I know you're all busy playing Firefight right now, but it's that time of week to sit down and take a minute to listen to the pearls of wisdom spit by The Sess. Adam sits down to discuss Halo 3: ODST and its strangely muted presence in this year's list of big game releases. Does ODST not need a bit marketing push because it's a part of the Halo franchise that always sells well? Or is there another reason? Find out what Sessler thinks, and tell us your thoughts in the comments section.
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darkeagle5601
Halo 3: ODST was not a 5 out of 5, and I'm sorry to every reviewer and gamer who believes so. I got this game at midnight with some friends, beat it that night, and couldn't believe what was left. Everything in this game cries expansion, and Bungie really f'd over it's fans with greed.
The campaign was far too short, and all that's left is firefight. There isn't even Forge with firefight, which would have been an excellent addition. Essentially, disc one is a rental.
Disc two comes with all the multiplayer features... Halo 3 without the campaign. Seriously, what is this? Three new maps does not make it ok to strip the exact same multiplayer over and add it as an extra disc. Anyone who owns Halo 3 should feel cheated beyond belief. The price was boosted at least $20 (I'm thinking more $30 range) for this, for something basically everyone who wants ODST already has. Even the dashboard considers it Halo 3. They couldn't even differentiate that?
I bought an xbox for the first game, waited at midnight for the second, drank the sodas and waited at midnight for the third, and even waited at midnight for this one, but that's it. I am ultimately done buying halo games.
Rent this game before you spend the money. You're opinion may be different from mine, but if you do feel the same way I did, you won't have to go through the hassle of trying to sell it on ebay or craigslist the next day.
$10 Mythic DLC + ~$20 Campaign + $30 Rehashed MP = ODST
finalmattasy
I've listened to all of your soapboxes, and I look forward to them every week. Sometimes they tend to "obfuscate" the truth imo =). But this "Halo Effect" edition was one of the best.
Great work outlining the ongoing battle between appreciation and popularity.
All in all, thanx for your efforts to explain gaming from a thinking man's perspective. cheers!
Aurailious
Sessler = Yoda of gaming
cdorsett
i think that halo 3 ODST is an overhyped game that is almost directly the same as the regular halo 3. I dont think that its worth sixty bucks and is definetly a waste of money. I also think that bungie shouldnt have made a game that puts you in the shoes of a soldier that everyone used to shoot and teabag in the halo 3 campaign. ODST just looks very boring aside from the fact that you get two silenced weapons and you get night vision goggles. It very much annoys me that everyone of my friends on xbox live is playing ODST and saying that MODERN WARFARE 2 is going to be a let-down. It really annoys me that so mant people waste their money on this game. People should save their money and get modern warfare 2 or bioshock 2, even assassins creed 2. I honestly think that modern warfare 2 will be VERY VERY solid with almost totally different graphics and weapons.
MrAnt117
Its a fun game feels alot like the 1st halo which was my favorite one. my only grip is that it gets lagy for no damn reason
mackeyanthony
LOVE THE GAME BEEN WAITING 4 THIS SENCE HALO C.E. HEAD SHOTS:)
FuzzofPekinopolis
I find it hard to believe that people are not having fun with this game? I played firefight for 3hrs straight last night and had a blast. I do not have much experience playing on XBL, I live in a rural area so I take 360 to work to get all my downloads, but I play system link with 3 or 4 people on a regular basis.
Maybe those haters out there don't have the proper equipment like hi-def surround sound or a high def big screen TV. I'm not trying to be sarcastic but these things do help to make a more immerse experience. $60.00 is a bit high, but I did not buy any of the download-able maps for Halo3. And if you have been playing Halo 3 then trade your old game in since all the maps are included with ODST. If you have not been playing Halo then quit complaining. How much does the Gears2 special addition with all the multiplayer maps cost? Sure you can complain about the length of the campaign, but if you play the entire game and find all of the extras it will take longer than you think. OK there is no cover system, never has been one. Yes I do agree that Bungie needs to quit whipping this horse. But you probably do the same exact job every day. When is the last time you said screw this job, quit, and did something else. No matter the comparisons, this game is different than any other Halo. And that shows that they are trying something new. The game is not broken, does not suffer from any major problems, is fun if you let it be, and offers new things. What is the problem? I would also like to point out that I do not care what you play, games are meant to be fun. If you do not like this game then you don't have to play it. We are all gamers, we all have different tastes, and I will continue to have fun with this game.
down311
Best Halo game since CE and Halo 2's matchmaking experience. I only wish there were Elites to fight.
JohnnyMalarky
From what I heard about the game, its getting mixed review so it may or may not have the Halo effect. Its probably going to get a burst in sales first few weeks then it will slow. There isn't anything new SAVE for the story (and the play style) and Firefight mode which is about it. Another factor is if you have the map packs or not and whether you can play with the guys who own Halo 3 (I haven't heard anything about this but I'm assuming it will, I know its stupid blah blah). But on the other hand, I mean its HALO! BIG bolddesigned text on the cover. Plus the commercials I might add which are pretty good usually. All the kids are automatically going to their parents and begging them to buy it. I haven't played it yet so I'm not making an opinion about it. Besides maybe the story in the first game, Bungie did pretty good in their marketing schemes for the Halo series and that's another reason why I believe this game is so hyped up.
