Halo 2 and Halo 3 comparison video
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ May 17th 2007 at 8:15PM }
So, here it is, the comparison video: Halo 2 next to Halo 3. Time to judge for yourself if there's something to the "meh" graphic statements uttered about Halo 3. Considering this has been an issue of much, much, Halo fanboy ire we're just going to let the pictures speak for themselves. Although, we will repeat that the beta is not the final version of the game, so what you see is not necessarily what you'll get come Sept. 25.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
sheppy @ May 17th 2007 8:22PM
For the two games I was able to play, I was impressed by some of the effects in Halo 3. I do have to say, while it's not a huge leap forward like Gears, it runs much better.
DSR7997 @ May 17th 2007 8:23PM
"meh" is for idiots.
Milkshake @ May 17th 2007 8:24PM
It looks much better IMO, cant wait
quickshade @ May 17th 2007 8:26PM
Like Shoe said. Single player will look way better. Although i don't see how people don't see a difference.
kingofwale @ May 17th 2007 8:27PM
from the video alone, graphics looks sharper.
hmm. I'd say it's more like from Halo 2 on Xbox to Halo 2 on Vista.
as oppose to a HUGE step forward.
as for now, Gears of War is still the better looking game. Although Halo 3 will sell regardless.
Still, I am reserving my judgement until the final version.
Chuck @ May 17th 2007 8:28PM
I was underwhelmed by the beta.
I can sum it up in one word:
meh
jason @ May 17th 2007 8:30PM
http://www.machinima.com/films.php?id=22388
I think this one is better
Daniel @ May 17th 2007 8:31PM
Both games look just fine at this video's relatively low resolution. Halo 3 will probably look much more polished by the time it's released. If it's anything approaching Gears of War (but with less bloom) it'll look just fine.
It's going to suck when Halo 3 is the only thing my friends play >:| I never did enjoy those games.
dsub @ May 17th 2007 8:31PM
when you actually go and download the HD version of the game (and then stream it to the now H264 compatible 360 on an HDTV) it looks much better in my opinion. The little dinky video really kills it.
Fatima @ May 17th 2007 8:37PM
I have to agree when I was playing the Halo 3 Beta,
the graphics were very "meh". And this is on a HD projector. This was the reason I bought a 360, if the final game is disapointing also. I think im just gonna trade it in for a PS3 to play Warhawk, LittleBigPlanet, Lair..etc
Tron Knotts @ May 17th 2007 8:38PM
I just showed the video to my girlfriend with the game identifier covered, and she could not tell when it switched from Halo 2 to Halo 3.
Hello @ May 17th 2007 8:42PM
Your girlfriend is a dumbass.
Just saying..
I'm doubtful that it will look much better when the game ships, but I think the graphics are fine. I would be pissed if they sacrificed framerate for graphics.
Halo 2 is also a very nice looking Xbox game in 480p or whatever it plays at on the 360.
Yeti @ May 17th 2007 8:44PM
#10 I have a PS3 and I want to get the 360 after playing Halo 3 at a friend's house. Wanna trade?
Trent @ May 17th 2007 8:50PM
September 25th? Seriously? That's my birthday! Well, now I know what I'm getting for my sweet seventeenth. =D
ExMcloud @ May 17th 2007 8:53PM
Comon yo you guys are crazy how can you not see a difference in the game...GOD you guys are haters I love it... First off for all of you noobs out there..Halo has never been the premier FPS graphically...(It has always been Unreal Tournament) for all the gripes I hear about graphics don't matter you guys become graphics snobs about Halo because you have to find something wrong with it. In my opinion the game looks way better and I'm glad they didn't run and get the Unreal Engine like EVERYBODY ELSE. Halo 3 is a gorgeous game. Stop HATING on everything that gets attention. As far as graphics go this game looks up to par with every FPS on the market right now...Including Rainbow 6 Vegas which uses the Unreal Engine.. ANd it looks way better than Resistance fall of Man. (And that was not a jab at Sony. But people compare the two constantly) Bungie did a great job
Cody S. @ May 17th 2007 8:53PM
This is a BETA not a DEMO. Don't expect polish. I played have it and I can already tell that I'm going to like the weapon balancing much better than halo 2's.
