Halo 3

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5503 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,271 out of 5503
  2. Mixed: 542 out of 5503
  3. Negative: 690 out of 5503
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  1. AaronB.
    Oct 15, 2007
    4
    Borrrinnngggg. Its lost all the magic the first episode had....and gained the tedious gameplay from the second one. Its sooo linear.The graphics are superb though; the sound is a pain- you can't adjust the volume in any way just like the other 2 games. Very frustrating. Online is laggy, takes ages to find a decent game and to be honest hasn't been back in my xbox since I Borrrinnngggg. Its lost all the magic the first episode had....and gained the tedious gameplay from the second one. Its sooo linear.The graphics are superb though; the sound is a pain- you can't adjust the volume in any way just like the other 2 games. Very frustrating. Online is laggy, takes ages to find a decent game and to be honest hasn't been back in my xbox since I finished the limp campaign. Having to backtrack through several of the levels you've just fought your way through sucks (there is a lot of backtracking, trust me). Last level is shit. I'm actually going to give the game a 4 rating as writing this review has just reminded me how grinding the single player missions were, and I originally had given it 7. What a shame. I don't know how many times I played the first one over the life cycle of my original xbox, it was loads. God what a waste. Linear, linear, linear. I can't believe I've just given Halo 3 a 4 rating. I waited soo long for it as well. Should have known better after the travesty of Halo 2.… Expand
  2. IHateFanboys
    Sep 26, 2007
    4
    Just goes to show you how people can get cought up in hype, all you need is a few mags and online game sites to say something positive like how this game will change the future of gaming and every teenager will get moist, truth is another thing. HALO 1 was ment for the PC but microsoft saw it as a good game and made it a launch title for the XBOXand as is was a game converted from the PCJust goes to show you how people can get cought up in hype, all you need is a few mags and online game sites to say something positive like how this game will change the future of gaming and every teenager will get moist, truth is another thing. HALO 1 was ment for the PC but microsoft saw it as a good game and made it a launch title for the XBOXand as is was a game converted from the PC it had a much better lenthy Story and game play. then HALO 2 came along and because console owners are supposed to like playing games for shorter periods( dont know where they get that idea from) they focused on the muliplayer part and add some crappy short story, but because you only find fanboys are consol owners microsoft knew that they would buy it up, even though its is so much shorter than halo 1. now for some reason HALO 3 hit the town and again for some reason these fanboys havnt grown up and they still think that HALO 3 will deliver, and you have all been duped again. HALO 3 is to cut this long story short is basicly HALO 2 with some extra multiplayer maps and what a suprise the story element is even shorter than HALO 2.
    I cant belive you guys actually pay £30+ a year to go online and use voice chat. well that what my bro does. me ive got a bit more sence and waisted my money on a hi spec PC where games are cheaper and online is all free. HALO 2 on the PC though exactly the same as the XBOX version is a complete FLOP on the PC, us PC owners will be enjoying FPS with lenthy storys lines and huge multiplayer areans like CRYSIS, HALFLIFE 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. Still cant belive my bro pays £39 for 360 games. HALO 3 does not even try to puch the graphics on the 360 and its no way worth the £39 asking price. and i laugh that one of the selling points of Halo2 was that master cheif can hold two guns. hahahahaha

    the only good thing going for this is the extra multplayer maps.
    Oh he dies at the end.    … Expand
  3. DanV.
    Apr 3, 2008
    4
    This game is better than the second, but the first one was much more better.
  4. AnonymousMC
    Jan 12, 2009
    4
    A generic shooter, the story is stupid and single player is easy on legendary. All those Xbox360 fan boys say that they have halo 3, that really isn't an achievement. Also multiplayer is filled with immature kids who tk you just to get the flag. I do not recommend you buy this game, maybe rent, but not buy.
  5. Klm1
    Oct 13, 2007
    4
    Boring storyline. Really bad gameplay. here's a list of what could be done to improve gameplay.
    1. New storyline (enough with the cliff hangers leading to disappointing finishes)
    2. should have bought back the homing rocket 3. not enough use of the Spartan laser (whats the point of bringing it into the game if we are not gonna get to use it all that much) 4. Let's pilot more    Boring storyline. Really bad gameplay. here's a list of what could be done to improve gameplay.
