E3: Halo 3 Preview

By Tom Bramwell Published 12 July, 2007

We tour the first single-player level.

Following last night's sumptuous new Halo 3 trailer and live-action promo (you did watch both, right?), Microsoft sat us down in the alarmingly dark Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica to tour the first level of the single-player campaign. Picking up about a third of the way into the level (they didn't want to spoil anything), it took us through a wooded valley bristling with as much Covenant as flora, before opening onto a river battle involving a Phantom. Ironically, time concerns meant our compere wasn't able to finish the fight - but we still saw plenty.

Starting off in a cave-like tunnel, the dank air shorn of all light, Chiefy and a group of USNC marines emptied into the woods where Covenant grunts and jackals were resting up. A rifle butt to the face of the nearest grunt, slouched against a tree, set things off. The marines were upbeat. "Kill-stealer!" one yelled, despite, you know, the enemy's lingering threat to scorch our planet until it is but glass and all that. The air was thick with banter. Tackling enemies advancing up a hill, our demo-man's progress was thwarted once by a jackal sniper round from distance, and then by a shield-bubble deployed by a grunt. They can use any of the equipment we can. Combat developed predictably as our host toured the various rocks, inclines and mossy shelves of the kill-zone, giving us a chance to admire Bungie's game engine.

'E3: Halo 3' Screenshot forest

Chief and chums.

Although bolstered by the ability to wield vastly more power than in Halo 1 or 2, the opening level is initially short on spectacle - but it's not short on detail. The sun bursts fuzzily through flaring holes in the canopy overhead, creating areas of high contrast halfway up trees that are covered in flora. If nothing else, the shrubbery's evolved, blanketing the rocks - which retain that slightly synthetic, I reckon, and certainly likeably distinctive look - and softening the tension between tree trunks, rock and grass. The effect is a consistently believable carpet of life beneath your feet, while rocks and trunks dip and arc into a glistening stream. Weapons are strewn around, helpful for dispatching jackals in high places, and purple crates explode in plasmic splashes that send grunts soaring through the air in death. As the numbers thinned and the level moved on through checkpoints, each transition seemed to have its own colour-scheme, with light blue shadowy nooks to hide grunts followed by more woodland war and a flare-reddened descent toward the river.

Bungie wasn't prepared to confirm four-player co-op for the campaign, but the group that MC went to work against was certainly large enough to sustain the squad he had around him, and as the demo level - called Sierra 117 - approached its climax, the sight of a Brute Chieftain holding a marine by the neck, suggested the odds weren't all that favourable on this, Heroic difficulty. Hints were subsequently dropped about Arbiter control. After the flaring interlude, the action shifted to a riverside station where a pair of concrete buildings occupied by Covenant stood in full view of a pair of USNC Pelicans. Bursting down the hillside to the banks, where rusted metal contributing to the frayed look of the structures, something happened. What it was wasn't quite clear in the melee, although I later worked it out, but it saw one Pelican take a severe hit to the starboard wing, which erupted in flame. The Pelican tore off flying low over the water as the Phantom wot done it drew menacingly into its place, blanketing the now-reclaimed shores in purple death-rain. With little time left to spare, the Campaign was turned off, leaving us with the impression of a game as visually competitive as ever, and one that - not entirely unlike Killzone 2 yesterday, despite the huge differences in style - chose its battles wisely. As, after all, must you.

'E3: Halo 3' Screenshot jungle

Sunlight bursts through the canopy above. Chiefy pops a pose.

The final thing Bungie showed, touring back through the game's lobby menus (everything is controlled through lobbies in Halo 3 - even Campaign), was the Saved Films feature witnessed in the recent Halo 3 multiplayer beta. Accessed through the Theatre lobby button, it called up the action quickly while Frank O'Connor of Bungie Weekly Updates fame rattled off some details. Files will be about 6MB and record gameplay data rather than video, so you can not only upload them without having to take a nap while it happens, but you can also review their contents at any resolution. Presumably even in standard-def. The promise that it will all be machinima-friendly is probably relevant to few of you, but we expect you'll find the content - a large-scale battle on Halo 3's biggest map, Sandtrap - fairly interesting.

Starting off behind the gun of one of the players, Frankie detached the camera and rose above the dunes and huge sandstone arches that stood tall against the horizon, occasionally pausing the game mid-explosion (even the sound pauses, in a kind of single-bar repeat way) to show how things look as you rotate around the action at whatever speed you like. That's "pretty special", for the record. You can take screenshots of what you see and upload them to Bungie.net through the game interface, collecting them online in the same way you can already do with Forza Motorsport 2's similar feature, giving everyone the chance to share special moments, like the time a clutch of Warthogs and a Brute Chopper - a kind of rolling blade with cannons on either side, like something out of the Star Wars Attack of the Clones battle sequences - go at it. The Chopper's about the same size as a Warthog. And when it and half a dozen wheeled friends smash together, or get blasted from range and cartwheel across the sand enveloped in flame, it's easy to imagine yourself reaching for pause to capture it. Or removing the on-screen control buttons to better enjoy the moment.

