GAMEPLAY 9.7
It’s definitely Halo, but that’s definitely a great thing. The campaign is hands-down the best in the series’ history, and the multiplayer is as addictive as ever. Our only knock is with the difficulty, which wasn’t quite as tough as we had hoped.
GRAPHICS 9.5
Aside from a few slowdown issues here and there, this is an excellent looking game in both the single- and multiplayer arenas. We particularly loved the HDR lighting, which is the best we’ve seen in a game to date.
AUDIO 9.7
Marty O’Donnell’s score is better than ever, perfect setting the tone for each of the levels while never being too overwhelming. The sound effects are stellar, too, as is the voice work (the battle chatter never gets old).
LONGEVITY 10.0
You finally have a reason to stop playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live, as this takes the cake as the most customizable multiplayer game of all time. Throw in Forge and you’ve got the makings of a true addiction.
INNOVATION 9.8
From Forge to Saved Films to the Bungie.net integration, this game has something to wow everyone. Best of all, it’s only going to get better with time.
OVERALL 9.7/10