Halo 3 was the conclusion to the trilogy I wanted it to be. It takes everything I loved about Halo CE and Halo 2 and makes the almost perfect finale.
While I do think the story of Halo 3 isn't as strong as Halo 2's story, it does live up to the grandness of what you'd want a finale in a trilogy to be. Rather than have deep intertwining story about both the UNSC and Covenant, here it's just one big grand beeline to "finish the fight". And "Finish the fight" it does really deliver. Everything that happens here is a culmination of what the games built up. Allighning forces with the Elite, seeing all the established characters have some significant moment in the story. It's all one big payoff and the Bungie writers did a very good job.
Gameplay here is my favorite of the trilogy too. All the weapons now are perfectly balanced, and nothing feels too weak or too overpowered. The brought back the assault rifle and it is definitely the best version of the assault file, finally not feeling like SMG and having the perfect range/damage ratio. Brutes are no longer bullet sponges thank god, considering they are the main enemy you fight in this game. Flood is also back, but they weren't as frustrating as they were in the first 2 games.
The only thing I didn't like about Halo 3 was how they dialed back on Arbiter's character, he definitely should have had a bigger role in this game rather than just being the "Co-op" partner considering he is like the Master Chief of the Elite forces, and liberated them from the covenant. Also the first third of the game didn't have a really strong setting for a Halo game, it was quite a boring introduction considering all other types of settings for missions we've had. However after you leave earth, the setting excels.
Halo 3 started a fever back in the 2000s that I was never a part of, but I could clearly feel. Now that I finally arrived late to the party, I am officially a fan of the trilogy. I know the later games don't get as good as this, but I still look forward to trying those and having my own opinion.
While I do think the story of Halo 3 isn't as strong as Halo 2's story, it does live up to the grandness of what you'd want a finale in a trilogy to be. Rather than have deep intertwining story about both the UNSC and Covenant, here it's just one big grand beeline to "finish the fight". And "Finish the fight" it does really deliver. Everything that happens here is a culmination of what the games built up. Allighning forces with the Elite, seeing all the established characters have some significant moment in the story. It's all one big payoff and the Bungie writers did a very good job.
Gameplay here is my favorite of the trilogy too. All the weapons now are perfectly balanced, and nothing feels too weak or too overpowered. The brought back the assault rifle and it is definitely the best version of the assault file, finally not feeling like SMG and having the perfect range/damage ratio. Brutes are no longer bullet sponges thank god, considering they are the main enemy you fight in this game. Flood is also back, but they weren't as frustrating as they were in the first 2 games.
The only thing I didn't like about Halo 3 was how they dialed back on Arbiter's character, he definitely should have had a bigger role in this game rather than just being the "Co-op" partner considering he is like the Master Chief of the Elite forces, and liberated them from the covenant. Also the first third of the game didn't have a really strong setting for a Halo game, it was quite a boring introduction considering all other types of settings for missions we've had. However after you leave earth, the setting excels.
Halo 3 started a fever back in the 2000s that I was never a part of, but I could clearly feel. Now that I finally arrived late to the party, I am officially a fan of the trilogy. I know the later games don't get as good as this, but I still look forward to trying those and having my own opinion.