You will, of course, be able to enjoy your own on 26th September when Europe gets to finish the fight. And to finish the preview, anyone know what a "Forge" button in the Saved Film lobby might refer to? Could just be a filename. Who knows? Answers in the comments.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (151) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Putty-Man #1 5 years ago

    Never been first before!


    I should mention something about the topic at hand too I suppose...

    ...really looking forward to this, no idea what a Forge button could be tho?
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:12

  • reddevil93 #2 5 years ago

    never been 2nd before :p

  • peasoup #3 5 years ago

    never been third.um

  • peasoup #4 5 years ago

    just had to jump on the bandwagon
    also ruining Steroyds' 4th ;)
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:14

  • Steroyd #5 5 years ago

    fourth?

    Edit: Damn!
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:09

  • Fernando #6 5 years ago

    zzzzzzzz

  • GrandpaUlrira #7 5 years ago

    Congratulations to all you guys!

    EDIT: except Steroyd
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:14

  • RedPanda #8 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • brooza #9 5 years ago

    damn, I wanted to be 8th

  • Razz #10 5 years ago

    SPLOOOOOOOOOOGE!!

  • Yossarian #11 5 years ago

    so I'm guessing Eurogamer are in line with the general trend of 'should have demo'ed this and not the montage trailer'.

    oh well, sounds great.

  • joeking #12 5 years ago

    "leaving us with the impression of a game as visually competitive as ever, and one that - not entirely unlike Killzone 2 yesterday, despite the huge differences in style - chose its battles wisely."

  • AHiFi #13 5 years ago

    Sounds impressive. It has just jumped back above Mercs 2 now on my most wanted list. Online co-op would keep it there.

  • lennon #14 5 years ago

    Only playing it on Heroic. Tsch wussies

  • The12thMonkey #15 5 years ago

    Really looking forward to Halo 3. My 360 will be back from the mender's yard by then, just as the hype machine goes into overdrive. With this, Metroid Prime 3, and new FF11 expansion, my gaming is pretty well catered for during the remainder of the year.

  • joeking #16 5 years ago

    Early word on this game has been hugely positive. I. Just. Can't. Wait. :)

  • Yossarian #17 5 years ago

    also, the 'Forge' thing is not just a filename, I was in an irc chat with Luke and he was cryptic about it when it was mentioned

  • Yossarian #18 5 years ago

    you know with Bioshock in August, Halo 3 in September, and Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect in November my 360 is probably gonna die through overuse before Christmas. :(

    and those are but four titles of many.

  • joeking #19 5 years ago

    Halo 3. Mass Effect. Pro Evo 08. GTA IV. Lost Odyssey. PGR4. BiA: Hell's Highway. Forza 2. These are the games that I have lined up for myself over the next few months. How I'll get through them all, I'll never know. But if I fail, it won't be for the want of trying! :D

  • tigernuts #20 5 years ago

    Happy days.

  • [maven] #21 5 years ago

    4 player coop would be interesting...

  • Monkey_Puncher #22 5 years ago

    Surely Lost Odyssey won't be reaching our shores until next year?

    I thought the 2007 release would be Asia only..

  • PlugMonkey #23 5 years ago

    I've never really 'got' Halo. It always seemed incredibly reptitious and in the end I just got bored.

  • joeking #24 5 years ago

    Really? darn!

    Actually, no, that's probably a good thing. Frees up space. And then Lost Odyssey, Too Human, Fable 2, Halo Wars and Alan Wake can lead the 2008 assault.

    The good times just don't let up on the Xbox 360 it seems! :)

  • joeking #25 5 years ago

    "I've never really 'got' Halo. It always seemed incredibly reptitious and in the end I just got bored."

    WE GOT A LIVE ONE HERE!

  • Steroyd #26 5 years ago

    LO is a worldwide release...

    ...or so I'm told.

    I'm still bitter at not getting fourth.

  • Lutz #27 5 years ago

    "above the tunes and huge sandstone arches "

    You mean dunes, no?

  • Yossarian #28 5 years ago

    I've never really 'got' Halo. It always seemed incredibly reptitious and in the end I just got bored.

    that is a strikingly novel opinion that I have never yet seen articulated in a Halo 3 Eurogamer comments thread. do you perhaps have some sort of rss feed I could subscribe to?

  • Rirekon #29 5 years ago

    The most important question, however, is will the single-player game actually be complete? Unlike the utter shit-pile that was Halo-2.

  • PlugMonkey #30 5 years ago

    Eh? Why? I just didn't like it. For example, I remember a bit in some kind of library where I had to keep going up a series of lifts. Between each lift I had to go down the exact same corridor and kill the exact same set of enemies in order to go up the exact same lift again. And again. And again. It was like groundhog day. And it wasn't really very exciting.

    If that's your kind of thing, good for you, but it left me cold.

