

This is a low-light viewing mode that makes it easier to see enemies, weapons, health, scattered audio logs, and objectives. While essentially unnecessary in flashback missions due to the bright light, the VISR will likely still be on during night missions. Another tweak is the inclusion of the VISR (yes VISR, I guess removing the O makes it cooler and more ODST). You’ll always want to be on the lookout for health packs during more intense battles. What you have is a stamina bar, pretty much you can take a few hits with that and then your health will start to take damage. Being that you are not a Spartan, you lack shield. The most important setting is the stamina bar. The game features other major gameplay changes. If used well, it’s a great new way to play. Sometimes you have to stick to the shade to get past enemies or at least get in the best position to attack. You can easily choose a fight with a small alliance group, but winning that fight is another story. As previously stated, they rely more on stealth. The Rookie’s nighttime streaks play out a bit differently. It allows the story to be told in an interesting way and does a good job of quenching your thirst for covenant blood. The flashback sequences are generally action-packed unlike the more stealthy Rookie sequence. These items will trigger flashbacks allowing you to play as a member of your team after the fall. The story progresses by finding some key elements while playing as the Rookie. You wake up six hours after the fall and must begin to piece together what happened to your teammates. The mission is heading south when the ship causes a sliding space rupture in the city, forcing you to be separated from your squad when dropping. You play as the recruit in an ODST squad about to travel to New Mombosa to take a ship out of there. Most will remember the city as the place on Earth where Master Chief fought in Halo 2. The game takes place in the town of New Mombosa. ODST features a whole new storyline with all new characters and, for the first time in the franchise, an open world to explore.


This new take on the universe will push the Master Chief’s escapades to the back of your mind as you focus on all the great content this game has to offer. Halo 3: ODST may have originally started as an expansion, but the end product in some ways surpasses its predecessor.