I do love Halo 3 though but I just hate the community playing it. That's also another factor. You got your wanna be gang-bangers, the kids, the "xx420smokeweed4leifxx"'s and the list goes on. So the sales might even be slow in the first few weeks. This is probably the slightest case so I don't think this will happen.
heavy_metal_king
This is a little drone comedy:
Hey halo 3 odst im happy for you and im gonna let you finish but cod 4 was one of the best games of all time one of the best games of all time
drones meet kanye kanye drones
if you have any kanye west jokes reply
ROCK ON ELITES
heavy_metal_king
pounding at you guys from the hellish nation just north of the us (canada) well im angery for personal reasons so im takin it out on all you drones out there you all suck get up finish off your red bull and stop saying that the other console exclusives suck when you havent played them all your doing is starting more arguements and i sick of IT SO JUST STOP AND IF YOU HAVNT NOTICED I HAVE NEVER HAD A REPLY which saddens me deeply wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Mr_Eko_73
I've owned an Xbox 360 from the start and I just never got into Halo. A lot of that had to do with Call of Duty 4. I had decent fun with Halo but once I started playing COD and felt the "weight" of the guns and the sounds of munitions flying everywhere- it all changed. I just can't get the same visceral feeling from a Halo riffle compared to a M16 or MP5.
I've heard a lot of complaints that the guns are uneven or COD is broken or whatever. And the simple fact of the matter is- if you're a skilled player you can kill anyone with anything. What COD player hasn't (just for fun) run and ducked around the map with nothing but his knife or his pistol.
My "proof" that the HALO name carries to much clout? Section 8. Every complaint about the game play I read or heard about Section 8 was the same as the way I feel towards the Halo franchise. Sorry, I've played them both. And I just don't see the difference. If anything, Section 8s controls were tighter and more responsive.
Did Halo: ODST deserve a 5/5? Probably not. Most games don't. I'm not so sure Adam would have given it a 5 but we'll never know. "The Sess" usually reserves 5s for games with superior game play (God of War) or originality (No More Heroes).
jShazbot
Halo is hated for it's popularity. Simple as that.
People think that byy hating Halo they'll stray away from the "cool crowd" and be unique and special in their own way.
At least, now that's the case. No one ever takes into consideration that the Halo games are actually "GOOD". Which boggles my mind because they are good. I think all the Halo-hating has something to do with, like Sessler mentioned, the kind of people who like Halo as well (I.e. whiny 12 year olds) but that shouldn't be a reason to not like the game because you don't like other people that like the same thing.
Halo set the bar for console shooters and there's no denying that. It's played an an influential role as large, if not larger, than Goldeneye did on the N64. That revolutionized FPS games.
Melotraumatic
Mainstream vs. Indie. It's a never ending battle for some people. You have your group of people trying to keep up with what's "in" and what's popular. On the flip side you've got your group that tries to stay away from what's popular, ostracizing anything that gains mainstream appeal.
But is either group being truthful to themselves?
I've always considered this to be a dilemma only involving the music scene. Adam's comments about the chili pepper girls reflect the experience that many people have had with their favorite bands. Myself being a Death Cab for Cutie fan I've felt that same way. Sometimes you don't know where you stand with the band when...well, teenaged girls...are singing "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" as if they know the music like you do.
This soapbox makes me realize that this a habit that people will follow no matter the format. Popular music, popular movies, popular games. Our entertainment is what defines us. We wants our friends to accept and agree with our interests. Unfortunately, for some of us, we find that acceptance by conforming to what THEY think quality entertainment is rather than following our own interests.
I agree. Many people will buy ODST because it's apart of the Halo franchise. Others will buy ODST because all of their friends are buying it. And then there are some who will buy ODST because they are truely interest in it as a game. While I myself do not fall into any of these catergories, I can only respect that latter group of people.
The only good games are the ones you like. No one else can tell you which games you should buy. Not the media, not the critics, not your friends. We should only use the opinions of these groups to help us determine whether or not we would enjoy a game.
flipfreak
well i love x box but 2 meny kids play halo its the onley game i play with the mic terned on and left on the night stand so i dont hafta hear there high piched ass voice now cod has them 2 but maby just 1 or 2 a game thank god for mute but back on point becus of halo i will never buy another halo game or iny other game that is mostley kids i know its rong but I HATE KIDS
heavy_metal_king
im back screamin out
so this is some thing that really has been bothering me does adam read these comments and if some one makes a good point does it matter
im not saying that this frequent and rather repetative barage of comments on the soapbox is not a good idea but it may turn out to be a giagantic waste of time
now im not the best one to be saying this seeing as i frequently comment some may go far enough to say i contridict myself well i cant say i disagree i tend to do this quite a lot
so......yeah METAL FOREVER and dever baby yeah
tvj2004
What up Halo! Off dat!!
fruitkabob
I wish games would be priced on how much content they have instead of labeling every game $60. this is going to be a good game but $60 for a campaign and a horde knock off that will get old after time is to much. the maps and beta key help but not by much... the only way it could be called a good deal is if you didn't already have halo 3 so you could get the multiplayer for free.
C4ptainAw3some
So, was Adam saying that he doesn't like the Chili Peppers anymore because 16 year old girls like them? Hopefully not cuz I hate those people. Anyway, I think Adam is right about there being a "Halo Effect" and I can only see good coming out of games becoming mainstream. Like music and movies mainstream. More money for game companies only means better games for us.
scoobythebeast
I personally loved it. I found it refreshing to play a halo game where your not a superpowered spaceman who can jump 13 feet, run like a puma, and take 20X more bullets than everone else. Despite all the grunts, jackels, brutes, and iconic Halo weapons, i had to constantly remind my seld it was a halo game, but thats a good thing.
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