While we still have a whole year to wait for Halo 3: Recon, the standalone expansion to Halo 3 that puts you in the boots of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) grunt, it’s still nice to get those things that we want to see in the game out there just in case the guys over at Bungie pay us heed. Here’s five things the single-player expansion to Halo 3 needs:
An Enemy with a Name
We all like it when the opposite we’re fighting against has a name. Sure, it’s nice for stories to create mystery now and then by making you fight an unknown enemy — such as in the original Halo. But when you’re given an evil character who just doesn’t make you feel anything or has been the bad guy before (I.e. The Prophet of Regret and Gravemind), it’s hard to really be drawn into the story. Tartarus was the perfect bad guy in Halo 2. He was different, he was new. And we hope that this new title will feature a similar character with personality and a fondness for Mohawks.
Meaningful Integration with Halo 3
It has already been confirmed that there are going to be links to Halo 3, in regards to the Mythic map pack. Users will be receive the map pack with Halo 3: Recon, or they can just download it from the marketplace. But we want more. Maybe some new armour permutations? Stat integration? (e.g. your service record rank passing over to Halo 3: Recon).
The Assault Rifle
If you think back to Halo 2, you’ll remember that the Assault Rifle, controversially, did not feature in the game. The iconic weapon of Halo: Combat Evolved, replaced by an SMG…it was hardly fitting for such a memorable weapon. Although it bizarrely made a return in Halo 3, it may possibly be omitted from Halo 3: Recon. The main character is seen with what appears to be a silent SMG in the trailer. And with the game set during the events of Halo 2, it’s looking grim for the Assault Rifle. But here’s hoping Bungie don’t think about it as much as we have in terms of continuity, and just include it anyway.
A Nightmare Level
It’s encouraging to see the ‘nightmare’ style graphics and scenario in the trailer; but since it is using the Halo 3 engine and not that CGI from the trailer, you’ve got to think it won’t look as grim as that. In Halo 3, you were hard-pressed for a scare. Halo featured night-time levels as ‘The Truth and Reconciliation’ and the horrifying swamp of ‘343 Guilty Spark’. Halo 2 had the flood loose among the walls of the spooky Forerunner architecture, commandeering human and covenant vehicles – and of course the big, freaky Sentinel Enforcers – in ‘Sacred Icon’ and ‘Quarantine Zone’. Horrible thoughts indeed. So, while the flood will probably not feature in Recon, we do hope that we receive a few frights and fight…sorry, force of habit…sneak under cover of darkness, holding our breath as a squad of brutes pass our hidey hole while on their patrol.
Elites
Much like the assault rifle, this iconic enemy were gradually relegated behind the Brutes in Halo 2, and were nearly completely gone from Halo 3. Yes, the Arbiter is there beside you. Yes, in four player co-op there are an additional three elites beside you; but there are no elites to fight, and there are very few fighting alongside you as AI buddies. Since ‘Recon’ is set during Halo 2, the Elites are still the fighting caste of the Covenant. Let’s hope that they also speak their own language again too. It’s annoying enough as it is to see them speaking in English in the Halo Wars trailer.
Those are the important points we hope Bungie hits for Halo 3: Recon. Be sure to check back later for what TGR hopes they avoid.
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