Halo 3

GamePro (US) (5 out of 5)

There is no doubt that Halo 3 is now the premiere online console shooter. It has the potential to be relevant long after its release and | can’t wait to see what new types of game modes become available through the Forge tools.

videogamer.com (10 out of 10)

Halo 3 transcends video games. It is a global entertainment experience. Just as Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Spiderman 3 brought to a close two of the most lucrative and epic film trilogies of all time, Halo 3 brings to a close perhaps the most complete, engaging and downright fun video game trilogy of all time. There is absolutely no way any Halo fan will be disappointed by this game. You better believe the Chief has triumphantly returned. Now buy the game, cock the Assault Rifle, and finish the fight.

Thunderbolt Games (10 out of 10)

So was it worth the wait? In a word, yes. With an epic story, exhilerating gameplay and an excellent online mode, there are plenty of reasons to keep playing for months. Halo 3 may not be as innovative as its predecessors or have the best graphics on the Xbox 360, but it’s an outstanding game and a fitting end to what’s been a fantastic trilogy.

Retroage (10 out of 10)

Podsumowując, kampania dla jednego gracza w Halo 3 jest bardzo dobra. Jest zróżnicowana, nie nudzi i wciąga przez całą rozgrywkę. Gdyby nie nieco krótki czas gry, byłby to idealny FPS dla jednego gracza. Z kolei multiplayer jest jednym z najlepszych w gatunku. Jest wciągający, zróżnicowany i sprawia ogromną przyjemnosć. Dostaliśmy majstersztyk w swej kategorii, świetne zakończenie serii i tytuł, który pokazał moc Xboxa 360. Pozycja obowiązkowa dla każdego fana FPSów oraz po prostu dobrych gier. Jest to również jeden z niewielu tytułów, których ogrom niweluje wszystkie wady i sprawia, że są niemalże perfekcyjne.

G4 TV: X-Play ( )

Whether or not Halo 3 lives up to the hype depends on how much foam you have coming out of your mouth while you stand in line at Best Buy on the 24th. What minor nits there are to pick with Halo 3 are dwarfed by the sheer amount of GAME on this disc, this is truly Bungie’s Orange Box. That people will be playing multiplayer Halo 3 for years to come is a foregone conclusion, but that people will be playing all the iterations of this campaign for just as long is a pleasant surprise. The game is so fun, and so complete, it makes us want to go back and dock Halo 2 a star, to put this game in proper perspective. Buy a 360. Buy Halo 3. Buy an HDTV. Buy a surround sound system. Then declare bankruptcy… your credit rating will be clear before you stick your head out of the house, I promise.

GamesAreFun.com (GAF) (10 out of 10)

The campaign mode on its own is great. If we're keeping score on a play-by-play basis, it could on its own bring the game to a 9. It doesn't really break the mold, and the graphics range from looking like they were masterfully painted on the screen in some places to others looking like I'm playing a first-gen Xbox game...with some bloom lighting. But the campaign mode is not alone. It comes with some of the best multiplayer in the Halo series and in most console FPSs. And that is enhanced by taking screenshots and video, the Forge, and if you bought the Limited or Legendary editions, tons of extras. In 10 years, when gamers are looking back at their 360 collections and press are doing retrospectives, Halo 3 will be remembered as one of the best games in the first two years of its life, perhaps its entire lifetime (I don't have future goggles). And that's not because it says "Halo" on the box; it's because it's fun as hell.

Game Shark (A)

This is truly the perfect way for Bungie to close out the trilogy. With its fun, if a bit short single player story, four-player online cooperative support, tight multiplayer gameplay and unmatched customization options, Halo 3 lives up to the unprecedented hype; Bungie said they'd finish the fight, and they did it with a bang.

EL33TONLINE ( )

Halo 3 is a fresh breath of air, even if it is from the same franchise that revolutionised the FPS genre on console several years ago. “Don’t fix what ain’t broke,” seems to be what Bungie worked with, good for them.

Games TM (10 out of 10)

[Online review] Bungie has taken its own brilliance and enhanced it in ways no one ever expected. Immaculate, flawless and immeasurably deep, Halo 3 online is the game everyone will be chasing until the now ex-Microsoft studio strikes again. And with over a million users online on the day of review, nothing's going to come close for quite some time.

The Game Hoard (7 out of 7)

While certain narrative elements could definitely be strengthened, Halo 3’s campaign still ties up its galaxy spanning war in a satisfying, entertaining, and appropriately bombastic manner. This final fight for survival finds its enemies, vehicles, and weapon options providing a variety of battle scenarios, but the level design is what really lets these combat mechanics shine both in the main story and in the incredibly thrilling multiplayer. With a good mix of maps that draw out the best from the gunplay, multiple modes that favor the levels in different ways, and The Forge allowing for deeper level customization, Halo 3 isn’t just providing a quality narrative payoff to the setting it built up but a competitive multiplayer experience with plenty of tools to tweak its already enjoyable gameplay even further.

411mania.com (10 out of 10)

Though it could easily have been swamped by the hype and buried by unrealistic expectations, Halo 3 weathered the storm very well. The game, even with the few flaws, is as close to the perfect FPS as you can expect to see this console generation. Not only does it have a very solid single-player campaign that improves on every aspect of the past two, but it takes real steps forward in both multiplayer and additional features. It’s quite possibly the best all-around game that the 360 will see this generation, with features that other games will be forced to imitate and gameplay that will still be entertaining far down the road.

ZTGameDomain (10 out of 10)

While I could continue to fill this space with great things to say about the game I am sure most of you have already taken the plunge. Halo 3 is going to sell a bazillion copies (no that is not literal) so this review is just another statement as to why this franchise is one of the classics in gaming. Halo 3 is not perfect; in fact it doesn’t do anything innovative or groundbreaking. What it does do is take a great game with superb gameplay and improve upon it in every way imaginable. You will also not find a more complete package for your money this year. The single-player campaign is worth the price of admission alone and with a multi-player component that could last years its hard to argue about getting your money’s worth. Halo 3 is a great game, but the sum of all of it’s parts make it a classic and a must-own title for all fans of the action genre.

Game industry News (GiN) ( )

Needless to say, Halo 3 truly finishes the fight with a huge bang. After my disappointment with both Halo 2 and the Multiplayer Beta, my negative feelings have been completely reversed. Even my doubts about multiplayer via Xbox Live seem to have disappeared. Bungie has gone above and beyond to provide the ultimate online experience, while the single player campaign effectively brings the Halo saga, six years in the making, to a complete end.

UOL Jogos ( )

A Bungie não poupou esforços para criar alguns dos momentos mais dramáticos e intensos da história dos jogos de ação. Momentos que nos deixam atônitos e que ficarão registrados na memória por muito tempo, por menor que seja o modo campanha. A profusão de modalidades multiplayer torna "Halo 3" praticamente infinito em termos de diversão, oferecendo opções de customização e compartilhamento inéditas em jogos de tiro em primeira pessoa. É uma produção que esbanja capricho e dedicação a todo instante. Como se não bastasse, conta com uma dublagem em português sem precedentes na indústria de jogos nacional. Simplesmente imperdível.

GameCell UK (10 out of 10)

Well to sum up, all in all, it’s hard to say that Halo 3 is anything other than excellent throughout. Halo 3's multiplayer modes have yet again raised the bar for the number of options, the likely lifespan due to an addictive ranking system, and the ease of matchmaking – you won’t have any problem getting a game of Halo 3 for a long, long time, that’s for sure. A campaign that most people seemed to enjoy, a story that makes sense (part-war hero story, part "love" story, part buddy movie) and ties things up nicely (or does it?). If this is the final part of the Halo story then it’s ended on a suitably high note, if not then Halo 4 has a hard act to follow.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (10 out of 10)

And yet, hype machine aside, cutting through the crap about console wars and the like, what we find in Halo 3 is quite simply this - the best game yet in one of the best FPS franchises of the era. Better than either of its predecessors, Halo 3 still can't quite escape the category of flawed masterpiece - but this time around, the flaws are so minor that even the most churlish of reviewers would be hard pressed to mark the game down.

Gaming Age (A)

Halo 3 is one of those rare games that is 100% immune to review scores. Whether it's an A or a C-, nearly everyone who owns an Xbox 360 will pick up a copy (as they should). I personally expected more out of the single player campaign in terms of story and depth, but everything else Bungie has packed into the game makes up for it - in spite of my usual nitpicking. It's a fight worth finishing so if you haven't already, get out there and do just that.

