New York Times: Halo 3 is Halo 2 with questionably better graphics

[Zeus]

And here we have yet another slightly negative review for Halo 3, or at least one which has resited the hype train. The New York Times denote that Halo 3 is just Halo 2 with better graphics and the hype Microsoft generated about the game is a much better achievement than the game itself. While The Times admit Halo 3 is well put together it just isn't a game which will break the mould and bring more creativity to the genre of First Person Shooters.


Yet, while Halo 3 is a slickly produced, exciting, well-made shooter, I wouldn’t class it as one of those creations that rival the importance of bendable straws or casual Fridays. And saying that could well result in a few angry letters.

It doesn’t really matter what reviewers say, though. Halo 3 is not just a game: it is a phenomenon fueled by obsessed fans, slick advertising and excessive press coverage (of which I find myself a part).

But even though the hoopla Microsoft has generated around this game is, in a way, a greater achievement than the game itself, it cannot be denied that there are people who will take greater pleasure in this game than in any other entertainment this year.

And what will make them happy, what will make their days joyful and give them long, crazed nights of ecstatic bliss, what will make the purchase of Halo 3 the best thing they could possible do with their money, is this one thrilling fact: Halo 3 is Halo 2 with somewhat better graphics!


News Source: <A href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/technology/circuits/27games.html?ex=1348545600&en=2f8c1cc6293422aa&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg" target="_blank">nytimes</a>

[des]

So true ^^

[willizm]

They hyped this thing up too much. If they wouldn't have done so much marketing then this game would have went over better with those that get turned off by hyping games. Then again, it may not have sold as well as if they did the mass amounts of marketing. 50Mill cost/ 300Mill expected return.

[funnybutrandom]

people expected too musch from halo 3, most games that have a second series (what ever you call it) use the same system for making it, look at tony hawks, i personally think it always looks the same with different maps and buttons.

who ever belived microsoft was telling the truth when they said it was going to truley be the "next gen" graphics was fooled by exellent advertising work.

[sigma8]

Sounds accurate to me. Honestly, it's probably the second best outcome, though.

First best would be living up to all hype, and being totally innovative..
Second best is what it is: solid title, good hype.
Third best would be purely innovative.
Fourth is solid, but no real hype (no excitement around the game)
Fifth is a bad game!

[Jongamer]

Geez guys, it frikkin' Halo. You can't change the game drastically or you will lose most of your fanbase.

you guys have to understand that if you changed somthing that was loved to much, people will get angry.

Hmm Halo 2 looked like Halo 1 but with better graphcs, new weapons and dual weilding, Hmm not much of a change from Halo 1 to 2 either.

You can't please everyone.

Obviously most of you on these forums hear a few higher ups says Halo is overrated and so everyone says it.

Why do people LOVE Halo? Because it is a FUN game, not necisarily a good game, but its a very fun game.

Alot of you are just pissed at Halo because it overshadows your favorite FPS on your favorite console.

Oh and just because you own more than the console your a Fanboy of does still make you a fanboy if you bash other consoles, nuff said.

[SoulThief]

Geez guys, it frikkin' Halo. You can't change the game drastically or you will lose most of your fanbase.

you guys have to understand that if you changed somthing that was loved to much, people will get angry.

Hmm Halo 2 looked like Halo 1 but with better graphcs, new weapons and dual weilding, Hmm not much of a change from Halo 1 to 2 either.

You can't please everyone.

Obviously most of you on these forums hear a few higher ups says Halo is overrated and so everyone says it.

Why do people LOVE Halo? Because it is a FUN game, not necisarily a good game, but its a very fun game.

Alot of you are just pissed at Halo because it overshadows your favorite FPS on your favorite console.

Oh and just because you own more than the console your a Fanboy of does still make you a fanboy if you bash other consoles, nuff said.

Incorrect statement, If I packaged Vista with better 3D effects, and throw 20 million in marketing people will buy it to, now how you put it, Halo 3 is Halo, there's no Halo 1 or 2 or 3, only Halo, they could've just stuck with Halo 2 and made episodic content, cause Halo 3 isn't a game, it's an expansion.

And fanboyism, is generally a person, that denies anything positive from another console, and is trying to combat every console, with it's own, solely believing that his console is the best, while numbers, statistics, and arguments say different.

Bashing a game, or console, will NOT make you a fanboy, I would be pissed at my 360 if it got RROD'ed, does that make me a fanboy?
No an angry customer, don't confuse arguments, with idiocy.

"Nuff Said"

[Jongamer]

What we got here is a case of "Hate it because its popular"

Like people bash Windows
People hate the Ipod
people hate Wii

I'm just trying to make a point.

And I am not saying that Halo 1, 2, 3 are all the same game, you could say they are expansions, but Huge Expansions to where it needs to be its own game, and as far as I know Halo 1, 2, 3 all use different physics engine and game engine.

I love Halo, I always will love Halo.

You know there WILL be a Halo 4.

