Tag: microsoft

Review: ‘Halo Legends: The Babysitter’

halo legends babysitter

At E3 this past year Microsoft announced that they’d be making an anthology anime series much like ‘The Animatrix’ but based around the ever popular Halo franchise. The first part of the series is titled ‘The Babysitter’. It’s a cool look into the war on the Covenant from a different perspective than we’re used to as players of the games.

The 105th (which I have to assume is a reference to the 501st from Star Wars) is one of the best tactical strike groups in the human forces. Their ODST, or Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, and they’re insanely well trained. When we meet the team, their sniper is awfully upset because the team has been relegated to back up. A strange place for some of the best of the best to be placed. Worried that they’re going to be babysitters for some other new shooter, the sniper is getting out all his frustrations, making quite the racket. Turns out they’re backing up some one even better than them. it’s a Spartan.

Spartans are genetically enhanced super soldiers who have had a rather heated relationship with other soldiers. The teams mission is to take out a high ranking official in the enemy army known as a Prophet. Upon entry it’s very obvious that the Spartan is going to be the baby sitter of the bunch and that the ODST are in way over their head.

As a short story this works pretty well. It’s paced well, the voice acting is good, and the stoic Spartan is as powerful as you’d expect him to be. What really makes this whole thing special is the last few moments which really hit a chord with me. I didn’t see something coming and WHAM, I was taken aback. This is a very well written look into the Halo universe and puts a spin on what we think about the Halo characters. My only gripe would be that some of the characters seem to shift proportions a little too much. Normally anime, especially feature film anime, has this thing about body shapes and how they’re supposed to be exact through an entire feature. Here it’s kind of hit or miss. But that’s a SMALL gripe for such a good short.

Graphic Nature – HALO 3: ODST Review

halo odst

The Halo franchise has been one of the biggest things to hit the gaming industry. It has a following that can match any other game that has been around since the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). This past September 22nd Bungie released the latest game within the franchise Halo 3: ODST.

Halo 3: ODST is the first game in the series not to feature Master Chief as the main protagonist. Instead you are given a story in the tone of Memento. You play as the Rookie on the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST) team as they are sent into New Mombasa, Africa to protect something. However, through out the game you take control of the other remembers of your squad as they regroup and make their way through the city. This allows you to gain the full experience of what happened to New Mombasa, Africa as the Covenant being their attack on Earth.

Pros

The Story – As I stated this is the first game not to feature Master Chief. Halo 3:ODST acts as the link between Halo 2 and Halo 3, while also getting you ready for the next installment in the series Halo: Reach (it’s a prequel to Halo). Let alone the fact that Memento is one of my all time favorite movies and they do an excellent job working with that formula. However, the constant switching between stories get’s pretty annoying.

The Voice Acting – ODST features members of the Firefly cast and one sexy Cylon filling in voice over roles. However, having Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion) voice the group’s commanding officer is pretty awesome.

Firefight Mode – Yes, it is the same thing as Horde mode from Gears of War 2, but it is a well welcomed addition and experience to the Halo universe. Firefight mode allows you and three of your friends to see if you can endure 15 rounds of constant on coming Covenant attack.

Graphics – This is a double edged sword actually. The city of New Mombasa looks stunning even if it is under attack. My problems with the graphics are listed below.

The Middle Ground

Halo 3 Multiplayer – Halo 3: ODST came with an extra disk featuring only the Halo 3 online multiplayer mode. This was an added bonus seeing as how the only multiplayer features on ODST are co-op and firefight. I’m sure Bungie could have cooked up a multiplayer for ODST if they wanted too.

Cons

Story Length – As good of a story ODST has it is pretty short for a $60 game. You can honestly beat this game in a few hours if you just sit down and run through it.

Graphics – Halo 3: ODST is built on the same engine as Halo 3 which was released in 2007. With the advancements in most of the game engines used today one would figure that Bungie would at least update their Halo Engine.

Overall, Halo 3: ODST is an enjoyable game. It gives you a different experience to the Halo universe that has only seen Master Chiefs story and also fills in some holes within the overall story. The Halo 3 multiplayer alone is enough to keep anyone occupied with the game seeing as how the story is pretty shot. Plus, it’s an easy game if you are looking to boost up that achievement score of yours. However, with it basically being Halo 3 with a different coat of paint and no real multiplayer of its own I would say that Halo 3: ODST is a solid rent. Paying $60 dollars for a game you probably already own and/or beat isn’t worth it.

‘Gears of War’ gets Director

Len Wiseman is set to direct New Line’s “Gears of War,” based on Microsoft and Epic Games’ hit video game. Chris Morgan is penning a new draft of the actioner that Stuart Beattie originally tackled. Scribe’s credits include Universal’s upcoming “Wanted” and “The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift.”

It has been rumored for nearly a year that Wiseman may helm the project; the game was featured in his most recent film, “Live Free or Die Hard .” But talks with New Line took place only over the last several months.

Wiseman will develop the story with Morgan. The two are also collaborating on the sci-fi action thriller “Shell Game” at Lakeshore Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. Wiseman, who established himself in the biz as an art director on pics like “Godzilla” and “Independence Day,” is also producing the third installment in the “Underworld” franchise, after having helmed the first two.

“Gears” revolves around a world reeling from an invasion by aliens known as the Locust, and a small team of elite soldiers who fight to retake the planet Sera and save its human inhabitants.

“Gears” is Microsoft’s second-biggest seller after the “Halo” franchise, and gamemaker Epic always intended to branch out the property into various media, such as films and novels, with an extensive backstory it developed.

A sequel game to “Gears'” first outing in late 2006, which was available for the Xbox 360 only, will ship in November. The game has sold more than 3 million copies.

New Line had initially aimed for a summer 2009 release for the pic, but further development on the project now will likely delay that plan. “It’s like with our games, you can have it right or have it right now,” said Epic Games topper Mark Rein. “We want to get it right. There’s no timetable for us. We just want to make as good a movie as we can, and we think (Wiseman’s) the guy who will do it.“