1UP (A+)

It's hard to imagine a feature of this game that someone won't love (we didn't even get to talk about the robust file sharing, where you can swap gameplay screenshots, edited game films, game setups, and maps). Or you can just look at it as a sum of so many quality parts, that value-wise, Halo 3 is as sure a thing as it gets. Sure, no one aspect of the game is life-changing on its own, but perhaps the package as a whole is. After all, Halo 3 has enough content to keep you stuck to your controller for weeks, if not months or even years.

Totally Gaming Network (10 out of 10)

Overall Halo 3 is one of those rare instances where the developer exceeded expectations and over delivered. There is enough content packed into Halo 3 for multiple stand alone games which makes it all the more impressive that Bungie was able to fit it all on one disc. The overall look of the Halo world looks better than ever in high definition and there are times where you will just stop and stare at the scenery. Much like Halo 2 I expect Halo 3 to be the most played game on Live for years to come.

GamesRadar (10 out of 10)

What's left to say? The single player is bigger and brawnier than anything that's been attempted on a console before. The multiplayer, which already shadowed the competition, has improved to the point of ridiculousness. The new features - Forge, Saved Films, Coop - are frighteningly addictive. And if you don't like any of that, you're always welcome to edit it until you do.

GameSpy ( )

In a lot of ways, this review is merely a formality, because there's no doubt in our minds that everyone with a 360 and a hunger for viscious multiplayer should own Halo 3 immediately. In fact, there are probably millions of people who do not yet own 360s that should go out and buy them just so they can witness the majesty that is a furious Halo 3 multiplayer match (provided they enjoy serious competition).

Snackbar-Games.com (5 out of 5)

Expect to see friends lists full of people playing Halo 3 for quite some time. It's fun, it's accessible, and you get to shoot aliens in the head while accruing GamerScore. What more could a gamer want?

Gamestyle (10 out of 10)

Halo 3 isn't perfect, but it's so close it's unnerving. There's very little to fault with this game, and the flaws that are there are almost completely overshadowed by the overall quality and incredible amount of content and features. We've never had this much fun with a 360 game before, online or off, and we doubt we will again for quite some time.

AceGamez (10 out of 10)

As Halo 3 week comes to a close, I can look back over the past seven days and honestly say that never in all my life have I had so much fun playing a videogame, in single player, co-op or multiplayer. I've put in hours every day, easily sitting for a session of five or six hours that flies by and leaves me thirsty for more when I finally drag myself away because of that annoying Halo 3 time sapper known as sleep. It really has been one hell of a ride - and thanks to those of you who have come along with me, to friends old and new who have teamed up with me online and to all of you who've taken time out of your busy Halo 3 schedules to read this diary and share in my experiences. It's not over yet though; in the words of the Chief himself, we're just getting started...

UGO (UnderGroundOnline) (A)

In the end, it doesn't matter what we say. You're buying Halo 3 no matter what. You probably already have it pre-ordered. So consider this review a reason to be super duper excited for September 25th. It really was worth the wait.

EmpireOnline.com ( )

While a tangible sense of déjà vu pervades the whole adventure, Halo 3 does what it does extremely well, and what it loses in originality it more than makes up for in stellar production values and delirious, balls-out blasting. And while players looking for a solo shooter may find BioShock’s bleak atmosphere more intriguing, Halo 3’s blistering blend of anarchic battles and team-based challenges make it worthy of the ‘game of the year’ tag so often thrust upon it.

GamePro (US) ( )

I'm also excited to see what sort of saved films are going to pop up in the Theater. I'm sure we'll see some great frags, tutorials vids on how to make some killer jump and amazing speed runs of the single-player campaign. Anyway you slice it, Halo 3 more than lives up to the high expectations set by gamers everywhere. It's solid gameplay, immense replayability, online functionality, and incredible production values will ensure its place in video game history, and it is, without a doubt, a satisfying and fulfilling close to the beloved trilogy[?].

Edge (10 out of 10)

The total lack of compromise in each and every single detail is breathtaking. Everything works with precision, everything is set up the same way, every barrier within reason has been lifted, and you never need to do any of it alone. Halo 3 was built to be used, built to be shared, built to be loved and built to last. It's a safe bet that it will still be enjoyed by a thriving community years from now. In substance it's nothing new, merely a magnificent, beautiful monster of an FPS sequel. In concept and execution, though, Halo 3 is the future.

GameLemon (10 out of 10)

Halo 3 is amazing. It's as simple as that. If you're a fan of shooters, great science fiction, multiplayer mayhem online or off, or just plain killing some fools, you're going to love this game. It's got everything is should, and nothing extraneous to hold it back. The campaign mode wraps up the trilogy in perfect fashion (no spoiler, but make sure you watch after the credits!), and the versus modes make for highly entertaining ways to kill some time - and some friends. Get out there and finish the fight. And if you want to go for Legendary on co-op, look up Darthziggy16 and I'll be happy to lend a hand.

The Review Busters (10 out of 10)

Halo 3 ranks supreme on the Xbox 360 and it will until Bungie releases their next big game. With improvements from graphics, game play and online play Halo 3 will not disappoint anybody. The campaign may seem short if you play the game non spot but just really stop and think when you put this game on, at first I thought it was too short on the normal setting then I realized I played this game too damn long. If you don't have an Xbox 360 then buy one right now with Halo 3. With over six thousand plus games being played non stop you can't go wrong.

Eurogamer.nl (10 out of 10)

Halo 3 is het beste deel in een van de beste first person shooter-series van de afgelopen tijd. Hoewel het spel beter is dan zijn voorgangers, zijn er altijd wel weer wat minpuntjes op te noemen, maar deze keer zijn ze zo klein dat zelfs de meest afwijzende recensent nog moeite zou hebben om het spel negatief te beoordelen.

Digital Spy ( )

While Halo 3 is not a million miles ahead of its excellent predecessor, the upgrades that are here easily make this the best game of the year on Xbox 360. With so much hype surrounding this release, some Halo 2 owners may be left a little disappointed, but the addition of the Forge Map Editor and the saved films feature, the excellent series of multiplayer options, as well as a range of new vehicles, enemies, weapons and environments, are enough to make owning an Xbox 360 an absolute must.

The Next Level (USA) ( )

The final pillar of Halo 3 is the whole community aspect. Each player gets their own little spot on www.bungie.net, where they can check their insanely detailed stats for every game they've ever played, browse their screenshots, join clans, monitor their friends list, post the contents of their share on the forum for possible praise, and generally be a Halo geek when they're nowhere near a console. Playing around with all this just might make you realize that while the individual components of Halo 3 aren't all top class, the sheer number of them offers more game hours of solid enjoyment than nearly anything else on the market, for any console.

Gamereactor (Sweden) (10 out of 10)

Jag skulle kunna hålla på att orera en evighet om alla fördelar med Halo 3, det är bara så fruktansvärt bra att jag knappt kunde hålla mig från att skrika rakt ut av glädje när jag njöt mig igenom äventyret. Med Halo 3 avslutas en av de maffigaste science fiction-upplevelser jag varit om sedan jag såg första Star Wars-trilogin för 20 år sedan och det är med nästan lika mycket sorg över att det faktiskt är slut som glädje jag konstaterar att Bungie efter två raka mästerverk har lyckats överträffa sig själva med deras bästa actionäventyr hittills.

The Video Game Critic (A)

There's nothing revolutionary about this game, but when you have a proven winner of your hands, you don't want to mess around with the basic formula too much. The first time I showed Halo 3 to my friend Steve and asked what he thought about it, all he could say was, "I think I need to get a [expletive] 360."

Wonderwallweb.com (9.9 out of 10)

As I mentioned earlier, I had never played a Halo game before, this is mainly due to me not really being a fan of First Person Shooters, however having now played Halo 3 I am totally converted, it’s fun to play on both single player and multiplayer, it offers a wide range of choice when it comes to online gaming and last but not least it looks stunning. Quite simply you must own this game, there is no argument about that.

NZGamer (9.9 out of 10)

Halo 3 is essential. An Xbox 360 without a copy of the game is like a human without a heart. Indeed, it is a game that demands purchasing an Xbox 360, and no doubt it will sell many. However, more important than the number of consoles it sells is the fact that Halo 3 leaves the video game industry with a final, glorious, and near-perfect event.

Gaming Target (9.8 out of 10)

Despite some flaws, Halo 3 is a crowning achievement on Master Chief’s enormously popular trilogy. It is a fitting close to the story and is easily the best of the series. We will, of course, see more games set in the Halo universe but it will be hard to top this one. No other game offers more fun, features and unique ways to frag your buddies than Halo 3, which means it will rightfully remain as the number one game on Xbox Live at least until the third generation Xbox console is released in a few years. Thanks for the memories, Chief!

