Format: 360
Release: September 22
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie

Bungie probably rue the day they described Halo 3: ODST as an expansion pack. No matter how much content the game shipped with, it’s unlikely that it would ever have been able to shake off the stigma of that early description.

The good news is that somewhere along the way, ODST morphed into a fully fledged title in its own right. The campaign has been criticised for being too short, but a play through on Heroic will lengthen the game and it’s not just adding filler. Heroic sees Halo as it’s supposed to be played, the enemy AI that made the series name is a joy to behold, as the Covenant attempt to flank your marine, or try to flush you out with a well aimed grenade.

The main addition to the game comes in the form of a hub world. The New Mombasa streets will be either a breath of fresh air, or an interruption to the action depending on your point of view. For those who simply want level after level of action, the hub is not for you. For those interested in atmosphere it delivers as intended, adding a sense of isolation rarely felt in the series.

Something that is absent from the game though, is the Master Chief, but to be honest, it’s not an absence that’s really felt. There are differences of course, marines can’t jump as high or dual wield, melee attacks aren’t as strong, and take enough punishment and you’ll need to find yourself a health pack. But the shield is there in a fashion, now known as stamina, so providing you can find cover in time, your heath won’t diminish.

As with Halo 3, there is a huge replay factor, particularly when using skulls to modify the experience, and going for some well designed achievements. There are achievements for accomplishing a specific goal, getting 10 Spartan Laser kills on one level, and completing the level without firing a shot on another. Along with the reasonably scarce ammo supply, and the fact that the weapons are so well balanced, it means you’ll frequently find yourself swapping weapons around, rarely relying on a just one. The removal of the battle rifle that so unbalanced Halo 3 means that no one weapon feels like it’s the best.

Away from the campaign, the newest addition to the multiplayer component of Halo is Firefight. Taking on Gears of War’s Horde mode, but removing the necessity to camp in a single spot, Firefight can best be described as an instant classic. Rather than increase the difficulty as such, various combinations of skulls are turned on as the round progresses, meaning sometimes enemies throw many grenades, sometimes you can only recover stamina through melee attacks, or sometimes even both.

There is no form of matchmaking or search, making the mode a strictly friends list only affair, but that is perhaps for the best. Tests with players in the UK and Australia revealed it to be an unplayable mess, but when all players are fairly local, Firefight moves along with barely a stutter, Given the reliance on teamwork, communication and specific player roles, it’s difficult to see how Firefight would succeed with random participants, but there are few joys greater than four friends working together to conquer Lost Platoon.

Halo 3: ODST is a very accomplished title that even without the Master Chief to carry it, still reaches great heights. Despite any changes this is still Halo, and Master Chief or not, the core gameplay is still intact. For those who have yet to jump into the series it marks a great starting point, being bundled with all 24 Halo 3 multiplayer maps. For those who have been there from the beginning, it’s more of what you love, and then some.