Editing Halo 3: ODST

{{Title|''Halo 3: ODST''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{disambig header|the video game|other articles including "ODST"|ODST (disambiguation)}}
{{Game infobox
|name= ''Halo 3: ODST''
|image= [[File:Halo 3 ODST Cover.png|300px]]
|developer= [[Bungie|Bungie, LLC.]]
|publisher= [[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|engine=[[Blam engine]]
|writer=[[Joseph Staten]]
|composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]]<br>[[Michael Salvatori]]
|platform= [[Xbox 360]], [[PC]], [[Xbox One]]
|releasedate= *September 22, 2009 {{C|Original game}}
*May 30, 2015 {{C|''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''}}
*September 21, 2020 {{C|PC}}
|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|modes= [[Campaign]], [[multiplayer]]
|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood, Language, and Violence<br>
[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only)
}}
{{Quote|Prepare to Drop.|''Halo 3: ODST'' tagline.}}

'''''Halo 3: ODST''''', originally known as '''''Halo 3: Recon'''''{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/25/halo-3-recon-name-changed|Site=IGN|Page=Halo 3: Recon Name Changed|D=25|M=11|Y=2008}}, is a first-person shooter video game developed by [[Bungie]] for the [[Xbox 360]]. ''Halo 3: ODST'' was released worldwide on September 22, 2009, at 12:00 midnight.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IpDqOzL-jo|Site=Youtube|Page=Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009: Exclusive Gameplay Trailer ( HD )|D=1|M=6|Y=2009}}}} Marketed as an expansion to ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''ODST'' is a midquel to ''[[Halo 2]]'' and a prequel to ''3'', bridging the gap in the events that occurred in southeastern Kenya following the ''[[Solemn Penance]]''' destructive exit from [[New Mombasa]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2317/Halo-3-Recon-Bungie-Speaks/p1|Site=Team Xbox|Page=Halo 3: Recon – Bungie Speaks!|D=10|M=10|Y=2009}}

An official five-part prequel comic, ''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'', was released in the months leading up to and after the release of ''ODST'', starting in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 1|July]],{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.1|Site=Marvel|Page=Halo: Helljumper #1|D=21|M=07|Y=2009}} and ending in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 5|November]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.5|Site=Marvel|Page=Halo: Helljumper #%|D=23|M=09|Y=2009}} An [[Xbox LIVE]] invitation to the [[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|Multiplayer Beta]] of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', announced at E3 2009, was included with ''ODST'', and ran from May 3, 2010 through May 20, 2010.

On December 20, 2014, it was announced that ''Halo 3: ODST''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s campaign mode would be included in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' on [[Xbox One]] as a free content update to players who had played the collection between its release on November 11, 2014 and December 19, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT, serving as compensation to said fans who had experienced many bugs and glitches in the weeks following the collection's launch.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-the-master-chief-collection-thank-you|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=A Thank You to Our Fans from Bonnie Ross|D=19|M=12|Y=2014}} The ''Halo 3: ODST'' campaign was officially released as DLC for ''The Master Chief Collection'' on May 30, 2015. Players not eligible for the free DLC can purchase the ''ODST'' campaign add-on for $4.99 USD.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-the-master-chief-collection-thank-you-faq|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo: The Master Chief Collection Thank You FAQ|D=19|M=12|Y=2014}}

On June 10, [[2020]], it was announced that ''ODST's'' [[Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)|Firefight]] mode would be joining ''The Master Chief Collection'' in the summer of 2020.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdSbSPR3bto|Site=Youtube|Page=Halo 3: ODST Firefight Teaser - Halo: The Master Chief Collection|D=10|M=6|Y=2020}}}} The release date was later announced for September 22, 2020 - eleven years to the day since the game's original launch.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWWdYyCnIZs|Site=Youtube|Page=Prepare To Drop - Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Halo 3: ODST|D=14|M=09|Y=2020}} However, like ''Halo 3'' for PC, ''ODST'' was released a day early.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://youtu.be/QAU0ZmQrgY0?t=402|Site=Youtube|Page=ONI Archives Analysis – Halo 3: ODST|D=11|M=10|Y=2020}}{{Ref/Note|This article uses the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time Zone]] to determine the release date.}}

While a follow-up never came to fruition, it was said that a sequel to ''Halo 3: ODST'' would be considered if fan and media reception exceeded expectations, and the need arose for a follow-up, as per a 2009 interview with Microsoft Game Studios' Ryan Crosby.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/video-interview-inside-halo-3-odst|Site=Joystiq|Page=Video interview: Inside Halo 3: ODST|D=21|M=09|Y=2009}}
==Synopsis==
===Characters and setting===
[[File:The Squad.jpg|thumb|200px|The main cast of ''ODST''.]]
Taking place in the [[Kenya]]n port city of [[New Mombasa]], ''ODST'' follows [[Alpha-Nine|a squad]] of elite [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s during the [[Battle of Earth|Covenant invasion of Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 20th, 2552]].The ODSTs were knocked off course due to the [[Battle of Mombasa|Mombasa Slipspace Incident]], these five Marines lead by an ONI officer fight through the waste-filled, destroyed streets in order to link up with each other, evade the Covenant, and execute a top secret mission.

The game occurs directly after the events of the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level [[Metropolis]], when the [[Prophet of Regret]] performs a [[slipstream space|slipspace jump]] in New Mombasa.
{{clear}}

===Plot synopsis===
{{Spoiler/begin}}
====Opening scroll====
Shown after the copyright text and the [[Bungie]] and [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]] logos, which is cut in the MCC version, and before the main menu, or the first cutscene in the MCC version, is an opening scroll.

{| class="darker" style="margin:0px auto; padding:1px; border-radius:.5em; background: #D8E9FC; text-align:center; color:#000;"
! style="background:transparent;" | Opening Scroll
|-
| style="border-radius:0 0 .5em .5em; background:#F2F5FD; font-style:italic;" | The year is 2552.

Humanity is at war with the alien alliance known as "The Covenant".

We are losing.

The Covenant have burned our worlds, killing billions in their genocidal campaign.

Earth is our last bastion - a carefully guarded secret.

But not anymore.

A Covenant carrier has breached Earth's defenses and attacked the African mega-city, "New Mombasa".

Initial reports confirm major damage and heavy civilian casualties.

Now military leaders of the "United Nations Space Command" have prepared their response...

Teams of highly trained "Orbital Drop Shock Troopers" are ready to assault the carrier from Navy ships in low orbit.

This is a near-suicidal mission.

But these troopers are the best of the best.

