop with just your 360.

 

[Lakitu]

I've read The Fall of Reach, The Flood and First Strike. I have Ghosts of Onyx but I still nhaven't read that yet.

 

[Shins]

The Halo (1) references I noticed:

Spoiler

The corridors in "Cortana" were the exact ones from The Truth and Reconcilation.

Spoiler

Bit of an obvious one, but the whole last mission is based on the control room from the first Halo. Was so good facing off with 343 Guilty Spark in the control room.

Anyone notice any others?

Spoiler

Keep your head down, there's two of us in here now, remember?!

 

[The Elite]

The Halo (1) references I noticed:

Spoiler

The corridors in "Cortana" were the exact ones from The Truth and Reconcilation.

Spoiler

Bit of an obvious one, but the whole last mission is based on the control room from the first Halo. Was so good facing off with 343 Guilty Spark in the control room.

Anyone notice any others?

In regards to your second spoiler,

Spoiler

The new Halo's control room is supposed to be the same as instillation 04 since it is a replacement for it. Also, I think there was a remix of the music used on that level.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

I've only been tooling around with campaign stats and files but damn, bungie.net is so fucking impressive. The fun doesn't stop with just your 360.

It's the only thing keeping me from leaping out a window in the hopes that I would somehow be able to bounce over the East River and land in my living room.

 

[The Elite]

Holy shit. That's so fucking awesome.

Spoiler

I'm guessing Cortana is based on Hasley's consciousness? I've, like, barely played through Halo 1 and 2 if all of this is common knowledge. I KNOW.

*ding, ding, ding*

I've read The Fall of Reach, The Flood and First Strike. I have Ghosts of Onyx but I still nhaven't read that yet.

Ghosts will give you a better appreciation of 3.

 

[EnjoyIncubus]

So are there any advantages or disadvantages to using the elite model in multiplayer? I just use the elite model because I think it looks cooler and stands out more. It seems like 99% of people use the Spartan model though.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

*ding, ding, ding*



Ghosts will give you a better appreciation of 3.

Guess I know what I'll be playing after this. Thanks, Doc.

 

[spermatic cord]

Any articles on the sales of Halo 3?

 

[Eric WK]

Someone said they did a couple of pages ago. Didn't know what the hell it did and it didn't seem to unlock anything.

Hmm. I looked for the post and didn't find it.

I have found a skull that didn't do anything.

Spoiler

On top of the control room type thing in "Cortana."

I'm not sure if it's a conditional thing to have it unlock or something. I'm guessing it's definitely not IWHBYD, though.

 

[Ding]

Did anyone notice the nod to the first chapter of "Fall of Reach" in the opening cut scene.

Spoiler

Cortana mentioning John's "luck" factor is exactly what Dr. Halsley was testing for with the coin toss in the first chapter.

OMG, Bungie is ripping off Larry Niven confirmed!!1

Just kidding, but Niven's classic Ringworld series of books feature both a really, really big "Halo", and a main character who has been bred for luck.

Somehow I doubt that I'm the first one to notice that. Probably not even the first in this thread.

 

[electricpirate]

not totally sure what you guys are smoking, simple and outdated? It's different than both the 360's other big three, (Gears, Vegas, Bioshock),(tsavo highway conflict description)

Spoiler

but when you are under assault by a pack of brutes, with a wraith putting down suppressive fire, getting flanked by jetpacks, and trying to fend off an advancing wall of jackals, calling this game simple seems silly. The tactics to get out of a situation like that are astounding. I had to make smart use of landmines, lure a brute up the middle to take his weapon, and finally charge in to steal a FRC to take out the wraith.

I mean, that is complex tactics, and there still isn't a single player game out today that does that nearly as well as halo. So while it might not have the sprint buttons, cover features, or RPG elements that those games have, it gets the ebb and flow of battlefield right, something even fewer games have been able to do succsefully.

More thoughts on level 8

Spoiler

it's become much better now that I stopped worrying and learned to love the Dual Wielding. Don't know why but the enemies are basically invulnerable to carbine fire, and brute shot ammo is limited. Once I figured out that Dual spikers, or dual PRs, or a Spiker and a mauler will make short work of pure forms at range I've actually started to enjoy it agin. In big part my own fault for not experimenting, but Bungie could have done a better job with teaching players what weapon to use, it doesn't help that they will often give you a ready supply of carbines at sections with like 50 pure forms who love to take the sniper form.