  • Ihya #31 5 years ago

    "I've never really 'got' Halo. It always seemed incredibly reptitious and in the end I just got bored. "

    Hand Grenade!


    *Throws Yossarian onto it*

  • LeD #32 5 years ago

    Interesting preview. I'd be willing to bet the final retail version will be nothing like what we've seen in the montage.
    I am confident Bungie will deliver.

    They made one crucial mistake with that trailer though: "always fade ouuut in a montaaaaaaaaaaage"

  • DUFFKING #33 5 years ago

    "The most important question, however, is will the single-player game actually be complete? Unlike the utter shit-pile that was Halo-2."

    I imagine it will, H2 showed very obvious signs of cutting and replacing bits of the story (not least the level shown at e3 a few years back). Presumably MS said 'new console soon, butcher the story so we have something to interest people with the new one?' So the raped the entire story and made a poor single player game. Hopefully Halo 3 will live up to the hype.

    They made a big deal about the earth invasion in halo 2 and hardly anything happened.
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:43

  • barchetta #34 5 years ago

    Forge and Anvil were user-creation tools for Marathon if I remember those dim and distant days....

    Sounds Interesting....... :-)

  • smurphs #35 5 years ago

    I just hope it's more like halo than halo 2. The controls just seemed worse in no. 2, and the gun seemed to take up so much space on the screen you had a very limited view. This seemed to be the case with the H3 multiplayer beta too unfortunately. I found myself craning my neck to see more of the action, like a complete newcomer to videogames (I stopped short of leaning the joypad in the direction I wanted to go in however).

    Personally I hope they haven't gone mad on the visuals at the expense of smootheness - Halo 2 got the balance wrong IMHO.

    I also hope the Gregorian chanting features heavily again. Not enough Gregorian chanting in games these days...

  • joeking #36 5 years ago

    @ PlugMonkey

    :)

    I'm willing to bet that this isn't the first time you've expressed that 'valued' opinion in a Halo comments thread. Not by a long shot.

    Trolls out.

  • Yossarian #37 5 years ago

    For example, I remember a bit in some kind of library where I had to keep going up a series of lifts.
    a series of lifts? and some kind of 'library'? hmm.

    nope, doesn't ring a bell. what other thoughts do you have on popular videogames series 'Halo'? interested readers want to know.

  • DUFFKING #38 5 years ago

    What was missing from halo 2 was the big vast open areas where you could actually explore, most of Halo 2 was just confined corridor blasting.

    It needs big set pieces that make you think 'FUCKING WOW' or something. Then reload just so you can see it again.

    At the very least the game could have some impact. The big space stations exploding at the start of the second game carried no impact.

  • PlugMonkey #39 5 years ago

    Man, it's a sarcastic bunch on today.

    In order to make Yossarian happy the following two sentiments are now banned from this thread, as they have been made before and therefore never stand to be repeated.

    1) I really like Halo and think it's great. SPLOOOOGE!! etc..
    2) I never really 'got' Halo and don't know what the fuss is about.

    I'm not sure if it'll catch on Yoss, but if it does it should shorten this thread considerably.

  • Lutz #40 5 years ago

    PlugMonkey:

    And it'll be a lot better for it. :)

  • Yossarian #41 5 years ago

    agreed!

    we've made the world a better place today, you and I.

  • DUFFKING #42 5 years ago

    People are allowed to dislike halo.

    It's when someone comes in and says 'Am I the only one who doesn't like halo or something?' Clearly not reading the millions of comments above them all saying the same thing :/

    Halo has always been fun for me. Never found it the most amazing game but it was a good solid shooter and I look forward to it.

  • DUFFKING #43 5 years ago

    "Am I the only one that thinks halo is a bit overrated?"

    :) :D
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:55

  • afghan_jones #44 5 years ago

    Am I the only one who thinks Halo looks like a childrens cartoon?

    All them purply little aliens and pink and green lasers. Its like Teletubbies with guns. Or a war involving Opal Fruits.
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 14:56

  • PlugMonkey #45 5 years ago

    "Clearly not reading the millions of comments above them all saying the same thing :/ "

    Are you reading a different thread? No matter. We've moved on.

    So. Anyone read any good books lately?

  • agparrot #46 5 years ago

    I reckon "Forge" button in the saved film lobby might either refer to being able to string your gameplay sequences together and add your own subtitles, or possibly just to upload it to the internet?

  • DUFFKING #47 5 years ago

    "Are you reading a different thread? No matter. We've moved on."

    The average Halo thread ends up with stuff along those lines. Although Gears was far worse for it :)

  • Psychotext #48 5 years ago

    @Wonga: Hardly, do you know how many times that gets said in Halo threads?

  • RexRunti #49 5 years ago

    @Yossarian and PlugMonkey

    Actually that Library level was bloody boring, at least the first time, playing through again was OK for some reason. It's when you were fighting the flood without Cortana trying to get a key for that floaty thing (arbiter?). It's after the first meeting with the flood which meant it had lost the scariness but because you didn't have allies or Cortana chatting to you it kept that alone feeling which meant it did feel like a chore.

