Bungie turns up Halo 3 heat: new details, campaign screenshot
by Scott Jon Siegel 
{ Jul 5th 2007 at 9:30PM }
With Halo 3 less than three months away, Bungie is beginning to lift the veil with a couple of big reveals this week. The first was a whole slew of post-beta screenshots and details, revealing two new multiplayer maps (remake of Zanzibar FTW), armor customization, and the brand new, super-fast Brute Chopper vehicle.
The second big Bungie revelation was the second publicly-released screenshot of Halo 3's single-player campaign. Seen above, the screen leaves a great deal to speculation. The stunning mountains mean that it's probably Earth, and the mysterious smoke on the far right may very well be where the survivors crash-landed on Lost (uh oh, spoiler alert!). What's for certain, however, is that Master Chief is looking damn fine in HD. Is it September yet?
Update: This is actually the second official campaign screenshot from the game. The first can be checked out here. Thanks to DWells and Bangbang for the heads-up.
Read - "Way Beyond the Beta: Screenshots Galore" [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Read - "Halo 3 Campaign Screenshot Inside"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DWells55 @ Jul 5th 2007 9:36PM
There was another campaign screenshot before this: http://www.bungie.net/images/games/halo3/screenshots/H3_MasterChief.jpg
Spartacus @ Jul 5th 2007 9:36PM
I think this should finaly put a stop to the "Halo 3 looks so last gen" comments... If you can honestly say that looks like Halo 2 graphics, you need your eyes checked.
colin @ Jul 5th 2007 9:38PM
wake me up when september starts
B Tizo @ Jul 5th 2007 9:42PM
Is that the makings of an explosion reflected on his visor?
Bangbang... @ Jul 5th 2007 9:46PM
This is actually the 2nd shot from the campaign.
http://files.xboxic.com/xbox-360/halo-3/halo3-anniversarymcnewsweeklrg.jpg
I noticed that the character model has changed a litte, but for the better in my opinion, and also there seems to be a pretty explosion in the chiefs visor. It seems to have a nice mushroom cloud shape to it, so maybe earth fought back with nukes.
Yes, i know im geeking over halo 3, but the single player story is my favorite part of the halo games.
Michael @ Jul 6th 2007 1:04AM
This screenshot looks a a lot more realistic than the first one released earlier.
Scott Jon Siegel @ Jul 5th 2007 9:55PM
Colin, I came THIS close to making the exact same joke in my post. It's pretty painful, but I'm happy at least one of us did it.
elmer @ Jul 5th 2007 10:02PM
It's a very posed and idealized shot. We'll see if it looks like this when you actually play soon enough. I still think the graphical leap from 1 to 2 appears bigger than 2 to 3. It better be enough to justify 3 years, a massive development budget, a $400 console and a $60 price tag because it doesn't look like the gameplay's gonna be the big transformative leap here.
octoberasian @ Jul 5th 2007 10:04PM
That screenshot looks definitely much improved over Halo 2 considering the increased light maps, textures, shadows, and bum mapping. If you think about it, the reason why multiplayer looks not so different compared to Halo 2 graphics has to be largely due to performance. Would you rather have slowdown while playing multiplayer with great graphics or have no slowdown with decent graphics? I think that would explain why Halo 2 and Halo 3 multiplayer graphics didn't look much different. But, with the above screenshot, it does look a lot better than Halo 2.
Dan @ Jul 5th 2007 10:32PM
Sure, it looks good at 703 by 395. But graphics don't look so pretty when you stretch them to fit a TV screen.
Nick @ Jul 7th 2007 11:21PM
What about at 1280x720, how does it look then, Dan?
http://www.bungie.net/images/Games/Halo3/Screenshots/H3_WSJ_CHIEF.jpg
Also, it isn't being "stretched" if 720p is the screen's native resolution.
Nate P @ Jul 5th 2007 10:44PM
@9
Uhm, since when does 720p look different on a TV than a computer monitor? 720p is 1280x720 regardless of what screen you're on. All 360 games are 1280x720 or 1920x1080 on anyone's high-def T.V. and that screenshot just happens to be 1280x720.
