Halo 3 Beta.. Wow. Just.. wow.

I apologize for my less than stellar writing in this new blog post, but after playing Halo 3 for over two hours now, my heads still buzzing.

To start off.. let me just say this is by far the most fun I have had on my 360 in the past, oh, I don't know -- EVER. Bungie, I heart you. The little time I had to wait after the Crackdown debacle greatly outweighs just how awesome this thing is. I'm not going to write up a huge post, being that I don't feel I've spent that much time with the game to come to any real conclusions. So, I'll just highlight a few things.
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Likes:

-- The MA5C assault rifle. Seriously. It's not an overpowered spawn weapon, but it can really hold its own in a fight. Although to this date I haven't really taken Frankie's advice and fired short controlled bursts...

-- Equipment. Nearly all are useful and at the same time a joy to use. Using the Grav Lift on High Ground, for example, to toss grenades up on two bridge-campers and watching them go flying is awesome. At the same time, tossing down a Bubble Shield to save you or your friend's life can be rewarding down the line. Same for tossing a Power Drainer right before you die :).

-- Dual Wielding! For once, I actually want to dual wield now. Brute Spikers are my favorite; I even tend to trade them off for an Assault Rifle. But please note that SMGs can really hold their own now. I actually got a double kill with a pair of them against two enemies -- with the same clip(s). One had an Assault Rifle and the other a Battle Rifle. Neither survived.

-- Melee! Like many, I was taken aback after trying to whack a guy after my magazine ran out, only to find I didn't immediately jump five feet toward him. Melee lunge = gone!

-- Turrets. Both the actual mini-gun turret and Missle Pod "turret" are a joy to use. I've gotten a few kills with the Missle Pod on Valhalla, and at least a killing spree using the mini-gun on High Ground. Great stuff.


Dislikes:

-- Spartan Laser. Meh, it's more of a personal problem. Just can't seem to get any kills with the thing really. A little more practice might help, but it seems that whenever I get it, someone snipes me from across the map. Facing a Laser sniper from a ways away is also quite frustrating.

-- Snowbound. Design wise, it's a great map. But I haven't had one match I really liked on it.

-- Needler. Maybe it's the same with the Laser, but I can't seem to do anything with it. The design of the actual weapon is somewhat... weak, but I do respect the faster rate of fire. I've only gotten to handle the weapon a couple times, and died after pumping a clip into a guy to no effect. Guess I just plain suck with the thing.


Favorite Moments:

-- The aforementioned killing of two enemies with a pair of SMGs. Great to have the things be useful this time around.

-- Multiple killing sprees with dual Spikers on High Ground. Just fun to see those spikes tear through a bad guy's shields.

-- Getting not one, but two kills with the revamped Brute Shot on High Ground. Firing three shots, I killed one near the Laser nest (more specifically, the ledge out to the right of it; appears people don't notice you there often). Then, checking my radar, jumped down to nail another with three more shots.

-- My first game, actually sticking someone. Not with a Plasma. Oh no. A Spike Grenade. Needless to say I have never before actually stuck someone.. with anything before. Great moment on High Ground.

-- On Valhalla, I blind threw a plasma grenade as I jumped off of the rocks near the middle of the map, toward the river. Not really thinking I would even damage the guy, lo and behold it turned out I not only damaged him, but stuck him. Needless to say, I saved that film :).

-- Once on Valhalla I "rallied the team" together toward the area the Man Cannon sends you. We were red, and all four of us were at various locations near the ending location of the MC. I had two Spikers and an AR, with one plasma, two spike, and two frag grenades. On top of that, I had the mine, which I promptly placed near the end point of the MC (a little off though..). Enemy after enemy kept coming, whom I would promptly tear to shreds with my Spikers with my team mates sniping a few with the Laser and providing support. I only died twice, and actually got the last kill of the game with a sneaky tactic. Hard to fully describe, but really an amazing moment.

All I can think of for now. Hopefully I'll have more over the next week or so. Until then, post your greatest moments/likes/dislikes in the comments!

Here's to more Beta goodness!


~Major Silva

Noteable Blog Cancellations

Well, I've made some "claims" and started some "series" on here within the past few months. Now, one of those never came to fruition, and the other, well.. you'll see.
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"My Halo Humpday Challenge"

Status: Cancelled

A while ago on the forum, I bragged about (and posted an excerpt of) an epic Halo 2 LAN party I had attended. And totally owned at. Well, after two months now of not finishing, let alone posting, the final product I've decided to just cancel it altogether. Written in the style of the Bungie Humpday Challenges, mine described the tale of me and friends, and me owning friends. Needless to say, writing it up was more of an impulse action. And as time went on, the impulse to finish the thing just faded away. So, it will forever be unfinished.

What Will Come of It: I'll likely be writing up a LOT of Humpdays similar to what I started to do with this one come May. You already know what I'm talking about, so I won't even say the word :).
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"Halo 3: What Are You Doing, Bungie?!"

Status: Possibly Cancelled

A little longer ago, I made a post talking about how I thought Bungie was doing a horrible, and in some cases juvenile job with Halo 3. Man Cannons, changing the HUD, and introducing a slew of items deemed "unnecessary" were all targets of mine that I attributed to Bungie's lack of focus and what not. Well, here I stand before you (virtually), and admit that I... like.. Halo 3. The Beta, Weekly Updates with juicy information, the latest Vidoc -- all are factors that have come together to at least stunt my doubt and criticism toward Halo 3. I still have a few doubts, like the Bubble Shield-deploying, trip mine-dropping, deployable grav lift-deploying almighty "X" button, but other than that everything looks great to me. Especially the replay feature, which we have no seen and will experience ourselves in a little over three short weeks.

What can I say, Bungie. You've won me over. For now.


What Will Become of It: There's no saying really. Perhaps after the game, or Beta, is released I'll have my rants about it. But as for now, it's lookin' pretty cancelled to me. Good job Bungie!


~Major Silva