And saving New Mombasa could be the most important mission of the war...
|}

====The Drop====
[[File:H3 ODST - Buck Dare Argument.png|thumb|250px|Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Captain Dare arguing.]]
{{quote|no=three|[[Michael Crespo|Private First Class Michael Crespo]]|[[Taylor H. Miles|Corporal Taylor Miles]]|[[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo Agu]]|q1=The Navy put up a good fight.|q2='Course they did. It's Earth.|q3=Better late than never.|An exchange between PFC Michael Crespo, Cpl. Taylor Miles and LCpl. Kojo Agu prior to the drop.}}
The game begins at around 4:00pm, [[2552#October|October 20th, 2552]]. The majority of an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODST]] [[Buck's squad|squad]] are preparing for [[Operation: BUMRUSH|the mission]] on board the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} orbiting high above [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]. They are grouped around a [[Holotank|holo-table]], which shows the [[Covenant]] [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Covenant assault carrier|assault carrier]], ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', hovering near the city's [[Mombasa Tether|space tether]]. [[Taylor H. Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]], [[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], and [[Private First Class]] [[Michael Crespo|Michael "Mickey" Crespo]] are gathered around the holo-table. [[Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] is asleep in his [[M8900 drop pod|SOEIV drop pod]] at the back of the room.

Romeo jokingly remarks how the [[UNSC Navy]] managed to put up a fight during the [[Battle of Earth|Invasion of Earth]], but still allowed a Covenant carrier to slip by the [[Orbital defense platform|Orbital Defense Platforms]] surrounding the planet. Dutch criticizes Romeo, stating that the Navy left the lone ship for the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] to infiltrate. The ODSTs are soon put on alert when their team leader, [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Edward Buck]], enters the room with an attractive [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] operative named [[Veronica Dare]]. Romeo utters "Hello, beautiful" in response to Dare's appearance, catching Buck's attention and prompting him to order the ODSTs to their drop pods.

While walking to the nearby armory, Buck is stopped by Dare, who remarks that the members of his squad are replacements. Buck acknowledges the problem, but notes that after 27 years of war with the Covenant, very few veterans are left in the UNSC. Conflicted about what she likely told him prior to entering the room, Buck confronts Dare about the objective of his team, stating the assault carrier (carrying the Prophet of Regret) is a more vital concern than her covert mission. Dare reminds him that they have orders to follow, and that she should be referred to as "[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]]", in keeping with military regulations.

Buck directs the Captain to her pod, where Romeo asks about her; obviously angry about the mission, Buck confronts the curious Lance Corporal, replying that she is their "new boss". He gives a short speech to his men to motivate them for the drop, and hands an [[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D Sniper Rifle]] to Romeo, drawing questions from the squad, who were anticipating a close range battle inside the Covenant assault carrier. While en route to his own drop pod, Romeo rudely awakens the Rookie, hitting him with the butt of his rifle (at which point the camera changes to a first-person view) while the Rookie lies asleep in his pod. Dutch pushes Romeo out of the way and hands the Rookie a [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun|silenced SMG]], telling the ODST to relax despite Romeo's obnoxious behavior; the Rookie's pod is then closed, spun around, and lowered into the launch bay to begin drop preparations along with the rest of the squad.

[[File:ODST Screenshot 7.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The Rookie approaches the Assault Carrier.]]
{{Quote|Troopers, we are green, and very, very mean!|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck.}}

Marine forces are informed by Dare that the Covenant ground troops are massing beneath the assault carrier for an organized retreat. Dozens of ODSTs are launched into Earth's atmosphere in a coordinated drop to infiltrate and capture the Prophet of Regret aboard the assault carrier. They pass by a few destroyed [[UNSC frigate|Frigates]] slowly falling from orbit around the elevator and begin to enter cloud cover above the city. As they pass through it and approach the carrier, the Captain orders the squad to adjust their trajectory; sending the ODSTs "way off" of their intended course, in Mickey's words following the order.

Before the ODSTs are able to deploy their internal parachutes in preparation for landing, however, Dutch picks up a radiation alert in his pod, and the assault carrier proceeds to enter [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], closely followed by the UNSC frigate ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]''. The radiation and energy burst emitted by the slipspace rupture disables the drop pods before they are able to deploy their parachutes, sending them out of control; the ODSTs are scattered across New Mombasa. Dare's commandeered squad, farthest away from the slipspace rupture, manages to survive the fall, but the remaining ODSTs aiming for the carrier are killed in action. During the fall, the Rookie's pod collides with Mickey's pod, sending it out of control. The high-G forces caused by the impact knocks the Rookie unconscious.

====The Rookie awakens====
{{Quote|no=four|GySgt. Buck|LCpl. Romeo|GySgt. Buck|LCpl. Romeo|q1=Hey, Rookie? You out there? Respond, that's an order.|q2=Give it up, Gunny. Even if he ain't dead, he's lost in that soup. Our comms can't cut through that.|q3=Oh, give up, huh? What if it were you down there?|q4=Just saying. I ain't dead.|An exchange between Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Lance Corporal Romeo.}}

[[File:RookieAwakes.jpg|thumb|202px|The Rookie emerging from his pod.]]

Six hours after the drop (10:02pm), the Rookie awakens to the sound of two [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]] flying nearby. He soon regains his situational awareness, discovering that his drop pod is lodged in a building at least twenty feet off the ground. With no choice, he jumps out of the pod, and falls to the street, slightly injuring himself when he hits the ground. After combing the area for medical supplies, he heads in to the city to find his squad.

Almost immediately after starting out, the Rookie encounters a few Covenant patrols covering a small area. The Rookie uses his silenced weaponry to eliminate the patrols, after which he is alerted to a ringing data terminal. Upon accessing the terminal, the Rookie is connected to the [[Superintendent]], a second-generation [[dumb AI|"dumb"]] [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] tasked with maintaining the city's infrastructure. The A.I. provides the Rookie with data that had been previously unlocked by Dare. The Superintendent begins to assist the Rookie, giving him maps, marking notable locations throughout the city, and providing warnings using road signs.

As the Rookie travels throughout the city, he finds clues regarding the fate of his squadmates. When the Rookie finds a clue, the game's perspective shifts to that of the relevant ODST.

