Now, before you all attack me, make sure you read carefully to fully understand my reasons and maybe you too will share my opinion.

First off, why would I want to buy this game?¹  It is effectively taking off from a part in the Halo 2 storyline, then expanding upon it... So shouldn't it be called Halo 2: ODST?  Heck, why do they even use the 3 in it at all?  It seems like it would be much more fitting to just call it Halo: ODST.

Second, they are going to be making this game to play similar to a Ghost Recon game, hence the original "Recon" title.  The new protagonist is not some biologically enhanced, shielded power suit multi-billion dollar creation.  He is a simple Marine who is brave to the point of craziness.  Since he isn't enhanced and can die in just 1-3 plasma bolts, he's going to need to rely on stealth and team combat.  What a joke!²  The main strength in Halo games was the overwhelming feeling that you were Earth's last hope, and yet this game will take it all away to make you feel like just another expendable soldier.  They may even make the game play like Full Spectrum Warrior, which in my opinion was the worst idea for a shooter.  Who wants to play a shooter where you move the characters, give orders, but can't aim, or move them individually, give unique orders or routes, etc.³

Third, this has to be just a money grabber for Microsoft.  They don't have the next "full Halo" done yet, and they have no major shooter releases planned for 2009, so they decide to make a small expansion of Halo 2-3 and bundle it with their next map pack.  That's all this game really is, trying to sell you a fun map pack for $40 and I'm not going to sit here and watch Microsoft laugh in your face!⁴

So, if I were you I would not buy this game.

1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10?!
2: ---- - ---- post!
3: I love RTS games!
4: I just love italian food.

Have a Merry Christmas, guys!  Best of wishes to everyone and hope you all get the 360 games you wanted!

So how do you know its going to be like Full Spectrum Warrior. The last thing I heard was it was going to be a FPS just like all the Halo's that were released on the Xbox and Xbox 360.

Also its suppose to be different, why would you change the name to Halo 2: ODST. That's bad marketing right there you clearly don't want consumers to know your going back. All this game is, is just to show the events that was happening between Halo 2 and Halo 3. Something Square Enix did with Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

No major shooters for 2009?

Huxley is showing lots of promise, its gonna be major, beleive it.

And as back up theres also these exclusive FPS games.........

Dead island
The protector (FPS/Stealth/Puzzle game all in one)
The precursors
White gold: War in paradise

Plus microsoft know that most FPS games are a goldmine in sales so i suspect there will be plenty more FPS games announced.

With regards to Halo.......... The name alone should ensure great sales, will it be any good? only time will tell.

what is Huxley?

major shooter for 09:

COD:modern warfare 2

plus on PS3:

Killzone 2

I disagree with the OP. I feel the person is jumping to too many conclusions. No Halo game has been a disappointment, and I dont expect this one will be either. It may not be as meaty as the others, but it will be good with a new perspective in to the halo universe.

The thing is... in the last little while, with all the FPS games coming out pretending they are the new king of MP, I've realized how uniqe and amazing Halo series really is. Nothing can touch it when it comes to group fun. So more of it is always a good thing. Bungie will not do wrong to the series...

New Halo, FEAR 2, Resident Evil 5 are the only must play 360 games for 2009 thus far for me. So yeah...Im buying it.

Anything with the halo name attached to it will

a- sell immensely

and

b- be fairly good

i might get it...