Halo 3

Halo 3 - (Xbox 360)
Developer: Bungie
Format: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter

It's finally here! But has it been worth the wait?

The most hyped game in recent memory proves that with the third outing, Bungie have again raised the bar to almost unassailable heights. It's no cliche to say that all of your hopes have been rewarded with this final installment; all your reservations from number 2 have been allayed. From combat chatter from your squad team-mates, to the variety of new weapons, vehicles and lush environments, this is easily the most immersive of the trilogy - an awe-inspiring slice of superb sci-fi. What's also extremely rewarding overall about the game is that it takes all the elements from the Halo universe, all the back-story and unfinished business, and wraps a terrific plot around them. You really feel part of this universes and right up there as the hero of the battle. The production values alone rival Hollywood and you can see why the cash was spent - allegedly it took $170million in the first 24hrs.

Without giving away any of the surprises in the game is a hard task so what you'll encounter that lift the game up is a great 4-player co-op mode played over Xbox live. This is also where the enhanced squad commands and tactics come into play against The Covenant. It reinforces the multiplayer finesses of the title and with the multiplayer maps and the addition of The Forge, the team aspects of the game simply shine. The Forge is basically a kind of level generator. You can swap and place spawn points, weapon drops and vehicle positions (the new Mongoose, a two-person quad, is a particular favourite).

The Forge is a genius move, challenging you to create again and again a new multiplayer experience that opens up the Halo world. Using skills form the refined single player gameplay and new weapons including the excellent Gravity Hammer, just increase the addictiveness of the game. Maps such as spooky, where all the motion sensors are turned off and each player has unlimited active cammo make for a very stimulating half hour.

Just be prepared for meeting your first Gravity hammer-armed Brute! It'll take your breath away.