 

[Memphis Reigns]

I found it kind of frusterating that the story dialouge during cutscenes and inbetween were quiet. I missed some things because I couldn't hear what was being said. I had to turn on subtitles so I wouldn't miss anything. I loved it though. So awesome. I am going to play through it again and again.

 

[Blueblur1]

Fusion coil infinite dominoes: the key isn't the respawn time, but the 'minimum number allowed on map' setting: set it to the same amount of coils in your loop (and make sure there aren't any hidden elsewhere on the map.

http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=HouseofOrange

It's the only file I have to share, so no confusion.

Awesome. I reviewed it for ya.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

not totally sure what you guys are smoking, simple and outdated? It's different than both the 360's other big three, (Gears, Vegas, Bioshock),(tsavo highway conflict description)

Spoiler

but when you are under assault by a pack of brutes, with a wraith putting down suppressive fire, getting flanked by jetpacks, and trying to fend off an advancing wall of jackals, calling this game simple seems silly. The tactics to get out of a situation like that are astounding. I had to make smart use of landmines, lure a brute up the middle to take his weapon, and finally charge in to steal a FRC to take out the wraith.

I mean, that is complex tactics, and there still isn't a single player game out today that does that nearly as well as halo. So while it might not have the sprint buttons, cover features, or RPG elements that those games have, it gets the ebb and flow of battlefield right, something even fewer games have been able to do succsefully.

Precisely. That is so totally what is most impressive about campaign.

 

[Blueblur1]

566k ppl online. Wow, half a million.

 

[itsinmyveins]

Second, the gameplay in halo isn't simple, you have TONS of options at any point as to how you want to approach a situation. The freedom you have in encounters is much higher than it is in vegas or cod4 beta.

What freedom are you talking about, cause I don't see anything special?

 

[Son of Godzilla]

That what I said! The game adds LOADS of snipers on the higher difficulties. And none of them are weak. Most can kill you in one/two hits and take loads to bring down.

I remember walking in on that 10 jackal sniper fest with nothing but bruteshot and 20 carbine rounds. Hours of screaming in frustration.

So I was bitching about the lack of good weapons and then went back and played it on legendary and found two extra carbines next to the two I knew about. And then found a bunch of BRs near the port and behind a downed pelican. The one hit kills are still annoying, especially when you can't quite make out the jackal, but there is ammo there if you search enough. Every Phantom that shows up basically allows you to trade a clip of Brute Shot for a Plasma Cannon. I actually went through the level using nothing but BR/Carb/Brute and turrets/cannons after the first few groups.

Hour and a half total, 38 deaths. I literally was running in fear against the goddamn Chieftan. Invincibility + fast run speed is sadness. Holy shit it's fun though.

 

[GhaleonEB]

.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

***Remarkable Stories Of Heroism***

I really hope you'll be making a few saved films, dude.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I really hope you'll be making a few saved films, dude.

Right after I wrote that, I decided to head back and review it, and upload my first screens. BRB

 

[Tieno]

Ever fight is a constantly changing dance of tactics. I've had dozens of 'holy crap' moments like that, where something in the fight changes the way the entire battle is playing out. In the first two Halo games, you could basically make a plan and the execute it, knowing that there wasn't going to be anything to really screw with your plan. So far in Halo 3, I have to completely adjust tactics constantly because I can't predict how things are going to go. There's nothing remotely outdated about this combat.

Seriously! I posted similar sentiments a few pages back on my limited time with campaign. At times I don't 'notice' the AI as they're very unpredictable. The game is constantly pushing me to change and adapt. There's just so much you can do in a given situation. So far Halo 3 feels very open. Sometimes it feels like a tug of war, where I'm contantly pushed back by the enemy and have to stay ground and look for ways out and it feels very satisfying to figure out how to do that.