Mike @ May 17th 2007 8:53PM
That doesn't look that special to me... It looks like a SHINIER Halo 2...
I have 3 words for ya "Uncharted:Drake's Fortune
Kye @ May 17th 2007 8:55PM
I like it.
Would still get it even if there wasn't an average increase in graphics (not minor, nor huge, just average - from the videos I've seen)
But here's a real mind blower!
I'm gona buy it...
not beacause I want to see all the new graphics...
...but because I want to play the story mode!
Is that outrageous or what?
Brian @ May 17th 2007 8:59PM
Love it when people pretend to have a console they hate just so they can troll and say how they're gonna sell it. Anyway, even with the poor quality video, the difference is very noticeable. The (likely fictitious) girlfriend who couldn't tell the difference was probably too busy thinking of ways to get rid of the console, or was trying to express her disdain for videogames in general.
Naota @ May 17th 2007 9:01PM
It's shinier, has bloom applied, and it's got a somewhat noticeable poly count upgrade, but either way, it's about how the game plays that should be the deciding factor here ne?
I myself am not a Halo fan. There is a graphical upgrade, but it doesn't really stick out enough at this point. Regardless I'll end up being forced into co-op with my friend once he picks up a copy.
jason w @ May 17th 2007 9:07PM
Ive been playing it most of the day and must say you cant tell crap from a low grade internet video. Come on dont be a dumbass.
As for the people that come in here and claim they will buy xy and z playstation 3 game and it plays better when they havent even played well go 4 it.... I have a PS3 and so far the one game I play (FV doesnt count since it will be on both) RFOM looks less impressive graphics wise than Halo 3. I know RFOM looks better on single player but we have yet to see the single player of Halo 3 so I will with hold judgement on that.
KVN @ May 17th 2007 9:06PM
The game does look better but it doesn't have that wow effect like gears of war does.It's a beta so I'll see how much better the finished game looks.What i think the game needs is a different artistic direction to it's had the same art style for the past 2 games and i think people go to use to that.A different more gears art style would really bring this game out and make it look fantastic.
Jonhon @ May 17th 2007 9:08PM
Quote
"I have to agree when I was playing the Halo 3 Beta,
the graphics were very "meh". And this is on a HD projector. This was the reason I bought a 360, if the final game is disapointing also. I think im just gonna trade it in for a PS3 to play Warhawk, LittleBigPlanet, Lair..etc"
^^ That sounds like someone who doesn't even have a 360 or has even played Halo 3.... I guess lying is better than bashing a game that they haven't even played yet.
Hannibal @ May 17th 2007 9:07PM
I'm having a ton of fun with it and I think it looks better. Probably not gray and brown enough for some people.
Ryan @ May 17th 2007 9:11PM
I've had some time to play it, and while it looks much better than Halo 2, it definitely can look better, but I'm sure it will by the time it is released.
Hannibal @ May 17th 2007 9:15PM
I agree with #25, but even if it doesn't the absolutely fantastic "should be in every game from now on" interface has convinced me that Halo 3 will be totally worth it.
Maximo @ May 17th 2007 9:18PM
This shows the difference: http://www.gamespot.com/features/6170862/index.html?tag=topslot;title;2&om_act=convert&om_clk=topslot
cc123 @ May 17th 2007 9:23PM
When you need a comparison video to see how much of a difference there is then that should already let you know theres a problem.
I played the beta today and I had the same reaction to the graphics, I was underwhelmed. It plays nice though and I hope they get it looking better.
felixlighter @ May 17th 2007 9:24PM
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=19592&type=wmv
There is the HD version... I think the difference is more than noticeable
jsn @ May 17th 2007 9:26PM
I don't even like the halo franchise, but c'mon, it's significantly better and on par with other games of the day with a simlar scale. THe models of everthing are significantly more complex, the textures are much better and the lighting isn't even comperable. It is halo in a completely modern engine. What did people expect? The series has never had cutting edge visuals anyway, but these are comperable to anything that's out there with a similar scale. If you liked halo 1 or 2, you won't dislike halo 3 because hte graphics aren't good enough.