    The rest of the game seriously made up for it though.

  • joeking #50 5 years ago

    I'm just happy to be reading what every site has been saying about the graphics. Seems the trailer really went out of its way to make Halo 3 look bad. Intentional? Just like that Killzone 2 pic that Sony released? Oh these MNC's. Such crafty bastards! I have no doubt that Halo 3 will look sensational, and I am super looking forward to a return to those wide open expanses and vistas.

  • TonyCocaCola #51 5 years ago

    I am looking forward to this. I only played halo 2 all the way through once, im kinda interested to see what happens with that big plant at the end.... or did i imagine that...

    Still, looks good

  • Steroyd #52 5 years ago

    I think Halo is an okay game....

    ... but I don't see how the hype equates to it although it's the same thing with killzone, don't know what the hell is with it with shooting games and hype.

    Meanwhile many other games in other genre's that are fun go unnoticed. :(

  • richardiox #53 5 years ago

    E3 really has rekindled the excitable Joe of old!

  • smurphs #54 5 years ago

    Fact: according to 'The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Second Vatican Council', the Roman Catholic Church still officially considers [Gregorian chanting] the music most suitable for worship.

    Or, you know, killing things from the comfort of a beanbag. I wonder if they get royalties...

  • TONYgr #55 5 years ago

    What was missing from halo 2 was the big vast open areas where you could actually explore, most of Halo 2 was just confined corridor blasting.

    It needs big set pieces that make you think 'FUCKING WOW' or something. Then reload just so you can see it again.

    At the very least the game could have some impact. The big space stations exploding at the start of the second game carried no impact.I AGREE WITH YOU!

  • PlugMonkey #56 5 years ago

    Rex - That sounds like the fellow. I remember the floaty thing. I should probably get back to it really and persevere - but with so many games and so little time my tolerance level for that sort of thing is criminally low. All the hype probably made me even less forgiving than I normally am.

    Here's a question for you: What is your single favourite gameplay moment from either Halo 1 or Halo 2? Give us naysayers a clue as to what we're missing out on, or should look forward to in Halo 3.

  • Yossarian #57 5 years ago

    "am I the only one who thinks..."

    no, probably not!

  • jlaakso #58 5 years ago

    Oh, oh, I'm getting excited about this. I didn't use to be, because Halo 2 plain sucked - I never got into the multiplayer and the singleplayer was nowhere as good as the original.

    Now, will I need to bore my way through Halo 2 in order to appreciate this or not? The Arbiter crap really got on my nerves.

  • vegard #59 5 years ago

    Am I the only one who doesn't like halo or something?

    Sorry, couldn't resist.

  • Garulon #60 5 years ago

    "For example, I remember a bit in some kind of library where I had to keep going up a series of lifts.
    a series of lifts? and some kind of 'library'? hmm."

    That's boring in single player Halo 1, but in co-op it's absolutley fantastic.

  • zuljin #61 5 years ago

    @Steroyd
    "Meanwhile many other games in other genre's that are fun go unnoticed. :("

    Amen.

    @TONYgr
    Noooooooooooooooooo set pieces!

    Don't know why, the screenshots reminds me a bit of Unreal 2, you know the bit when they're in the forest and you get ambushed?

  • tigernuts #62 5 years ago

    @plugmonkey

    First time on the halo in the first game, or the silent cartographer level.

    Hugh-MONG-GooSE levels seemlessly blending indoor/outdoor with vehicles. Ambience and atmosphere aplenty. Hmm.

    If it's not your bag ok, but the love is being felt here by many and nobody likes a gooseberry.

  • smurphs #63 5 years ago

    I loved the bit where you first met those big fat stompy thing who shot big balls of opal fruit juice in your direction. They were great, especially when you realised they could be killed with the humble pistol.


  • joeking #64 5 years ago

    "Here's a question for you: What is your single favourite gameplay moment from either Halo 1 or Halo 2? Give us naysayers a clue as to what we're missing out on, or should look forward to in Halo 3."

    WHY THE HELL DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?!?!?!

    For the love of CHRIST, if you don't like Halo, FINE. We FORGIVE you. But for goodness sake, don't come in here demanding answers, that we explain ourselves, that we justify why it is that we think Halo is a great series. Just who the fuck do you think you are? And why do you think we owe you jack shit? Make your own damned mind up. Halo and Halo 2 are out there, and cheap. Play 'em. See for yourself. You don't need us to tell you what to think. Just stop coming in here to rain on our parade, just because you can't fathom why it is that we enjoy the games. You're just trolling. Deny it all you want, but that's all you're doing. For fuck sake......
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 15:15

  • stoopidgreg #65 5 years ago

    6/10

  • smurphs #66 5 years ago

    my wife runs anger-management classes if you're interested.