One of my favorite moments was rushing two wraiths in a ghost in a big open space and then planting a bomb in each of those in rapid succession. The smoothness I pulled it off with felt like a QTE, only not. Felt so badass.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Right after I wrote that, I decided to head back and review it, and upload my first screens. BRB

YYYYES!!

One totally anal thing that bugs me is that (myself included) no one has linked screenshots to any of their individual games on B.net. I'm so scarily tempted to have one for every game I play. At least for every level of campaign. And that's just nuts.

 

[Jackl]

Ever fight is a constantly changing dance of tactics. I've had dozens of 'holy crap' moments like that, where something in the fight changes the way the entire battle is playing out. In the first two Halo games, you could basically make a plan and the execute it, knowing that there wasn't going to be anything to really screw with your plan. So far in Halo 3, I have to completely adjust tactics constantly because I can't predict how things are going to go. There's nothing remotely outdated about this combat.

Thats where the problem is though I think. Is if you play easy or normal those situations never really happen. People can just get by with run and gunning it. There such a huge gap between normal and heroic in terms of gameplay. There is less enemies, they die easier, they miss more, you have more ammo, you can take more damage. Your friendlies are near invincible.

You just don't get pushed into a corner like you do in the harder settings, giving a stale feel. When the opening statements on the difficulty settings says "This is how halo is meant to be played" Thats not fluff text, they mean it.

Edit: My grammar r horriblez.

 

[mysticstylez]

If anyone says Halo 3 is simple, they are playing on the lowest difficulty. My first time was on normal, and even with that, it's far from simple. Especially fighting your

Spoiler

first scarab, I went from shooting at it on the ground with a rocket launcher, then ripping out a missle turret, then taking an elevator up to about head level shooting at it. Then strategically jumping on it, taking out all the enemies and then blowing up the cor

.


Thats just one of the many times, I had to stratgecially move around, and use certain weapons to become successful.

 

[SlasherJPC]

If anyone says Halo 3 is simple, they are playing on the lowest difficulty. My first time was on normal, and even with that, it's far from simple. Especially fighting your

Spoiler

first scarab, I went from shooting at it on the ground with a rocket launcher, then ripping out a missle turret, then taking an elevator up to about head level shooting at it. Then strategically jumping on it, taking out all the enemies and then blowing up the cor

.


Thats just one of the many times, I had to stratgecially move around, and use certain weapons to become successful.

I just couldn't get the thing to come close enough to jump on it. Does it just take time or what?

 

[CitizenCope]

I've only beat first mission, so cant fully say yet. But from what i played = snore fest. I hope it picks up. It does feel like the same old same old. Online is fun but I think I'll be going with COD4 when that drops.

Ditto. I also only finished the first level. Being a Big fan of H2 MP I'm surprised I'm not loving the H3 MP just yet. I hope it grows on me.
Back to single player I have a ways to go but I really hope there are moments like in GOW, "BOOMERS". You heard that and it was like "HOLY SHIT". Playing on Heroic I'm not feeling that nervous excitement yet but I hope to run into it later on.

 

[Lostconfused]

If anyone says Halo 3 is simple, they are playing on the lowest difficulty. My first time was on normal, and even with that, it's far from simple. Especially fighting your

Spoiler

first scarab, I went from shooting at it on the ground with a rocket launcher, then ripping out a missle turret, then taking an elevator up to about head level shooting at it. Then strategically jumping on it, taking out all the enemies and then blowing up the cor

.


Thats just one of the many times, I had to stratgecially move around, and use certain weapons to become successful.

Id have to say that the reduced number of enemies, the close quarters and enough plasma turret emplacements to hose the enemy down super heated death makes the scarabs much easier then Halo 2.

I just couldn't get the thing to come close enough to jump on it. Does it just take time or what?

If you hit its legs enough the scarab will lower it self to the ground that you should be able to jump onto the rear section.

 

[mysticstylez]

I just couldn't get the thing to come close enough to jump on it. Does it just take time or what?

It was more about taking the elevator up, and waiting for his body to come close, I timed it perfect. However I didn't make it on my first try lol, thank god for no damage when you fall a hundred feet.

 

[electricpirate]

What freedom are you talking about, cause I don't see anything special?