    1. New storyline (enough with the cliff hangers leading to disappointing finishes)
    2. should have bought back the homing rocket
    3. not enough use of the Spartan laser (whats the point of bringing it into the game if we are not gonna get to use it all that much)
    4. Let's pilot more vehicles (wraiths were easily destroyed and I don't remember being able to pilot any banshee's). The stupid flying unsc vehicle (whatever its called) sucked. you could not get it to fly high enough. WHAT GIVES?
    5. Let's pilot a SCARAB. how about that?
    6. Give us better bosses (like halo 2). fighting the scarab's was the only boss that was interesting in the whole game
    7. If the gravemind was evil, let master chief finish him off, not another nuclear bomb-run-for-your-life ending.
    8. more ability to scale the terrain
    9. bring back dual weilding needlers
    10. if you are gonna bring back weapons from the first game, make sure the player has the ability to use it like they did in the first game (a.k.a pistol - no zooming capability)

    thats all i have to say. thoroughly disappointed after finishing the game even on legendary.    … Expand
  6. RJP
    Nov 4, 2007
    4
    Honestly, this is one of the most overhyped and overrated games in modern history. I really enjoyed the first Halo, but this one is nothing more than being an expansion to Halo 2. Graphics are bad, gameplay gets boring, and the campaign is way too short and the ending is unsatisfying. Even my friends who were into the game before are now already bored of Halo 3. We even beat it on Honestly, this is one of the most overhyped and overrated games in modern history. I really enjoyed the first Halo, but this one is nothing more than being an expansion to Halo 2. Graphics are bad, gameplay gets boring, and the campaign is way too short and the ending is unsatisfying. Even my friends who were into the game before are now already bored of Halo 3. We even beat it on legendary, and still felt bored doing it! I guess the fanboys don't know how to review a game objectively, and instead act on impulse and excitement. gimme a break.… Expand
  7. AnonymousMC
    Oct 5, 2007
    4
    Halo is possibly one of the most overhyped video-games ever created. The campaign is short, unsatisfying, unoriginal, and absolutely lacking in anything that could differentiate it from a generic FPS. The multiplayer is, while popular nowadays, really nothing to get excited about, as it includes an unfair balance of weapons and a ridiculous "shield" system of damaging other players.Halo is possibly one of the most overhyped video-games ever created. The campaign is short, unsatisfying, unoriginal, and absolutely lacking in anything that could differentiate it from a generic FPS. The multiplayer is, while popular nowadays, really nothing to get excited about, as it includes an unfair balance of weapons and a ridiculous "shield" system of damaging other players. Don't give it the time of day.… Expand
  8. AlexA.
    Mar 17, 2008
    4
    This game was worse than halo 2 and i didn't think halo 2 was all that great i mean it awas good but not that good.
  9. DamienQQQ
    Jun 9, 2008
    4
    Halo 3 is an over-rated disappointment. It's nearly a clone of halo/halo 2 with little more to offer. The story mode is Bungie at it's best, but it's multiplayer is something of a disaster. Besides the long wait to get on a server, small things like the way it matches highly experienced players verses beginners, waiting for a map to load before being able to veto, the way Halo 3 is an over-rated disappointment. It's nearly a clone of halo/halo 2 with little more to offer. The story mode is Bungie at it's best, but it's multiplayer is something of a disaster. Besides the long wait to get on a server, small things like the way it matches highly experienced players verses beginners, waiting for a map to load before being able to veto, the way you have to wait for every process imaginable just crushes any possible enjoyment you could achieve. The list could go on for many more paragraphs! They need to make some lessons from Valve or Epic and figure out the basics of how online gaming can be fun. Multiplayer is horribly broken at best, however, co-op and being allowed to have four players on one console for online are a nice perk to see these days.… Expand
  10. bigfR
    Sep 2, 2008
    4
    The game is fun but unbalanced! and if you dont have live then there is no point in buying this game at all. bungie should have made the weapons (and especialy the beat downs) more balaced. overall fun with friends but not worth what the critics say!