Cheat Code Central (4.9 out of 5)

Ultimately, Halo 3 will not disappoint fans of the series. Halo 3 takes everything that made Halo a favorite game and tweaks it until it has achieved near perfection. The single player experience is a thrill ride from the beginning to the end and the multiplayer will probably be the king of Xbox Live until another game in the Halo series releases. Halo 3 is the undoubtedly best in the series and a game experience that shouldn't be missed.

Game Informer Magazine (9.75 out of 10)

Almost two years after the Xbox 360’s release, Microsoft’s marquee franchise finally comes home. With a satisfying campaign closure to the series’ epic story arc, unprecedented multiplayer options, an innovative video recording feature, and heretofore unseen console mod tools, Halo 3 lives up to every bit of its ever-expanding reputation.

Next Level Gaming (9.7 out of 10)

If you own a Xbox 360, you BETTER own this title... If you do not own a Xbox 360 then BUY one and own this title. I really do hope that this is not the end for Bungie and Halo. Give us Halo 4. Welcome to 2007’s Game of the Year...

Computer and Video Games (CVG) (9.7 out of 10)

Halo knows what it does best and it's done it. If you're one of those that is physically sick when even the world Halo is mentioned, we feel a little sorry for you. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face, as ours mums would say. You're genuinely going to miss out on an incredible gaming experience that offers many different ways to play it, alone with your mates, or against the global community.

GameZone (9.7 out of 10)

I said it before and I'll say it again. The Xbox 360 is the system to beat. With this, Bioshock and last years Gears of War ... well, it simply does not get any better then this.

XBox Evolved (9.7 out of 10)

In the end, Halo 3 is a fine piece of work on the Xbox 360. Bungie has truly outdone themselves. The Forge mode, avatar customization, and saved film features are great additions to the Halo franchise. Bungie even went to extreme lengths to add four-player co-op on Xbox Live. Players were demanding it and Bungie answered to their calls in impressive fashion. Halo 3 is a piece of art that will be played for many years to come.

TalkXbox (97 out of 100)

After three long years of waiting to “Finish the Fight” Halo 3 finally arrives and finishing the fight is exactly what you’ll do. The game has a great conclusion and ties up all the loose ends in the story. As a whole, Halo 3 is definitely worth every second of waiting from the time gamers completed Halo 2. The game is definitely far superior to its predecessor and is just about on-par with the original, maybe even more so since it feels more complete. And just like how the original Halo set the bar for console first-person shooters, Halo 3 raises the bar for all shooters out there. Halo fans won’t need to worry about being disappointed, for Halo 3 delivers the goods and is worth playing through every step till the end.

TeamXbox (9.7 out of 10)

As I said at the beginning of this review, Halo 3 is the best Xbox 360 game to date. The single-player campaign and storyline are both very strong, but it’s Forge and the Saved Films features that will likely go down in history as Bungie’s crowning achievements. They’ve basically taken everything great about the series and improved upon it in every way, then added some amazing new features that we’ll be using for years to come. The fight may be finished, but this amazing experience is never going to end.

VicioJuegos.com / uVeJuegos.com (97 out of 100)

El cierre de la trilogía fusiona el mayor de los cuidados técnicos en cada uno de los apartados del título. Por su excelente guión, memorable banda sonora, inmejorable diseño artístico y su difícil de superar multijugador, la historia del Spartan John-117 será recordada por todos como una de las más épicas e insignes del mundo de los videojuegos.

Fragland.net (96.1 out of 100)

Halo 3 has become what Bungie wanted: the ultimate Halo-experience and the most complete shooter ever on console. Both the story and gameplay are daring, perfectioned, powerful and never excusing itself nor taking itself too seriously. It's a work of love and passion for gaming that we get here, and one that will be cherished by gamers all over the world for years thanks to the single player, the co-op and multiplayer with its new community possibilities.

Play.tm (96 out of 100)

While Halo 3 doesn't look as good as games like Gears of War and BioShock it makes up for that with superb lighting effects, an engaging storyline and a multiplayer mode that will be played countless times over. If you were on the bench as to whether or not you were going to pick up this year's big release then I hope this review can go some way to telling you that you would indeed be missing out if you didn't get it. I still don't rate Halo 3's singleplayer experience as highly as perhaps Half-Life 2's, but the deathmatch you get with Half-Life 2 isn't even a patch on Halo 3's. As a result of the combined singleplayer and multiplayer replay value I will be scoring appropriately. After all, it is like you are getting two groundbreaking games in one.

XboxAddict (9.6 out of 10)

Halo 3 is the action game to buy this Fall, quite simply because it does exactly the same thing that the previous two have. The single-player story-driven campaign is excellent, and much more satisfying than the cliffhanger ending of the second Halo – different players may not be happy with where or how the story may necessarily end, having invested so much of themselves in the game over the course of six years, but it ends with no questions lingering or mysteries unresolved. The multiplayer, as it always has been, features new and reworked maps in the stunning new Halo 3 engine, more lifelike and beautiful than we ever expected – plus the addition of Forge means that players can never fully be prepared or pre-planned for what they may be stepping in to. In short – there’s enough in there to keep players going for a long, long time. Pick up Halo 3 and finish the fight.

Worth Playing (9.6 out of 10)

Halo 3, in short, deserves the amount of press and exposure it's getting. It's the product of a team that's on the top of its game and have been given the time they needed to make the game they wanted to make. If you've ever enjoyed an FPS, this is something you'll probably want to check out.

Game Over Online (96 out of 100)

Halo 3 doesn’t deviate from the formula that has made the franchise as popular as it is. It simply combines the best parts of Halo (wide-open, diverse environments) and Halo 2 (dual wielding weaponry), and throws a few new weapons, vehicles and enemies to the mix. The result is a thrilling and ultimately satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Then you have the multiplayer suite, which is out of this world. With the Saved Films, the Forge editor and the ability to custom create game types, the Halo 3 multiplayer experience is one that will last for years to come. Believe. This is one fight you’re going to want to finish.

Console Monster (95 out of 100)

Halo 3 is the perfect way to end a series and possibly the most near game to perfection. The graphics and sound are fantastic, the story and gameplay are brilliant and the multiplayer aspects are just amazing. The additon of Forge and co-op gives the game a much longer life span than many other games. You couldn't find a better game for any console.

IGN (9.5 out of 10)

The campaign, which is very good, is Halo 3's weakest point. It doesn't capture the cavalier spirit of the original Halo, but you'll still have fun playing through it. There's no first-person shooter on 360 that can equal Halo 3's blend of cinematic action, adrenaline-pumping shootouts, and male- (and female)-bonding gameplay. Look beyond the gameplay and you have a rich feature set unlike anything ever delivered in a videogame. The Forge and the replay functionality raise the bar for console shooters so high, it may never be surpassed this generation. There will be plenty of aspects for fans to nitpick, but it's hard to argue against Halo 3 as the most complete game available on any console.

GameSpot (9.5 out of 10)

On the surface, Halo 3 is every bit the sequel you would expect it to be, in that it delivers meaningful upgrades to both the story-driven and competitive sides of the package. However, it's the addition of the Forge level editor and the saved films that give the game an even longer set of legs, legs that will probably keep you running at full speed until Bungie figures out where, exactly, to go from here.

Xboxdynasty (XD) (9.5 out of 10)

Wow, wow, wow! Halo 3 ist genau das, was man sich als passionierter Fan erwartet hat. Der krönende Abschluss einer genialen Trilogie und Story, welchen ihr nicht verpassen solltet und euch nicht zuletzt dank des Vier-Spieler-Coop-Modus wohl noch oft zu Gemüte führen werdet. Wer sich an den Multiplayermodus wagt, der wird sicherlich über Monate (wenn nicht Jahre) hinweg dank des genialen Gameplays und der zahlreichen coolen Features wie dem Forge-Mode, dem File-Sharing sowie der Replay-Funktion seinen Spaß daran haben.

GamersHell.com (9.5 out of 10)

So, in conclusion to the definitive verdict on this hyper-epic game… Bring in the supremely orchestrated marching score from the last two games, add a pinch of KABLAMMO!, a tablespoon of Holy ****!, mix in a generous helping of superb voice acting, ice off with quality animations and shiny character models and finish it all off with singing Happy Birthday to The Arbiter (am I taking this metaphor too far now?) because the next time you press “power” on your 360, you’ll be on the Alton Towers of gaming!