Six hours earlier, Buck had landed somewhat safely (if uncomfortably) and made radio contact with Dare, who told him that she had been trapped in her drop pod. With the assistance of Marines in the area, Buck fought his way to her position. Along the way, he noticed a "family feud" within the Covenant, as many [[Sangheili]] were found dead and seemed to have been killed by the Brutes. By the time Buck got to Dare's pod, she was nowhere to be found. Buck noticed a [[Huragok]], and saw that it was holding Dare's helmet in one of its tentacles. Curious, the alien began to examine Buck. Having mistaken its curiosity for hostility, Romeo sniped the inquisitive alien, inadvertently triggering the bomb mounted on its back. The resulting explosion threw the helmet out of sight, although the Superintendent recorded a video showing where it landed. Romeo and Buck regrouped, the former stating his belief that Dare was dead. The Rookie later finds the helmet.

Meanwhile, Dutch landed in the [[Uplift Nature Reserve]], where he led a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] charge in an effort to breach Covenant defenses and secure the long-departed carrier's landing zone. Mickey had landed nearby, and stumbled upon retreating Marines, along with a tank. Mickey used a [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion]] to bring the Marines to their rally point: the entrance to [[ONI Alpha Site (location)|ONI Alpha Site]]. There, he and Dutch regrouped and found a desperate [[new Mombasa Police Department|police]] officer, who was searching for an explosives expert. Mickey, who had originally hoped to dig in at the rally point and wait for backup, was pressed into service, and he and Dutch headed to the ONI Alpha Site with the police officer in tow.

The two ODSTs worked with the officer and several Marines to defend the ONI complex. Dutch and Mickey used explosives to destroy the bridge leading to the base, but the Covenant easily countered by using Phantoms to land troops past the broken bridge. The courtyard was quickly overrun by Covenant forces, prompting the besieged humans to retreat to the structure's interior. The humans are eventually forced to retreat from the building using a [[D77C-NMPD Pelican|police Pelican]]. As they fled, they destroyed the base using remotely-detonated explosives, preventing the Covenant from using the structure and its contained information. While in flight, Dutch and Mickey managed to re-establish communication with Buck; they headed to the NMPD Headquarters to pick him up.

Upon arriving and attempting to land on a rooftop to pick up Buck and Romeo, Mickey, Dutch and their NMPD allies were attacked by [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]], and their Pelican is shot down. Buck and Romeo fight their way across the rooftops of the NMPD HQ to the downed Pelican and their squadmates. There, the four ODSTs used [[lAU-65D/SGM-151|missile pods]], heavy machine guns, and [[M41 rocket launcher|rocket launchers]] to defend the building from Banshees and Phantoms with landing parties. They were successful in repelling the Covenant assault, but in the process, Romeo was badly wounded by a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Brute Chieftain]], and their Pelican was damaged and left inoperable.

Buck led the group to Kikowani Station, planning to use the tram system to escape the city, stabilizing Romeo with [[biofoam]] along the way. Upon arrival, however, the group discovered that the tram tunnels had been flooded. They proceeded to hijack a Phantom and escape the city, fighting their way past enemy Banshees and even a [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]] in the process. Along the way, they noticed several {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s moving toward the crater left by the assault carrier's slipspace jump. After escaping the city proper, Buck realized where Dare was, and ordered Mickey to turn back and set him down.

====Reunited with the Team====
Meanwhile, the Rookie, having made his way to the Superintendent's Data Center, finds Captain Dare locked in on sub-level nine. She reveals that her orders were to fight her way to the AI's data center and retrieve the information that had recently been discovered about what lay beneath the city, and deny access to the Covenant. The data center, however, had been infested with an entire hive of [[Yanme'e|Drones]], which in turn were supported by numerous other Covenant forces. She explains that this was why she requisitioned a whole squad for her mission: it would have been suicide to fight these forces alone.

Dare and the Rookie fight their way to the data center, arriving just as the severely damaged Superintendent finally shuts down. Closer inspection of the AI's core by the pair reveals a lone, hiding Huragok. Dare reveals an ONI discovery: the Huragok were enslaved by the Covenant, and have little love for their overlords. She also reveals that this particular Huragok, nicknamed Vergil due to its absorption of the Vergil subroutine in the Superintendent, has combined its knowledge with the information possessed by the Superintendent, information that can aid humanity in the war.

The two convince the Huragok to follow them just as the Covenant arrive; Buck arrives at the same time. They escape the data core and fight though hordes of Covenant troops before reaching an elevator, which takes them to the city's [[New Mombasa Waterfront Highway|coastal highway]]. Buck informs Dare and the Rookie that he has a stolen Phantom waiting in the shipyards down the highway. Vergil powers up an [[Olifant]]; Dare drives, while the Rookie and Buck provide supporting fire from a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]], and later, a [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion]].

More Covenant ships enter the city, and the fleet begins to [[glassing|glass]] the area in an attempt to uncover the buried [[Forerunner]] [[Portal at Voi|Portal]] to the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. Buck, having witnessed glassing during the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]], is particularly disturbed by the sight. A Scarab manages to score a direct hit on the Oliphant, damaging it severely and forcing the ODSTs to abandon their vehicles and take cover inside the building entrance to Uplift Wildlife Reserve. Buck orders Mickey to provide extraction instead of waiting for them to arrive.

The ODSTs endure multiple Covenant attacks while waiting for Mickey to arrive. When Mickey and the rest of the squad reach their position, the group boards their captured Phantom, narrowly avoiding a Covenant carrier's glassing beam. They escape the city as more and more Covenant ships arrive to excavate the portal.
[[File:ONI orbital facility.png|thumb|250px|Sergeant Johnson and Captain Dare arrive to interrogate the Huragok held in the facility.]]
A month later, Admiral [[Terrence Hood]] has given [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] clearance to interrogate Vergil on an [[ONI orbital facility]]. Dare warns Johnson to be careful. As the two enter the room, they see Vergil toying with the optics of a drone fighter. The squad is clustered around the Huragok, with the Rookie asleep in a corner. Johnson casually tosses his lighter to the delicate (and flammable) creature, much to Dare's alarm, which Johnson ignores. Johnson expresses the mutual loathing that humans and the Huragok share towards the Brutes, and appeals to Vergil to help the human cause, stating that "You're (Vergil) gonna tell me exactly what they're looking for. And then, you're gonna help me stop 'em." Vergil raises the lighter, flicks it open, and lights the cigar that Johnson just placed in his mouth, suggesting that the Engineer is friendly and willing to cooperate with the humans.