Billwazoo @ May 17th 2007 9:29PM
Lets face it the graphics aren't AMAZING, but the bottom line for me is that the game is just plain fun.
PyrosNine @ May 17th 2007 10:57PM
Well, I suppose i need to see the HD version, but from the looks of it the only real difference is the Halo 3 multiplayer looks to be a bit more detailed and polished. I'm seeing actual grass for starters, (though that means that's an earth area, as dandelions aren't found on Halo) and the spartans are looking quite shinier.
As for gameplay, looks about the same.
Gamble20 @ May 17th 2007 9:38PM
I'm a PS3 owner, but I played Halo 3 at a friends house and have seen numerous videos (got to keep up witht he competition).
The graphics are nothing really special, in fact I think they are alittle UNDER par in comparison to some of the other options available for 360.
That said the game was still really freaking fun. I don't think that come sept. 25 that it will be that much better graphically, but it will still be one of the best games in the market, and it has always been and still is IMO the best multi-player game (or franchise) ever.
It sounds like i am just contradicting myself, but what i m trying to say is its just a MAJOR update of Halo 2 (for multi player at least), but that doesnt mean its not awesome, its still one of the best games.
GaryM @ May 17th 2007 9:42PM
The final version will probably look very similar to the "beta" version.
Gamble20 @ May 17th 2007 9:46PM
I can't wait for Killzone's supposed public beta when all the 360's get their turn to smash our game regardless of how great it is (or might be...heres hoping)
Jlynx @ May 17th 2007 9:51PM
It does play great. Dual wielding is much more intuitive. Game-play feels very polished even for a beta.
Borat @ May 17th 2007 9:52PM
There doesn't seem to be anything "next-gen" about Halo 3...graphics or gameplay-wise (so far).
I guess you could say that about most next-gen games, but still....this is supposed to be the biggest 360 game. What only makes it worse is the nauseating hype behind the game...I have a feeling it'll disappoint, but let's hope for the best.
Evan @ May 17th 2007 9:53PM
The outdoor environments, especially the long grass, are noticably improved.
However, the graphics still feel "videogame-ish" in my opinion. Character movement is still phoney and lacks proper weight and balance (Gears did much better in this respect). And the shine on some things appears very artificial. In reality, when something is shiny, it reflects an image like a mirror, but instead reflections in Halo appear as white highlights. It's unfortunate because I feel that the phoney shine detracts from the other aspects of the graphics where they achieved greater realism.
SHADOWGANON91 @ May 17th 2007 10:01PM
Graphics arn't want makes a great game people. And this is comming from a person who owns both a 360 and a Wii. Halo 3 doesn't look bad at all for being a beta. I wouldn't even mind if the graphics stayed like that. The fun factor is the only thing that matters anymore. Grapics are just iceing on the cake.
MthdDirector @ May 18th 2007 12:30AM
It's a beta. You'll never see final graphics in a beta. They do all sorts of things like scale the textures down, reduce polygons, leave out effects.
Heck, I'm pretty happy with brute spiker vfx, but that's just me.
We saw the same thing with the Shadowrun beta. As a matter of fact, people still think that videos from the Shadowrun beta represent the final game, but they don't.
Around September, let's compare the final release of Halo 3 to the final release of Halo 2 and revisit this question...
Capt. Castellanos @ May 17th 2007 10:01PM
okay, i don't really care much for halo.
(mainly because i have no xbox)
but it looks fun, and i do see a difference.
i don't really get it how people
cannot see a difference.
quickshade @ May 20th 2007 9:44PM
I do agree the gameplay is 10 times better. it doesn't suck me into it right when I get home but once i start playing it's hard to stop. nd I'll be hooked when I see all the features and stuff. Oh and BTW 1UP said Halo 3 single player looked way better than multiplayer (G4) and that we should wait for that.