[slammed00si]

for the love of god. play halo 2 and 3 side by side and see if it looks like the graphics are only slightly better. even in the semi hd 480p setting on my tv and xbox halo 2, doesnt compare to halo 3 at all. on the game play front what the hell did anyone expect halo 1-2 were successful why in the hell would they change much in 3? i mean crap does that mean that all the marios are crap just because all that happened was graphical changes and minor gameplay changes? the answer is no.

[dee]

All this talk about hype, the only hype I've seen are the ads and people talking about the "hype". Did Bungie ever say they were going to reinvent the wheel???

Halo 1 and 2 were really good games, they were not the best in their class, but they were still good games. Halo 3 is the conclusion to the two previous titles and if you didn't like the first two you'd probably not like this third installment.

This first was fun, I played it at a friends house and bought an xbox afterwards. The second was a let down (story line wise), but the multi-player was better than the first, and the graphics looked better. The third (which I'm yet to play) looks better than the first two and from all that I've read promises to finish the story (and not end like two did).

So all the talk about its too hyped up is utter rubbish. McDonalds has a lot of add, so should I say it too is too hyped up? You either like eating there or you don't. Just like you either like halo or you don't. Claiming its too hyped up is nonsense because all the hype that everyone is exposed to is just ads not promises to change the way we play fps.

What we got here is a case of "Hate it because its popular"

I totally agree.

[Frak-Frakistan]

first the xbots try to bash the two negative( yet true) reviews by saying that they want attention by being different.

Then a reporter says that he won't accept bribes from microshaft in the form of Halo 3 merchandise.

Then the NY times report.


Halo 3 was suppose to be the Benchmark for future games according to the XBOTS!!! I am really disappointed that this is the best 360 can provide

[end3rbr0]

for the love of god. play halo 2 and 3 side by side and see if it looks like the graphics are only slightly better. even in the semi hd 480p setting on my tv and xbox halo 2, doesnt compare to halo 3 at all. on the game play front what the hell did anyone expect halo 1-2 were successful why in the hell would they change much in 3? i mean crap does that mean that all the marios are crap just because all that happened was graphical changes and minor gameplay changes? the answer is no.

There was more innovation in a single Mario game(pick one)then in all of the Halo series combined. Look at the jump from Super Mario World(SNES) to Super Mario 64(N64) go back and look at what Mario 64 did for gaming and tell me that you honestly think Halo has done that for even it's genre(FPS)let alone gaming in general.

What you are doing is mixing up popularity with greatness. Halo is EXTREMELY popular, but far from great. As far as FPS games go, it isn't even a mid level title, in fact it is pretty mediocre. Mario never had to bribe reviewers for perfect scores or spend more money on marketing than it cost to actually make the game. Mario has achieved so much more than Halo ever will, and without a lying, bribing, hype machine behind it either. But keep defending your baby, I understand, it's all you got. But know the difference between just popular and simply great. Halo and great simply don't go together.

[JacKz5o]

Theres only so much you can improve on a console..

[sigma8]

All this talk about hype, the only hype I've seen are the ads and people talking about the "hype". Did Bungie ever say they were going to reinvent the wheel???

Huh? What do you think ilovebees is? You think "viral marketing" is not part of hype? You think Master Chief ringing the closing bell at the NYSE is not part of hype? You think releasing special edition Xbox360's in Halo3 themes is not hype? Constant press releases about pre-orders selling out? Sure, people take it upon themselves to buy stuff...but when people hear tons of other people are buying something....that's a marketing term called "bandwagon effect". MS has used it aggressively.

There has been tons and tons of Halo3 hype. Plenty to go around. You are clearly insane.

What we got here is a case of "Hate it because its popular"
I don't think any of these articles "hate" Halo 3. They're just exploring other facets of its release. I haven't heard of anyone (except the harshest of anti-360 people) hating it. Just think of it like this: at least 5% of what's said about a topic is going to be contrarian. So if there are 95 glowing articles about Halo3, you're going to have to deal with 5 articles that look at some less desirable aspects of the game or its launch.

If you want to popular, all press is good press.

[mrdj]

This is nonsens..once you play halo 3 and njoying all the fun it brings in any terms you just dont care if the grafic just got a little update from halo 2 to halo 3! Its a great game and it deservs all the hype it got in my opinion!

[Trashcat]

a reporter says that he won't accept bribes from microshaft in the form of Halo 3 merchandise.
I think you need to learn what the word bribe means in the grown-up world, Ms didn't tell him what hes supposed to write he was free to write anything he wants therefor its not a bribe, besides he got freaking Halo merchandise not a new car or cash.
Then the NY times report.
You got to be real serious about gaming if you get your gaming news from NY times lol
Halo 3 was suppose to be the Benchmark for future games according to the XBOTS!!! I am really disappointed that this is the best 360 can provide
It is a benchmark for all console multiplayer games to come, I think the approach to Halo 3 graphics as performance over visuals was explained enough.
You are so desperate to spill some **** on Halo 3 launch thats really sad.

