The real multiplayer draw for many, of course, is going to be all the deathmatch and team deathmatch options there are. There are many different maps to study and learn and plenty of game modes to keep you busy and active. The levels include everything from wide open snowy plains to levels that work their way above and below the ground, and there are many multilevel levels too, featuring plenty of chances to take lifts to go up high or jump down onto an unsuspecting competitor below. Game modes include protecting a VIP, the standard deathmatches where most kills win, capture the flag, assault mode, infection, juggernaut, King of the Hill, and Territories just to name a few.

The best thing about the multiplayer is the matching system and options work really well, as you can define what types of games you want to look for, so if you only like the free-for-all battles of a deathmatch you can have the game just hook you up with those games when it searches for you. Also nice is that should the game load up a map or game type you aren't exactly thrilled about, if the majority veto against not playing that level, the game will load up a new game for you to play. The game also has a ranking system so that you're only playing players in your experience level bracket, so you don't have to worry about getting murdered by a pro when you're just starting out. Also nice is the fact that you can mute opponents rather easily, so if some annoying jerk is being racist, sexist, or just an idiot, it doesn't take much effort to shut them up for good.

The game also sports a new mode called The Forge, which lets you take any multiplayer level and change it, removing items, placing them in different positions, destroying them on a whim, whatever it is you want to do and that the level is capable of doing. The main thing is to use the mode to make maps and share them with others, but I've seen people use the mode to play all-new game modes with the editor abilities, turning a regular map maker feature into a kind of interactive Dungeons and Dragons dungeonmaster meets first person shooter Halo.

GRAPHICS
Graphically the game looks so much better than Halo has ever before, and though Gears of War is still perhaps a better looking game in general, Halo is still amazing to look at in its own ways. A lot of the detail comes from the enemies, as you now get to see Brute armor fall away as you deal damage, showing the gorilla-esque nature of the creature underneath it all. The biggest graphical flourish and change comes from the Hunters, who I never knew were really a bundle of worm creatures acting as one, but the level of detail the game manages to pull with the Xbox 360 lets you see the individual strands of the worms. As for everything else, the levels are still crisp and smooth with its futuristic style, enemies look beautiful, flora is pulled off better than ever before, and particle and lighting effects of the various alien technology on display shines and radiates like never before.

SOUND
The music is something Halo is known for as much as anything, and the game never fails once in this regard. The orchestra score is lovely and features plenty of moments for the music to swell, letting you experience the rush of a firefight, and yet be soothing enough to let the epic scale of the story sweep over you and engulf you in emotion. In terms of sound effects it's hard to write about anything specific, because everything just blends in so well together and is perfection, whether it's the sound of a canon firing, shooting a machine gun, throwing a grenade, or whatever noise you'd expect to hear in a sci-fi FPS. The game also features some great voicework, featuring plenty of hilarious lines uttered by the Covenant and Earth's soldiers in the heat of a battle; I've never cared for a Grunt as much as I did in Halo 3 when he cried out about how I killed its friend.

IN CONCLUSION
It doesn't matter if you're coming for the single player, multiplayer, or both portions of Halo 3, because any way you go you're still getting a pitch perfect game that is one of the best games I've played in quite awhile. Halo 3 gets our highest recommendation and a game no Xbox 360 owner should really be without.

RATING:
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