An additional scene plays upon completing the game on [[Legendary]]. The [[Prophet of Truth]] is seen in the chamber that houses the Superintendent's core, smiling as more Huragok uncover an extensive Forerunner complex beneath the planet's surface.
{{Spoiler/end}}
===Campaign===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
#[[Prepare To Drop]] - ''"Start a new game, drop into the nighttime city."'' (Cinematic)
#[[Mombasa Streets]] - ''"Explore the city, find your ODST team."''
#[[Tayari Plaza]] - ''"Beat the Covenant to Dare's crash site."''
#[[Uplift Reserve]] - ''"Lead a Warthog charge, clear hostiles from the park."''
#[[Kizingo Boulevard]] - ''"Scorpion rampage through the heart of the city."''
#[[ONI Alpha Site]] - ''"Fall back, deny access to this vital facility."''
#[[NMPD HQ]] - ''"Pelican down. Keep your sniper rifle handy."'' 	
#[[Kikowani Station]] - ''"Aerial combat in the flooded city."'' 	
#[[Data Hive]] - ''"Find Dare, secure the Superintendent."'' 	
#[[Coastal Highway]] - ''"Escort the asset out of the city."''
{{Col-2}}

===Firefight Maps===
*[[Alpha Site]]
*[[Chasm Ten]]
*[[Crater]]
*[[Last Exit]]
*[[Lost Platoon]]
*[[Rally Point]]
*[[Security Zone]]
*[[Windward]]
{{Col-end}}

== Appearances ==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
|title-1=Characters|
'''[[Human]]'''
*[[Rookie]] {{1st}}
*[[Veronica Dare]] {{1st}}
*[[Edward Buck]]
*[[Taylor Miles]]
*[[Kojo Agu]]
*[[Michael Crespo]]
*[[Superintendent]] {{1st}}
*[[Avery Johnson]]
*[[Terrence Hood]] {{Mo}}
'''[[San'Shyuum]]'''
*[[Prophet of Truth]]
*[[Prophet of Regret]] {{Mo}}
'''[[Huragok]]'''
*[[Quick to Adjust]] {{1st}}
'''[[Jiralhanae]]'''
*[[Bracktanus]] {{1st}}
'''[[Sangheili]]'''
*[[Vero 'Ahtulai]] {{1st}}

|title-2=Species and entities|
*[[Human]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
***[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
**[[New Mombasa Police Department|NMPD officers]]
*[[Huragok]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]]
**[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]]
**[[Jiralhanae Captain Ultra|Captain Ultra]]
**[[Brute Captain Major|Captain Major]]
**[[Brute Captain|Captain]]
**[[Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumper]]
**[[Jiralhanae Stalker|Stalker]]
**[[Jiralhanae Ultra|Ultra]]
**[[Jiralhanae Major|Major]]
**[[Jiralhanae Minor|Minor]]
*[[Kig-Yar]] (''Ruuhtian'')
**[[Kig-Yar Minor|Minor]]
**[[Kig-Yar Major|Major]]
**[[Kig-Yar Sniper|Sniper]]
*[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[San'Shyuum]]
*[[Unggoy]]
**[[Special Operations Unggoy|SpecOps]]
**[[Unggoy Heavy|Heavy]]
**[[Unggoy Major|Major]]
**[[Unggoy Minor|Minor]]
*[[Yanme'e]]
**[[Yanme'e Pupa|Pupa]] {{1st}}
**[[Yanme'e Minor|Minor]]
**[[Yanme'e Major|Major]] {{1st}}
**[[Yanme'e Ultra|Ultra]] {{1st}}
**[[Yanme'e Captain|Captain]] {{1st}}
**[[Yanme'e Hiveward|Hiveward]] {{1st}}

|title-3=Organizations|
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[UNSC High Command]]
***[[UNSC Communications Commission]] {{Mo}}
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
***[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
****[[Alpha-Nine]]
**[[UNSC Navy]]
***[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
*[[Covenant]]
**[[Covenant military]]
**[[Covenant fleet]]
***[[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]]
**[[Vheiloth]]

|title-4=Locations|
*[[Sol system]]
**[[Earth]]
***[[Africa]]
****[[East African Protectorate]]
*****[[Kenya]]
******[[New Mombasa]]
*******[[New Mombasa Data Center]] {{1st}}
*******[[Lumumba|Lumumba District]]
*******[[Mbaraki|Mbaraki District]] {{1st}}
*******[[Kikowani Station (location)|Kikowani Station]] {{1st}}
*******[[Kizingo]] {{1st}}
*******[[Kizingo Boulevard (location)|Kizingo Boulevard]] {{1st}}
*******[[Tanaga|Tanaga District]] {{1st}}
********[[NMPD headquarters]] {{1st}}
*******[[ONI Alpha Site (location)|ONI Alpha Site]]{{1st}}
*******[[Tayari Plaza (location)|Tayari Plaza]] {{1st}}
*******[[Uplift Nature Reserve]] {{1st}}
*******[[Mombasa Tether]]
***[[Quito Space Tether|Quito Tether]]

|title-5=Events|
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Battle for Earth]]
***[[Battle of Mombasa]]
*[[Great Schism]]

|title-6=Weapons|
====UNSC====
;Usable
*[[AIE-486H machine gun]]
*[[Combat knife]]
*[[LAU-65D/SGM-151 missile pod]]
*[[M168 Demolition Charge]] {{1st}} {{c|Gameplay-specific use only}}
*[[M247T machine gun]]
*[[M41 Vulcan]]
*[[M41 rocket launcher]]
*[[M512 smooth-bore high-velocity cannon]]
*[[M6 Spartan Laser]]
*[[M68 Gauss cannon]]
*[[M6C/SOCOM]] {{1st}}
*[[M7057 flamethrower]]
*[[M7S SMG]] {{1st}}
*[[M9 fragmentation grenade]]
*[[M90 shotgun|M90A shotgun]]
*[[MA5C assault rifle]]
*[[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle]]

;Unusable
*[[BR55HB battle rifle]]
*[[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]
*[[Point-defense gun]]
**[[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]

====Covenant====
;Usable
*[[Beam rifle]]
**{{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}}
*[[Brute Shot]]
**[[Jovokada Workshop brute shot]]
*[[Carbine]]
**{{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}
*[[Class-2 directed energy cannon]]
*[[Plasma grenade]]
**{{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}
*[[Spike grenade]]
**[[Jovokada Workshop spike grenade]]
*[[Gravity hammer (fiction)|Gravity hammer]]
**[[Akelus Workshop gravity hammer]]
*[[Firebomb]]
**[[Orgudam Workshop firebomb]]
*[[Fuel rod gun]]
**{{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}
*[[Needler]]
**[[Type-33 needler]]
*[[Plasma cannon]]
**{{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}
*[[Plasma pistol]]
**{{Pattern|Eos'Mak|plasma pistol}}
*[[Plasma rifle]]
**{{Pattern|Kewu R'shi'k|plasma rifle}}
*[[Spiker]]
**[[Paegaas Workshop Spiker]]
*[[Spike cannon]]
*[[Ukala Workshop mauler]]