  • Rirekon #67 5 years ago

    Reasons I really liked Halo:
    1. Best console FPS controls ever at the time. Bar none.
    2. Blowing shit up was fun.
    3. The final section of the last level was a massive rush.

    ...

    Yeah that's about it thinking about it. The story-line is just poor and barely referenced, but the controls allowed for some fantastic game-play which made up for it.

  • Shrike #68 5 years ago

    Am I the only person in the world who thinks that halo is a ring of light surrounding an object?

  • LeD #69 5 years ago

    Am I the only one here who thinks it'd be cool to have two penises?

  • zuljin #70 5 years ago

    @richardiox
    Aaand it looks like someone needs to de-excite joeking now.

    EDIT: LeD - No.
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 15:20

  • jonthepymm #71 5 years ago

    Never been 74th before

  • joeking #72 5 years ago

    Am I the only that I thinks that only retards like Halo only because it's the only game out there that is crap yet is only hyped because it's a shooter, which are only liked because it helps people live out their aggressive tendencies, which are only there because society........

    /kills self

  • Pooley #73 5 years ago

    Did joeking drop any good loot?

  • Steroyd #74 5 years ago

    Am I the only one who thinks other genre's don't get as much attention as shooters.

    /reads Zuljin's post

    ...oh.

  • mossychops001 #75 5 years ago

    Played the original Halo on my mates xbox once, it was OK, but the franchise just seems a bit cheesy for me…

    And sorry the theme tune is crap too.

  • PlugMonkey #76 5 years ago

    "You're just trolling. Deny it all you want, that's all you're doing. Fuck sake......
    ignore poster"

    What? Trying to encourage some people who deeply love a game to talk about the game they deeply love? That's trolling? I like games. I like talking about games. I could write a book on all my favourite moments from my favourite games, and I'm only asking for a couple of posts from you to pass the afternoon and maybe get me interested in something I'm clearly missing out on.

    Oh never mind. But maybe in future you could consider being slightly less paranoid. It makes you write angry little forum posts, and that inevitably makes you look like a dick.

  • RexRunti #77 5 years ago

    That's quite tricky actually as there are quite a few standout moments (especially in 1). I really liked the relationship between the Master Chief and Cortana and all the conversations they had, though admitedly they sometimes started mid battle which made them impossible to hear especially if you were rushing through the game. The bit when you first come across the flood was great as it was just at the point when you were thinking "OK I've seen all the games going to show me now" and bang you're fighting zombies.

    I was a fan of when you meet the infected commander and the way you returned the Pillar of Autumn. In the sequel the first couple of levels were fantastic and I really enjoyed the political nature to the plot. Also the covenants's reaction to you as you progress through the game (they go from seeing you as an ordinary soldier to be killed to some kind of unholy demon brining about armegeddon).

    As for actual gameplay Halo was the first game to make you actually think about what weapons to carry and use, as well as turning grenades into an important part of your (and your oponents') arsenal. It also did the recharging health thing which is now a staple of pretty much all FPSs TPSs now. Aside from that it did everything it did extremely well, a bit like the original Half Life (aside from the alien world at the end). The way the AI actually seemed intelligent (particularly on harder dificulties) flanking you, using grenades inteligently and some of the weaker ones legging it.

    There has been a lot of games since which have built on the ideas from Halo so it's not the must-have game it once was (unlike Deus Ex which, graphics aside, is still 10/10) but is still a solid FPS.

  • Yossarian #78 5 years ago

    THIS THREAD NEEDS TO TAKE A U-TURN

    [link url=http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l312/B1G_C ANDY/MC_BRUTEchopper.gif
    ]http://i9 9.photobucket.com/albums/l312/B...[/link]

    FOR THE BETTER

  • afghan_jones #79 5 years ago

    @squarejawhero

    You like the Opal Fruit war look?!?!

    Theres no other option I'm afraid, you are now my nemesis and must be destroyed in a hail of non-fruity bullets...

  • smoothpete #80 5 years ago

    /shoots joeking in the face with chill-pill shotgun

    Nah, good to have you back on form dude. Go for it!

  • SniperWolf #81 5 years ago

    Halo will piss on Killzone, just like it always has. And COD4 will piss all over both of them.

    Golder showers confirmed this fall.

  • morriss #82 5 years ago

    So the graphics do live up to expectations after the continual slagging they've been getting? Good news.

  • mossychops001 #83 5 years ago

    Moore thinks "Halo3 is up there with Stare Wars 1977", in regards to populare culture.


    Whats he on?

    more like Jar Jar Binx of games.

  • joeking #84 5 years ago

    "What? Trying to encourage some people who deeply love a game to talk about the game they deeply love? That's trolling?"

    Yes, because you are not after enlightenment. You are after disagreement. Big difference, and you're as transparet as Hell.

  • The-Bodybuilder #85 5 years ago

    I never thought the day would happen where an EG preview of halo would restore my faith in the title.

    No really.