  11. VianyteX
    Sep 27, 2008
    4
    Halo 3 is one of the most overated games ever. Fanboys are all over it and keep shouting about how its the best game ever. The single player is rather pathetic, poor storyline, poor characters and very basic and unimaginative levels. The enemies are a bit meh except the Brutes and the Hunters (I think they're called) but the Hunters were copied from Perfect Dark on the N64. Once Halo 3 is one of the most overated games ever. Fanboys are all over it and keep shouting about how its the best game ever. The single player is rather pathetic, poor storyline, poor characters and very basic and unimaginative levels. The enemies are a bit meh except the Brutes and the Hunters (I think they're called) but the Hunters were copied from Perfect Dark on the N64. Once you've played through the single player you probably won't ever come back to it. The online multiplayer is good but its not anything to cry about. Some of the stages are quite well made though. Overall Halo 3 is an average FPS. It doesn't do anything new, just tries to copy from other FPSs. The guns are unbalanced and uninteresting except the Spartan Laser. The online is alright. Forge is meh, its just Bungies lazy attempt at a stage builder. I would say Halo 3 is the worst FPS i've ever played. Perfect Dark is better than Halo 3 in every way except graphics and yet that was out 8 years before it. Half-Life, Goldeneye, Bioshock and Timesplitters are more examples of better made FPS's. CoD4 is another overated FPS but its definately better than Halo 3.… Expand
  12. MarcA
    Nov 18, 2009
    4
    Sorry Halo fanboys, but i cant understand what all the hype is about. It was ok but thats it. I had it finished in 6 hours and was so glad that it was over. Had it not been for the second last mission i might have enjoyed the campaign a bit more, but honestly that had to be the worst level design of all time. Admittedly there were moments that i thought were very cool but not enough that Sorry Halo fanboys, but i cant understand what all the hype is about. It was ok but thats it. I had it finished in 6 hours and was so glad that it was over. Had it not been for the second last mission i might have enjoyed the campaign a bit more, but honestly that had to be the worst level design of all time. Admittedly there were moments that i thought were very cool but not enough that i'll be jumping on the Halo bandwagon anytime soon. I didint play the multiplayer so cant comment on that however. In summary - An ok game but not the gem i thought it'd be.… Expand
  13. dustin
    Oct 21, 2009
    4
    No company should ever be praised like Bungie is. They release what should have been an expansion pack to a primarily multiplayer game, charge 60 bucks for it, and it gets a 94 meta?
    4 for effort. Halo:CE did it best, single and multiplayer for its new age shooter genre.
  14. JoshQ
    Jul 11, 2009
    4
    94, WTF? Stop being a follower and maybe you'll enjoy life more. How can you say a game that is so absurdly cliche, has that terrible run and gun mp that has no tactical nature to it whatsoever is a good game. The storyline, cheesy and cliche. The weapons have the mechanics of a game from the 90's, no ballistics whatsoever. Innovation? none. Short, boring, with no replay value. 94, WTF? Stop being a follower and maybe you'll enjoy life more. How can you say a game that is so absurdly cliche, has that terrible run and gun mp that has no tactical nature to it whatsoever is a good game. The storyline, cheesy and cliche. The weapons have the mechanics of a game from the 90's, no ballistics whatsoever. Innovation? none. Short, boring, with no replay value. Fanboy more people.… Expand
  15. MazS
    Aug 8, 2009
    4
    Gave it a 4 for the multiplayer which is pretty fun (because of the features not the gameplay of it), but everything else is pretty crap! Especially the Single Player run around kill some monsters stupid cutscene run around kill some more monsters. I stopped playing after the 6th level wasn't really that great. And now as totally gone boring definitely not a 94 most overrated game Gave it a 4 for the multiplayer which is pretty fun (because of the features not the gameplay of it), but everything else is pretty crap! Especially the Single Player run around kill some monsters stupid cutscene run around kill some more monsters. I stopped playing after the 6th level wasn't really that great. And now as totally gone boring definitely not a 94 most overrated game too much better games out there.… Expand
  16. IainC.
    Oct 14, 2007
    4
    i had more fun killing my allies in groups over and over then actually playing the game. you can tell that they started to run out of story ideas after the second halo. and they may have had no choice. the story of halo was a story that would have been better off with no ending. the way the story is written really doesnt let their be a descent ending. but. the first halo will always be my i had more fun killing my allies in groups over and over then actually playing the game. you can tell that they started to run out of story ideas after the second halo. and they may have had no choice. the story of halo was a story that would have been better off with no ending. the way the story is written really doesnt let their be a descent ending. but. the first halo will always be my favorite game. and if any thing, bungie should work on remaking the first halo and improving it.… Expand