Pete @ Jul 5th 2007 10:50PM
If this is a real screenshot, judging by the Chief alone this is a much bigger step than from Halo 1 to 2...come on now. This is what I was expecting. Still, it isn't much to go off of. I would have expected to see more with so few months left before release.
Baby21 @ Jul 5th 2007 10:56PM
@Nate P
Well it is depend how big pixel on the HDTV really.
If you have 100" TV then you will see little blocky because the pixel is bigger than your monitor.
MinorHavoc @ Jul 5th 2007 11:03PM
@9
Had you actually followed the link to look at the image at Bungie's site, you would have noticed that the screenshot is actually 1226x690 and is looking quite nice on your computer and will be quite nice on your HDTV.
elmer @ Jul 5th 2007 11:04PM
Yeah Pete, but going off Chiefy alone isn't fair representation, since as with most development, he's likely to be the most carefully detailed and intricate model in the game, despite the fact that being first person, we don't get to see him much. And no, I still don't think it looks a bigger leap.
Halo1 to Halo2: plain old Textures (and the odd bump map) to nicer textures with Normal Maps and specular highlights.
Halo2 to Halo3: textures with Normal Maps and specular highlights to higher res textures, normal maps and specularity maps.
At least Gears of War was showing off its depth of field and motion blur all over the place by now.
synce @ Jul 5th 2007 11:08PM
I don't think comparing Halo 3 and Halo 2 graphically is a fair comparison. Halo 2 looks WAY better than Halo 1, which was the first game the team developed for the Xbox. Thus, since Halo 3 is the first game developed for 360, I think it's safe to assume that Halo 4 will look even better than this. All that said, goddamn that screenshot is pretty.
PaleGringo @ Jul 5th 2007 11:35PM
Um, synce... not to rain on your parade, but I highly doubt that there will ever be a Halo 4. How many times has Bungie said that Halo 3 is "the end of this story arc?" At least 14 months by my count.
---
I wrote this up in another forum:
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While that does look good, I'd like to point out that it's NOT the level of detail (bump maps, HDR lighting, etc) that was shown at E306. Here's to hoping that final layer of polish hasn't been applied yet.
May 9, 2006:
http://www.bungie.net/images/games/halo3/screenshots/h3_e32006_ChiefIntro.jpg
November 20, 2006:
http://www.bungie.net/images/games/halo3/screenshots/H3_MasterChief.jpg
July 5, 2007:
http://www.bungie.net/images/Games/Halo3/Screenshots/H3_WSJ_CHIEF.jpg\
---
Does anybody besides me see regression between E3, November and now?
Matt B @ Jul 5th 2007 11:38PM
I'm sorry. Maybe it is the PC FPS in me but the Halo Series is the worst FPS I've ever seen. Please consult CS and CS:Source before crowning this wannabe the best FPS.
generaldane @ Jul 5th 2007 11:40PM
what is this halo thing you kids speak of i have never heard about it before.
generaldane @ Jul 5th 2007 11:46PM
what best fps ever??? but i haven't seen halflife anywhere what are you guys talking about?
joe @ Jul 5th 2007 11:58PM
Damn! That's hot.
Pete @ Jul 6th 2007 12:02AM
"the Halo Series is the worst FPS I've ever seen."
Halo might be overhyped, and sure it might be undeserving of some of the great reviews it gets, but to say it is the worst FPS ever is beyond stupid. Way to go.
angelux @ Jul 6th 2007 12:05AM
it still looks like crap.
synce @ Jul 6th 2007 12:10AM
WTF man, why are you talking about bump maps and shit? I don't know if you're like this when actually playing a game, but I've never EVER played a game and went "whoa, check out the bloom lighting and pixel shaders" or "this game needs more normal maps." I say something like "damn, it looks good" or "this game is ugly." And Halo 3 right now looks GOOD. That's all there is it to it. Stop acting like some wannabe game developer.
Jake @ Jul 6th 2007 12:25AM
Matt B,
An FPS doesn't have to be the best ever to still be good and fun to play. Your argument is basically that CS is the only good FPS out there. The Halo series is basically the best console shooter series last gen, and possibly ever, yet is still somehow over-rated.
I don't think it is the best ever, but I still like it and will enjoy buying and playing it with my friends. Sheesh.
