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Game Informer December: Halo 3 Recon

DeadGzuz said:
No thread for the reviews?

Motorstorm got robbed, 7.25 - he says:

"Compared to recent racing offerings like Pure, Pacific Rift fails to get the heart pumping"

WTF? Then in the same issue they give Baja a 8.0. It's official , GI is a random number generator for review scores.
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What are the rest of the reviews?
 
Sorry if old, just saw this on CVG:

Halo 3 Recon goes open-world
First details: Explore New Mombasa and relive the fate of your teammates in Bungie add-on

The first details on Bungie's ambitious Halo 3 expansion Recon have finally emerged, detailing new equipment, more human characters and surprisingly, an open-world city.

Revealed in the latest issue of US magazine Game Informer, players take control of The Rookie, a faceless, voiceless Orbital Drock Shock Trooper part of a five-man team rocketed into Ground Zero of Earth city New Mombasa, during the events of Halo 2.

On the ground you've got new equipment, such as a PDA to set waypoints on a wireframe map, and you're left to explore the city in an order that you wish.

"The reason we chose the ODST is it's absolutely a character that we've had ideas about how to develop and put more front a center in the Halo games," Bungie creative director, Joseph Staten explains to GI.

The goal is to find and investigate the last known locations of your four ODST team mates, using the new 'Visual Mode', which as shown in the debut trailer highlights enemies an items with a hi-tech neon glow, to path your way though the moon-clad metropolis.

Once you reach one of the last-known waypoints of your four teammates you'll find a crime scene - such as a sniper rifle hanging from a street light - and enter a Lost-stlye flashback to earlier that day, where you'll control the squad member for an entire level.

Through the 30 minute flashback, which is said to play more like a traditional, linear Halo level, you'll discover the fate your teammate and unravel the mystery of what went on in New Mombasa.

"This isn't a crazy dream sequence or metaphorical journey that the object allows you to do.

"It works just like any detective show, Cold Case or Law and Order or whatever, where a detective can arrive at a crime scene, look at the chalk drawings and bullet holes and see what's going on. He hears some echoey voices and the camera crossfades and now you're at the scene of the crime two hours ago."

Squadies you'll be controlling include Dutch, "a big guy," who carries heavy weapons to take on vehicles, and Romeo, a sniper who's "kind of a dick".

Nathan Fillion of Firefly, who played a random ODST in Halo 3, is signed up the play one of the squad members. "So if you like the voice cast in Halo 3, we've elevated some of them to a cinematic level".

"In Halo games you've been the Chief for a thousand years and the Arbiter for a little bit of time too. It's a really nice feeling to jump into somebody else's boots for a while," says Staten.

But while you're character gains new toys like the PDA, Visual Mode and a silenced SMG, the puny non-super soldier loses the Chief's shields (but not the ability to regenerate health), motion tracker and ability to dual-wield weapons. The ODSTs are also shorter and slower.

This makes for some scarier and more interesting encounters, says Bungie. In the mag the developer gives the example of Master Chief going up against a Brute Chieftain with a hammer. As Chief you're faster than the Brute, can jump over his head and see where he is with your motion Tracker. As an ODST it's bit trickier; the Brute is bigger, closer and as fast as you, so if you turn around and run you know he's going to catch you, and you don't know exactly where he is.

"You don't feel like a chump. You feel like a very Capable ODST marine, but it's a different feeling," says Staten.

All of sudden this "straight forward" expansion sounds a whole lot more attractive. It's due for the end of next year.

In other Halo news, look out for our massive Halo Wars preview landing this afternoon.
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http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=201842

Sounds great :D
 
Nathan Fillion of Firefly, who played a random ODST in Halo 3, is signed up the play one of the squad members. "So if you like the voice cast in Halo 3, we've elevated some of them to a cinematic level".
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Awesome. Lets hope Bungie uses his talents a lot better than Bioware did :lol

This sounds interesting. Something I'll definitely pick up but I can't say if I'm all that excited for it. I'll definitely play this on legendary to get the most meat out of it.
 
