Ok guys, I waited in a queue of 280 people 12 and a hlaf hours ago at a midnight launch. Music started in the shop, 4 ODST dressed up people guarding the door. For a game where my hype wasn't that high, It very quickly went up to Halo 3 2007 levels. Was awesome. Anyway. Paid the money and got my copy home as quickly as possible.
Now whats it like?
Well to be honest, it's design is the best Halo yet. It's basically based around a Rookie in New Mombasa. You search for your teamates and when you find them or locations to do with them, you will flashback and play a very action orientated war driven more linear level.
It's this that makes you realise just how much youv'e missed Halo Single player. There is no other game out there that has this many enemy units or friendly units onscreen at once. The graphics are much improved. The game has plenty of variety from dark levels to broad daylight, but you realise just how good the engine is when theres 50-60 enemies displayed in the glory it is. Certainly even with this engine the actual look isn't that far behind the top graphics games. But the amount onscreen makes you forget that quickly and is almost more impressive due to this fact.
The opening intro being dropped, when experienced with HD 42" and surround sound really is pure Sci Fi heaven. NOONE does sci Fi like Bungie. Space Opera at it's best. The game has a distinct Halo feel, but ODST has alot more tension to it. Imagine pulling on a rubber band slowly. The more you pull it the harder the tension gets until it finally breaks. This really aplies to the parts you play as the Rookie at night, in the more free roaming gameplay around the city. Entering and exiting buildings. You find yourself almost creeping along like you did in Doom. Brings me to my next point. The lighting is ramped up greatly from Halo 3's which was a strong point anyway. Crawling through some buildings with flickering lights is reminiscent of the beginning of the first Alien movie and the part where Ripley is trying to blow the ship up near the end. Brilliant.
I'm playing through on Legendary and so far have played 3 and half hours. I'm probably a third of the way through looking at the achievements O have left till I finish it. So more impressions from me to come. But personally this is the best Halo Single player gameplay yet.
Well done Bungie, the most fun Ive had since Halo 3. :)