  17. RichardS.
    Oct 19, 2007
    4
    What a load of pants! I love Halo 1 - without doubt my favourite game. Every time I play it I can't help but marvel and exclaim out loud "I love this!" Halo 3, like Halo 2, bears no resemblance to the original classic. Halo was brilliant because it didn't have too many weapons, it had a couple of weapons all of which served a purpose. There was a brilliant mix of claustrophobic What a load of pants! I love Halo 1 - without doubt my favourite game. Every time I play it I can't help but marvel and exclaim out loud "I love this!" Halo 3, like Halo 2, bears no resemblance to the original classic. Halo was brilliant because it didn't have too many weapons, it had a couple of weapons all of which served a purpose. There was a brilliant mix of claustrophobic corridor action and a few open-field action pieces. There were a few machines, all of which played a different part in the story. Halo 3 couldn't be more different. Like Halo 2 it is now a naff and boring team-squad type game with loads of pointless and horrible weapons no-one wants to use, too many vehicles, loads of massive open-play battlefields with zero tension and zero fun. Instead of tense, close-quarter battles, now you have bland heavy-weapon warfare - it's like playing Mechwarrior or something rubbish like that. Better than Halo 2. But still rubbish.… Expand
  18. ThomasM.
    Oct 21, 2007
    4
    This game is really mediocre at best. It's match making is limited and very flawed. The story is short and not original. The game has potential but with your limited control of the game types you play and the inability to veto more then one game type or map per game, you are often stuck playing game types and maps that no one wants to. One example of a serious flaw is when someone This game is really mediocre at best. It's match making is limited and very flawed. The story is short and not original. The game has potential but with your limited control of the game types you play and the inability to veto more then one game type or map per game, you are often stuck playing game types and maps that no one wants to. One example of a serious flaw is when someone leaves a team game even before it starts, your team will be down players at the start.… Expand
  19. MickThomsoin
    Jul 29, 2007
    4
    After playing the Beta, Halo 3 is nothing new. This game does not live up to its hype at this moment. The graphics and gameplay were like Halo 2.5. And 2 new weapons? C'mon Bungie! Help us out here! Thats pretty pathetic. The maps were OK.Nothing to be excited about though. Same old choppy gameplay. Hopefully when the actual game comes out it'll be alot better. But I thinkAfter playing the Beta, Halo 3 is nothing new. This game does not live up to its hype at this moment. The graphics and gameplay were like Halo 2.5. And 2 new weapons? C'mon Bungie! Help us out here! Thats pretty pathetic. The maps were OK.Nothing to be excited about though. Same old choppy gameplay. Hopefully when the actual game comes out it'll be alot better. But I think Halo's time has past. The first Halo was a blast. But after screwing up the sequal, Halo 3 doesn't have a chance. I think I'll just stick to Gears of War for a while.… Expand
  20. TylerG.
    Sep 25, 2007
    4
    Good way to end, but too short.
  21. JimmyD.
    Sep 26, 2007
    4
    The campaign was a huge disappointment. Graphics were good, although the Admiral was just a huge crap-pile, and the sound was good and the controls were intuitive and easy as always, but the campaign was just not good. never felt like the story and the MCs part in it were as solid as the first two. There were no moments where I was astounded by the epic nature of the fight and the game The campaign was a huge disappointment. Graphics were good, although the Admiral was just a huge crap-pile, and the sound was good and the controls were intuitive and easy as always, but the campaign was just not good. never felt like the story and the MCs part in it were as solid as the first two. There were no moments where I was astounded by the epic nature of the fight and the game was over too soon. The ending was a giant cop out too. Really original guys. Its an underwhelming capstone to what was my favorite console game ever. I will say however that I have not yet played the PvP stuff, so please take that into account. But damn was the single player not good.… Expand
  22. AhmedG
    Sep 26, 2007
    4
    Too much hype for an avrage run and gun shooter.
  23. Lansalot
    Sep 27, 2007
    4
    Doesn't really move the series on from the original. Pales into insignificance next to the more accomplished multiplayer titles like GRAW2, Rainbow6 and the upcoming Call Of Duty 4. How come the frame rate issues, when COD4/GOW are far more graphically intensive and work perfectly? I can't believe it took them this long to come up with something like this. Forge is a good idea Doesn't really move the series on from the original. Pales into insignificance next to the more accomplished multiplayer titles like GRAW2, Rainbow6 and the upcoming Call Of Duty 4. How come the frame rate issues, when COD4/GOW are far more graphically intensive and work perfectly? I can't believe it took them this long to come up with something like this. Forge is a good idea however, quite innovative, but the speed of multiplayer gameplay is as if running through treacle. One for FPS-beginners I think (who haven't seen any of the above games)… Expand
  24. JollyJem
    Sep 27, 2007
    4
    I've only presently played single player but it is very disappointing. Bland graphics and sound, dismal AI and apalling script. A truly epic game (which this claims to be) would not sacrifice single player over multiplayer - both aspects should be outstanding. Poor effort.