  • PlugMonkey #86 5 years ago

    "I really liked the relationship between the Master Chief and Cortana"

    That I can relate to. I really liked MasterChief. I was expecting him to be a bit characterless but he's the Boss. I'm quite looking forward to the film actually. It could be fun.

    so it's not the must-have game it once was

    might also have counted against it when I played it. Xbox was the last of the 3 last gen consoles I got, so by the time I played Halo it was a 3 year old game with 3 years of hype weighing down on it.

    As a 360 owner I'm not going to have much to talk to my friends about in September if I don't get it, so maybe I'll give it a fresh start.

    Get us back on track, Yossarian!

  • smoothpete #87 5 years ago

    I thought they'd canned the film?

  • The-Bodybuilder #88 5 years ago

    If there's one thing killzone will never beat halo at, it's EG comment threads.

    This is how you do a thread killzone, this is how.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #89 5 years ago

    The funniest thing about this thread is joeking telling someone else off for trolling, when that's all he ever does in Nintendo threads.

    Anyways, Halo 3? Looks fine, but I'm wary after my experience with 2. Here's hoping that it's the mother of all FPSs.

  • joeking #90 5 years ago

    Out of interest, is there any video footage of the superior hands-on demo that all the sites are saying Microsoft/Bungie should have shown the world?

  • The-Bodybuilder #91 5 years ago

    >"BEHOLD THE POWER FOR FRESHMINT "MASTERCHIEF" GUM".

    MASTERCHIEF-ATION FOR THE NATION.

  • joeking #92 5 years ago

    Also, can I just say that that screenshot of Master Chief standing in the woods, with the sunlight glinting through the trees looks AWESOME!

  • PlugMonkey #93 5 years ago

    "Yes, because you are not after enlightenment. You are after disagreement. Big difference, and you're as transparet as Hell."

    Hey! You said I was on ignore! I knew you loved me really. ^_^

    I might be after enlightenment. I might just be after something to read, seeing as EG now only updates between 7pm and 3 in the morning.

  • afghan_jones #94 5 years ago

    @The bodybuilder

    Don't you pitch in with that juicy fruit squarejawhero. He's evil i tell you! He'll wait till your asleep and do a fruity candy explosion on your chest...

  • mossychops001 #95 5 years ago

    When is Halo4 and Halo5 coming out?, that will be the day Microsoft gives up on consoles.

  • AcidSnake #96 5 years ago

    @Plugmonkey:
    Actually I think that when he copied your text he accidentally copied the "ignore poster" bit too...

    Also Halo 3...If it's good I'll get it...if not..I won't...

  • miiiguel #97 5 years ago

    mossychops001: did you ever see Microsoft giving up on something ?, I wouldn't wait standing up...

  • cellar_door #98 5 years ago

    Want it now.

  • The-Bodybuilder #99 5 years ago

    @ afghan_jones

    I'm all for fun and games, but that's.....just.......(/in paris hilton-type voice) EEW.

  • afghan_jones #100 5 years ago

    @cellar_door

    of course you do, we all "want it now" but sometimes we have to wait because girls get headaches and periods and that.

  • WJF #101 5 years ago

    Am I the only one who liked Halo 2 more than 1?

    /runs

  • SBfistfun #102 5 years ago

    "of course you do, we all "want it now" but sometimes we have to wait because girls get headaches and periods and that."

    That's why god gave girls a bung hole, no wait then, specially if you don't ask first.


    ...SURPRIIIIIISE!!!

    gmmmmmmmpppppphhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

  • afghan_jones #103 5 years ago

    @SBfistfun

    Clearly you are a tender and senstive lover. Mrs SBfistfun must be counting her blessings in between all the unexpected penetration.

  • miiiguel #104 5 years ago

    I wish I hadn't bought my Zune, there's a Halo 3 special edition coming, soooo cool!

  • PlugMonkey #105 5 years ago

    Come on Eurogamer its ok to get excited, you don't have to give it an 8 just to be different. we'll still like you.

    Oh, EG gives everything an 8 these days. It must save on paperwork or something.

  • afghan_jones #106 5 years ago

    "Come on Eurogamer its ok to get excited, you don't have to give it an 8 just to be different. we'll still like you. "

    If they really wanted to be different they should give it '@#' out of '{>'

    That'd confuse people.

  • zuljin #107 5 years ago

    @afghan_jones
    "He'll wait till your asleep and do a fruity candy explosion on your chest..."

    Is that a euphanism I'm not familiar with?

  • Eighthours #108 5 years ago

    Geordi La.

    Clearly.

  • mossychops001 #109 5 years ago

    Microsoft Xbox360 in Halo Green, why don't they make it in brown to make it look like a big Turd?

  • miiiguel #110 5 years ago

    rdexter: yeah, I'm the the black sheep, I also bought a PS3. Zune does play music, PS3 is supposed to do something, I guess... It's a future thing or some shit like that..., TBA...
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 17:17

  • Xerx3s #111 5 years ago

    Do what the MC would do; Nuke this thread from orbit! \0/

  • SBfistfun #112 5 years ago

    @afghan_jones

    If you do it wearing a clown mask I've heard you get extra points.


