Famitsu gives Halo 3 a 37/40
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Sep 19th 2007 at 12:30PM }
1Up reports that Famitsu said, "There are many checkpoints and it is easy to retry the game ... more accessible to FPS beginners ... Halo 3 is undoubtedly the best FPS game in the Japanese console market." We're just curious to know if it had been more appropriate for the Halo 3 tagline to have been something instead of "Finish the Fight" in Japan. Maybe Microsoft could have marketed it as: "Come try the fight."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
M-ACE @ Sep 19th 2007 12:37PM
That is why they have Legendary for those non-FPS beginners.
Konny @ Sep 19th 2007 12:33PM
Are they having Halo 3 launch parties in Japan for the 100 or so 360 owners?
Matthew @ Sep 19th 2007 1:25PM
More like 89.
kinshadow @ Sep 19th 2007 1:52PM
More like 500,000
ThornedVenom @ Sep 19th 2007 1:54PM
More like over nine thousand.
Cellien @ Sep 19th 2007 1:55PM
More like 4..... hundred thousand. ;)
Jerk Face @ Sep 19th 2007 2:01PM
Don't worry ThornedVenom, I got it. And it was funny.
Marty @ Sep 19th 2007 3:14PM
Japan doesn't matter as much as it used to anyway... I mean, they aren't helping Sony, are they? :P
Spartacus @ Sep 19th 2007 12:33PM
Can't. Wait.
Slaziman @ Sep 19th 2007 3:16PM
LMAO ThornedVenom
KUDOS
Slaziman @ Sep 19th 2007 3:19PM
/facepalm
I fail at replying
NukeAssault @ Sep 19th 2007 3:54PM
Just image the scores when we see the reviews in the states.
Maestri @ Sep 19th 2007 12:36PM
Well that's good, I was starting to think that it would suck...
I still don't see it getting as much hype and love as it it does elsewhere. 360 will always be inferior in Japan, no matter what goes on it sad to say.
ill trooper @ Sep 19th 2007 12:40PM
Hey, you in that Wii line... "Come Check Out This Other Fight™! Yeah, There Really Is A Fight Going On™!"
Sean @ Sep 19th 2007 1:19PM
A+
OnimushaSoki @ Sep 19th 2007 1:28PM
That's better than the tag line I had...
"Remember how Final Fantasy had a third game? And Mario? And Sonic? We've got one too! PURCHASE THE FIGHT!™ ^_^,V.."
shivr @ Sep 19th 2007 6:41PM
"FIGHT GET!" would be best, I think.
TSD @ Sep 19th 2007 12:42PM
So if Famitsu gave an American FPS 92.5%....
OMG HALO 3 American reviews 11 confirmed!!!1!
T3H WICKERMAN @ Sep 19th 2007 12:41PM
I find that I would be a bit more excited if this was Gears Of War 2 comming out instead.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 19th 2007 1:05PM
Or at least the Chapter 6 as an expansion pack for the X360 but don't worry Gears of war 2 will come,probably it will be announced 3 months after Gears of war for Windows Vista is released.
But I don't how can't you like this game the beta was awesome,the music is epic and the graphics look well not Epic or antthing like Crysis of Far cry 2 but they look great.
Well a 37 out of 40 that's a lot coming from a Japannese source.
T3H WICKERMAN @ Sep 19th 2007 1:37PM
Its not that i dont like teh haloz, its just that out of the two some what generic sci fi universes I prefer gears. The aliens in Halo always looked to goofy and bland to me (marathons were cool and creepy). The game play n halo is solid though. This is not to say that there isnt a been there done that vibe with gears, its just the look of the universe i prefer with its more menacing enemies and constant tension.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 19th 2007 1:47PM
I agree on that one ,the first time I saw Halo enemies I was WTF?, Reptiles and things that looked like chickens not to mention the alien midgets from CE.