Simply summed up? there's a variety of ways to handle any situation, and no single correct answer.

While the game is quite linear, each set piece battle can be approached in an number of different ways and positions. For example, in the the indoor levels you can almost always choose to approach battles from a couple of different vectors. For example, If playing alone you can go with your AI companions, or break off to take another approach (generally you can find a high approach, or tunnels for flanking). The equipment you have, or choose to pick up is well balanced to the point that there are many organic, intelligent solutions to every fight. I could grab a sword and a bubble shield, charge in, and plant myself in the fray, and go to town with fury. Or I can grab the invisibility and a brute shot, and sneak around the barricade my enemies have set to start off with superior position.

The true brilliance comes when you cannot possibly have enough equipment to win a fight easily. When you see so many enemies that the wepon you brought has run out of ammo and the nades have run dry, or you just don't come with the right equipment. You load up on close range weapons only to find a tank and snipers. Now you have to assess the situation, and quickly adopt a new tactic. Maybe you target the chieftan so you can take his heavy weapon, maybe you try to jack a vehicle? Or maybe you just backtrack to get that RL you dropped because you thought you were going to be fighting room to room.

That's the kind of organic freedom that Halo offers, that's the freedom that makes me love the game. It's not like "Ohh, hit A to take the right path, or B to take the left." It's having to make series of tacticle decisions, of which there is no right answer. Plenty of wrong answers though, just no golden key

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

If anyone says Halo 3 is simple, they are playing on the lowest difficulty. My first time was on normal, and even with that, it's far from simple. Especially fighting your

Spoiler

first scarab, I went from shooting at it on the ground with a rocket launcher, then ripping out a missle turret, then taking an elevator up to about head level shooting at it. Then strategically jumping on it, taking out all the enemies and then blowing up the cor

.

It never dawned on me

Spoiler

to take the missle launcher up to higher ground in the elevator.

Smart.

 

[SlasherJPC]

It was more about taking the elevator up, and waiting for his body to come close, I timed it perfect. However I didn't make it on my first try lol, thank god for no damage when you fall a hundred feet.

Yeah I fell a bunch and the damn thing just wouldn't get close enough... BAAHHHH! Well me and my buddy will try again later. Can you do any damage to it before hand? We were shooting it like crazy but seemed like nothing worked.

 

[itsinmyveins]

You mean, no cover?

Among other stuff, yes. I think it should be mandatory by now. And a sprint button. And being able to aim down the barrel. And maybe even being able to order people around a'la Freedom Fighters?

Personally, I think you're crazy. Halo 3's gameplay is not only deeper than all those, but it's a hell of a lot more fun. And that's coming from somebody who loves Gears and the COD4 beta. Nothing about it feels outdated imo.

There's a lot of talk but I'd like an example of what it is that makes it so much deeper. The more open areas? Yeah, that's not doing it. The AI? It's good, but lacking at times. Sure the enemies take cover, just waiting there staring into a wall while you go behind them and knock them down. Nothing I consider special six or seven chapters into the single player. It might get better at legendary or hero though, I don't know. Right now I'm playing normal.

A lot of text

I'm not seeing it, sorry

Change of tactics is something I see in a lot of other games too, both playing COD4 online and in Rainbow Six for example.

I mean, I'm enjoying it, but it doesn't feel fresh at all if you ask me. I know I'm saying "COD4" over and over again, but it was such a huge positive surprise -- shooting through walls, UVA's, Air Strikes, helicopters, different perks and possibility to customize weapons and suchs.

 

[Vyse The Legend]

So, I found this second skull on the 8th level (

Spoiler

Cortana

)that seemingly does nothing. It doesn't unlock IWHBYD, but there must be something special that has to be done to activate it.

In my file share, you'll find a video (and picture of its location) showing me running through the level to pick it up, then finishing it, while carrying the skull. If anyone has some suggestions or theories to try, please let me know.



http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=FallenOne666

 

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Among other stuff, yes. I think it should be mandatory by now. And a sprint button. And being able to aim down the barrel. And maybe even being able to order people around a'la Freedom Fighters?

Why did you buy a Halo game exactly? Sounds like you don't want one.