What the "Halo"?

[SpiderMonkey]

Facist!

Took this puppy (i.e. Halo 3) online on Friday night, joined a friend's custom multiplayer game of 'Zombie' and much hilarity ensued.

For those not familiar, 'Zombie' is a gametype where all-but-one of you start on one team, with one person being the zombie (the opposing team). Zombies are only allowed a melee weapon, humans usually having shotguns--for thematic accuracy, natch. And when a zombie kills a human, they obviously resurrect as a new zombie. The game ends when everyone is a zombie.

Anyway, this time was a bit different and a bit special: zombies were set to 200% running speed, 2x jump height and given gravity hammers. Charging around the map, 11-on-1, trying to get the last human - who was tearing about the place on a Mongoose for dear life - has been the highlight of playing Halo 3 so far.

We should have a Thumbs Halo 3 night - it would r0x0r.

If you have a PC hanging around (and are able to travel back in time/otherwise put yourself in a situation where you can't play Halo 3's version of this), you should check out the many Half-Life 2 zombie mods. They offer an implementation of this and are very good fun, like you say. Zombie Horde was the one I played last year. (But when I went back to it a few months ago, it had gone to shit because they backed off on their "we should do this make the game more fun" instincts in favour of "this is what our vocal minority forum posters demand, so we'll keep them happy even if it trashes the game".)

[Cigol]

If you have a PC hanging around (and are able to travel back in time/otherwise put yourself in a situation where you can't play Halo 3's version of this), you should check out the many Half-Life 2 zombie mods. They offer an implementation of this and are very good fun, like you say. Zombie Horde was the one I played last year. (But when I went back to it a few months ago, it had gone to shit because they backed off on their "we should do this make the game more fun" instincts in favour of "this is what our vocal minority forum posters demand, so we'll keep them happy even if it trashes the game".)

Pfft. I wanted to say that, only with far more bile-ridden negativity

[Wrestlevania]

If you have a PC hanging around (and are able to travel back in time/otherwise put yourself in a situation where you can't play Halo 3's version of this), you should check out the many Half-Life 2 zombie mods.

Oh for sure!

I wasn't meaning to imply it's a unique console-only experience, just something that's accessible and fun, and built into the retail package for everyone to play right from the start. Many people just aren't apparently aware of this particular game type or how much fun it is.

-~-~-~-~-

In other news: eljay, my friend Scotty (registered on Thumbs but yet to decloak) and myself played Campaign on 'Legendary' last night and it was great fun. Hard as nails, but not frustratingly so; it's apparent why you've failed and how you could perhaps tackle a particular situation in a different way next time.

Also, the co-op respawn in Campaign mode is really smart. You only have to restart from the last checkpoint if you all die within a very short period of time. Otherwise you warp back in as soon as there's a moment's lull in the combat. Really keeps things flowing nicely and is a credit to Bungie's design team.

[miffy495]

Wasn't that how co-op always worked in Halo? I never played 2 with a friend, but I remember being 15 and playing through Halo 1 on legendary in a night at a buddy's house. I wasn't so good and kept dying, but thanks to that little rule, we progressed at a steady pace all the way.

wrt Zombie, it's pretty much the only part of Halo 3 that has me interested. I really dug Killing Floor for UT2004 back in the day and any time a game can capture that sense of desparation I know I'm in for a good time. When I eventually do pick up Halo 3 (no plans to, but I've accepted the eventuality) I'll likely spend far too much time in this mode.

[Wrestlevania]

Wasn't that how co-op always worked in Halo?

I've no idea. Just a general observation of good game design.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Sounds like Halo 3 might actually be pretty good fun then! (Sorry, Spaff.)

[n0wak]

I finally finished the campaign today. I have to say that the Halo storyline and story telling is totally Which is a shame cause some of the settings are kind cool, especially the painted backdrops and so on. But everything else environmental is pretty dull. You'd think that after thousands of years of experience the forerunners would design their structures with a little more usability in mind.

That said, multiplayer is fun ESPECIALLY the whole database that it keeps of games played, videos, screenshots and so on. Here's my crap http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Halo3/Default.aspx?player=n0wak

I'd be up for a game. Send me a message Wrestlevania, if you see me online.

[Wrestlevania]

Multiplayer is fun ESPECIALLY the whole database that it keeps of games played, videos, screenshots and so on.

Absolutely! I was very impressed with Bungie.net's services. Here are a few shots I snapped last night, taken from a co-op game I played mid-week:

Really pleased with the sort of results you can get using the Theatre.

I'd be up for a game. Send me a message Wrestlevania, if you see me online.

Certainly will. I've only played a handful of multiplayer, non-co-op games so far, but they're great fun. It's good to have someone else I know to play with though--I daren't venture out onto the pub servers on my own...