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. :)

Damn, work needs to go by fast today.

I have just played about 1 hour on firefight and it is a fu***ng ball.
I will wait until later to try out campaign.
Glad to hear it is good.
My first impressions are this is a good game.
Music is deadly in firefight, especially when you get to wave 5.
45 Euro it cost me.
Well worth it I reckon.
I have the music playing as I type.
I mean it alone is class.

Oh yeah the music. LOL.

Again this is fantastic. The music as your tippy toeing through the dark, keeping your eyes peeled is awesome. Bungie are better at tension building than games like Doom etc. Maybe they should do a horror. LOL.

You should give firefight a blast.
Even the dialogue is a laugh.

I plan to. :)

I am just a sucker for the whole Halo story. After that, it's Firefight and achievement hunting. I have work in 3 hours though. :(

Beat it last night...here ya go, no spoilers.

- Campaign has superb pacing as it switches form flashbacks and city hub, it switches from crazy halo action to quiet stealthy action
- Campaign is about 7-8 hours long on Heroic with 1 player. It is best played alone for the first time.
- It has most emotion out of all halo campaigns and story, acting/voice work is excellent
- Music is really best in the business especialy in the city hub where you feel like you are all alone on the planet
- Visuals are dated in cutscenes but not during gameplay. Looks beautiful in motion, and having that infra red visor is kick ass. Some of the battles are so large in scope, with lots of scarabs, that you will wonder how they did that on the 360.

- Firefight matches are time eaters and one can easily last over an hour if you know what you are doing
- 8 firefight maps in total, all of which are are rather big, but a few are massive.

Nice one Disolitude.
Going to get me a few beers later and hit the campaign trail.
Missus heading out so sound system up full.Happy days. :D

Huh?

It is 3pm and my copy is still not heeeeeere !!!! Aaargh !