    Although maybe it's arrested, I can't quite remember......


    ...SURPRIIIIIISE!!!

    gmmmmmmmpppppphhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

  • miiiguel #113 5 years ago

    ...and you gotta admit, it's waaay cool to have a device no one has.

    If PS3 wasn't so big..., it could serve some purpose..., I might put some pictures of it on my wallet.

    and believe me: chicks dig Zune!
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 17:27

  • mcmonkeyplc #114 5 years ago

    Forge is merging different films I guess.

  • Azazel #115 5 years ago

    "Kill-stealer!" one yelled

    "Cringe-worthy!" said I

    Make it stoooop, it huuurrrts.

  • captainrentboy #116 5 years ago

    Have the Halo fans on here seen the new pics on Bungie's site?
    Some of them are rather lovely, the Grunts and Brutes certainly look a whole lot more alien now, rather than just random, gruesomely coloured polygons stuck together.
    That new gameplay trailer really doesn't do it any favours, going from the new pics a lot of the trailer's footage must be quite old.

  • Caimbeul #117 5 years ago

    129th!!! YAY!

  • smoothn00dle #118 5 years ago

    I bet Killzone2 and Gear of WAr look better than Halo3

  • miiiguel #119 5 years ago

    Killzone and Halo in the same sentence sounds funny.

    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 18:24

  • Xerx3s #120 5 years ago

    Microsoft Xbox360 in Halo Green, why don't they make it in brown to make it look like a big Turd?

    Why didn't you come in brown?

  • smurphs #121 5 years ago

    @afghan_jones

    The idea that there's a Mrs SBfistfun makes me very nervous.

    /shudders

  • agparrot #122 5 years ago

    @afghan_jones
    If they really wanted to be different they should give it '@#' out of '{>'

    Everyone would just complain because Eurogamer didn't give it '{>'

  • Negotiator #123 5 years ago

    Should have just played this part of the level at the press con, instead of that crappy gameplay montage which looked like they put together in about 10 mins. Anyway this is the best article on the Halo 3 singleplayer I have read since E3 began, good one EG.

  • Decap #124 5 years ago

    The list of commentators is getting pretty thin for me at this rate. (I keep ignoring all the idiots who just spam "FIRST!, SeCoND!!1 etc) If they truly are that childish they dont have anything wise to say anyway..

    Back to the topic, looking forward to this. But not enough to buy that plastic-helmet when it comes out. :p

  • afghan_jones #125 5 years ago

    @smurphs

    shes his mum.

  • effinwooly #126 5 years ago

    looking really good.........where are the beta haters now ?

  • joeking #127 5 years ago

    I think they're in da Nile. Swimming! :D

    /badum tish!

  • miiiguel #128 5 years ago

    the question is, how many cazillion copies will it sell ?

  • Jas315 #129 5 years ago

    "It looks every bit as good as Killzone 2 did, if not better."

    You really need glasses. No, this isn't a matter of fanboyism, this is a matter of reality and getting your EYES CHECKED.

    Lawl.

  • dave06 #130 5 years ago

    if you don't like halo then you do love the cock, so anyone who has commented saying halo is bad obviously love man willy and ps3, which is the same thing. hell you fuckers are the same retards who are gonna buy an iphone on launch lol. "ooooh im gonna make an icall teehee". fuck off and die

  • dave06 #131 5 years ago

    no i just took a piss on ur ps3, not pissed off :D

  • miiiguel #132 5 years ago

    f3rrari: look, look, I learnt the PS3 freaky language, look:

    "ooooh; PS3 is so da aw3s0m3! it pwns Halo any day"

    see, see, can join th3 group, can I???!! huh?

  • foamy #133 5 years ago

    No more single-player till release, pliz :|

  • YourMessageHere #134 5 years ago

    EG Halo threads: comedy sketch show 2.0?

  • mossychops001 #135 5 years ago

    Microsoft Xbox360 in Halo Green, why don't they make it in brown to make it look like a big Turd?

    Why didn't you come in brown?

    I'm Brown, you racist!!!!

  • miiiguel #136 5 years ago

    Jas315: the thing is who cares how Killzone looks? Halo could "come in brown like a big Turd", and would still sell 4535345689845 copies... in the first minutes.

  • fluff_the_tiger #137 5 years ago

    No you are not the only one WJF, I think most people like the 2nd one better if you look at the bungie forums. It is only in the weird whine-athon of the EG comment threads that everyone has a a different view.

    As a real halo fan however, I must admit I am a little bit underwhelmed by the new trailers and screenshots. I hope it looks better when it's sitting in front of me, but the story should hopefully be as great as ever.