;Unusable
*[[Energy projector]]
*[[Focus cannon]]
*[[Heavy plasma cannon]]
*[[Plasma cannon (starship)|Plasma cannon]]
*[[Pulse laser turret]]
*[[Energy sword]]
*[[Plasma mortar#Type-26 35cm Directed-Energy Mortar|Type-26 Directed-Energy Mortar]]

|title-7=Vehicles|
==== UNSC ====
;Usable
*[[M12 Warthog]]
**[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]
**[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]]
**[[M831 Troop Transport]]
*[[M274 Mongoose]]
*[[M808C Scorpion]]
*[[M8900 drop pod]] {{1st}}

;Unusable
*[[D77H-TCI Pelican]] 
**[[D77C-NMPD Pelican]] {{1st}}
*[[F-99 Wombat]]
*[[UNSC frigate]]
**{{Class|Charon|light frigate}}
***{{UNSCShip|Chioglossa}} {{1st}}
**{{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}
***{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}
*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}
**{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}}
*Various civilian vehicles
**[[Genet|HuCiv Genet]] {{1st}}
**[[HuCiv HC1500]] 
**[[Olifant]] {{1st}}
**[[Forklift]]

==== Covenant ====
;Usable
*[[Chopper]]
**[[Barukaza Workshop Chopper]]
*[[Banshee]]
**{{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}
*[[Ghost]]
**{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}

;Unusable
*{{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}}
**''[[Solemn Penance]]''
*{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}
*[[Wraith]]
**{{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}
**{{Pattern|Ogab'd|anti-aircraft Wraith}}
*[[Scarab]]
**{{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}
*[[Phantom]]
**{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}

|title-8=Technology and equipment|
;[[Equipment]]
*[[Bubble shield]]
*[[Deployable cover]]
*[[Flare]]
*[[Invincibility]]
*[[Power drain]]
*[[Radar jammer]]
*[[Regenerator]]

;Armor
*[[Jiralhanae power armor]]
*[[Kig-Yar combat harness]]
*[[Kig-Yar targeting headgear]]
*[[ODST armor]]
**ODST/UA Personal Protective Equipment {{1st}}
**Sharpshooter
**ONI/S-1 Recon BDU {{1st}}
*[[Sangheili harness]]
**[[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]]
**[[Ultra-class armor]]
*[[Unggoy combat harness]]

;Other
*[[Biofoam]]
*[[Covenant communication node]]
*[[Covenant watchtower]]
*[[Energy shield]]
*[[Fusion drive]]
*[[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet]]
*[[Health pack|Optican MediGel Health Pack]]
*[[O/I optics device]]
*[[Repulsor engine]]
*[[Roadblock]]
*[[Rucksack]]
*[[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]]

|title-9=Miscellaneous|
*[[UNSC site operation security initiatives]] {{Mo}}

}}
==Development==
{{Expand-section}}
Development on ''ODST'' lasted for 14 months.{{Ref/Site|Id=Pitched|URL=https://gamerant.com/new-halo-games-odst-343|Site=GameRant|Page=343 Pitched '20-30' Halo Ideas, Including New ODST Games|D=20|M=02|Y=2024}}
===Gameplay===
[[File:H3ODST Campaign 1stPersonVISR02.jpg|250px|thumb|left|VISR Mode.]] 
''ODST'' has the main protagonist, the Rookie, searching for beacons across the city of New Mombasa.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 3">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 3</ref> It is up to the player on how to get to any specific location, giving an open-world feeling to the game; this is in contrast to the main trilogy, which has a more linear gameplay style. The "beacons" are various objects, each linked to a particular squad mate in some way. Finding one of these objects sends the player back in the game to find out what happened to one of his five squadmates ([[Edward Buck|Buck]], [[Veronica Dare|Dare]], [[Taylor H. Miles|Dutch]], [[Kojo Agu|Romeo]], and [[Michael Crespo|Mickey]]).<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 3"/> Once you go back in time for a short period, you will take control of the player for a single mission, and play the situations that the particular character went through. Unlike the overall game, these flashback scenes go along the path of the linear gameplay that has been common throughout the original trilogy of ''Halo''. Each level therefore consists of two halves, the first of which features the Rookie, and the second of which follows one of the other squad members.

Due to the fact the player is an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]], the motion tracker and shielding featured in the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]] battle armor suit are not available and the player must instead rely on a more traditional health bar/medkit system. The shielding is replaced with stamina through breathing intervals but it can still take damage from falling down from heights naturally. Enemy fire on the player therefore causes actual injury and pain rather than shield damage as in most Halo games, although as with the shield, the injury appears to be healed after a period of time similar to how long it takes the shield to regenerate the shield in the other games, if the player stands still. On some levels, the player is able to receive energy shielding on top of their stamina and health bar if they are close enough to the [[Huragok]] [[Quick to Adjust|Vergil]], similar to ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' where Huragok provide the [[Sangheili]] extra shielding aside from their own energy shield. The Rookie and his squadmates are not able to dual-wield weapons, such as the [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]] and the {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}. They also cannot use the [[equipment|deployable equipment]] featured in ''Halo 3''.

On the other hand, the player receives a helmet-integrated data management system known as the [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]] (or VISR), which includes a low-light vision mode which identifies allies and enemies through the HUD on his helmet's visor by illuminating and classifying objects; green outline for allies, red outline for enemies, blue for scavengable weapons, vehicles, ammo and grenades, and a thick yellow outline for important objects. Outlines of scenery and objects that will block weapons-fire have a thinner yellow outline. The VISR can also be used to manage waypoints, mission objectives, and information which will help the player. The squad has two new weapons, the [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun|M7S Submachine Gun]] and the [[M6C/SOCOM]], which the protagonist and most of his comrades land with in Mombasa during the initial drop. Also, the grenade limit has been increased to 3 per grenade type. Crouching now causes the player's camera to slightly bob.

Each playable character has their own default loadout which cannot be progressed through different level, with exception of the Rookie. For their default loadout, the Rookie has an M7S SMG and a magnum, Buck has an assault rifle and a magnum, Romeo has a sniper rifle and a magnum, Mickey has a rocket launcher and an M7S SMG, and Dutch has a Spartan laser and an M7S SMG.

