Jim the event-invited.

Written by Jim McIntyre Friday, 07 August 2009 14:16

Yesterday I headed down to Sydney for Microsoft's Halo 3 ODST event on Cockatoo Island. My adventure didn't start out well. I'm slightly geographically challenged at the best of times, and me finding the train station by myself would have been an impossibility. I figured my GPS would guide me there, unfortunately I didn't realize that my GPS is just as challenged as me. After trying to convince me to turn into many a parked car, one way street, and building, it eventually decided to just lead me around in a circle. After turning the thing off and then getting lost, I lucked my way into finding the train station.

Once on the train I met some of Newcastle's more colorful inhabitants. It reminded me of why I'm not really a fan of people. First was the mother who decided that the aisle was the perfect place for her pram. After all why go to the effort of folding the thing up when you can just make everyone angry by forcing them to try and work their way around it. Next came some guy who was around my age who carried some odd grudge against headphones. Rather than use the headphones his girlfriend, and I assume mother of his screaming child, kept reminding him he had, he played his horrible music via his speaker on his phone. He then felt compelled to attempt to sing along. So it was admist his bad singing, horrible music, and crying child that I completed my journey to Central.

After meeting up with Eliminater, Malaka, and Fightclub we hopped on the Ferry along with the rest of the media, and ticket winners. We were taken over to the island and shown the warthog. It was just as impressive as it looks, but we just wanted them to get on with the show, after all we didn't come all that way just to see a car. Next we got to hear from a guy from Weta about the construction of the car. All very interesting if your into cars, not so much so if you just want some ODST action. Then finally Bungie's time started and we were treated to a showing of the introduction to the game, and it was epic. I won't get too much into it, so I don't spoil it for you, but lets just say that this is sure to be one of the most epic introductions to a game yet.

After that we got to see and try some of the new firefight mode, and it's just as awesome. Together with three other players we fought off waves of Covenant, and discovered that you can't play this like you would a normal halo game. It really does play different, and yet retains that Halo feel. If you found you couldn't get into the previous Halo games, this quite possibly could be more your speed, as the lack of a shield and the slower character forces you to play more tactically, rather than just leaping into the fray like you could as a Spartan. Halo 3 ODST is looking like its going to be something special. Stay tuned to TGV for more of me ranting about this game, because ladies and gentlemen I'm pumped.