I just watched the latest episode of CO-OP and they said the campaign mode was about 6 hours. That's more than I've got from a lot of full-priced games, but I have a soft spot for Halo, so of course I have to defend...

*shaking fist* ;D

I don't get this whole argument of this not being a full game. Having played through the campaign, I really liked what Bungie did this time around. The successfully made a game without Master Chief that's interesting and expands on the universe for those who don't read the novels. As for the multi player, its great that they included everything released thus far, but it really should have been on the main disk.

Yeah, I am not a huge Halo fan but I have really enjoyed my time with ODST.

I think some people bought a few cases of hater-aid just to knock this game.

I don't think there is any indication that this writer has actually played this game to comment on the product.

Of course the whole point might be that this is a snarky post...

I wonder if the same people who don't think ODST is worth their money are the same people who don't think L4D2 is worth their money...

I wonder if the same people who don't think ODST is worth their money are the same people who don't think L4D2 is worth their money...

That's a tad unfair. The Halo engine was in no way refitted or even pressed to make ODST anything other than a side step, rather then the next step up. L4D2, on the other hand, actually a step up technologically, visually, and mechanically. I mean, while playing ODST I really felt the age of Halo start to glop on me, which was a real drag considering I payed $60 American tender. Had this been $30, even $40 to compensate for Fire Fight (which I love, best horde mode in a game yet) then I would have felt completely satisfied.

As it stands, it's a fine buy for Halo lore fans that comes with decent, but nothing special, map. (Honestly, Bungie owes us them after they failed to keep offering them for free like they promised they would do. You know, as to please those who feel okay paying for maps and getting advance play time, then eventual free for those who don't want to but don't want to be segregated from their friends.) So, yeah, unless you're uber into the lore, REALLY need the maps, or are a huge horde lover then $60 for ODST would most truly leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

So, yeah, unless you're uber into the lore, REALLY need the maps, or are a huge horde lover then $60 for ODST would most truly leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Isn't that what the game was marketed as? Halo 3 multiplayer with some new content, Firefight mode for new multiplayer, and a story heavy game starring a character that is not Master Chief?

I simply don't understand why you would buy this game if you are not into the single player... it is the obvious emphasis in this package.

It's called the 'Halo 3 Complete Multi-player Experience' disk... not the Halo 3 Multi-player with a whole bunch of new maps and modes' disk...

Isn't that what the game was marketed as? Halo 3 multiplayer with some new content, Firefight mode for new multiplayer, and a story heavy game starring a character that is not Master Chief?

I simply don't understand why you would buy this game if you are not into the single player... it is the obvious emphasis in this package.

It's called the 'Halo 3 Complete Multi-player Experience' disk... not the Halo 3 Multi-player with a whole bunch of new maps and modes' disk...

I don't think there is anyway for me to phrase it then, guess my beef really is with the ass backwards marketing and message with this expansion. It had virtually no marketing, let alone useful.

Had this title been up front with that, I would have been fine and moved along. But alas, they chose the shady route, and for that they are going to get a little dissatisfaction. Does that mean backlash? Hardly, unless you consider 1 million day what ever sales to be backlash. Still, they should have just done what Crysis: Warhead did. Be honest about what it was and move on with it. Don't try to be coy and play with people's perceptions of what the game is by sticking it with a $60 tag and some maps that some segment of the group probably gave jack shit about.

Anyways, still enjoyed what was there of the game, just wished there was either more of it :/!

Well, to be fair too I am not huge on regular multi-player and am much more interested in single player and at most a hoard mode to play with my friends co-op than any of the old Halo 3 multi... So the ODST package might just be more for the type of gamer I am than the traditional multi focused Halo fan.

I am huge on game value, but being a level away from finishing ODST I would still say I would be ok buying the game and Firefight for $60 without the 'complete' disk.

I can definitely see why someone who does not play the single player could be let down by ODST.

I agree 100% with you Luke, couldn't have said it better myself. I personally wasn't going to buy ODST no matter what they priced it at but holy crap do I feel sorry for fans and anyone who has no idea what they're really getting in that over-priced box.

You have to respect Bungie: first for revolutionizing FPS combat[...]

I hope you mean Marathon, not Halo.

All the people complaining about it not being a full game already knew it wasnt a full game to begin with.

I think its great what they have done and a great game. I just with people could see how much effort goes into these things.

I think its a buy and if you havent done much of the online play on halo3 (like me) and no longer have halo 3 then its good. Even if you already have halo3 then ODST can be a great game if you play it properly and not try and rush through it.

oh no here come the Halo fanboys trying to justify the ODST DLC pack - I wonder if L4D would had been called L4Halo would it had sold more copies and been a better game overall? I just think the $60 price point is justified from what I've been hearing and what I have played so far.

I haven't played it yet, I just wanted to chime in and say that it was only a matter of time before something like this happened to Bungie. They've been developing Halo games non-stop for more than 10 years at this point.

Regardless of whether or not ODST is a good package, it will sell well. I just hope for Bungie's sake that we get to see an Oni 2, or some other non-halo game from them just to give them a break. The studio is a shell of its former self though, so who knows what we'd see.

@Frank - I agree with your comments completely... Snarky post!

I've been pleased with everything I've experienced so far. The campaign offers a nice change of pace, Firefight is an excellent horde mode, and throwing in an add'l disk with all Halo 3 multiplayer DLC (that I didn't buy) is a nice touch.