Gears of War enemies look more menacing in deed I mean they are based on the LotR orcs. The locust looked evil in Areas where Halo enemies look too WTF I mean the alien midgets, LOL what the hell are they going to do? Punch Master chief nads until he dies?.
I don’t mean to un-respectful but seriously the little aliens aren’t scary but now the guys with the swords are different.
Zsavior @ Sep 19th 2007 12:41PM
I am not saying joystiq does this or that this game doesn't deserve this score, but these systems are to fickle. When famitsu doesn't rate a game high, that people think should be great they are a rag that doesn't look at any other games but Japanese games.
When they score something everybody thinks is great highly like Halo3 well now they are speaking truth and it should bolster sales of the Xbox360. The problem is I don't think we can have it both ways. Either Halo 3 is a superb game and the others games famitsu game low scores to were not appealing. Or just like other famitsu scores this game isn't very trustworthy and should be ignored.
Like I said, I don't doubt this game deserves this score, I personally agree with alot of scores Famitsu gives out. I am just making an observation I have seen at other sites, and said by posters and bloggers alike.
Osiris @ Sep 19th 2007 7:23PM
Whatever happens, it's always an oppinion.
Someone is always gonna disagree.
Chris @ Sep 19th 2007 12:48PM
"more accessible to FPS beginners"
Halo 3 Casual Game confirmed?!?
eM @ Sep 19th 2007 2:14PM
FPSes (along with jRPGs, 3D "platformers" and sports games) are very the definition of casual gaming.
(But nowadays n00bs pretend that they're "hardcore".)
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 19th 2007 8:15PM
Halo: Casual Evolved.
NintendoFanbot @ Sep 19th 2007 12:49PM
Famitsu is Tobias!
Maybe it will do well. Didn't Gears of War do well?
Though GoW was 3rd-person...
That Fuzzy Bastard @ Sep 19th 2007 12:57PM
I am horribly, horribly cynical for wondering if a little money changed hands here?
Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 19th 2007 1:51PM
You don't jump in a pool of sharks if you have arms made of cut up fish.
Unless you have proof, of course.
Ska Oreo @ Sep 19th 2007 2:28PM
Oh stop it please. Can't we just accept the fact that the Halo games deserved the scores they get and that bungie made an great game? Seriously i'm tired of the whole Microsoft paying people to say good things about it scenario. If you don't like the game that's fine, but that doesn't mean a reviewer is wrong or being biased, or being paid off.
That Fuzzy Bastard @ Sep 19th 2007 3:01PM
I should note---I'm definitely not making an accusation (that's why I wonder if I'm being cynical). And I'm not questioning the goodness of Halo---I think 1 & 2 are the best console FPSes ever, and I'm looking forward to 3. It's just that when a Japanese magazine not known for its love of FPSes gives such a high score to a game on an unpopular (in Japan) system, when MS has clearly been throwing a lot of money around... well, it makes me wonder, is all. It may well be advertising money rather than actual bribes---that's how it usually works in the biz---but it's still a little weird.
Slaziman @ Sep 19th 2007 3:24PM
It's not so much that Microsoft always pays for things, but Famitsu is known to be... influenced. Not just with Halo, with other games, you know. That's what I heard. But I hope this is a legitimate review.
FrankTheCrank @ Sep 19th 2007 12:58PM
So, tell me, what is Halo about?
I thought it was just a bunch of running and gunning?
lessbiasedthanmost @ Sep 19th 2007 1:01PM
It is, but there's supposedly a storyline behind it all. But then you'd have to buy the books to make any real sense of it.
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 19th 2007 1:01PM
Halo its just an overrated multiplayer game, with a little or almots nothing of single player campaing.
Badboy1979 @ Sep 19th 2007 1:09PM
It's this video game that some people find to be "fun".
And would you look at that: In all the rukus over who's got the best graphics, who's the most innovative, who's got the best console platform, who's copying who, game's as art, and yada yada... there's quite a few million or so gamers who just want to kick back, play a game they like, and have "fun."