Extreme Gamer (9.5 out of 10)

Halo 3 might not be a revolution when it comes to the core gameplay of Halo, but that really doesn’t matter because Halo delivers on what Halo does best. Halo 3 gives a deeper, smoother and grander ride then ever before. If you enjoyed the first two Halo games there is no reason why you won’t be overjoyed with Halo 3. Bungie has stepped it up once again making Halo 3 the premier game for Microsoft’s gaming console. Master Chief has returned with a whole lot of friends and a lot more firepower. This is the grand-daddy of 2007 and you’d have to be a fool to not want in on the action. Halo 3 is that big of a deal, it’s a landmark game, and final puzzle to one of the greatest FPS every developed. Congratulations, chief, you’ve done it again.

Atomic Gamer (95 out of 100)

What faults Halo 3 has - a slightly weak story with a letdown of an ending, graphics that don't quite go as over the top as everything else, maybe just being a little too much like the first two games - these just aren't enough for me to get mad at Bungie for. The online play is ridiculously good and the community-oriented features, like Forge mode and the Replay upload ability, really elevate this beyond just a video game you sit and play on your own, and they do the best job yet in showcasing what Xbox Live is all about. Haters will continue to decry the continued faults of the series as a whole, as Bungie only partially addressed them here, but for the millions of gamers who can see past these, they will get an excellent game with many months - for some, it will span into years - of great action. This last installment for Master Chief in the Halo trilogy isn't perfect, but it comes pretty close.

Game Partisan (9.5 out of 10)

Don’t let the suckers reel you in: if you miss Halo 3, you’ve missed out on a lot, including my pick for 2007 Game of the Year. Not to mention the chance to go up against half of the GamePartisan Editorial Staff on Xbox Live. Going on sheer personality alone, that means you’ve missed the experience of the year.

Xbox Exclusive (9.5 out of 10)

You’re money is well spent right down to the last penny. Halo 3 should stand as a blueprint for developers to demonstrate what gamers want; innovative and addictive gameplay that doesn’t skimp on any features. Anyone who has an Xbox 360 most likely already has Halo 1 and 2, and now with Halo 3 can sit on the shelf next to it to complete the saga…That is until Halo 4 surfaces. Now go and finish the fight!

Xbox World (Germany) (95 out of 100)

Das Spiel hat einen nahezu unermesslichen Hype mit sich gebracht, dem eigentlich unmöglich standzuhalten ist. Doch es tut es. Die Kampagne ist nicht die längste (je nach Schwierigkeitsgerad), aber das Spiel ist voll mit Features, es bietet sehr schöne, flüssige Grafik, einen super Soundtrack, super Soundeffekte. Es liefert endlich ein "richtiges" Ende zur Trilogie (Wichtig! NICHT die Credits wegklicken, die richtige Endsequenz kommt erst an deren Ende!!), es wird richtig cineastisch rüber gebracht. Der Wiederspiel-Wert ist enorm! Es hat einen nahezu perfekten Multiplayer-Modus mit Tonnen von Modi und Varianten. Hinzu kommt die fast unausschöpfliche Ideen-Schmiede (hehe) "The Forge", welches das Spiel noch auf Monate, sogar Jahre mit neuen Varianten und Map-Layouts versorgen wird, und den "Theater-Modus", mit dem ihr eure besten Ergebnisse, Matches und Szenen für die Ewigkeit festhalten und mit allen anderen Spielern von "Halo 3" teilen könnt.

Lawrence (9.5 out of 10)

I’m so glad that Bungie gave me a reason to praise them. I wanted a comprehensive multiplayer experience like this, and they’ve provided a better one than I could ever imagine. Halo 3 more than redeems the shortcomings of its two predecessors, and the sounds of the game will surely be pouring out of millions of living rooms for years to come.

V2.fi (95 out of 100)

Halo 3 on hyvin tyylipuhdas, pitkään ja hartaasti mietitty ja testattu kokonaisuus, josta on yllättävän vaikeaa keksiä moitetta. Jos väkisin jotain parannettavaa pitäisi keksiä, niin ohjain tuntuu välillä tärisevän niin lujaa, että meinaa kädestä pudota, ja pelin achievementit ovat suhteellisen tylsiä. Moiset pikkuseikat unohtuvat kuitenkin hyvin nopeasti muuten loistavaa peliä pelattaessa. Räiskintäpelien ystäville kaikki palaset ovat yksinkertaisesti viilattu kohdalleen. Toiminnassa yhdistyy sopivassa suhteessa vanha hyväksi todettu kaava, sekä varovaiset, mutta toimivat kokeilut. Sarjan kolmas osa on selkeästi tähän astisista paras. Halo 3:n ennakkotilanneet, huokaiskaa helpotuksesta, sillä tämä peli ei todellakaan petä, kunhan odottaja on vain malttanut pitää jalkansa maassa. Väittävät, että tämä olisi eeppisen trilogian viimeinen osa - käsi ylös, kuinka moni uskoo tähän?

Game Freaks 365 (9.5 out of 10)

This really was a game designed for the community and Bungie is showing it by thanking the fans with these modes and a special thank you message at the beginning of the credits to thank everyone for aiding in their ultimate goal of world domination (yes, it seems EA has a competitor finally). With how many units they have sold, Halo 3 will only aid them even more in their goal. If you own a Xbox 360, go buy Halo 3. Even if you don't have a 360, go buy one and then buy Halo 3. It really is worth the price of admission.

Da Gameboyz (9.5 out of 10)

Halo 3 manages to take the story of Master Chief and bring it to a somewhat satisfying end. Bungie was able to utilize the 360’s hardware to provide not only a visual stunning masterpiece, but a great sounding one too. And after you have finally “finished the fight”, you can take your skills online for a deep and lasting online experience where there is so much to do you may find yourself busy for the next six months or more. Bottom-line, I can’t help but recommend Halo 3 to anyone who is a videogamer, as the overall experiences it provides are long lasting and very enjoyable to say the least.

MS Xbox World (9.5 out of 10)

The campaign surpasses that of its predecessor and adds online co-op into the mix, finally. Several new weapons and vehicles will keep things interesting for a short time, I however foresee myself spending more time with the Saved Films feature, and recording clips and taking photos than I will be actually play the game proper. This is Halo, and then some. More weapons, more vehicles and some very exciting game modes which I expect and hope that future titles incorporate too. Has Bungie delivered on the hype? I most certainly think so.

Gamernode (9.5 out of 10)

For those of you picking the game up at midnight, Wednesday, Thursday, next Sunday, or even Christmas, don't worry. I never thought I'd say this, but Halo 3 deserves everything that was said about it, and then some. It really is the game we were all hoping it would be, but never expected it to become.

IGN UK (9.5 out of 10)

So let’s recap. Single player’s good, without question, but the sheer weight of hype alone brings inevitable disappointment. It would have had to have troubled the very best single-player games ever to reach for those highs but it doesn’t. But it all pales into insignificance against the tech-brimming majesty of the multiplay. Again, the conventional multiplay aspects would have left most reviewers a sweaty mess on their carpets, but Bungie’s innovations have pushed the boundaries on not only what multiplay does, but what multiplayer is. Shooting doesn’t seem to be the be all and end all, all of a sudden.

Armchair Empire, The (9.5 out of 10)

As a single-player adventure that completes a celestial tale, Halo 3 deserves a 9.0/10. I’m posting it yet higher as a whole because of the amazingly near-perfect multiplayer performance that rises beyond the galaxy and into the heavens as arguably the best Xbox Live game around.

DarkZero (9.5 out of 10)

So there you have it, Halo 3 may be very recognisable if you played the previous games, but it also bring a few elements of change to the table to mix things up a bit. In places it is buggy, of that there is no doubt, but in turn the vastness of the multiplayer options, including the triumphant addition of the Forge, and the overwhelming choices available for the community are just staggering. When you put all these subtle words together you realise what Halo 3 is all about, and that is giving gamers one very solid, at times spectacular, long-lasting game. When all is said and done Halo 3 not only makes up for that abrupt jarring ending to its predecessor a few years ago, it actually makes it all seem worth it. You can believe that.

XboxAchievements (95 out of 100)

No surprise here. Halo 3 is everything it was hyped to be. Epic story, campaign mode and an online community stronger than any game before it and probably for a long time after it. There certainly are a flaws just like any other game, but they are few and far between. If you don't have this yet, you're either being stubborn or just trying to be different, because there is really no reason not to love it.

