ODST takes a more intimate path with Helljumpers dropped on Mombasa and a noir-flavoured fragmented story. Marty O'Donnell's jazz score wraps the player in singular melancholy, and Firefight co-op lays a survival formula that will shape later entries.
First-person shooter by Bungie and Microsoft, September 2009. ODST Rookie investigates Covenant-occupied New Mombasa to find his scattered team. Stealthy melancholic nocturnal exploration, teammate flashbacks and co-op Firefight mode. Halo with unprecedented noir tone.
Halo 3 - ODST review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Epic science fiction with grandiose landscapes, a majestic orbital ring and careful light: the game unfurls a universe of remarkable coherence and breadth. The design of the Covenant and the extraterrestrial architecture compose an iconic vision of the future. This art direction, vast and inspired, defines the modern science-fiction FPS.
Signed by Martin O'Donnell, the music blends Gregorian chant, epic orchestra and rock guitars in an anthem that became instantly iconic. The famous Halo theme, at once sacred and martial, galvanises every mission with a rare grandeur. This sonic breadth, emblematic of the saga, remains one of the most recognisable in video games.
Far from the super-soldier, ordinary troopers wander an occupied city, piecing back together the night their squad was scattered. A choral tale tinged with jazz and film noir, it banks on vulnerability and investigation rather than epic. This intimate change of tone gave the series one of its most singular stories.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A spin-off with a darker, more muted atmosphere, where you play an ordinary soldier exploring an occupied city by night, in a film-noir-tinged mood. The calmer pace, punctuated by flashback memories, pleasantly renews the formula, while the co-op Firefight mode ensures the release. Stylish, immersive and generous, an FPS that boldly dares a different approach.
An expansion turned standalone of Halo 3, shifting perspective with a more intimate story and a noir atmosphere, issued in many regional variants. Printed widely, it stays accessible and lightly priced. Its collector interest lies in this status as a distinct entry with a singular tone rather than scarcity, beyond tracking its many market versions.
Better with friends
A pillar of console shooting, whose campaign plays out four-player in co-op and whose competitive arenas defined the genre for a whole generation. The competition rests on power-weapon control, mastered jumps and team communication, readable and deep at once. Local split-screen backs up an online with uncertain servers, making evenings a joyful blend of mutual aid and rivalry.
Is Halo 3 - ODST still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2009 on Xbox 360, Bungie's Halo 3 ODST takes a quieter, film noir tinged angle, where you play vulnerable ordinary troopers exploring a city plunged into night. The open city investigation structure, punctuated by flashbacks, contrasts with the usual formula. Marty O'Donnell's jazzy, melancholy score installs an atmosphere unique in the saga. The Firefight mode extends the action in co op. The campaign stays shorter than the main episodes. But its singular tone appeals. For fans of console shooters and atypical moods, this title keeps a charm of its own today.
