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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. JohnD.
    Sep 27, 2007
    3
    not worth the wait its halo 2 with more maps be deal.
  2. ChrisE.
    Sep 27, 2007
    7
    I'd consider myself a 360 fanboy. Halo 3 is fun, but just feels like something is missing. I'm trying so hard to love this game. I'm not sure I can.
  3. Warmonger
    Sep 27, 2007
    7
    Good game, but nowhere near the great game everyone makes it out to be! First of all it's too damn short. Sure it's a great multiplayer game but what about the people who don't play online?? oh well, I guess the're just out of luck! The graphics also haven't really improved significantly enough for me to go... Wow! Come on! the only game to really hold that Good game, but nowhere near the great game everyone makes it out to be! First of all it's too damn short. Sure it's a great multiplayer game but what about the people who don't play online?? oh well, I guess the're just out of luck! The graphics also haven't really improved significantly enough for me to go... Wow! Come on! the only game to really hold that distinction this year, "so far" is Bioshock! You only have to look at the superior graphics, such as the water effects,environments...etc and game play to relize, that it rules! It's new and fresh as opposed to old and stale....... R.I.P. Halo… Expand
  4. DLa
    Sep 27, 2007
    7
    First, I've been with Halo from the beginning. The first release amazed, the second released was good with a dumb ending, but I had had a deep fear after seeing many unflattering screenshots that this release would not extend the state of the art and I'm sad to say its true. Aside from a few new weapons and vehicles and debatebly enhanced graphics the game breaks no new ground. First, I've been with Halo from the beginning. The first release amazed, the second released was good with a dumb ending, but I had had a deep fear after seeing many unflattering screenshots that this release would not extend the state of the art and I'm sad to say its true. Aside from a few new weapons and vehicles and debatebly enhanced graphics the game breaks no new ground. Which is a shame for such an anticipated release with so much money behind it. Let me break it down. Graphics: 7 Not as good as Gears of War and not as good as Bioshock. The character models are average quality. For example, not as detailed as the players in Madden. Environment: 7 You'd expect to be able to interact with all kinds of things in the environment and blow stuff up. At least this is the mark of next-gen FPS today. Not so in Halo. You can knock stuff over, but you can't look inside of things, break things, use things, etc. Its a very superficial environment. Sound: 5 Oh boy. It's sad. I have a dolby 5.1 setup and the sound from Halo is very muffled and low-def. The weapon firing sounds or ok, but things like grenades sound like they are farther from you than they visually are. Little to no surround effects or ambient noise. A total lack of depth in the sound field. For the best 5.1 game sound, crisp and clean, check out Bioshock as the new standard (I'm not a fanboy, just using a real example of quality). Gameplay: 7 Same gameplay as before with a few new gadgets. No cover control (such as in GoW and Rainbow 6), no squad control, etc. Same, same, same. Story: 6 Getting a bit dated. The opening dialog is a bit perplexing. An utter lack of mind provoking elements in this story. Its a "story on rails". Not to mention, that for 3 versions of Halo the opening sequence is the cliche "the aliens have invaded our barracks" scenario. Tired! Get some new material. Overall: A very generous 7… Expand
  5. JohnB.
    Sep 27, 2007
    6
    Halo 3 is we pretty good game, but seems to cut you short again. The ads is what made this game larger then is really was. I'm a fan of the online play, but this should have been alll of Halo 2. The game actually starts to look like the original Halo as the game progresses which was disappointing. With this much hype it should have been far better then it was. Maybe it's me, but Halo 3 is we pretty good game, but seems to cut you short again. The ads is what made this game larger then is really was. I'm a fan of the online play, but this should have been alll of Halo 2. The game actually starts to look like the original Halo as the game progresses which was disappointing. With this much hype it should have been far better then it was. Maybe it's me, but 40% of the game looks way to familiar and seems as if it was a lazy way to go about it by revamping old levels from previous Halo games. Online play thus far is pretty fun. If the trilogy extends in another direction hopefully they get it right!… Expand