GamesCollection (9.5 out of 10)

Un titolo che giustifica l'acquisto assieme a Bioshock, Forza 2 e Gears Of War della 360. Il terzo episodio della best selling/record breaker serie di tutti i tempi si è fatto aspettare, ma tanto di cappello se questo è il prezzo da pagare per un titolo di cotanta pregiata fattura. Dal plot con risvolti veramente shockanti in alcuni frangenti ad una giocabilità semplice e altamente appagante, passando per una grafica che fa il suo lavoro anche con gigantesche comparse e strutture. Ci capiterà di sentirci estremamente piccoli di fronte alla distruzione del nostro stesso pianeta e altamente impotenti, come lo stesso Master Chief avrà modo di appurare, ma la forza e l'impegno affiancati dall'esercito alleato ci porteranno a primeggiare sulle due minaccie che vogliono radere al suolo la nostra amata terra.......fortuna che nell'alleanza, troveremo anche una conoscenza che in passato fu la nostra fonte di problemiatiche più o meno complesse.

Pelit (94 out of 100)

Halo 3 on samaan aikaan hienoinen pettymys ja vuoden paras peli. Nurinani on loppujen lopuksi pelkkää mahdottomin odotuksin valmistautuneen fanipojan nurinaa. Tunnekuohut olivat melkoisia, sillä en ole tainnut ikinä odottaa mitään peliä niin kovasti kuin tätä. Pelin alku nosti kylmät väreet pintaan ja loppu oli liikuttava. Snif.

XBox Front (94 out of 100)

Man mag Halo 3 mangelnde Innovation verwerflich anrechnen, doch sollte man wirklich ein solch hervorragendes Gameplay, wie es in Bezug auf Halo 2 der Fall war, über den Kamm kehren? Wir sagen: Nein! Bungie hat es geschafft, ohne das Rad neu zu erfinden, einen krönenden Abschluss der Halo-Saga auf die Xbox 360 zu zaubern. Die dritte Inkarnation der Franchise setzt genau dort an, wo Teil 2 abgeschlossen hat und perfektioniert diese Tugenden konsequent. Die dramaturgisch erzählte Geschichte fesselt von der ersten Minute an, ohne dabei in melodramatisches Geplänkel abzurutschen.

Gamezone (Germany) (9.4 out of 10)

Wer sich für den Master Chief entscheidet, bekommt zwar einen Ego Shooter ohne Mut zur Innovation, doch dafür spendiert uns Bungie diesmal eine Gameplay, das für ein Spiel dieses Genres kaum abwechslungsreicher ausfallen könnte. Kein Moment im Spiel gleicht dem anderen. Ihr kämpft euch von einem Höhepunkt zum nächsten. Dabei bieten die vielen, unterschiedlichen Waffe, Areale, Fahrzeuge und die epische Story einen Spielfluss, der bis zum Ende spannend bleibt. Künstlich in die Länge gezogene Passagen kennt Halo 3 nicht, ebenso wie technische Fehler.

GamersMark (9.3 out of 10)

So it comes down to this: Bungie did not reinvent the wheel, however, they have refined the wheel to last quite some time. If you are Halo crazy, you can fork out an extra ten dollars for a tin case and bonus features disc which holds a feature-length making of documentary on the game. If you are Halo obsessed, well, there’s clinics for that sort of thing... or you could drop a staggering $120 on the collector’s edition which includes the game, the content from the tin, and a disc of all the cinematics from the entire Halo series (though not remastered not in HD; don’t be fooled!) all in a collectible but un-wearable Spartan helmet. Whew. Isn’t it time you reconnected with an old friend?

Kombo.com (9.3 out of 10)

Even with its many shortcomings, Halo 3 is an absolute must-purchase for anyone with an Xbox 360. At last, Bungie's finished the fight.

GamingTrend (553 out of 600)

Clearly Bungie's efforts were focused on the multiplayer facets of this game; and that alone makes it worth owning. With up to four players taking on the Covenant forces through the entire campaign, as well as a multitude of online gaming options and full DLC support from Bungie make this a no-brainer. The balanced controls and gameplay, amazing replay theater, Forge, Party system, leaderboards in a game presented with strong graphics and audio make this a must-play title.

ActionTrip (92 out of 100)

I was actually quite disappointed with Halo 2, both in terms of gameplay and narrative, but Halo 3 more than makes up for it. In being so uncompromising in certain ways, in offering incredible vistas and epic clashes on a whole new scale of grandiose; in delivering all of that with spectacular art and a profound soundtrack; finally, for offering 4-player co-op, it goes without saying that Halo 3 deserves to be in your collection of 360 titles. It IS one of those genre-defining games, even though it has some things working against it.

Planet Xbox 360 (9.2 out of 10)

The amount of hype surrounding this game was insane and Bungie did the best it could to make a game that would be acceptable among fans and newbs of the series. Microsoft’s baby will break all kinds of sales record and bring new consumers to the Xbox 360 side, there is no doubt that even though Halo 3 was the final fight more Halo games will spawn from the depths of Bungie, Halo Wars is already on it’s way out the birth canal and more spin-offs are sure to come. The year of 2007 is shaping up to be one of the best for gaming in history and Halo 3 just adds to the strong lineup available now (and future) on the Xbox 360, whether you are a fan or entirely new to the Halo series this is a game that needs to be purchased, enough said.

Game Positive (9.2 out of 10)

When you look at all of the things that this game offers, it's hard not to be wowed by everything in front of you. All of the modes, replays, and community features mold Halo 3 into a package brimming with worthwhile content, and that's a large reason why it's so great. The combination of the excellent campaign, tried and true multiplayer, and online co-op make this a game that shouldn't be missed by anyone. If you have even a slight interest in console shooters, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice by not checking this one out.

Gamers' Temple, The (92 out of 100)

After playing through the campaign, I have a better idea of why Halo has so many fans worldwide. It looks and sounds great, it is a lot of fun and overall, and it is a very good, though fairly short, game. The online portion, the main selling point for some fans, impressed me enough to justify my upgrade to Gold Xbox Live membership and keep playing into the wee hours of the morning. Not only that, it is entertaining enough to get me to ignore the pall of suck draped over the experience by 15 year olds with headsets. The bottom line is, online or off, Halo 3 is a game every 360 owner should at least try out. The Halo 3 marketing campaign's tagline was a simple but profound single word "believe." As much as I hate to admit it, I'm now among the millions who do just that - believe.

Gamesmania.de (91 out of 100)

Nach dem – für mich – etwas enttäuschenden zweiten Tal gelingt es Bungie also doch noch, die Trilogie zu einem genialen Abschluss zu bringen. „Halo 3” ist zwar nicht das perfekte Game, wirkt aber in seiner Spielbarkeit absolut durchdacht und macht einfach einen höllischen Spaß. Trotz einiger unnötiger Schwächen wie etwa der stellenweise grausigen Texturqualität oder der arg kurzen Spieldauer gehört der Shooter in jede Sammlung. Gerade Multiplayer-Fans werden an mit „Halo 3” über Wochen und Monate beschäftigt sein.

Game Revolution (A-)

And in closing, we meekly submit to your intimidating presence this tiny flower of criticism: is there no bigger change than the graphics and the tweaks in devices and guns? Halo set a new standard when it arrived, offering a huge exciting and solid first-person shooter. Halo 2 took that formula online, where it grew into a most puissant cult. But where lies the big innovation in the third iteration? It looks better, and plays about the same, but it doesn’t take many chances—the “forge” system and the new custom games are excluded from matchmaking, and the neat theater option isn’t really an upgrade to the gameplay.

Gaming Nexus (A-)

Regardless of whether you buy this game to finish the fight or play online, you're going to have a great time playing Halo 3. It's almost impossible for a game with this much hype to live up to expectations, but it's clear that Halo 3 is able to pull that off.

360 LIVE (9.1 out of 10)

Unter dem Strich also ein sehr, sehr guter Ego-Shooter, dem nur irgendwo der letzte Kick fehlt. Wir hatten uns vom Gesamtpaket ein kleines bisschen mehr erwartet. Mehr Überraschungen, mehr Hightech, einen Kick wie bei »Bioshock«. Da kommt »Halo« letzten Endes nicht heran, dazu wirkt das Gesamtgefüge nicht rund und mitreißend genug. Und auch die unschlagbare Paarung aus praller Ausstattung und hervorragendem Gameplay einer »Orange Box« kann Bungies Produktion letztlich nicht kontern. Aus diesem Grund haben wir uns entschlossen, unsere Auszeichnung als »Spiel des Monats« der Valve-Produktion ans Revers zu heften, statt »Halo 3«. Sicherlich ein Ergebnis, mit dem so kaum zu rechnen war. Letztlich muss sich ein hervorragendes Spiel einem noch etwas besseren geschlagen geben. Den Kauf sind beide Titel wert.