So long as the story doesn't compromise the 4p co-op, I'm fine with it. As long as they allow the 3 extra players (even if they're not justified in the story), it's all good.
 
FFChris said:
No doubt they'll have updated the engine.
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it need a new engine, not an update. BIG need. It will face KZ2 and there is like a generation leap if it looks like halo 3
 
Also, I like that they're saying the encounters feel different playing as an ODST. That's a good thing. Also, I hope the New Mombasa "overworld" city is filled with plenty of enemies and surprises. Since you can explore it however you want, it'd be great to randomly come across some patrols, and set up ambushes for them and whatnot. Can't wait to see how they push the concept.
 
f@luS said:
it need a new engine, not an update. BIG need. It will face KZ2 and there is like a generation leap if it looks like halo 3
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Its not about the graphics, the game is going to sell because people love the halo universe and this gives them the chance to learn a lot about it. also its open world
 
Sounds like Bungie is really breaking the mold for Halo games. They got a lot of criticism for not evolving the Halo formula enough - I thought they did plenty - but I don't think that will be the case with Recon. The Halo games have always had a great sandbox to play in, taking that to an open city design is going to be a hoot.

In concept, it sounds like the second level of the first game, writ large. Go find the drop pods your buddies dropped in in any order, then branch that into a full mission.
 
This sounds great. Loved reading the section about the Bungie guys coming up with an Expansion idea, and refusing the cheap, easy cash in, and doing things Bungie style.

I'm expecting Opposing Force level of awesome in this Expansion.
 
f@luS said:
it need a new engine, not an update. BIG need. It will face KZ2 and there is like a generation leap if it looks like halo 3
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The engine itself is pretty damn good. It's just held back by some rough (or should I say jaggy) edges.
 
I find it hard to believe that people honestly still see games "facing" other games. Seriously, when was the last time Halo had to "face" another franchise?

On topic, can't wait to see all the changes Bungie is making for this game. Open world, flashbacks, unique characters, silenced SMG, crazy night vision mode? bring it on.
 
Llyranor said:
So long as the story doesn't compromise the 4p co-op, I'm fine with it. As long as they allow the 3 extra players (even if they're not justified in the story), it's all good.
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In the 10/10/08 Bungie weekly update Luke wrote, "You can also experience the entire Recon campaign cooperatively with up to 4 players."

It doesn't sound like co-op will make any sense in terms of story based on the CVG rehash of the GI article, but oh well, it should still be plenty of fun.
 
The Nature Roy said:
In the 10/10/08 Bungie weekly update Luke wrote, "You can also experience the entire Recon campaign cooperatively with up to 4 players."

It doesn't sound like co-op will make any sense in terms of story based on the CVG rehash of the GI article, but oh well, it should still be plenty of fun.
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Excellent.

Don't really care about whether it makes sense or not, since the storytelling in H3 was pretty mediocre anyway.

4p co-op means day1 for me, though.
 
Sounds fun and different. Will definitely buy it. But I'm still disappointed very much because after that long teasing all we are getting is an expansion pack. It took 2 yrs for SP DLC.

I was totally expecting new game from Bungie.
 
Interesting.

I reported back around August that Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin and Alan Tudyk had gone back to Bungie to record additional dialog for a "Halo 3 supplemental". This was before Recon was announced.

If Adam and Alan are 2 of the other ODSTs I'll be really friggin happy. And I'm guessing that Adam Baldwin could be the sniper that's a dick :-D

Also:

Nathan Fillion of Firefly, who played a random ODST in Halo 3
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Wrong, he was Sargeant Reynolds.

http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Reynolds
 
MirageDwarf said:
Sounds fun and different. Will definitely buy it. But I'm still disappointed very much because after that long teasing all we are getting is an expansion pack. It took 2 yrs for SP DLC.