  6. PhilB.
    Sep 27, 2007
    8
    Play's well. Graphics look OK. Don't get me wrong. It's still a great game and fun to play but I expected definetly more. I've just played a few hours. My remarks are based upon my observations so far. I hope that some of my impressions will change to more positive. Story mode: Way to shoort for three years of development. That's the best Bungie and M$ can come Play's well. Graphics look OK. Don't get me wrong. It's still a great game and fun to play but I expected definetly more. I've just played a few hours. My remarks are based upon my observations so far. I hope that some of my impressions will change to more positive. Story mode: Way to shoort for three years of development. That's the best Bungie and M$ can come up? Online gaming: Is it me? Interface for game finding is not as intuitive as it used to be. It appears to have less settings. Hey it's still an excellent game. But compared to the improvements GTA made from Vice City to San Andreas for instance this looks measely. So I'm left with an excellent game and the feeling that it could have been just plain more. Satisfying but now WOOOOW experience. It almost smells like they just made the minimum to achieve an excellent game so they can make as much money as they can of the series. Too much business, not enough love. The Halo series really comes to an end.… Expand
  7. Jake
    Sep 27, 2007
    10
    Halo 3 isn't great in a mindblowing way. It doesn't rock your world like Bioshock or Gears of War or Oblivion did when you first got your hands on them. It plays a lot like the previous games. But what Halo 3 does achieve is that it is very fun. The pacing is brilliant. The gameplay varies in campaign a ton for a shooter. The checkpoints are frequent, so playing the game on high Halo 3 isn't great in a mindblowing way. It doesn't rock your world like Bioshock or Gears of War or Oblivion did when you first got your hands on them. It plays a lot like the previous games. But what Halo 3 does achieve is that it is very fun. The pacing is brilliant. The gameplay varies in campaign a ton for a shooter. The checkpoints are frequent, so playing the game on high difficulty is challenging without being frustrating because you are always thrust back into the spot in which you are stuck. And the features. My god this baby has years of stuff in there. Forge, co-op, metagame, campaign, multiplayer, and the fact that you can go see Bungie's favorite user created films and maps. It is just sick. So yeah, go buy the game. It is very fun.… Expand
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. JustinC.
    Sep 27, 2007
    10
    This game is flawless, a work of art. The multiplayer is by far the most fun you will ever have on a console. If you have a 360, you need to buy this game.
  11. EoinO.
    Sep 27, 2007
    5
    Looks great shame it's so basic in it's combat system and so unevolved in it's feel/characters. As a shooter it feels like a kids game. I'll stick with Bioshock and Rainbow 6 Vegas thanks. Waste of £40 in my mind I'm trading it in today.
  12. IanC.
    Sep 27, 2007
    8
    Sorry everyone, but I'm a bit disappointed too. I don't get the super-high scores and mass raving either, this really doesn't deserve 100 here and there and everywhere. That all said, there is some magnificence here, and Bungie deserve high high accolade for their sheer innovative genius in the Theater modes and Forge mode. At the end of the gaming day, you'll have a Sorry everyone, but I'm a bit disappointed too. I don't get the super-high scores and mass raving either, this really doesn't deserve 100 here and there and everywhere. That all said, there is some magnificence here, and Bungie deserve high high accolade for their sheer innovative genius in the Theater modes and Forge mode. At the end of the gaming day, you'll have a ton of fun with this, there is stuff here you just won't get anywhere else, and so in that respect it's a solid 8 from me, and HIGHLY recommended.… Expand
  13. NathanO.
    Sep 27, 2007
    9
    People are saying that it doesn't live up to the hype, but in reality no game could live up to the hype generated before the release of this game. I tried not get taken in by the the hype but we all know how that usually ends up! This game is however very good, if you liked the first two(or at the very least you enjoy blowing stuff up!) you will enjoy this game. To all the people People are saying that it doesn't live up to the hype, but in reality no game could live up to the hype generated before the release of this game. I tried not get taken in by the the hype but we all know how that usually ends up! This game is however very good, if you liked the first two(or at the very least you enjoy blowing stuff up!) you will enjoy this game. To all the people saying its too short, play on a harder difficulty!… Expand
  14. [Anonymousguy]
    Sep 27, 2007
    7
    Not really anything spectacular on the single player, and the Online not as fun as halo 2.
