Between Halo 2 and Halo 3, ODST takes the series in a new direction, trading series star Master Chief for a group of elite soldiers (the “Orbital Drop Shock Troopers” referenced in the title) who battle familiar Covenant foes in the ravaged city of New Mombasa. In addition to the new story campaign, the game also includes two dozen Halo 3 multiplayer maps and one brand new multiplayer mode — a decent amount of stuff, but is it worth $60?
For the most part, yes it is — or so say game critics. Though it can’t quite live up to Halo 3’s stellar showing, ODST is currently scoring well enough (about 87% on gamerankings.com) to make fans temporarily forget about Master Chief and drop coin on his surrogates.
It will also make them very, very happy. In their 9/10 review, IGN called ODST “the definition of fan service” that “no Halo fan should be without.” Giant Bomb (4/5) concurs, adding that “if you liked Halo 3 and have any interest in the expanded Halo universe, you’ll enjoy the new things that ODST has to offer.”
So what new things, exactly? How about the plot? Gamespy, who gave it a 4/5, called the game’s humanistic story “more interesting and coherent than Halo’s narrative has ever been.” Eurogamer (8/10) insists it’s “a marvelous campaign, and its clever pacing, shifting focus and expert storytelling all heave effortlessly under cover of wisdom inherited from the phenomenal Halo 3.” Phew.
Everyone seems just as enamored with ODST’s new Firefight online mode. Worthplaying, who fell hard with a 9.5/10, consider it “a true test of skill.” Game blog Kotaku agrees, noting that “Firefight with a group of players is a blast,” while Edge Online (9/10) believes it’s “so good it instantly cements its place in future Halo installments” (although at the moment, only one new Halo game, 2010’s Halo: Reach, has been announced.)
