Ok, I played my first match of Halo 3 beta! Team slayer, Valhalla map
My Halo skills are a bit rusty, didn't get a lot of kills
First thing that I noticed is the much improved sound effects. One of my major gripes with halo 1 and 2 was the lame rattle toy-like sound effects for some of the guns (smg, warthog gun) even made a couple of posts about it here because it bugged me so much. Now they're much heavier and carry a 'base', feel much more powerful. The gun sound effects are snappier and powerful. Hearing a snipper miss you is awesome in 5.1.
Someone was charging his lazers and I could get out of the way just in time. Have gotten the chance to charge my lasers.
Plasma nade looks different, very cool spalsh effect. While throwing it, it's harder so spot than in Halo 2, the pasma blue-fire is toned down.
Grenade sound and explosion effect is cool and powerful!
Dismounting a the machine gun and then seeing your spartan run around with it in 3rd person is great. Someone was on its way down from the mancannon and I mowed him down. Hot!
Grass looks awesome, very lush and green!
Interface looks awesome, I was adjusting my look sensitivity mid-game and it was very easy, quick and smooth. Great improvement.