Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I’ve been lucky enough to have been included on the HALO 3 Bungie Friends and Family Beta test recently and I figured I’d write a little about my thoughts on what I’ve seen so far, especially considering the wider public Beta begins in a few hours. Right now the community ranges from 1400 to 2000 depending on the time of day, but they expect half a million people on the Beta in the morning. It’ll be crazy. One paragraph of history. I love HALO, the original game. Playing Co-Op with my buddy, Kraken, was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had with a video game, the first such experience I’ve had since perhaps GoldenEye on the N64. HALO 2 was more of a mixed bag. They seemed to weaken all the weapons I could actually use (shotgun, sniper rifle, pistol) and make the new weapons I had a hard time wielding more powerful. They also skimped on the campaign mode, instead focusing on the online play and the campaign of the first Halo was great, just as fun as the multiplayer. That’s where I was entering into this Halo 3 Beta. I’ve been playing since Friday. With QT Fest and my regular schedule of writing, interviews and updating, I’ve had much less time to play than I wanted, but I’ve gotten some quality time on the three maps released. I have to say I’m liking what I’ve been playing. The physics are a little more like Halo 1, with the jump not being as gravity-defying and ridiculous as Halo 2 and the weapons handling a lot more like the original game. Especially the sniper rifle, thank God. And my old friend, the Assault Rifle, returns at last. Okay, the three maps: HIGH GROUND – A multi-level base on a beach. SNOWBOUND – Snow level with underground bunkers connected with tunnels and each entrance to the outside is protected by an energy shield you can walk through, but not shoot through. VALHALLA – Giant open air map. A massive span of land separating two bases. Pretty much a giant version of Blood Gultch. Many trees, streams, rocks and hilly land. Also, no portals anymore, just “man cannons” which launch you to specific points, allowing you to shoot at people while flying through the air… and allowing you to get shot. The biggest addition to the game play is the ability to pick up special items. There’s a trip mine, portable grav lift, a Bubble Shield and (my favorite) an energy drainer. Also new is the ability to reload your duel-wielded weapons one at a time by pressing the left or right bumper. The X button releases your special weapons. Bubble shield creates a translucent energy shield around you, energy drainer is like a TERMINATOR electricity field that grows as it powers up and takes away shield and life from anybody around it (including you), the trip mine arms and will blow if you step near it and the portable grav lift is good for going over walls or deploying in front of an approaching vehicle. I haven’t done this myself, yet, but I hear it’s awesome to watch a warthog bear down on you, hellbent for leather, then hit the grav lift and go flying over your head. It’s been nice playing with people who, for the most part, aren’t dickheads and no one who has been able to find ways to cheat, two major reasons why I stopped playing Halo 2 online. Let’s hope the trend continues when the Beta goes wide in a few hours. My only suggestions… if I were king of the world, the Covenant carbine rifle would be eliminated from the game. I know lots of people love it, but I suck at using it and everybody else doesn’t. Didn’t say it was a fair suggestion, but if I were king of the world I’d be a tyrant when it comes to these fucking things. They also need to toy with the physics just tiny bit. I have my sensitivity turned down low, but when I’m aiming through a long range weapon it’s still set too high, yet when I’m playing regularly I move too slow. The grenades… there is a new grenade, a spiky one you can stab onto people. I like it. But the regular grenades need to be a little more powerful. Not much more, but the kill zone needs to be extended another half a foot or so. Other than that, I like the gameplay. It feels like a hybrid between the original Halo and Halo 2. I’m sure there will be much discussion about this in the talkbacks below when the the Beta goes live… I’m hearing it’s 5am Pacific Time. Hope to play with some of you… But be warned. I’m incredibly talented. No one can die like I can. My body can draw your bullets and needles and plasma bursts no matter where you shoot them. I win at dying every single game, no matter who my opponent is. I’m that good. -Quint quint@aintitcool.com
