Halo 3: ODST is the newest game in the popular Halo series. Exclusively for the
Xbox 360, it was released in September 2009, approximately 2 years after the release of Halo 3. Upon its release, the game quickly became the top-selling game for the Xbox 360 worldwide.
Originally, the game was developed as a small side project to give fans something new in between the release of Halo 3 and Halo: Reach. For this reason, instead of focusing on the characters that are familiar from the earlier Halo games, this game centers around the ODSTs, Orbital Drop Shock Troopers.
In the game, players take on the personas of these Orbital Drop Shock Troopers who are top human United Nations Space Command soldiers. Their job is to find out what happened to their missing comrades in the city of New Mombasa. The teammates have been separated from each other upon entering the city after a group of aliens attacked Earth, wreaking havoc and chaos.
As the game was in development, it evolved from a mini-game into a full-fledged full-length game. But, because it is played from the perspective of a different character than the other Halo games, it has a different and unique feel to it. It has elements of film noir with a jazz-inspired musical background theme. Despite, or perhaps due to, the deviations from the other Halo games, Halo 3: ODST has proven tremendously popular and has received mostly positive reviews.
At the start of the game, the player assumes the role of a soldier called "Rookie." Rookie is tasked with finding his missing teammates and searches for clues. As clues are found and answers are revealed, the player then assumes the role of the missing soldier. The player has a lot of choice in terms of where to go and what to do, so the game is experienced differently for each player.
As missions are accomplished, additional characters are unlocked and players are able to choose which character they would like to be. Players also win medals for jobs well done and can track their score over time.
The game itself has a complicated story behind it that follows chronologically from the other games in the Halo series. In
Halo 2, a group of alien races called the Covenant discovered the location of Earth and attacked the city of New Mombasa. While most of the attackers were repelled, one ship managed to land and then retreated, causing a shockwave that destroyed part of New Mombasa. Halo 3: ODST takes place in the aftermath of the shockwave while the Covenant is occupying the city.
The game begins as 4 ODSTs are planning an assault on the Covenant`s ship outside New Mombasa. A series of events occur, causing the ODSTs to crash and be separated. As Rookie, game players need to explore the city and sort through clues to find the missing ODSTs. The game is completed when everyone has been found safe and sound.
In addition to the exciting gameplay, there are some neat sound and special effects built into the game. Clearly the developers had fun putting it all together and the results are great.