  • Xerx3s #138 5 years ago

    Back to the topic, looking forward to this. But not enough to buy that plastic-helmet when it comes out. :p

    Are there seriously people interested in that? :/

    if you don't like halo then you do love the cock, so anyone who has commented saying halo is bad obviously love man willy and ps3, which is the same thing. hell you fuckers are the same retards who are gonna buy an iphone on launch lol. "ooooh im gonna make an icall teehee". fuck off and die

    I sense some repressed anger there mate. Want to talk about it?

    I'm Brown, you racist!!!!

    And now you have the privilege of being on my list. Have a nice day.

  • penguin_overlord #139 5 years ago

    Microsoft badly need Halo 3 to stop the 360 slipping into third position. They're already getting their butt kicked by the Wii and the PS3 doesn't seem to be far behind the 360 now on weekly sales if this report is to be believed:

    [link url=http://w ww.vgchartz.com/news/news.php?id=419
    ]http://ww w.vgchartz.com/news/news.php?id...[/link]

    It seems that only in the US is the 360 outselling the PS3 by any significant margin and if sales have doubled this week Microsoft will find the pressure to cut the price difficult to resist.

  • The-Bodybuilder #140 5 years ago

    >"Gordon, is that you?"

    CLASSIC.

  • QotSAfan #141 5 years ago

    Whats the deal with hating on Halo's graphics? They look great to me. Anyway, im hoping the game's singleplayer still retains some of the good bits of halo 2's campaign. Which is the non repetitive earth levels. I also hope the arbitar is back as a playable character. He was a nice chap. Sounds like he would love a cup of earl grey. Enough said, Halo 3 will be a kick ass game.

  • joeking #142 5 years ago

    "I also hope the arbitar is back as a playable character. He was a nice chap. Sounds like he would love a cup of earl grey."

    GLOL! :)

  • NegativeZero #143 5 years ago

    Marathon Infinity shipped with a pair of utilities called Forge and Anvil. Anvil was used for adding or modifying the in-game graphics resources, eg wall textures, enemy sprites, as well as the physics models. Forge was a map editor.

    Myth 2 also shipped with similar content creation tools - Fear and Loathing, which basically did the same things.

    It wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that, true to form, Bungie might be including some content creation tools in Halo 3 as well, as it's the last Halo game they're doing as far as we know. There's certainly a company precedent. That said, it's a console game so it's probably nothing as advanced as a map editor, cool as that would be.

    I was wondering if they might not handle the Arbiter in a similar way to the way epic handled Gears of War, with the player playing as the Chief and the Arbiter AI-controlled, but allowing a second player to take over instead, in the same way that Gears allows a second player to drop in and take control of Dom. From the sounds of things, though, it doesn't look like that's going to happen, meaning we'll have to play long stretches as the bloody Arbiter again. Fuck.

  • quantumsheep #144 5 years ago

    "That said, it's a console game so it's probably nothing as advanced as a map editor, cool as that would be."

    Off the top of my head, I seem to remember the original Time Splitters on PS2 and Far Cry on the 360 having map editors ;)

  • matrim83 #145 5 years ago

    Jeez the review read like someones personal obituary. Put some effort in to it EG. How about some personal opinions instead of dull narration for every frame.

    I can practically imagine this being read aloud in a Stephen Hawking voice to put people to sleep.

    Personally I cant wait till September.

    /Off to watch trailer. Again.

  • miiiguel #146 5 years ago

    rdexter : I am, believe me I am. Vacations starts later on, oh man so relax it almost feels disrespectful.

    ooooot; ooooot; I'm going to New York; oooot; ooot!!

  • ChromeMud #147 5 years ago

    I've seen the Arbiter next to Masterchief in a few scenes from the game so
    I'm just hoping that he is a playable character in Co-Op play online,but maybe that's too much wishful thinking on my part.

  • smartgun #148 5 years ago

    I think the Arbiter's presence in the style of Dom in Gears of War is a good bet. Cortana's off on a romantic weekend with the Gravemind remember, so the Chief needs a foil alongside him to exchange quips and help move the narrative along.

    When I say 'narrative', I'm of course referring to the vague 'what you need to blow up next and why' that bubbles along in the background.

    Can't wait.

  • Xerx3s #149 5 years ago

    The arbiter has been confirmed to be in the story from the first step so I suppose that the coop thing is plausible.

    This however makes 4p coop less likely. How would they solve that? 2 spartans and 2 arbiters? unlikely.

  • ChromeMud #150 5 years ago

    @ Xerx3s
    "This however makes 4p coop less likely. How would they solve that? 2 spartans and 2 arbiters?"

    Just to have Co-Op would make it a definite purchase for me.I can only imagine
    that if it were 4 player co-op then the other two could be either an Elite or
    a Marine soldier to assist but this is reaching beyond belief but do-able.
    Downloaded the trailer for the single player game from LIVE E3 and it looks great
    but Mass Effect eclipses it in the must-have stakes,there again COD4 looks superb,hell even Naruto:Rise Of The Ninja suprised me...damn,I'll need a LOAN!

  • foamy #151 5 years ago

    each one looks good in their own kind of way.