Computer Bild Spiele (1.46 out of 6)

Die neun Mehrspielermodi mit bis zu 16 Spielern im Netzwerk oder via Xbox Live werden auch diesen Teil der Serie wieder zu einer Legende machen - ganz so, wie es der zweite bereits ist. So schlägt sich der mächtige Masterchief am Ende des Tages wieder einmal "sehr gut" durch.

PGNx Media (9 out of 10)

There is no individual aspect that makes Halo 3 “deserve” the hype that it gets. The graphics aren’t the best available on the Xbox, the gameplay isn’t the most frantic nor the most demanding. The typical sci-fi story isn’t even radically different than something we’ve seen before. But Halo gets all these aspects just right: the right gameplay balance, an absurdly deep multiplayer mode, sharp graphics and sound. It’s the Halo sequel that fans have been demanding. And it’s the game that’s going to sell a lot of Xbox 360s.

PAL Gaming Network (PALGN) (9 out of 10)

The Halo gameplay is certainly not as infallible as its critically made out to be and if you didn’t ever like it, there’s little chance of Halo 3 changing you mind. Despite the short campaign (at least it finishes this time), breezy co-op and same-y multiplayer, taking Halo 3 as a package reveals what its meant to be. The Forge and Theatre modes redefine what it is to make a game “for the fans”, as they are substantial and influential additions to the game and have the potential to build Halo 3 even further then it has ever been before. It's obvious that Halo 3 is about satisfying the community that has been built since 2001 on as many levels as possible. Be they casual or hardcore, Bungie certainly got it right. Halo 3 certainly won’t be the greatest game ever released and it won’t fulfill its premise without an Xbox Live connection, but as a game and multiplayer package for those who just want Halo, Bungie have hit the nail on the head.

GamesAreFun.com (GAF) (9 out of 10)

Halo 3 is an extremely polished game. Within itself, it really has no major flaws. It's probably the best of the series when you take the whole package into account. But Bungie has set a standard for themselves. At times, Halo 3 almost feels more like an expansion pack than a true sequel, and that's because Bungie played it safe. It's understandable -- there were a lot of expectations here. If Bungie had rolled the dice and not come through, gamers would have risen up en masse. But when you think about it, even with the additions Bungie did make for Halo 3, if they had flopped, they wouldn't have hurt the core game in any way. You'd have just ignored them and carried on. By not pushing themselves, Bungie has failed to live up to the benchmark they set for themselves with the first two Halo titles. Halo 3 is still a must own. In fact, if you don't have it, go get it now. I'll meet you online. But it should have and could have been more.

Video Games Daily (9 out of 10)

It would be foolish for any Xbox 360 owner not to pick up Halo 3 as soon as possible this year - before the online opponents you'll be fighting get even tougher...

TTGamer (9 out of 10)

Halo 3 is a once in a generation game in many respects. While the single player campaign did disappoint us, much like the Halo 2 campaign, the sum of its parts add up to one of the most fully featured gaming experiences around. The fact that Bungie has included all this for the usual price point is going to redefine what we expect for our hard earned cash every time we go to the store. Halo 3 is a gaming experience all 360 owners must partake in and, once you overlook its problems, you will find a very solid game, especially on the multiplayer side of things.

Game Arena (9 out of 10)

Just like Resistance: Fall of Man was a great game saddled with overweight expectations on PS3, so too does Halo 3 fall short of impossibly lofty goals. In this case, the loser is the visual department - and if one has to make compromises, this is arguably the "right" pace to do it. At the end of the day it's a very, very good shooter - just not the second coming. Virtually all the boxes are ticked but the looks department - and it's no slouch there either. But being blunt: it's not console FPS 2.0. Buy it if you already have a Xbox 360 without reservation. If you're basing investing in the platform on the basis of this game - do whatever you can to give it a sustained play before making the jump.

Super Play (Sweden) (9 out of 10)

Halo 3 sätter nya standarder all over the place - från hur ett maskingevär ska låta till hur man bygger ett onlinecommunity kring sitt spel. Men det är inte nästa generations actionepos.

PlayDevil ( )

In conclusion, "Halo 3" has played it very safe. The multiplayer remains largely unchanged, in pretty much every sense, with even the maps feeling a little recycled. And this is Halo's biggest flaw, a lack of originality, and a lack of innovation. The game plays incredibly well, is incredibly deep, and is content rich. However, it feels a little old, like you've already played it before. Don't let this put you off, though, because the single-player experience is awesome, reasonably lengthy, and finishes one of the best sci-fi plots of the last years.

Chief (9 out of 10)

Halo 3 is gewoon een must voor de fans en een geweldige hoogtempo single én multiplayershooter voor elke genreliefhebber met een Xbox 360.

Play Magazine (9 out of 10)

This is Bungie moving the moon. In two previous Halo games, the iconic protagonist Master Chief had displayed almost zero emotion, had not even hinted that he had a sense of humor. He was, simply, the hammer that smashed down on the anvil that was Halo, an anonymous, devoid-of-personality, cookie-cutter video game hero. He came, he saw, he dual wielded. And, make no mistake, it was very, very good. Still, Halo could have used more moments like these. It should have snuck them in. It seemed odd that in an epic trilogy involving a war between humans and a genocidal alien species that there was so little feeling, such a dearth of fleshed-out characters and, to call a spade a spade, no real humanity. Instead, Bungie gave the people what they wanted: shooting and lots of it.

Gamervision (9 out of 10)

Bungie did not set out to make the best game of all time. They set out to make the best Halo experience they could possibly make and they were successful. While the graphics leave much to be desired and bow down in the glory of many of the others on the Xbox360 the multiplayer experience and the inclusion of four player online co-op make this a must buy. Anyone who says it “sucks” is just lying to themselves. Halo 3 has its share of faults, agreed, it could be so much better, but that doesn’t make it a bad game. It is the best Halo experience to date overall and is worth a purchase in every way.

Video Game Talk ( )

Is Halo 3 worth a purchase? Unequivocally, it’s the most varied multiplayer shooter the Xbox 360 has to offer. It’s going to be played online by millions for years to come. While the single player campaign is relatively short compared to the original Halo, the skull gameplay modifiers and online 4-player co-op will extend the life of the campaign dramatically. This title will push those stubborn Xbox 1 owners to finally upgrade their console to the 360. The only question Xbox 360 owners should be concerned with is “Which version of Halo 3 will I purchase?”

Boomtown (9 out of 10)

I have decided to give Halo 3 a 9, and I feel that you can put together good and valid arguments for both a higher and lower score. If you are a fan of the series you can easily raise the score to 10, as this is as good as it gets. Halo 3 has it all. An ending in the well polished single player part, and when that’s completed countless hours of multiplayer action lies ahead. It’s not by accident that Halo 2 holds the record for the most played game on Xbox Live, and it’s only a matter of time before Halo 3 takes over. It’s bigger, better looking and in every way cooler than the previous games, and that’s saying a lot talking about Halo. Get off the hype-wagon and try it yourself.

Hooked Gamers (9 out of 10)

As an overall package Halo 3 is very close to perfect. However if you are looking for a single player offline experience it may not deliver for you over the long haul, which is what Halo 3 is built for. It is the killer application for the XBOX 360 and utilizes almost every possible feature on the console and then some off of it. If you are a gamer you owe it to yourself to play this game, even if you have been living under a rock.

Adrenaline Vault, The (AVault) ( )

Whereas the previous Halo games were representations of what could be done with the hardware, we now see a developer with room to breathe, and enough left over power to expand the software. With Halo 3, we’re advancing toward a realm of full games with DVD-like extra features that help you appreciate where we’ve come from and the exciting prospect of where we’re heading.

Tweakers.net (9 out of 10)

De Halo-trilogie in een paar woorden samenvatten is niet zo eenvoudig, maar wat dit laatste deel betreft kan volstaan worden met het benadrukken van de sterke en zwakke punten. Halo 3 is zeker de aanschaf waard als men van plan is zich online te gaan begeven, maar wie hoopt een een fenomenale climax van het singleplayerverhaal zal bedrogen uitkomen.

Games Finder (9 out of 10)

With all its improvements and the solid foundations of the previous games it’s no wonder that Halo 3 reached the success it did.