  25. JonW.
    Sep 28, 2007
    4
    This game is just a jumped up halo 2, its ridiculously boring, the veichles in this game are god awful, the new guns totalyy useless, and its far too repetive, all it is really is duck shoot, and die, perhaps not in that order, in conclusion WASTE OF MONEY. Spend your money on something worthwile, not this, you'll be wanting your money back very quickly, i did in just 2 hours.
  26. DaveF.
    Sep 28, 2007
    4
    I was a huge halo fan...but 3 is awful. bland and outdated...it feels like an old game, basically a continuation of the first halo which was great for its time, but that was YEARS ago. where is the innovation? what did we wait for? bioshock is many times better than this piece of sh.t. what is wrong with these people who rate it a 10? open your eyes and think for yourselves instead of I was a huge halo fan...but 3 is awful. bland and outdated...it feels like an old game, basically a continuation of the first halo which was great for its time, but that was YEARS ago. where is the innovation? what did we wait for? bioshock is many times better than this piece of sh.t. what is wrong with these people who rate it a 10? open your eyes and think for yourselves instead of believing the marketing hype. yeah i know, i wanted to love this game too but i just can't pretend it's the masterpiece it claims to be.… Expand
  27. EmilB.
    Mar 13, 2008
    4
    This is probably the most overhyped/overscored game ever. Pink weapons, very bad splitscreen! You dont even have the full screen. Monsters sound like some cartoon movie monster. Multiplayer is slow. This game is for kids. Im going back to COD4
  28. oliverB
    Dec 27, 2009
    4
    i can find nothing unique about this generic FPS. seriously, its just another sci-fi shooter with sub-par graphics and boring gameplay. if this was another standalone game, it would get horrible reviews, but just because of all of the halo fanboys, it gets good reviews.
  29. EdwardJ
    Feb 7, 2009
    4
    I've been a Bungie fan for years (since Pathways) and I'm pretty certain this is the worst Bungie game I've ever played. Halo 3 is essentially Halo 2 running at a higher resolution with some pretty water effects. The storyline remains generic, the characters don't flesh out, and it retains the gameplay of Halo and Halo 2 without adding anything new to the franchise. I've been a Bungie fan for years (since Pathways) and I'm pretty certain this is the worst Bungie game I've ever played. Halo 3 is essentially Halo 2 running at a higher resolution with some pretty water effects. The storyline remains generic, the characters don't flesh out, and it retains the gameplay of Halo and Halo 2 without adding anything new to the franchise. Multiplayer is fine, but I've been playing Halo 2 since 2004, and it's the *exact same thing*. Yeah, they added deployables, but it doesn't change the gameplay mechanics, so you might as well not bother using them. Don't bother 'finishing the fight', its just not worth your time and $60.… Expand
  30. NathanT.
    Oct 27, 2007
    4
    Bottom line: just another Halo with a way-too-short singleplayer campaign, mediocre graphics AT BEST (compared to Gears of War and BioShock), and multiplayer that doesn't even compete with the most standard multiplayer PC games of today (Battlefield 2, Counter-Strike, Unreal, Quake, Team Fortress... even Half-Life 2 Deathmatch/CTF). Halo is seriously becoming the Mc Donald's of Bottom line: just another Halo with a way-too-short singleplayer campaign, mediocre graphics AT BEST (compared to Gears of War and BioShock), and multiplayer that doesn't even compete with the most standard multiplayer PC games of today (Battlefield 2, Counter-Strike, Unreal, Quake, Team Fortress... even Half-Life 2 Deathmatch/CTF). Halo is seriously becoming the Mc Donald's of video-games.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 86 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 86
  3. Negative: 0 out of 86
  1. GameSpot
    95
    It's the addition of the Forge level editor and the saved films that give the game an even longer set of legs, legs that will probably keep you running at full speed until Bungie figures out where, exactly, to go from here.
    Read full review
  2. TeamXbox
    97
    Halo 3 is the best Xbox 360 game to date. The single-player campaign and storyline are both very strong, but it's Forge and the Saved Films features that will likely go down in history as Bungie's crowning achievements. They've basically taken everything great about the series and improved upon it in every way, then added some amazing new features that we'll be using for years to come.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    100
    It's solid gameplay, immense replayability, online functionality and incredible production values will ensure its place in video game history, and it is, without a doubt, a satisfying and fulfilling close to the beloved trilogy[?].
    Read full review
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