Halo 3 Recon will do away with what we've all come to expect from a Halo title. The expansion to Halo 3 will be more akin to Far Cry 2 and Grand Theft Auto than any of its predecessors. Don't fret, there's still plenty of linear level action to go around.
The open-world exploration comes from the main character seeking out and investigating various "crime scenes" where his fellow companions met their maker.
The latest issue of Game Informer has the full set of details, but here's a small bit of what was gathered from the article. You do play as "The Rookie", an member of the Orbital Drock Shock Trooper squad sent to Earth during the events of Halo 2.
The article later goes on to explain the differences between Master Chief and your ODST character in Recon.
The full article, with additional details not shared here, can be found at CVG.
The open-world exploration comes from the main character seeking out and investigating various "crime scenes" where his fellow companions met their maker.
The latest issue of Game Informer has the full set of details, but here's a small bit of what was gathered from the article. You do play as "The Rookie", an member of the Orbital Drock Shock Trooper squad sent to Earth during the events of Halo 2.
On the ground you've got new equipment, such as a PDA to set waypoints on a wireframe map, and you're left to explore the city in an order that you wish.
"The reason we chose the ODST is it's absolutely a character that we've had ideas about how to develop and put more front a center in the Halo games," Bungie creative director, Joseph Staten explains to GI.
The goal is to find and investigate the last known locations of your four ODST team mates, using the new 'Visual Mode', which as shown in the debut trailer highlights enemies an items with a hi-tech neon glow, to path your way though the moon-clad metropolis.
Once you reach one of the last-known waypoints of your four teammates you'll find a crime scene - such as a sniper rifle hanging from a street light - and enter a Lost-stlye flashback to earlier that day, where you'll control the squad member for an entire level.
Through the 30 minute flashback, which is said to play more like a traditional, linear Halo level, you'll discover the fate your teammate and unravel the mystery of what went on in New Mombasa.
"The reason we chose the ODST is it's absolutely a character that we've had ideas about how to develop and put more front a center in the Halo games," Bungie creative director, Joseph Staten explains to GI.
The goal is to find and investigate the last known locations of your four ODST team mates, using the new 'Visual Mode', which as shown in the debut trailer highlights enemies an items with a hi-tech neon glow, to path your way though the moon-clad metropolis.
Once you reach one of the last-known waypoints of your four teammates you'll find a crime scene - such as a sniper rifle hanging from a street light - and enter a Lost-stlye flashback to earlier that day, where you'll control the squad member for an entire level.
Through the 30 minute flashback, which is said to play more like a traditional, linear Halo level, you'll discover the fate your teammate and unravel the mystery of what went on in New Mombasa.
The article later goes on to explain the differences between Master Chief and your ODST character in Recon.
But while you're character gains new toys like the PDA, Visual Mode and a silenced SMG, the puny non-super soldier loses the Chief's shields (but not the ability to regenerate health), motion tracker and ability to dual-wield weapons. The ODSTs are also shorter and slower.
This makes for some scarier and more interesting encounters, says Bungie. In the mag the developer gives the example of Master Chief going up against a Brute Chieftain with a hammer. As Chief you're faster than the Brute, can jump over his head and see where he is with your motion Tracker. As an ODST it's bit trickier; the Brute is bigger, closer and as fast as you, so if you turn around and run you know he's going to catch you, and you don't know exactly where he is.
This makes for some scarier and more interesting encounters, says Bungie. In the mag the developer gives the example of Master Chief going up against a Brute Chieftain with a hammer. As Chief you're faster than the Brute, can jump over his head and see where he is with your motion Tracker. As an ODST it's bit trickier; the Brute is bigger, closer and as fast as you, so if you turn around and run you know he's going to catch you, and you don't know exactly where he is.
The full article, with additional details not shared here, can be found at CVG.