Halo 3: ODST has arrived on PC as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Originally released in 2009, Halo 3: ODST serves as a prequel to the events of Halo 3. Because of this, the famed Master Chief is not the playable character. Instead, the story follows six Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, with the largest emphasis on a character simply called, the Rookie. Halo 3: ODST isn't a necessary game story-wise, but more quality Halo is never a bad thing.
In Halo 3: ODST, the core gameplay is from a first-person perspective like previous Halo titles. The troopers can utilize two weapons, and many more can be found throughout the campaign to switch out. Much of the time is spent eradicating Covenant forces with gunfire, but there are also vehicles, of course.
Halo 3: ODST follows the group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers on a classified mission. Sadly, things don't go as planned, and they are dropped by a shockwave due to a Covenant ship entering slip-space.
Exceptional Halo Gameplay
One difference separating ODST from Master Chief's gameplay is that the troopers have access to the VISR. This outlines friends and foes, provides some light, and highlights key items to be examined. It's a good feature, primarily in the dark streets of New Mombasa.
In Halo 2 and 3, Master Chief can regenerate his full health whenever he stops taking damage for a bit. This isn't the case in ODST, with the trooper being stuck in the red until he finds a health pack. In this way, ODST can be more challenging than the two previous Halo games. There were cases, even on normal mode, where I really had to strategize and carefully take out Covenant forces. One of the later missions had a room with a number of strong enemies, so I couldn't go in guns blazing right away. Those looking for a challenge should be satisfied.
Overall gunfire is a lot of fun. There are plenty of "Aw yeah" moments, such as shooting down Covenant ships big and small with a missile turret. Mombasa Streets has a somber atmosphere, thanks to the dark environment and music. The only minor annoyance is walking through empty streets not being able to speed things up. Vehicle play is excellent. The Banshee is used to its fullest in a later mission, as is the tank. ODST follows Halo tradition by having the tank satisfyingly powerful. All of this is encompassed in what could be Halo's strongest soundtrack and most seamless gameplay on PC.
Not The Most Captivating Overall Cast
Halo 3's story was riveting, completing the plot that began six years earlier in Combat Evolved. It would be unreasonable to expect ODST to be as grand. While the story itself is solid, something ODST falls short in is the characters. Don't expect engaging characters like Cortana or the Monitor here. The interesting character moments in ODST happen with Buck and Dare. The other troopers aren't really all that engaging.
An interesting aspect of ODST's story is the optional audio logs you can find in New Mombasa. Here, you can listen to an ongoing story from the Covenant's invasion of Earth. The logs follow a young woman named Sadie Endesha, and offer a look into the chaos when the Covenant attack, which is certainly appreciated.
Well Worth A Play
Today on PC, the campaign for Halo 3: ODST is a mere $4.99. A majority of the troopers may not be the most engaging, but the combat and music are a treat. The weapons, from the Spartan Laser to the Brute Plasma Rifle, are a blast to use. The game also brings ODST Firefight mode to The Master Chief Collection for all of your survival needs.
A PC copy of Halo: The Master Chief Collection was purchased by TheGamer for this review. Halo 3: ODST is available for PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Halo 3: ODST
Halo 3: ODST is a spin-off from the main FPS series from Microsoft. As an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, you must uncover what happened to your colleagues in the ruined city of New Mombasa.