As stated by Bungie in the January 23 Weekly Update, the [[Sangheili]] do not appear as enemies in ''ODST''.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Weekly Update: 01/23/09|D=23|M=01|Y=2009}} Although, several groups of [[Sangheili]] corpses are found throughout the campaign, apparently killed by Brutes. By December 2008, the game was "representational", meaning that players could experience the game from start to finish, albeit in an unfinished state. The entire Bungie staff was pulled from other duties to play through the game and offer feedback. Among the unfinished elements was the lack of finished dialogue delivered by voice actors; storywriter [[Joseph Staten]] filled in placeholder audio.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Weekly Update: 12/19/08|D=19|M=12|Y=2008}} Bungie's audio director [[Martin O'Donnell]] contributes music for ''ODST'', as he has done for the previous ''Halo'' games. Due to ''ODST'''s shift to a new protagonist, O'Donnell created new music that was a homage to ''Halo'', though was taken in a new direction.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://bpc3.bungie.org/Bungie_Podcasts_Halloween_08.zip|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Podcast: 10/31/08|D=31|M=10|Y=2008}}

===Multiplayer===
[[File:ODST Controller.jpg|250px|thumb|Controls for ''ODST'' gameplay.]]
====Firefight====
{{main|Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)}}
Firefight, a brand new feature to the ''Halo'' franchise announced at E3 2009, is a cooperative campaign gameplay mode. Four players over Xbox LIVE or System Link play to complete a series of Human vs. Covenant matches. All features from the Campaign Scoring, as well as skulls, achievements, and leaderboards of ''Halo 3'', are featured in ''ODST''.

Due to a technical issue, Firefight is relegated to an invite-only game, as opposed to a matchmaking system used by previous installments in the series.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/08/bungie-why-halo-3-odst-firefight-doesnt-support-matchmaking/|Site=Kotaku|Page=Bungie: Why Halo 3: ODST Firefight Doesn’t Support Matchmaking|D=12|M=08|Y=2009}} Fans who have spoken to Bungie employees on this matter have allegedly stated that the matchmaking function would have taken an additional six months to create for ''ODST''.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.ethiopianreview.com/et/181|Site=Ethiopian Review|Page=Seven Things You May Not Know About Halo 3: ODST|D=31|M=08|Y=2009}} Firefight mode returned in ''Halo: Reach'', and Bungie have specifically confirmed that ''Reach'''s Firefight mode will feature matchmaking.

As a bonus for those who pre-ordered ''Halo 3: ODST'' at select retailers (including such stores as GameStop and Amazon.com), a token to play as [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]] in Firefight was included.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#johnson|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Pre-order bonus brings Sgt. Johnson into the Firefight|D=05|M=06|Y=2009}}
====''Mythic'' and Mythic II Map Pack====
Available through a second disc dubbed ''[[Halo 3: Mythic]]'', all map packs for ''Halo 3'' (''[[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]]'', ''[[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]]'', ''[[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]] as well as [[Cold Storage]]'') are available for those who haven't already purchased them over the Xbox Live Marketplace.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=17195|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Weekly Update: 02/06/09|D=06|M=02|Y=2009}} This includes the [[Mythic II Map Pack]], which included ''[[Citadel]]'', ''[[Heretic]]'', and ''[[Longshore]]''. 

Mythic II was exclusive to the ''Halo 3: Mythic'' disc upon ''ODST's'' release, and would later be released on February 2, 2010 for those who did not purchase the game. Additionally, the ''Mythic'' disc acts as a launcher for the complete ''Halo 3'' multiplayer experience, not requiring any downloads, while also including its own unique menu.

With the release of both ''Mythic'' and the Mythic II Map Pack, the "''Road to Recon''" challenge, as named by Bungie, gives players the chance to unlock the [[RECON-class Mjolnir|Recon armor]] for use in ''Halo 3'' multiplayer.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#recon|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Road to Recon concludes with New Achievements|D=05|M=06|Y=2009}} This challenge requires unlocking the current [[Vidmaster Challenges]] from ''Halo 3'', and three more Vidmaster Challenges only available through purchasing ''ODST''.<ref>''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 4</ref> 
==Merchandise and promotions==
===Editons===
[[File:ODST Collector's Pack.jpg|200px|thumb|The Collector's Pack edition of ''ODST''.]]
Alongside the standard release of ''ODST'', a ''Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack'' was made available alongside the standard version. This includes the game itself, along with a limited edition UNSC-style Xbox 360 controller. The Collector's Pack was available in most stores across the world.

On April 9, 2013, ''Halo 3: ODST'' was added to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace in the form of ''Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition''.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-CA/Product/Halo-3-ODST-Campaign-Edition/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d530877|Site=Xbox|Page=Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition|D=09|M=04|Y=2013}} This version of the game does not include the ''Halo 3: Mythic'' disc found in the original retail version; it includes only the ''Halo 3: ODST'' campaign and Firefight experience found on the first disk. The Campaign Edition sells for less than half the cost of other on-demand ''Halo'' games.
===Licensed products===
[[McFarlane Toys]] released a 6-inch figurine replica of the Rookie as a part of their "Medal Edition" line of Series 6, released in October 2009.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=4020|Site=Spawn|Page=The Rookie - Halo Series 6 - Metal Edition|D=11|M=06|Y=2009}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13588|Site=Spawn|Page=FIRST LOOK AT 'THE ROOKIE' ODST ACTION FIGUREFirst Look at 'The Rookie' ODST Action Figure|D=21|M=06|Y=2009}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.spawn.com/news/news2.aspx?id=13590|Site=Spawn|Page=Halo Series 6 'Medal Edition' Photography Revealed|D=21|M=06|Y=2009}} 
===Strategy guides===
Prima Games released a 272-page [[Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide|strategy guide]] alongside ''Halo 3: ODST''.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.amazon.com/Halo-ODST-Prima-Official-Guide/dp/0761562885|Site=Amazon|Page=Halo 3 ODST: Prima Official Game Guide|D=22|M=09|Y=2009}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product_ID=74846|Site=Gamestop|Page=Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide|D=15|M=05|Y=2009}}
===Soundtrack===
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack}}
Like previous games in the series, ''Halo 3: ODST'' was released alongside an Original Soundtrack comprised of music heard in the game. This soundtrack features seventeen new tracks, composed by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]], on two discs. Though over three hours of music was composed for ''ODST'', only two hours were released on the soundtrack. Upon release, the soundtrack received near-unanimous praise from critics,{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/29/halo-3-odst-original-soundtrack-review|Site=IGN|Page=Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack Review|D=29|M=09|Y=2009}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/699307/halo-3-odst-soundtrack-review-music-for-repelling-the-covenant/|Site=G4TV|Page=Halo 3: ODST Soundtrack Review - Music for Repelling the Covenant|D=19|M=09|Y=2009}} and won the Spike Video Game Award for "Best Original Score".{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.chiff.com/recreation/video-game-awards.htm|Site=Chiff|Page=2009 Spike Video Game Award Nominees & *Winners|D=12|M=12|Y=2009}}
{{clear}}
==Marketing promotions and release==
===Viral campaigns===
====Superintendent====
{{Main|Superintendent (Viral Campaign)}}

On May 29, 2008, a viral campaign for ''Halo 3: ODST'' started which focused around [[superintendent|the AI of the same name]], New Mombasa's janitorial second generation dumb-A.I. construct that aids The Rookie and his squad in surviving the Covenant occupation of New Mombasa.

====Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation====
{{Main|Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation}}

On September 4, 2009, a website was released on Xbox.com, letting fans watch interviews of the main characters of ''ODST''.<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]'''</ref> These videos go into the background of each character, with Buck and various teammates talking about their past, military career, their education, and about the mission ahead. Clips directed by Rupert Sanders can be seen via a marker the Marines place on their right [[Wikipedia:Temple (anatomy)|temple]].

===Trailers===
====Announcement====
[[File:Halorecon noesrb fr-1-.jpg|thumb|The cover art before the name change from ''Halo 3: Recon'' to ''Halo 3: ODST''.]]
{{main|Keep It Clean (Trailer)}}
First, different screens of areas of New and Old Mombasa come on screen, followed by HEV pods entering the atmosphere. Here you can see the Prophet of Regret's carrier on the right, and then it moves behind buildings. The pods come into view as a large explosion (Caused by the Prophet of Regret's carrier entering slipspace) appears, sending the pods off-course. Then, the Superintendent appears, and shows warning signs and then reboots. All the screens from earlier flash onto the screen, but heavily damaged from the blast. Then, a single [[M8900 drop pod]] pod falls through the sky, when the ''Halo 3'' Logo appears. The pod then crashes into the camera and goes black, followed by the words 'Prepare to Drop'.

The second part to the trailer, released on the 8th of October, followed on from this - the Superintendent reinitialized itself, attempting to assess the catastrophic devastation and tries to identify the object that survived. Later, after a Covenant [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] dropship has passed by, the object opens to reveal a lone surviving [[Rookie|Marine Shock Trooper]] to clamber out, wielding a modified M7S Caseless Submachine Gun. The Marine narrowly avoids a [[Jiralhanae]] patrol, before encountering messages from the [[Superintendent]], presumably leading him to safety.

Elements from this trailer have dramatically altered from announcement to the present day.

This teaser was released on September 25, 2008, at 07:07:07 am PST, which coincided with the one year anniversary of the launch of ''Halo 3''. The time at which this trailer was revealed is a reference to Bungie's long-time obsession with the number [[seven]].
====E3 2009 Gameplay====
{{main|Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer}}

Shown to the press at Microsoft's E3 '09 Media Briefing, the first gameplay trailer showcased the events surrounding the campaign and the new Firefight mode. It focuses mostly on the Rookie wandering around the streets of the city and looking for his lost squadmates, along with Dutch who fights during the Battle of ONI Alpha Site.

This trailer also shows the very first glimpse of Firefight, the brand new cooperative game mode designed specifically for ''ODST''.

====ViDoc: Desperate Measures====
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Desperate Measures}}

The first ViDoc of ''Halo 3: ODST'', ''Desperate Measures'' takes a look inside the squad that consists of the main characters in the game. It summarizes the skills that each Marine has, along with what equipment they'll be using in-game.

Also shown are little clips of the flashback missions, namely, featuring Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Lance Corporal Agu on a landing platform at [[NMPD headquarters]], where a police Pelican dropship was extracting the two Marines, before getting chased off by two [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]].

====ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.====
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.}}

The second "ViDoc", which is more of an advertisement, for ''ODST'', first shown at the 2009 Games Convention in Cologne, Germany. ''Bip. Bap. Bam.'' shows off the new ''Firefight'' mode, which was announced earlier at E3 2009.

[[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] is the narrator of the ViDoc, making a stylish entrance in a [[M8900 drop pod|Drop Pod]] over the ''[[Security Zone]]'' map. During the video, Johnson explains the details of this new gametype in ''ODST'', along with explaining how players can play as him by pre-ordering ''Halo 3: ODST'' at a number of participating retailers.

====ViDoc: Terra Incognita====
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Terra Incognita}}

The third ViDoc for ''ODST'' released on Bungie's website, focuses on the development of Halo 3: ODST.

The game developers at Bungie were entering unfamiliar territory, making the largest environment they ever created as the freely-explorable level of New Mombasa. It also says the differences and similarities of the ODSTs and the SPARTAN-II soldiers, such as jumping height and the fact that no motion tracker is present in ''ODST.''

====ViDoc: Dramatis Personae====
{{Main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Dramatis Personae}}
The fourth ViDoc for ''ODST'' released on Bungie's website, focuses on the cast of the characters featured in ''ODST.''

Originally intended as an 'Extra' for people who played through the game, the ViDoc was posted on the Bungie website and on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It introduces the viewer to the cast behind ''ODST'' and Sadie's Story and explains how the voice actors helped to bring life to their characters in the game.

====We Are ODST====
{{main|We Are ODST}}

A 2-minute live-action short made exclusively for the launch of ''Halo 3: ODST'' was released on September 7, 2009 on [[Wikipedia:Spike TV|Spike TV]] with a run-time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252724+03-Sep-2009+PRN20090903 Reuters.com - Prepare To Drop! Spike TV Gears Up For 'Halo Month']</ref> This short is directed by Rupert Sanders, who previously directed the ''[[Believe|Halo 3: Believe]]'' series.

This short showcases the [[19th Shock Troops Battalion]] during their operations in the [[Human-Covenant War]].