Sure it's not "fun" for some... but me personally, I'm planning on getting a bunch of friends over... start up a LAN party with 3 or more 360s... ordering some food... play that "overrated" multiplayer game and have "FUN" laughing at the replay videos of my friend silly antics.
P.S. - Who's knows we might even have "fun" playing some competitive scoring 4 player co-op... or maybe using Forge to create the ultimate custom powerup too.
NATO_Duke @ Sep 19th 2007 1:17PM
Fernando brings the hate of course. Sorry they didn't make a Wii version yet, then you will have something to enjoy.
But, its no Metroid Prime 3 right? Since thats the bestest game eva made because its on the Wii.
Dude, buy other consoles too and enjoy the many games their are - such as Halo. Those of us who play all three consoles don't have to wallow in shallow baseless attacks on games all the time. Its nice. You should join up.
baby sea tuna @ Sep 19th 2007 1:17PM
Whew, I was beginning to worry that Fernando wasn't going to say something stupid here but hey, there it is!
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 19th 2007 1:23PM
I have the reservation of the Legendary Edition... and I still think that its not a great game.
NATO_Duke @ Sep 19th 2007 1:39PM
So if you reserved it, why do you default to attacking it? Just strange man. You have nothing positive to say on Halo?
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 19th 2007 1:46PM
Nato... its great to play with friends in multiplayer. But its not great on the single campaing mode.
I neves said that I dont like the game. I just said that its not that great.
ThornedVenom @ Sep 19th 2007 1:47PM
The franchise is supposedly the first console FPS done right. That means that everything that was needed was at last assembled into one game and that everything worked marvelously well.
It was THE definition of console FPS. The sequels are whether just milking, or whether they're finally managing to insert all of the content they couldn't previously yet wanted to.
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 19th 2007 1:49PM
ThornedVenom
I guess you didnt play Goldeneye 64
ThornedVenom @ Sep 19th 2007 1:51PM
@ Fernando
No I haven't. But I did write "supposedly", meaning that it's what I've heard elsewhere: in other words, that's not my judgement.
But Goldeneye was launched at a previous console generation. I guess that Halo was the only one which delivered at the time?
baby sea tuna @ Sep 19th 2007 2:00PM
Halo is not only a better FPS than Goldeneye, but has held up a lot better over the years.
Badboy1979 @ Sep 19th 2007 2:01PM
Fernando, hopely you'll enjoy the single campaign a little more this time since they have added a meta-scoring game where you compete with the 3 other players (up to 3) you're playing thru the campaign with during Co-op. It keeps track of who is doing better (most kills, headshots, grenade sticks, etc.) and shows up right on your screen as you play... so it's kinda like a multiplayer game within the campaign and, if I'm not mistaken, it's also tracked on bungie.net for you and your friends to see.
... and it's funny that you mention Goldeneye 64 because that's the last FPS game my friends were hooked on before Halo 1 came around.
Raikage (NDF - PK THUNDER RING) @ Sep 19th 2007 2:08PM
Just so you know, nothing can beat Goldeneye 64, nothing, just stop trying. It does hold up well so shut up clown.
Halo is good though:O
Ska Oreo @ Sep 19th 2007 2:37PM
Ok I'm also getting tired of people actually trying to convince others that Goldeneye is "the greatest FPS EVAH" and that it somehow pwns Halo. Obviously these people haven't played goldeneye in a while. The game isn't as good as you remember and since it's release, many other FPS's have proved to be much better single player and multiplayer games. While Goldeneye was a great game at the time, time obviously wasn't too kind to it.
lessbiasedthanmost @ Sep 19th 2007 12:59PM
Here's to hoping they don't make any spinoffs after Halo Wars. Because I swear I'll boycott the hell outta bungie if they decide to pull a Blizzard on me and make WoH.