GamingExcellence (9 out of 10)

Is Halo 3 worth the ridiculous hype? Not really. Is it worth playing? Absolutely. Take all the hype that this game has garnered over the last three years, and dial it back just a bit. What you’re left with is an extremely fun, playable game that will keep you busy for months if not years come. Halo 3 may not fully live up to the obscene hype, but it certainly survives it. Dust off that Spartan armor solider, it’s time to finish the fight.

Games TM (9 out of 10)

So, is it the complete package? Very nearly. In terms of options and value, it's almost faultless - there is more game here than in most of Xbox 360's winter release schedule put together, but the single-player's brevity hurts. As does its ending. For a series screaming out for the finish of all finishes, Halo 3 ends with a whimper. Perhaps it's that old weight of expectation again, perhaps we expected too much, but the Chief deserved better. Halo 3 is a triumph, a magnificently designed, endlessly playable videogame, but not the Second Coming. Combat refined. Combat perfected. But not Combat evolved.

Defunct Games (90 out of 100)

What it comes down to is that Halo 3 is still a great playing first-person shooter that manages to get just about everything right. It may not be as groundbreaking as the original Halo, but it's hard to complain about a game that is trying so hard to add new content and new ways to play the game. Regardless of whether you buy this game to finish the fight or play online, you're going to have a great time playing Halo 3. It's almost impossible for a game with this much hype to live up to expectations, but it's clear that Halo 3 is able to pull that off. After playing this game I almost feel bad for the rest of the first-person shooters that have yet to come out this year.

Yahoo! Games (4.5 out of 5)

Yes, the third time is the charm. And it would be belaboring the point to say anything else: Microsoft has itself one hell of a game in Halo 3. Hail to the Chief.

Bit-Tech (9 out of 10)

Halo 3 isn't the ground breaking epic that many had expected it to be, specifically in the visual department. But what you are getting is a well written, well paced and well presented end to the Halo trilogy that should keep any fan very happy. Add to that simply the best console based online gaming experience ever, and it's clear that Halo 3 represents yet another triumph for the Xbox 360.

USA Today ( )

Whether you're an old fan or new to this franchise, Halo 3 is a must-own game for action or sci-fi lovers. Its gratifying solo campaign and many multiplayer modes, new features (including co-op play) and high production values, all ensure Halo 3 will live up to its lofty expectations.

IGN Australia (8.9 out of 10)

Expectation can be a cruel mistress, Mr Bennett. You think she's going to swoop down and lavish you with affection - fanning your brow to stave off the parching heat of boredom, stuffing the succulent grapes of pure flavour down your throat, while quenching your thirst from an amphora filled with the elixir of gameplay perfection, but it never really works out that way. Just ask Mr Beardy, aka George Lucas. (Although to be fair Phantom Menace was crap, so it's not like he almost lived up to expectations).

Jolt (UK) (8.9 out of 10)

Halo 3 is a fantastic game: a magnificent example of multiplayer gaming with an enjoyable side order of single-player, but it’s really hard to justify as being a true classic. With the dust settled and Master Chief’s journey come to a close, it all comes down to the fact that the game isn’t the revolution we were all hoping for: it’s bloody good fun, don’t get us wrong, but in reality Halo 3 has done nothing new and the campaign is a bit of a damp squib. At least Microsoft can look on the bright side now Bungie have left their fold and this chapter of the storyline is over: Halo 3 is still miles better than anything the PS3 has to offer, and they don’t need a review like this to tell them that.

Gamigo (8.9 out of 10)

Was dem Titel aber fehlt, sind die ganz dicken Eyecandys. Zwar spielt Halo 3 in der obersten Liga mit, muss sich aber von Titeln wie Gears of War oder aber Bioshock deutlich distanzieren. Wunderdinge sollte man daher nicht vom dritten Teil erwarten. Erschreckend ist leider auch die grausige Synchronisation. Warum man bei den Sprechern jedes Mal so geschickt ins Klo greift, wird wohl auf ewig das Geheimnis von Microsoft und Bungie bleiben. Aber gut, dieser Punkt stört ja auch in erster Linie „nur“ die Singleplayer-Kampagne.

Gamer Within (8.8 out of 10)

It is most definitely not the best game, and it makes me wince when people call it original – but Halo is enjoyable, and Bungie have finally nailed it with the third. It takes all that was good with the last games, and a lot of what is good with other shooters, and puts it in that nice easy package.

Daily Game (8.8 out of 10)

Halo 3 is fun, and its Forge and Theater modes will provide hours of multiplayer entertainment, but nothing could've prepared us for our slight feeling of disappointment. The game's far too reliant on old gameplay tricks and recycled levels, and it really lost its narrative power. It's still very good, but it's not even our favorite game so far this year.

Gamer 2.0 (8.8 out of 10)

So is it any big surprise that Halo 3 isn’t able to live up to the insane expectations? Not really. It’s still worth the buy, if only for the multiplayer and to finish the story already. The story just isn’t put-together well enough, the graphics are disappointing, and the levels have you constantly running back and forth. Yes, if all of these things were rectified, the game would be spectacular. But they’re not, and that wouldn’t be the same game, would it? Instead, we have a flawed game that doesn’t fully deliver, but still rocks some of the best multiplayer ever invented. We know you’ll probably buy it anyway, so you might as well go find out for yourself.

Xbox World Australia (XWA) (88 out of 100)

Halo 3 is a great game in many regards, there's no denying that. However in this day and age, simply being great isn't enough for most games, and the pressure is magnified a thousandfold for a killer title like Halo 3. Fair or not, Halo 3 will be measured not only against every other game with a guy and a gun, but also against itself, and sadly, it almost feels as though Bungie lost themselves in the hype or decided to rest on their laurels somewhat. The end result is the same however - Halo 3's single player campaign is unforgivably short and is hard to follow at times (i.e.: the mission objectives).

4Players.de (87 out of 100)

Auf der einen Seite die Kampagne, die mit all den positiven und negativen Altlasten der Serie genau das bietet, was die Halo-Fangemeinde von ihr erwartet: Kompromisslose, schnelle Run & Gun-Action mit Fahrzeugen, haufenweise Waffen, nicht immer überzeugender KI und letztlich schwacher Charakterzeichnung. Zwar werden alle in den Vorgängern angefangenen Handlungsstränge aufgenommen und zu Ende gebracht, doch das ganz große erzählerische Moment bleibt aus - auch wenn der Schluss die Serie mehr als würdig beendet und durch leichte Anleihen bei Spielen wie Prey, The Darkness oder F.E.A.R. neue Elemente einführt. Auf der anderen Seite steht der Mehrspieler-Modus, der mit Koop-Modus, lagfreien Duellen, ausreichend gut designten Karten und Spielmodi sowie beispielhaften Tools für die Erstellung und Verteilung von Nutzer-generierten Inhalten derzeit das Nonplusultra der Fragunterhaltung auf der Xbox 360 darstellt - und so ganz nebenbei die Langlebigkeit von Halo 3 sichert.

Armchair Empire, The (8.5 out of 10)

Outside of the straight multiplayer aspects of Halo 3, Forge is likely my favorite thing to mess around with. At any time you can become a Monitor and, with a limited amount of funds, you can drop items into the environment – from weapons to vehicles – and also hobble together objectives. Navigating the environments with a controller isn’t as intuitive as a mouse and keyboard setup, but with a bit of patience and some experimentation… well, Bungie has seen to it that Halo 3 will probably be the most played Xbox 360 game for at least the next year.

JustPressPlay (8.5 out of 10)

So overall, not a bad job Microsoft. The game delivers pretty much what you’d expect, which is why I’d give this game an okay review. Should you buy it? Yes Not having this game will make you a social outcast among you 360 Live friends. This isn’t the game to make the Sony Faithful switch consoles, but I liked it nonetheless I honestly feel Halo 3 is a victim of its own hype. The game couldn’t have possibly lived up to expectations. Regardless, you’ll play it, think Master Chief to be God, and the ending will somehow spark rumors of a fourth Halo. It’s the end of the world as we know it.

AusGamers (8.5 out of 10)

Halo 3, while offering an incredible multiplayer experience (which could just have easily been released as a stand-alone product), isn’t the most incredible game ever made. It’s not even the best game on the 360 and it won’t change your life, no matter how much Microsoft tells you it will. Thankfully, for the foreseeable future, this is the final chapter in the series, meaning we may, in fact, see a new IP out of Bungie down the road, but for now, Halo 3 is a fitting end to the series. It doesn’t break any new ground by any measure, but it is fun and is sure to break countless sales records due largely to Microsoft’s relentless marketing and PR campaign. There’s no denying this is a worthy purchase (if just for the multiplayer alone), just be aware it’s not the be all and end all of existence.