You know what pisses me off? I'm not the biggest Halo fan, so a few months after Halo 3's launch, I had moved on, and didn't touch multiplayer for like a year.

Well, I went back to check things out this past spring. You know what I found? Bungie/M$ had removed functionality from the game since I didn't buy copious amounts of DLC. Game modes, including ones that shipped with the game, such as Ranked BTB were now unavailable to me. BTB was always the best part of Halo for me. Part of the reason I stopped playing Halo 3, was because it only came with 3 BTB maps, so I could see DLC was being forced on me.

WTF? I pay $60 for a game and since I don't keep buying piecemeal updates, I can't play the full thing any more?

Now I can get all those maps in ODST. But what if I bought all those DLC maps? That's like what, another $40-$50 worth of stuff? And if I pay $60 for ODST, all those maps included mean nothing. So it's essentially $60 for a 6 hour campaign and firefight mode for some people, and nothing more.

Either way, I'm pretty much turned off to the entire series by the whole debacle and pretty much any big M$ published title like GoW. It's clear the strategy has become leaving out features to sell them later on.

In the case of ODST, I hope a full-priced, somewhat watered down affair (in terms of length and NEW features) doesn't become the next trend. Wonder how soon ODST DLC will magically sprout up? I'm guessing before December.

Buying a game didn't used to have to be a nickel and dime affair.

To me, it feels very much like a full game. The experience, though running on the same engine, feels very new and fresh. And, as someone who hasn't bought any of the mutiplayer maps, I finally have the whole HALO 3 experience.

I feel it's not even fair anymore to charge gamers such a full price tag for a game that was originally DLC, and was meant as an expansion for the base game (Halo 3). The campaign is short (but sweet, mind you) clocking in at around 6-7 hours, and it comes with a bonus disk with all Halo 3 multiplayer maps, with 3 new ones. I think it's pointless to even try to boost the validity of the game's price by adding another disk because people probably bought it in the first place because they already have Halo 3, defeating the purpose of that multiplayer disk.

It may not have Master Chief, but the players you play as are still awfully similar, they can still flip vehicles perfectly fine, their "stamina" system is essentially the same as the shield system, they can still wield the big weapons, and more similarities. To me, ODST is a rehash of a game, but at the same time, has its own slew of original content.

If no one minds me making the comparison, ODST to Halo 3 is like Pokemon Platinum to Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. It's a rehash of the same game, with some new content, and everyone who bought the previous installments will eat it up and purchase it.

I have no love for Halo (the art style grates against me eyes), but I don't think ODST is a cash-in at all. They made a new campaign and a new multiplayer gametype. Why isn't that worth full price?

Plus you get the added value of all of the previous Halo 3 DLC available on one disc.

Seems like a good value to me.

Early adopters always pay a premium. Fallout 3 came out at $60, and this fall you can buy Fallout 3 with $50 of DLC included for $60. Ditto with Gears. I've purchased all of the Gears 2 DLC, and you can get all of that with the game for $40 with the new version.

I have no problem with this if the DLC was developed after the game came out and the game was full-featured without it.

@Shuborno "I have no problem with this if the DLC was developed after the game came out and the game was full-featured without it. "

That's a big part of the problem, most DLC is held back. Gears DLC was held back, so was Halo 3's. Don't even get me started on Namco and Capcom unlock keys for stuff already on the disk...

Want proof DLC is mostly stuff held back? Here's a quote from an interview Hsu did with some of the Halo Wars developers:

"Devine: One thing about DLC, all Microsoft games have them ... the DLC plan is part of our green-light presentation. It's built into [development]."
http://www.crispygamer.com/interviews/2008-11-17/last-days-for-ensemble-studios-an-interview-with-halo-wars-creators-2.aspx

Saying it's 'built into development' sounds more like an excuse to hold back stuff that could've shipped.

They're cashing in on the name, what else do you expect them to do? Make a lengthy, better than mediocre game that doesn't ride the waves of hype?

I agree that this game is indeed a cash in. The inclusion of the second Halo 3 multiplayer disc I'm sure is there just to make the illusion that your getting more for your buck. Most people going into this already have Halo 3 and payed for all the extra multiplayer maps so a redeem code would of sufficed for the three new maps. A sixty dollar expansion is ridiculous and does show how strong the Halo brand is right now. I do love and feel the multiplayer fps experience of Halo is the best around right but I'll just prob end up renting this and buying the three Halo 3 multiplayer maps if they ever make it to DLC.

@Victor Ford

I don't agree that "built into development" sounds like it's necessarily an excuse. I'm sure some devs hold back for the sake of charging for DLC (Street Fighter 4 costumes anyone?), but I like the idea that a developer can expand a game I like later on.

I'm sure they knew they were going to build add-ons to Fallout 3, but including that in the game probably would have pushed the date for release out. So you release full-featured on time, and add value to existing customers later with DLC. That's not shady.

If you literally build all the content up front and just release it later piecemeal as DLC, then that sucks. I don't think that's what ODST is. It sounds like an entirely new campaign with new balance tuning, music, story, structure, etc. If you're happy with Halo 3 as is and don't need a new campaign you don't need to buy ODST.

Hahaha. Love the chart!

Worth a rental?