Well, it's finally here. Halo 3 has launched and those of you who own a 360 are either playing or at work and counting down the hours. Sorry, I've clearly been caught in Microsoft's hype ray. But whether you think Halo 3 is the pinnacle of next-gen gaming or merely a beefed up Halo 2 with ambitious online elements, this game is big news. And I've enjoyed what I've played so far. It doesn't make you gawp in wonder like the first hour of Bioshock but that's probably because the characteristically intense action doesn't give you the time to admire the scenery.
But quite frankly the single player is only the introduction to the game. Halo 3 is all about the online. There are numerous adversarial options that can be tuned to the nth degree but more interesting are the co-op and user generated elements. The Forge is a powerful innovation that takes UGC (user-generated-content) gaming out of the PC cul-de-sac and into the mainstream. Capturing the chaos, creating clips, level design - the number of customisation opportunities is ridiculous. The co-op is fantastic too, with four players able to play through the main story - I fully plan to spend most of my initial online time in co-op. It works surprisingly well and gives a welcome break from teenage assassins. Offline 360 owners are experiencing only half a game - albeit a highly polished and enjoyable shooter - but if you have signed up to Live and have any interest in shooters then you are in for a treat. Bought Halo 3 then? What do you think?