  15. CaseyY.
    Sep 27, 2007
    7
    A very fancy patch for Halo 2.
  16. ScottS.
    Sep 27, 2007
    10
    Extremely polished. beauutiful gameplay controls and graphics.
  17. FnordLord
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    Absolutely perfect. Stunning. Flawless from beginning to middle to end. This game the entire reason that I bought an XBOX 360, and now having finished, I don't regret a single cent that I have spent.
  18. JackDaniels
    Sep 26, 2007
    9
    This game is a lot of fun and has a ton of replay value, especially if you have an xbox live account. The single player is fun, but multiplayer is where all of the Halo games are at their best. Although the game has very good graphics, they could have been better, and that is why this game gets a 9 out of 10 from me.
  19. StevenH.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    Nice to see a game of this magnitude deliver such great Online Multiplayer AND Campaign. Most good games seem to only really hit one or the other...
  20. RyanG.
    Sep 26, 2007
    9
    Halo 3 definitely lives up to the hype. The campaign was a decent length and ties everything together, the graphics are great though not perfect (more than made up for by the rock solid frame rate), and the music and voice acting was excellent as usual. The multiplayer is not a huge step up from the last incarnation, but it's hard to make it much better. The re-mapping of the X and Halo 3 definitely lives up to the hype. The campaign was a decent length and ties everything together, the graphics are great though not perfect (more than made up for by the rock solid frame rate), and the music and voice acting was excellent as usual. The multiplayer is not a huge step up from the last incarnation, but it's hard to make it much better. The re-mapping of the X and shoulder buttons take a little getting used to, but it becomes second nature after a while. The new weapons and equipment are welcome additions and the new maps are for the most part good as well. Overall, a more-than-solid title for the 360 and a must-buy for anyone even remotely interested.… Expand
  21. AhmedG
    Sep 26, 2007
    4
    Too much hype for an avrage run and gun shooter.
  22. DanielB.
    Sep 26, 2007
    4
    Never played Halo till I bought the third one. Was quite interested in finding out how good this game was due to what a benchmark title Halo was for the original Xbox. I shouldnt have bothered. Last Gen graphics (I Have it playing thru a monitor at 1280 x whatever and its distinctly crap) crap story oh and my favourite repetitive gameplay . What is it that keeps you guys so interested inNever played Halo till I bought the third one. Was quite interested in finding out how good this game was due to what a benchmark title Halo was for the original Xbox. I shouldnt have bothered. Last Gen graphics (I Have it playing thru a monitor at 1280 x whatever and its distinctly crap) crap story oh and my favourite repetitive gameplay . What is it that keeps you guys so interested in this repetitive snore. I realise that it has to resemble its previous titles and maintain a Halo "feel" but I mean..... whats the big deal. Yay Im the Master chief, I kick Ass, Looks like ill shoot someone then, repeat till your eyes bleed (or you are stabbing them out). I never thought I would ever say that killing aliens wasnt fun but in this its a chore to keep myself from ripping the disc out of my beloved 360 and using it as a frisbee. I dont know how you could possibly care about going past ten minutes of this snoreville. I beat the first two stages ( heroic) using the left thumb stick and my fingers pressed pretty much constantly on the triggers. No jumping, no eqiupment no need to think no need to care. Who the hell said this was tactical. You are having a laugh mate. This has all the tactics and appeal of a dead baboon. Oh but wait the multip[layer rules I here you say... excellent so I get to pay more money to play the good bit of Halo 3. I also get to listen to thousands of people that I dont like crap on about how awesome they are, how many kills they got.... blah blah blah. That might be a bit unfair but somehow I could put up with that banter during GOW but i cant in this and it can only come down to gameplay ( at least there was a third button to push in GOW). I dont know what you 10/10 people see in it but at least you like the game and dont feel so bloody ripped off. 3 years for a crap one dimensional shooter. Why didnt Bungie use forge and create decent levels or just.......something then this mediocre game. Halo is a euphemism for boring.… Expand
  23. MikeK
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    Beautiful game, but I'm still with Marcus Fenix.
  24. KCN.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    Halo 3 is a very intense game especially with multi-player wich gives u so many options and requires teamwork.