====ODST Tour====
[[File:ODST tour vehicle.jpg|200px|thumb|A render mock-up of the tour truck.]]
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Mobile Tour}}
To promote the release of the game, Bungie and Microsoft started an "ODST Tour", showcasing the game's Firefight mode to fans all across the [[United States of America|United States]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2009/08/20/sc200.aspx|Site=Xbox 360 Press|Page=“Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle embarks on a nationwide tour to bring the thrill of “Halo 3: ODST” to fans at GameStop locations in advance of the Sept. 22 launch|D=20|M=08|Y=2009}} Beginning August 22 in Redmond, Washington, this tour lasted for nearly a month, coinciding with the release of the game.
{{clear}}

==Release and reception==
On release, ''ODST'' became the top-selling Xbox 360 game worldwide. The title received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the atmosphere, music, and story approach. Critics were divided on whether the relatively short campaign and included extras were enough to justify the full-game price tag.

IGN noted that playing on co-op during the campaign ruined the atmosphere of the game, and that the campaign went into "simple shooting galleries" too often. However, they praised the Firefight addition.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/20/halo-3-odst-review?page=1|Site=IGN|Page=Halo 3: ODST Review|D=12|M=12|Y=2009}} Gamepro called it the "best ''Halo'' game yet", but mentioned that if the flashbacks were played in a random order, the story did not transition as smoothly. They also stated that the Marine AI had "major issues" in the game.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/212166/halo-3-odst-review-xbox-360|Site=Gamepro|Page=Halo 3: ODST Review (Xbox 360)|D=12|M=12|Y=2009}}

Team Xbox stated that it was the "same game at heart, and Firefight mode is an enhanced version of a game type that others have done before." Others mentioned that other games, such as ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2'' and ''Gears of War'', had much better graphics than ''ODST'', which was based on the older ''Halo 3'' engine.
{{clear}}

==Production notes==
Copies of ''Halo 3: ODST'' were sold early in France, to which Microsoft responded by investigating and threatening to ban any players on Xbox Live playing ''ODST'' before its official release of September 22.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://kotaku.com/5346774/microsoft-taking-action-against-those-who-buy-and-play-halo-3-odst-early-update|Site=Kotatu|Page=Microsoft Taking Action Against Those Who Buy and Play Halo 3: ODST Early (Update)|D=27|M=08|Y=2009}} Microsoft France lead manager Stephen Toulouse later stated that they would not ban legitimate buyers of the game.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://kotaku.com/early-halo-odst-players-wont-be-banned-so-long-as-the-5347615|Site=Kotatu|Page=Early Halo: ODST Players Won't Be Banned (So Long As They Bought A Copy)|D=28|M=08|Y=2009}}

A poster in the original Xbox 360 release of ''ODST'' shows Earth and what appears to be [[Luna|the Moon]] with the line "Destiny Awaits." This would wind up being a vague tease towards their next post-''Halo'' project: ''[[Destinypedia:Destiny|Destiny]]'', with the Moon actually being the [[Destinypedia:Traveler|Traveller]]. The ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' version of the game would replace the original poster with a [[Misriah Armory]] advertisement showing the Earth and the Moon with the text "For Her".
==Gallery==
===Logos===
<gallery>
File:Halo 3 ODST Logo Large.png|Title art.
</gallery>
===Box art===
<gallery>
File:H3ODST_CoverArt_Proposal.jpg|A proposed cover for ''ODST'', then-called ''Halo 3: Recon''.
File:Halo3ODST-GameCover.jpg|Box art for ''Halo 3: ODST''.
File:H3ODST CoverArt Logoless.png|Clean cover art for the game.
</gallery>
===Concept Art===
<gallery>
File:H3ODST Mombasa Haze Concept.jpg|War-torn Mombasa.
File:H3ODST Mombasa Abandoned Concept.jpg|An abandoned parking lot.
File:H3ODST TetherDestroyed Concept.png|The damaged Mombasa Tether.
File:H3ODST DropBay Concept.png|Drop pod bay.
File:H3ODST MombasaStreets Mood Concept.jpg|Nighttime Mombasa.
File:H3ODST AlphaSite Concept 1.png|Exploration of Alpha Site's main building.
File:H3ODST NMPDHQ LandingPad Concept.jpg|A landing pad at NMPD headquarters.
File:H3ODST TetherBase Concept 2.jpg|The base of the Mombasa Tether.
File:H3ODST MombasaBattle Concept.jpg|A battle in Mombasa during daytime.
File:H3ODST MombasaStreets Wraith Concept.jpg|The Rookie comes across the remains of a battle.
File:H3ODST Sector10 Rally Concept Alt.png|Marines gather at a rally point near ONI Alpha Site.
File:H3ODST Rookie Concept.png|The Rookie in nighttime Mombasa.
File:H3ODST Mombasa Marines Concept.png|An ODST and a marine.
File:H3ODST DropPod Concept 2.jpg|Drop pod design.
File:H3ODST Engineer Concept 4.jpg|Exploration of Huragok.
File:H3ODST CQCArmor Concept.jpg|The CQC variant of the ODST armor, which became Mickey's armor.
File:H3ODST RangedArmor Concept.jpg|The ranged variant of the ODST armor, which became Romeo's armor.
File:H3ODST ReconArmor Concept.jpg|Veronica Dare's armor.
</gallery>

===Screenshots===
<gallery>
File:H3ODST PK MombasaStreets 1.jpg|The Rookie encounters a Covenant patrol.
File:H3ODST PK MombasaStreets 4.jpg|First-person view of a Covenant patrol approaching while VISR is activated.
File:H3ODST PK TayariPlaza.jpg|Covenant troops approaching Buck and two marines.
File:H3ODST PK UpliftReserve.jpg|Dutch's Warthog drives past a Wraith.
File:H3ODST PK ONIAlphaSite 1.jpg|Dutch fires his Spartan Laser a Jiralhanae.
File:H3ODST PK NMPDHQ 1.jpg|Romeo firing a detached heavy machine gun.
File:H3ODST Firefight Crater2.jpg|ODSTs fighting Unggoy and Kig-Yar on [[Crater]].
File:H3ODST PK AlphaSite 3.jpg|First-person view of a battle on [[Alpha Site]].
File:H3ODST PK SecurityZone 2.jpg|An ODST firing an M7S SMG at an Unggoy on [[Security Zone]].
File:FirefightMap02.jpg|Johnson firing a Warthog's turret at Kig-Yar on [[Lost Platoon]].
File:ODST Firefight RallyPoint-Day environment.jpg|Phantoms deploying troops to [[Rally Point]].
</gallery>

==Notes ==
{{Ref/Notes}}
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|3}}

==Related links==
=== Internal ===
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*[[Mombasa|Mombasa, Kenya]]
*[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s
*[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]

=== External ===
*[http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/ODST/default.aspx Official ''Official project page'' on '''Bungie.net''']
*[http://cdn.haloodst.xbox.com/odst/index.html Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]

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