Also, this screenshot is worthless. You only see Master Chief in cutscenes. Give us a shot of combat gameplay.
Nate P @ Jul 6th 2007 12:44AM
@12
By that argument, all games would look like shit. Not just Halo 3 or the 360.
That's also why some T.V.'s are too big for their own good.
Spartacus @ Jul 6th 2007 1:02AM
Jake:
Even if it is from a cutscene all Halo cutscenes are made via in-game engine. Bungie's site specifically states this is an in-game engine screenshot- so it's not worthless. Besides, it's Bungie- Halo 3 has so far been seen by the public far more than any other Halos have been before release, so don't expect Bungie to give a bunch away until launch week.
Avatar @ Jul 6th 2007 1:04AM
Whoa, synce, buddy, did oyu just bash someone for being a geek on the comment sextion of a video game news website? I think you're in the wrong crowd. Geeking out and flaming are all we have, and no can take that away from, us you heartless bastard, NO ONE!
Also, I pooped a little when I saw this pic. I just hope it's more than just flashy graphics and decent online play.
Avatar @ Jul 6th 2007 1:05AM
And next time, I'll read over what I type before posting. Yeesh.
P_40E @ Jul 6th 2007 1:51AM
@Jake
"Also, this screenshot is worthless. You only see Master Chief in cutscenes."
Lies. You see the Chief while in vehicles, while using turrets, and (in h3) while carrying heavy weapons.
Also, as Frankie says on the NeoGAF forums: "It's not a cutscene, it's a carefuly posed screenshot from Campaign. You can carefully pose and take your own screenshots in Campaign, in the game, in Sept 25th. You can recreate this pose exactly."
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6937218&postcount=397
Corbin @ Jul 6th 2007 2:05AM
It's pretty obvious to me that the only people that say that halo absolutely sucks are either ps3 fanboys or people that have never had an xbox .Besides this article is on the main page,And just as a side point I guarantee you this game will be better then that other game Haze.
stevO @ Jul 6th 2007 3:44AM
I didnt read every comment, so apologies if this is a repeat, but it looks like the levels could be HUGE!
elmer @ Jul 6th 2007 6:17AM
Hey Corbin
I'll happily point out that only 8 million people bought Halo 2 while 24 million people bought an Xbox.
That leaves 16 million Xbox owners who don't really know weather or not Halo sucks.
SeriousKriss @ Jul 6th 2007 8:30AM
It's not Crysis or UT3 level, but it certainly looks better than the MP screens...
Tuto @ Jul 6th 2007 9:25AM
If that screen shot is actully in game, halo 3 will be one of the best looking games ever made. Better looking than gears for sure, but falls short from crysis naturally like everything else.
Corbin @ Jul 6th 2007 12:45PM
I'll happily point out that only 8 million people bought Halo 2 while 24 million people bought an Xbox.
That leaves 16 million Xbox owners who don't really know weather or not Halo sucks.
First off let me point out to you that I said people that have never had an xbox.I say that because people that have had an xbox have either played by barrowing off their friends,or just rented it for single player.So more people then you think have played halo because your counting strictly on numbers alone ,of course i'm not saying every single person that has ever owned an xbox has played halo but enough to it make thee most popular game for xbox .Of course not everyone that has played halo thinks its the best fps out there but to say it absolutely sucks is out of the question.
Babel @ Jul 6th 2007 1:19PM
Ah, much better!
elmer @ Jul 6th 2007 6:29PM
Don't worry, I'm not saying it does or does not suck, just that most people who bought an Xbox wouldn't know, seen as they didn't buy it. Besides even amongst those who borrowed it, they probably didn't think much of it if they didn't then go out and buy it. Further, while everyone 'in the know' praises it for its online experience, fact of the matter is only 2 million or so people would know, seen as that's about how many people used Xbox Live on the first Xbox.
gwolf @ Jul 7th 2007 1:56AM
I never judge a game by it's multiplayer. The single player is where you see it at it's best because multiplayer has to be dumbed down due to the limitations of broadband.
This is looking pretty impressive. Dammit, why must they make so many great games all at once; my free time is gone, all gone.