[billysastard]

What we got here is a case of "Hate it because its popular"

Like people bash Windows
People hate the Ipod
people hate Wii



you could not be more wrong, people bash windows because its a bug ridden piece of crap (EVERY version) and by the time ms make a decent stable version its usualy time to upgrade to the next version, they hate the ipod because of all the i-sheep who have to own only an ipod when the fact is there are better and cheaper mp3/4 players from other companies and they dont infect your computer with i-tunes, the only people who hate the wii are those who made the wrong console choice and cant afford to own a second machine or who can afford all 3 but arent real gamers (who know that gamplay is more important than graphics), i guess that its taken halo 3 to teach xbox owners that graphics arent everything.

the problem with halo is that its taking attention away from games that are realy good on the 360 and also enforcing the myth that the 360 is an fps machine (when in fact of all consoles the only one that has suitable controls is the wii)

[end3rbr0]

you could not be more wrong, people bash windows because its a bug ridden piece of crap (EVERY version) and by the time ms make a decent stable version its usualy time to upgrade to the next version, they hate the ipod because of all the i-sheep who have to own only an ipod when the fact is there are better and cheaper mp3/4 players from other companies and they dont infect your computer with i-tunes, the only people who hate the wii are those who made the wrong console choice and cant afford to own a second machine or who can afford all 3 but arent real gamers (who know that gamplay is more important than graphics), i guess that its taken halo 3 to teach xbox owners that graphics arent everything.

the problem with halo is that its taking attention away from games that are realy good on the 360 and also enforcing the myth that the 360 is an fps machine (when in fact of all consoles the only one that has suitable controls is the wii)

I agree with you for the most part. Although in theory the Wii should be good for FPS games, it really hasn't been executed well(Red Steel was horrible) and I hear great things about Metroid Prime 3, but I have yet to pick it up(probably getting it this week)so after I play it I will know better. The 360 is anything but an FPS machine, only newbs who know nothing of real FPS consider the 360 an FPS console. If you want a true FPS experience, get a nice PC and go back to gamers school, cause that kiddie crap y'all are playing now ain't making the cut as far as FPS are concerned. No console as of yet has been able to capture a real FPS the way it was meant to be played. Until we find out if the mouse and keyboard support for Unreal Tournament 3 on PS3 is up to par with PC standards(doubtful, as there are sure to be driver issues)there isn't a console FPS on the horizon that will play better on any console if the PC counterpart exists.

[Blades]

Well, Like it or not. Over hyped or not. 170 million Bucks tells another story.

Halo is not for everyone. But 170 Million Dollars and climbing shows that somebody likes it. ;)

Its not just halo either. Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Grand Theft Auto. All have been over-hyped. Ultimately, It just depends what you are into.





;

[t0ywizard]

"Halo 3 is like Halo 2 except with better graphics"

WTF? Halo 3 is still halo. A majority of people says halo 3 sucks because it is about the same as previous halo games. Halo 3 will adapt the same game play from halo 2 and halo 1. That's what a series is all about. Take final fantasy for example, the game play of most of the series are the same; level up, fight boss, run into monsters as you explore a map. Super Smash bros series all has the same gameplay. All there are to the sequels of SSB games are better graphics and new characters. Same with halo 3-new vehicles, and weapons with improved graphics. Did i mention Tetris?

[aic007]

There was more innovation in a single Mario game(pick one)then in all of the Halo series combined. Look at the jump from Super Mario World(SNES) to Super Mario 64(N64) go back and look at what Mario 64 did for gaming and tell me that you honestly think Halo has done that for even it's genre(FPS)let alone gaming in general.

What you are doing is mixing up popularity with greatness. Halo is EXTREMELY popular, but far from great. As far as FPS games go, it isn't even a mid level title, in fact it is pretty mediocre. Mario never had to bribe reviewers for perfect scores or spend more money on marketing than it cost to actually make the game. Mario has achieved so much more than Halo ever will, and without a lying, bribing, hype machine behind it either. But keep defending your baby, I understand, it's all you got. But know the difference between just popular and simply great. Halo and great simply don't go together.

Ok, now take it easy there. Your comparing a 2d game going to a 3d game, of course there are going to be huge changes. Why not go with the Mario64 to Mario Sunshine? Because it is the same thing with a friggin water pack strapped to Mario.

Mario64 was an amazing game, it defined what a 3d platformer should be. Halo made FPS on the console likeable. The controls were spot on, it had a interesting story and the whole overall feel of the game was great. It wasn't as groundbreaking as Mario was but a FPS is a FPS, not much really going to change.

You call the game a mediocre FPS, yet it has managed to sell more than probably any other FPS. It has to be doing something right, nothing can sustain that type of interest on hype alone. The fact that the games still sell and are still played is a testement to how good the are.

[MadonnaProject]

its too late folks. the wii is just a gamecube with whitewash on it but people still buy it. the more you diss halo, the more it will sell. its called the uh, HALO, effect lol.


besides, how can it be halo 2 with a continued storyline, redone textures, character, vehicle and gun models, BETTER LIGHTING AND ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, not to mention levels and environments?