Jeff @ May 17th 2007 10:08PM
How can people say there is no difference? Why the graphics are not top of the line, they are far better than Halo 2 graphics.
ill trooper @ May 17th 2007 10:12PM
Of course it looks better... The whole "Halo 2 on a 360" is a special case anyway, because they went way out of their way to to make it work on the 360 - widescreen and geometry redrawn at the 360 res, so it looked pretty good anyway.
That being said, it has the same look, but higher res and with more detail. But no atmosphere whatsoever. It's like high noon in every battle I see and things look like videogame fantasy. Not pushing any style boundries... But have Halo fans ever asked for more? Halo's not really for me, I'm more into R6: Vegas/GRAW/Splinter Cell/Battlefield stuff, but I don't think it looks BAD or anything.
But what they oughta do something about is that lame music, it sounds like a tradeshow from 1996... "The Next Generation of FIERO is coming from Pontiac..." That choir/lion-king drum thing is nausea-inducing. Hopefully there will be something more modern for H3 when it ships.
Greg @ May 17th 2007 11:51PM
The graphics for Halo 3 simply aren't what they should be. The 360 is capable of so much more and the fact that halo 3, a SECOND generation xbox 360 game has to be compared to a xbox game in order for us to see the graphical benefits is a disgrace to the console.
konajinx @ May 17th 2007 10:22PM
I've been enjoying the Beta, especially the graphics. I think they're luverly.
GoonieGooGoo @ May 17th 2007 10:23PM
Sorry...have to interject....
Why are the SONY Fanboys (like # 10) bothering to even try to poo poo on HALO 3??
The 360 is not the reason Sony has no AAA Titles to sell systems for another XMAS season while the 360 has HALO and Wii has MARIO.
You should blame Sony for when PS3 Only owners compare console release lists on EBGames.com.....they cry.
It gets 100x worse when you compare Playstation Network Games vs XBL Arcade vs Wii Virtual Console.....
Its like all of us PS3 owners are in the desert....crawling on our bellies..... dying of thirst......and Sony gives us battery acid to drink while the Wii60 provides a quenching steady stream of gaming goodness.
slowerpig81 @ May 17th 2007 10:25PM
it looks better, but why do they have to use that sort of...warped hud, instead of it being straight. all the ammo counters are ok but the motion tracker is waay messed up. i hope they have an option to change that,
Dustin @ May 17th 2007 10:28PM
Agreed at the 'meh' graphical improvements in the game.
I'm not awed or anything by them.
That being said, if someone offered me a free copy of Gears or 3 weeks of the Halo 3 BETA, I would pick the Beta.
I've already played the beta more then my dusty Gears, and maybe it's just my biased nature speaking but even the beta is better then anything Gears has to offer.
I feel bad for people that just completely spear the Halo franchise in the chest because they are anti-conformists. Seriously, you are missing out.
Marcelo Abans @ May 18th 2007 8:46AM
The issue is the game looks great but doesn't jump out amazingly insane as everyone thought. The graphics do no scream like a GoW or perform at 60 FPS which for anyone who is truly experienced in FPS know that an extra 30 frames makes a world of difference. If it ran at 60 frames per second people would enjoy how cool it looks, if it looked similar or on par to GOW people would enjoy how cool it looks but it does neither. The fact there is even an article about it alone should tell you that it doesn't blow the doors off of it.
HALO fanboys do yourself a favor, do us other fans a favor and be truly honest with yourself don't make the rest of us look like "arses" with your blind loyalty. The game is still amazing, less focus on DWing, better designed maps, new innovations to the genre (bubble shield nuff said), it's the graphics we are discussing here. Nothing else. Remember this system has a cpu with "3 symmetrical cores running at 3.2 GHz each" Gears of war is what the System can do, NOT HALO 3. Good job epic you have cast a nice long graphic shadow..