Halo 3 adds tons of new customization options to multiplayer

Have it your way
The Halo games have always been about customizing the experience to your liking. Halo 3 has so much more flexibility that you may never want to go back to Halo 2. New to the mix is the option to modify gravity and player speed. This will surely lead to new hilarious game types. One example is a king of the hill game with 75% gravity and anyone inside the hill area is invincible. The only way to oust the opposing team is to hit them with the Gravity Hammer. In a free for all game, you could rack up the speed to 300%, decrease gravity to 50%, and then have hammers be the only usable weapon. That sounds like fun, don't it?

The new fall fashions
In addition to the newly expanded game type modifications, player armor can now be fully customized. From helmet shape and style to more visible clan markings, two players will never look quite the same. And if what I've heard is correct, instead of choosing different things in a menu your armor changes fluidly as you
win matches and use weapons of certain kinds. Although this is a cosmetic thing, how you look can reflect your skill. For example,
if you use a sniper rifle every chance you get your helmet may change to reflect your affection to long range weaponry. Some styles can only be attained if you are one of the top players. Clan specific armor can also be applied so clans can easily spot each other.

Garry's mod comes to Halo 3
Although not quite at the same level as Garry's Mod, (A Half-Life 2 modification) Forge mode is probably the biggest change to Halo 3 multiplayer. During a time limit players can add or remove items from their favorite map. Add weapons, creates, vehicles, create/move spawn points, ect. The only things not allowed are deleting buildings and other players and modifying terrain. Players can switch out of being a spartan/elite and a floating monitor (The orb like robots normally seen in the single player campaign). This allows players to run in a sand box and just basically do whatever they want. The goal is anything you can think of. From playing Jenga with explosive fusion coils to an RTS take on team slayer. After you're done fiddling around you can then save your changes and share it with everyone online.

Four Player Online Co-Op!
In Halo 1 and 2, co-op was off-line and for two players only. In the next installment up to three of your buds can team up in finishing the fight. Although only two players can be play together on one Xbox 360, you can fill up the rest of the team online or with system link. Halo co-op in the past created a time paradox by having two identical master chiefs. This was never explained. To fix this, bungie has added two new warriors to the Halo universe. The first player will control the Master Chief, Player 2 will play the Arbiter, Player 3 will play has a an elite named N’tho ‘Sraom, and Player 4 controls the third elite that goes by the name Usze ‘Taham. Their back story can be read here.

I can't wait for September 25th.

Bungie reveals new Halo 3 tidbits Part 2

Yesterday I talked about the new weapons and equipment announced in Electronic Gaming Monthly Issue 219. Today I'll outline the new vehicles mentioned in the same issue.

The Hornet
This is the human equivalent of the covenant banshee. A picture of the craft shows two guys hanging off the sides. Although it's only confirmed to be in the campaign mode it is very likely to be in multiplayer as well.

Brute Chopper
This single person motorcycle-like craft fires exploding rounds and boosts similar to a ghost. However, unlike the ghost it's grounded with one wheel (The back floats) and is far more sturdy then the ghost making it ideal for ramming.

The Prowler
The prowler is basically the brute version of the warthog. It has room for a driver, mounted gunner, and two on either side. It's looks like a cross between a turbine engine and a sled.

The Elephant
Where most vehicles move back and forth between bases, the elephant IS the base!
There is enough space on the Indestructible Elephant to hold at least 12 riders, (Inside or on the roof) a single mongoose(An ATV), the Flag for your team, and a mounted turret. It counts as the return point for capturing the enemy flag and even respawns players like a base too. With all this stuff it's not surprising that it moves very, very slowly.

With all the new things in Halo 3. I'm starting to wonder how bungie can fit all this stuff into one 9 Gig disc. Maybe they cut out stuff, maybe this will be the first Xbox 360 game to need to install or decompress pieces on the hard drive in order to run. One thing is for sure, online downloadable content will be a big part of Halo 3.

In my next post I will talk more about the multiplayer features and changes to co-op.

Update: The warthog has a larger transport version that five or six can ride. Instead of a mounted gun another couple of seats are their instead.