Halo 3: Recon
Game Informed
Many people have already started receiving copies of the latest issue of Game Informer which features a sweet Halo 3: Recon cover story (cover art painted by Bungie concept artist, Jaime Jones). We’re not going to ruin their story so you should definitely go check it out for some firsthand insights into Halo 3: Recon and what you can expect next Fall. However, some excerpts and snippets from the story are starting to spread around the internet and in some cases, causing some concern or confusion amongst our fans. Again, I’m not going to get into too many details because it’s Game Informer’s story to tell, but I did want to clarify two main questions I’ve seen on the interweb:
• So how long is Halo 3: Recon going to be?
Honestly it’s impossible to really quantify this. Even with Halo 3 an individual’s play time can vary dramatically based on difficulty level, modifiers like skulls, and whether or not it’s played individually, cooperatively, or within the multiplayer portions of the game, which can amount to near infinite play time. While it’s true that we view Halo 3: Recon as an extension to the Halo 3 game experience, it’s too early to settle on a specific number of hours of gameplay.
Paul Bertone, design director, was quoted as saying that part of the design process involved finding a story that would fit within a “3 to 5 hour expansion pack.” There are a few points to make here to provide more context and allay some concerns people seem to be having over their expectations for the scope of the game. First of all, while Halo 3: Recon did originate with the goal of building a 3 to 5 hour campaign experience, I can safely say that as is always the case with Bungie, the team is continuing to put more and more into it and the final product will end up being some order of magnitude more than the initial design. Game Informer also touches on the new structure to the campaign experience and how there are basically two separate components to the campaign. The initial play time targets were focused on one of those components. And lastly, there are still plenty of things we’re not talking about with Recon that will further enhance and add to the experience, play time, and replayability of the final package.
I can safely say that at the end of the day, the sum of the parts of the Halo 3: Recon box will add up to a great experience for Halo fans.
• Everyone gets Recon armor for multiplayer!?
Yes, sort of. We did confirm that when Halo 3: Recon is released next Fall, fans will finally have the means to acquire the Recon multiplayer armor for themselves. The “Vidmaster” achievements that were kicked off in the Halo 3 title update a few months ago are the first step on the road to unlocking Recon. Eventually, once you have successfully completed all of the Vidmaster achievements, you will be able to wear the armor. Some of these achievements can be earned when the Mythic Map Pack is released early next year, but you won’t be able to complete the full chain until the retail release of Halo 3: Recon next Fall. So yes, approximately two years after the release of Halo 3, the broader community will finally be able to get their hands on the Recon armor.
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Newest update as seen below!
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Halo 3: Recon - ODST
ORBITAL DROP SHOCK TROOPERS (ODST )
United Nations Space Command (UNSC) Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST) are under the operational authority of Naval Special Weapons (NavSpecWeap). Their methods of operation allow them to conduct missions against targets that more conventional forces cannot approach undetected.
The ODSTs perform highly specialized, small scale, high-risk operations such as:
• Deep ground surveillance (DGS)
• Direct action (DA)
• Unconventional warfare
• Counter-terrorism operations
• Counter-contraband operations
• Personnel and special equipment recovery/capture
ODSTs are recruited from the Special Operations Groups of all the nations of the Unified Earth Government (UEG). Since the first group of “handpicked volunteers” was activated, ODSTs have been dropping “feet first” into combat.
Q. Dropping “feet first” into combat definitely fits the definition of “high-risk operations.” What kind of screening and training pipeline are ODST potentials put through in order to make certain they are to the task? What is the initial criteria?
A. Every ODST is a veteran from some other Special Operations outfit. Therefore they have already gone through at least two layers of screening and months of intense training—not counting the years of on-the-job-training—before volunteering for the ODSTs. If anything, the selection process is a more stringent third layer of screening that takes place after a point in time that any potential volunteer would have theoretically washed out. There is no age or gender bias—as long as the candidate meets the physical and mental requirements they are guaranteed the opportunity to “try out” for the ODSTs.
Q. Once accepted onto an ODST squad, how is each trooper trained for specific operational roles? What types of specialized armament and weaponry are traditionally employed by the ODST?
A. Potential volunteers are recruited for service with the ODSTs because of their performance in their chosen MOS. As one might expect—once in the ODSTs the training continues. The most obvious specialized gear for the ODSTs is their iconic black and blue helmets and their distinctive grey and black camouflage BDUs/armor. The one unique piece of equipment most heavily associated with the ODSTs is the SOEIV (Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle)—(aka: drop pod and HEV (Human Entry Vehicle)). And finally—they have access to sound suppressed versions of most of the regular UNSC armory.
Q. How many operators make up a standard combat team? Do specialized teams exist or is each ODST squad expected to be equally proficient in terms of capabilities ?
A. The number of combat teams can vary from company to company but it usually consists of six to eight—with each combat team specializing in a particular mission-set. A combat team consists of 10 to fourteen operators, each of whom has a specific function on the team. While each combat team is meant to excel in their assigned mission-set, they are expected to be flexible enough to adapt to any given situation.
Q. Is “force multiplication” a primary function of the ODST? How is that role received by conventional UNSC forces?
A. ODST units are not embedded within conventional forces, but they do participate in joint operations. The ODSTs tend to be force multipliers wherever they go. The conventional UNSC forces are glad for the help. They need all the help they can get.
Q. Is there a specific historic action or operation that the ODST are most known for?
A. Everything pales in comparison to the defense of Earth in 2552—and that was a global campaign.
-Bungie
Hope this comes out soon, even though they pushed back Halo Wars -_-’