  25. MikeP.
    Sep 26, 2007
    7
    This is it?? this is the best Microsoft & Bungie can put together after 3 years of development? graphics are below par - far worse than most games on 360. not even in the same universe compared to Gears or Bioshock. gameplay is exactly the same as previous Halos - nothing's improved. enemies are stupid as hell. sometimes they just stand there; they can't drive, or get into cars.This is it?? this is the best Microsoft & Bungie can put together after 3 years of development? graphics are below par - far worse than most games on 360. not even in the same universe compared to Gears or Bioshock. gameplay is exactly the same as previous Halos - nothing's improved. enemies are stupid as hell. sometimes they just stand there; they can't drive, or get into cars. sound & story are fine, but nothing to get excited about. and the level editor? what do i care about the level editor?! I don't want a level editor - i want a good game! where is the platform defining Halo 3 we've been waiting for? delayed 2 years after the 360 launch, and this is what we get? what a disappointment.… Expand
  26. BillyE.
    Sep 26, 2007
    9
    ALL major sequels will have the same gameplay and formula. To expect Bungie to churn out new and fun elements is simply impossible. Forge? Its just a map editor, people say. Saved Films? Nothing that the PC couldnt do. What did you expect from Halo 3? Flying brutes firing rainbows out of their mouths? Grunts that barf lasers? Bungie actually created a system that utilized the new ALL major sequels will have the same gameplay and formula. To expect Bungie to churn out new and fun elements is simply impossible. Forge? Its just a map editor, people say. Saved Films? Nothing that the PC couldnt do. What did you expect from Halo 3? Flying brutes firing rainbows out of their mouths? Grunts that barf lasers? Bungie actually created a system that utilized the new features perfectly, a refined system that bests many other games. THE GRAPHICS. People complaining about this really need to get hit in the head. Maybe the graphics had to be tuned down? The battles in Halo 3 are many times the size of the largest GoW map... GoW 2will have the same gameplay CoD4 will have some nifty features but the same gameplay. Crysis will have the same overused gameplay and is shiny. Haze will have the same overused gameplay. My predictions for the dumbass comments of the games of the future. To people who say Halo 3 is Halo 2.5, you should seriously check out a side by side comparison. There is a difference.… Expand
  27. GuillaumeD.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    This game is simply too good. A must buy for anyone who loves FPS.
  28. Ben
    Sep 26, 2007
    8
    Hype aside, it's good but not great, solid but unspectacular. Sound design is amazing, levels are good, control is OK, AI is pretty horrible, and the story isn't done nearly as well as 1 or 2. The attention to hardcore fans with Forge and Theater is welcome, but it feels like this came at the expense of the actual game. Fans will be pleased, but 2 was better, and it compares Hype aside, it's good but not great, solid but unspectacular. Sound design is amazing, levels are good, control is OK, AI is pretty horrible, and the story isn't done nearly as well as 1 or 2. The attention to hardcore fans with Forge and Theater is welcome, but it feels like this came at the expense of the actual game. Fans will be pleased, but 2 was better, and it compares poorly to recent PC games like Half-Life 2 or Bioshock.… Expand
  29. VitoP.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    The game feels more complete than anything I've played before it. It is so well thought out. People have there quirks about it but what needs to be understood is how well it is designed. Load times are fantastic, all the effects inside the game with the replay feature, the forge feature, everything about this game is simply amazing. Only while I was playing Half Life 2 did I feel The game feels more complete than anything I've played before it. It is so well thought out. People have there quirks about it but what needs to be understood is how well it is designed. Load times are fantastic, all the effects inside the game with the replay feature, the forge feature, everything about this game is simply amazing. Only while I was playing Half Life 2 did I feel this way about a game, and no matter how hard I try not to, I have to say this is above and beyond. Whoever does not own a 360 - Get One. Because without it your missing on what a truly great game experience is. Thanks Bungie !… Expand
  30. BrentA.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    Halo 3 is a excellent game that lives up to the hype. People that are rating this game low just have a grudge or haven't played it. The gameplay is incredible in both the single player and multiplayer. The environments are great with a lot of detail. This game will keep people entertained for years to come. It doesn't get much better then this.
Page:

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
See all critic reviews »