Sierra 117: I've heard it said that this does not have the spectacle of Halo 1 and 2s openers, this kind of untrue though, it just does it in a different way.

Crow's Nest: Better than I remembered actually, While it is just a series of room similar to the one the covenant ships the arbiter level had in Halo 2 and the flying enemies. Also while rooms do seem copy pasted, I think it does a good job of making it feel just enough like they aren't.

Tsavo Highway: Fun Vehicle level, I try to make sure I'm walking as little as possible for this. Also yet again memorable locations to fight enemies in like that place with the forcefield.

The Storm: Setpiece. Taking down a scarab is actually well done now.

Floodgate: I used to dislike this level, but honestly I find it a nice relative breather and it's intriguing enough to hold my attention despite how brief it is. Atmosphere is good too.

The Ark: One of the biggest Halo levels imo. The start even has a bit of a 'stealth segment' well that's a lie since when you've hit one that's them all attacking you, but still. It is still thoughtful with the rocks for cover and allat, then it's just a massive sand place with a beautiful art style. Killing enemies through as open spaces as this and STILL makes it engaging goes to show how skilled the developers are.

The Covenant: Very hyped level of Halo 3, while i'm not sure If it's my favorite level and I might prefer The Ark or something else, it does a lot of what it sets out to accomplish. Feels very eventful, lots of enemies in the level,, the story context, while flawed is there, also the two scarab sections has always been stuck in my mind. I love these bigger sandbox levels, Halo 3 did them really well.

Cortana: Controversial take: I love this level. You heard me, while it is true that a lot of it looks the same, I wouldn't have it any other way. To me it was satisfying in a good way to find my way around the area. And while it did get a bit draggy by the end. I think that's very much the point, it's like a 'YOU MUST GET OUT OF THERE ALREADY' and I loved it for that, also something that I think gets un-noticed by a lot of people and 'reviewers' is that the combat here works in a more interesting way, since you are confined to a mixture of linear design with dead straight forward pathways and slightly more open areas. the flood encounters play out more interesting. Like I keep saying, I unlike other people. Find the flood fun to fight, And if anything this level showed me how much this was the case. it's peak strategy.

Halo: Lets get the immediately obvious out of the way, the warthog physics were pretty much fixed in 3. In Halo 1 and 2 (yes, 2) it was far too easy for it to go somewhere completely that you didn't intend, 3s, while not perfect and still is not ideal to bypass areas in some instances, has a far tighter grip on handling in comparison. This makes the final warthog run far more enjoyable than it was in the first game. And the falling platforms are a nice way for it to stand out and not just be a carbon copy. I also love the memorable flood snow scape beforehand, REALLY stands out in my mind. Only problem is the 343 Guilty Spark fight, but if you see any of my reviews I don't care about boss fights in almost any game.

After writing this review and being so passionate, while I wouldn't give this game quite the truly top tier spot anymore, I do think that it's way better than the first two, this is because Halo 3 is a complete package where both compartments are great. I couldn't say the same for the two prior. With pacebreakers and even some occasional backtracking that this game almost completely avoids entirely. I'm glad to see one of my childhood favorites is still great.