Good Game (8.5 out of 10)

Multiplayer is where this games longevity lies. Forge games have limitless potential for the community. The campaign is around 10 hours on normal difficulty, but we recommend going for heroic or legendary settings. It set a very different gameplay style. 8.5/10 for me.

Vgames (85 out of 100)

לא נותר אלא להמליץ על המשחק לחובבי משחקי הפעולה הכבדים (שיהנו גם מהקמפיין) או למי שאוהבים לשחק ברשת, ולתת לו כציון סופי את ההמוצע של שני חלקיו.

Jeuxvideo.com (17 out of 20)

17/20 si vous pouvez jouer sur le Xbox Live, et 14 si vous ne vous en tenez qu'au solo. Une note cinglante, mais qui résume bien l'incroyable déséquilibre entre une campagne qui paraît presque bâclée, et l'un des meilleurs multijoueurs tous supports confondus. Quoi qu'il en soit, Halo 3 laisse cependant un petit goût amer au fond de la bouche. Triste quand on sait que c'est probablement là la dernière aventure du Master Chief. Au fond, la véritable histoire d'Halo 3, ne se fera que sur le Live.

Deeko (8.5 out of 10)

What is also flawless is the way you can make a party of your online buddies and be able to swap game mode lobbies on the fly; from campaign to theater, you can share it all with your friends. While the campaign mode falls well short in story then what we had hoped, it is a blast to play in co-op with friends. Make no mistake, online is where the game really shines; which is what fans of the series have expected from the very beginning.

PC Action (Germany) (2 out of 7)

Bam! Bam! Bam! Ihr Plasmagewehr hat gesprochen. Der Master Chief schickt wieder Aliens in die ewigen Jagdgründe. Zwischendurch ist Fahrzeug-Action angesagt. Die Einzelspieler-Kampagne ist sehr kurz, aber intensiv. Die Story checken jedoch vermutlich nur Kenner der Vorgänger. Egal, liegt der Schwerpunkt für die meisten ohnehin auf dem Mehrspieler-Modus. Und der schnurrt mit den üblichen Spielvarianten einwandfrei. Vorbildlich: Die Kampagne funktioniert auch kooperativ mit bis zu vier Spielern. (...)

Christ Centered Gamer / Christ Centered Game Reviews (82 out of 100)

Halo 3 is one of the biggest releases of 2007. Its story, while not the best I’ve played through in all my years of gaming, is good, and its game play solid. This is a game packed with value, and replay for years to come.

Good Game (8 out of 10)

Halo 3 combines nostalgia with a fresh coat of rumble. The church music makes you feel like holier than now and the co-op mode really impressed me. 8/10 chickens

Factornews (8 out of 10)

Halo 3 n'est pas la claque technique attendue, mais il a LE truc, le petit machin inexpliquable qui le place bien au dessus d'un tas de jeux techniquement meilleurs. Il conclut également d'une belle manière une série à l'univers riche dans lequel il se passera encore probablement beaucoup de choses.

Game Chronicles (8 out of 10)

Halo 3 isn’t a bad game, but it certainly isn’t deserving of all the attention and scores it’s been getting, but I guess that is what $10 million dollars can buy you these days. Bungie got the job done. They finished the story and we can finish the fight, but in a world where Halo 3 has already been bested by games released months ago, I don’t think this third installment will have the same energetic lifespan that Halo 2 has enjoyed these past several years.

TotalVideoGames (TVG) (8 out of 10)

The fight might well be finished but like the end to any war, Halo 3 isn't pretty. One of the top multiplayer experiences available on any console (as expected) redeems a largely disappointing Campaign, but even that doesn't change the fact that the 'Xbox mascot' baton has passed to Fenix and his crew of COGs.

Diehard GameFan (8 out of 10)

It’s Halo 3. It fixed everything that was wrong with Halo 2, which was in its own right pretty damned stellar. I’m a little sad to see it go, but I know there will be more. Microsoft isn’t stupid. Having said that though, the fight has been finished. For now.

GamerDad ( )

The bottom line is that Halo 3 is a phenomenon, but ultimately it's only a decent shooter compared to the ample competition across all platforms. Worth picking up to see what all the fuss is about, but if you've played Halo, in many crucial ways, you've played Halo 3.

Bordersdown (8 out of 10)

Forget the hype, the merchandise and the media-friendly sound bites from Microsoft executives about the 'cultural impact' of the franchise – Halo 3 is still a videogame, and a bloody good one at that. It has faults, but they’re largely forgivable in the light of the almost innumerable positive aspects present, particularly in the multiplayer portion of the game. Sadly for Microsoft it isn’t worthy of being called 'The Best Game Ever', but Halo 3 is without a doubt a fitting conclusion to one of modern entertainment's most captivating and wildly successful brands.

GamesFirst! ( )

The score, which you might notice is 4 out of 5, is based, therefore on the overall package of Halo 3. The single player campaign is, sadly, seriously disappointing. However, everything else is very exciting, and the overall game model is still standing the test of time, saying quite a lot for the game's prowess and appeal, as well as the developers' ability. Halo 3 is, despite it's problems, a must buy, there is no doubt, but just don't expect to be blown away by every single aspect of it. The campaign, the part we used to treasure for it's originality and character, is pedestrian here at best.

Gameplanet ( )

Does Master Chief die? For those that haven't read the books, do we learn Master Chief's name? Who are the Forerunners? Does earth get glassed? Is all Humanity lost? All these questions and more are answered in the game; it is a fitting end to the series.

Netjak (7.8 out of 10)

In the end, I am torn about Halo 3. The whole time I played the single player campaign, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should have played through and saw this fight to the end back in 2004 when I paid for Halo 2, and that dropped the overall score considerably for this game. Either this should have been put at the end of Halo 2, or Bungie should have found a way to expand this into a full-fledged single-player campaign in its own right. So much potential for the game world was wasted, both in Halo 2 and in this installment. That being said, virtually everything else about this game is redeemed through the games multitude of ways to have fun with your friends on Xbox Live too. The best thing I can say is that if you never really cared about the single player game in the first place, you can expect to have a great time with Halo 3 for years to come.

Yiya (11 out of 15)

Wenn ich mir die ganzen Wertungen vieler Magazine und Internetseiten anschaue, müsste ich mit Halo 3 den Heiligen Gral der Videospielgeschichte erworben haben. So ganz kann ich mich der Meinung allerdings nicht anschließen. Anders gesagt: Halo 3 ist ein schönes Spiel, das auch viel Spaß macht. Nur es ist in meine Augen leider nicht ganz der Überflieger geworden, zu dem viele Reviews es machen.

Le Geek (3.5 out of 5)

When the first Halo was released, it nigh revolutionized the console FPS. By the time the third chapter was ready for consumption; many other First Person Shooters had taken the lessons of Halo and applied them in new and innovative ways. With so many expectations, Halo 3 ended up playing it too safe.

Game Critics (7 out of 10)

It's a pity, then, that Halo 3 just isn't deserving of the kind of attention it's already received. While certainly a technically adept game, it has little new to offer beyond the crisp, attractive presentation. It's not a failure by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a great example of a developer and a series refusing to grow and change with the times. There's almost nothing here that I didn't play five years ago in the first Halo, it's just a little more visually polished. It's a good game to be sure, but not a great one, and by no means is it the genre-defining experience that we were promised.

Avid Gamer (7 out of 10)

We really wanted to love Halo 3, but as a single player jaunt it basically isn’t enough fun. It may be the acclaimed multiplayer and level editor, is the main appeal of Halo 3 for some. I’ve never been one for online deathmatches and the like, so we're not going to pass comment. If this is your thing, add a point. If you’ve not played the original (or are new to FPS’s in general), possibly add another point. If, like us, you need a bit more to get your gaming juices flowing, consider this a solidly average 7.

Gaming since 198x (2 out of 5)

Halo 3 c'est comme regarder un blockbuster américain de Roland Emmerich, ça sent le gros budget et les mois de travail, seulement ça sent aussi le divertissement de bas niveau et la poudre aux yeux pour cacher la pauvreté du produit, c'est aussi comment faire plaisir à la fanbase en nous ressortant toujours la même sauce tant qu'on voit Master Chief en contre plongé avec son air mega cool. Changez la note en 5/5 si vous avez 14 ans, mais si vous avez déjà joué à plus d'un FPS dans votre vie et que vous méprisez le XBOX LIVE, ne perdez pas de temps et d'argent.