I was totally expecting new game from Bungie.
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Well the thing is. It's not going to be 2 year in the making. It's been an idea floating around the diehard Halo fans at Bungie HQ for a while but it's only really gotten underway a few months ago.

The rest of them have been working on 2 other projects which could (should) definitely be from a new IP. The fact that Recon is but only a small project and doesn't even have a MP mode outside of co-op means that they're focusing a lot more attention on their other work. And it's totally reasonable to expect their next big project to take more than two years to make (especially if it uses a new engine and IP).
 
Dirtbag said:
Yeah true, I don't see how Killzone will match halo style sales.
Good point.
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oh yeah? well check out THESE GRAPHICS:
sg4lyw.jpg
 
EazyB said:
Well the thing is. It's not going to be 2 year in the making. It's been an idea floating around the diehard Halo fans at Bungie HQ for a while but it's only really gotten underway a few months ago.

The rest of them have been working on 2 other projects which could (should) definitely be from a new IP. The fact that Recon is but only a small project and doesn't even have a MP mode outside of co-op means that they're focusing a lot more attention on their other work. And it's totally reasonable to expect their next big project to take more than two years to make (especially if it uses a new engine and IP).
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I totally didn't expect new game to be released next fall. I was expecting announcement only. Mainly because of long running planned teasing.

I should have kept my expectations low. Hopefully new game will be announced at E3'09. *fingers crossed*
 
f@luS said:
it need a new engine, not an update. BIG need. It will face KZ2 and there is like a generation leap if it looks like halo 3
Click to expand...

My god.. It's like memory erased after every splooge..

before-Lair: "Just look at those graphics man!1! *Sperm everywhere*".
after-Lair: "..." "Well, at least the graphics are ok..."

No, what Halo 3 Recon needs, is a great game.
 
Maybe everyone already knew this, but I just read on the Game Informer site that the added Halo 3 Recon content for Unlimited subscribers will be posted on their site sometime today.
 
You know what just popped in my mind that would make me piss my pants as a Halo fan if I saw it in H3: Recon? Engineers. Recon would make the perfect scenario for them to appear. There's a description in one of the books about them taking cars apart and putting them back together. Imagine exploring New Mombasa all stealth like doing your "recon" and over a hill you see some Covenant Engineers pulling apart some human machines and stuff. It'd make perfect sense. The Covenant basically destroyed New Mombasa and now the Engineers are there to research for themselves. And they would make perfect sense being that they don't fight. They wouldn't mess up pacing or anything like in a normal Halo game. You could just leave them alone when you find them, or kill them for the hell of it. Make it happen BUNGLE!

For reference, Engineers as modeled and scrapped for Halo: Combat Evolved.

engineer.jpg
 
The open world hub-ish thing going into the linear levels could be interesting, it also could be annoying. I'm more interested in hearing about how the gameplay is changed around now that you aren't a super soldier.
 
Linkzg said:
The open world hub-ish thing going into the linear levels could be interesting, it also could be annoying. I'm more interested in hearing about how the gameplay is changed around now that you aren't a super soldier.
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The gameplay in the hub-world alone should be quite a change. Instead of pacing you with wave after wave, battle after battle in the hub-world, you're able to make what you will of the fighting in the hub-world of New Mombasa. If done right, this can seriously be great. Not knowing where patrols are...Not knowing where Covenant traps could be. Little stuff like that.
 
ToyMachine228 said:
The gameplay in the hub-world alone should be quite a change. Instead of pacing you with wave after wave, battle after battle in the hub-world, you're able to make what you will of the fighting in the hub-world of New Mombasa. If done right, this can seriously be great. Not knowing where patrols are...Not knowing where Covenant traps could be. Little stuff like that.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing it will be like STALKER, Fallout 3, and Far Cry 2 like. My concern is that the gunplay from Halo 3 wouldn't fit this style, so I'm hoping they can change it up to fit better. We already saw the silenced SMG, so that's something.
 
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