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{{Title|''Halo 3: ODST''}}
{{Era|H2|H3|H3R}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Ratings}}
{{disambig header|the video game|other articles including "ODST"|ODST (disambiguation)}}
 
{{Game infobox
 
|name= ''Halo 3: ODST''
{{Game Info Box
|image= [[File:Halo 3 ODST Cover.png|300px]]
|name='''''Halo 3: ODST'''''
|developer= [[Bungie|Bungie, LLC.]]
|image=Halo 3 ODST Cover.png
|publisher= [[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|imageSize=250
|engine=[[Blam engine]]
|Developer=[[Bungie|Bungie, LLC.]]
|writer=[[Joseph Staten]]
|Publisher=[[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]]<br>[[Michael Salvatori]]
|Genre=                
|platform= [[Xbox 360]], [[PC]], [[Xbox One]]
|US Date Released=September 22nd, 2009
|releasedate= *September 22, 2009 {{C|Original game}}
|UK Date Released=September 22nd, 2009
*May 30, 2015 {{C|''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''}}
|Game modes=[[Campaign]] and [[Multiplayer]]
*September 21, 2020 {{C|PC}}
|ESRB=Mature (M) <ref>''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 7</ref>
|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|Platform=[[Xbox 360]]  
|modes= [[Campaign]], [[multiplayer]]
|Media=DVD
|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood, Language, and Violence<br>
|Website=[http://http://www.bungie.net/default.aspx Bungie.net]
[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only)
}}
}}
{{Quote|Prepare to Drop.|''Halo 3: ODST'' tagline.}}


'''''Halo 3: ODST''''' (formerly '''''Halo 3: Recon''''') 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 name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]">[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]</ref> The game is a prologue to ''[[Halo 3]]'' which bridges the events in southeastern Kenya between ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''.<ref>[http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2317/Halo-3-Recon-Bungie-Speaks/p1 Team Xbox Interview]</ref>  
'''''Halo 3: ODST''''', formerly known as '''''Halo 3: Recon''''', is a First Person Shooter video game exclusively developed on the [[Xbox 360]]. ''ODST'' was released worldwide on September 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 midnight. <ref name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]">[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]</ref>
 
Taking place in the [[Kenya|Kenyan]] port city of [[New Mombasa]], ''ODST'' follows a [[The Squad|squad]] of elite [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] during the [[First Battle of Earth|Covenant invasion of Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 23rd, 2552]].  <ref name="IGN.com - Behind the Scenes - PAX 09: Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and More (Off-Screen)">[http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/852871/bungie-project-2/videos/pax09_haloodst_spc_voiceover_090409.html/ IGN.com - PAX 09: Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and More]</ref> Knocked off course due to the [[Battle of Mombasa|Mombasa Slipspace Incident]], these six Marines fight through the waste filled and destroyed streets in order to link up and to destroy and evade the Covenant occupation force in the city.
 
''ODST'' is a campaign expansion and prologue to ''[[Halo 3]]'' which fills in the details of what happened in Southeastern Kenya from ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''Halo 3'' <ref>[http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2317/Halo-3-Recon-Bungie-Speaks/p1 Team Xbox Interview]</ref>. An official five-part prequel comic, ''[[Halo: Helljumper|Helljumper]]'', was released in the months following up to and after the release of ''ODST'' starting in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 1|July]] <ref>[http://www.marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.1 Marvel.com Catalog - HALO: HELLJUMPER #1]</ref>, and ending in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 5|November]] <ref>[http://marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.5 Marvel.com Catalog - HALO: HELLJUMPER #5]</ref>. A multiplayer beta of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#beta Bungie.net : Invitation to the Halo: Reach Beta]</ref>, recently announced at E3 2009, is included with ''ODST''.
 
==Overview==
===Speculation===
 
Although [[Bungie]] consistently stated that ''Halo 3'' was the last game in the trilogy, they never ruled out the possibility of releasing new games set in the same story in the future. An interview by MTV with Don Mattrick (Senior Vice President of Microsoft's Xbox division) revealed that Bungie's game is at the very least Halo-related, and that it is not Bungie's collaborative efforts on ''[[Halo Wars]]'' or ''[[Halo: Chronicles]]'', but a "new" game.
Although a proper announcement was meant for July 16th, 2008 at E3, it was canceled by [[Microsoft]] because they wanted to focus on games by first party developers that were coming out in 2008, criteria which the Bungie project did not fit. It was also stated by Microsoft that they did not want to further lengthen their press conference so as not to stretch the attention span of the attendees, and that they wished to give the new ''Halo'' project an event of its own to release details on it.<ref>[http://e3.g4tv.com/e32008/blog/post/687134/Microsoft_Bungie_Is_Developing_A_Halo_Game.html Microsoft and Bungie are developing a Halo game]</ref><ref>[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/16/microsoft-confirms-bungie-is-developing-new-halo/ Microsoft confirms Bungie is developing new Halo]</ref><ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/07/halo-bungie-e3.html Microsoft explains Halo's no-show at E3 game conference]</ref>
 
The most popular rumor that had surrounded this new title was that it was a squad-based shooter in the ''Halo'' universe with the player filling the role of a [[Veronica|Marine Captain]], but this is untrue as the player will be filling the role of an ODST Lance Corporal, who goes by the moniker of [[The Rookie]]. <ref>[http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/686996/E3_08_Rumor_Master_Chief_Absent_In_Next_SquadBased_Halo_Game.html E3 2008 Rumor: Master Chief absent in next squad-based Halo game]</ref>
 
Speculation about a supposed third-person shooter, giving the player control of Marines or [[ODST]]'s instead of SPARTANs, circulated long before Bungie revealed their next project would be ''Halo''-related. Originally, rumors held that this would be the Peter Jackson game, ''Chronicles''. The presence of [[Christian Allen]], a former [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] and [[wikipedia:Red_Storm_Entertainment|Red Storm]] employee who worked on the [[wikipedia:Tom_Clancy%27s_Ghost_Recon|''Ghost Recon'']] and [[wikipedia:Tom_Clancy%27s_Rainbow_Six|''Rainbow Six'']] series and joined Bungie in early 2007, heightened speculation.
 
===Known Information===
 
''Halo 3: ODST'' has been known to be in the pre-production phase since January 2008.<ref name="Bungie Podcast - 1/09/09">[http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/9/2/0921783A-9166-4624-973C-BEB5BB574EF3/Bungie_Podcast_010909.mp3 ''Bungie Podcast - 1/09/09'']</ref>, four months after the release of ''Halo 3''; and was referred to as ''Halo 3: Atlas'' <ref name="Bungie Podcast - 1/09/09"/>
 
Bungie has confirmed that the game will be a first-person shooter, like the previous three ''Halo'' titles, and that Christian Allen is working on a completely different project within Bungie. Bungie also confirmed that the player will take the role of a surviving Marine, that the game is set in the ruins of [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]; and that it was released on September 22nd, 2009, and that it is the last known ''Halo'' project related to the ''Halo'' trilogy they are working on. In another interview with a number of different gaming sources, they revealed key information about the game: ''ODST'' will be on a standalone disk, it will ''"include some new multiplayer maps, some of which will be a part of the [[Mythic Map Pack]],"'' and it will run on the updated ''Halo 3'' engine. Bungie has also stated that it will be compatible with the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer, provided they have the Mythic Map Pack and ''ODST''. Saved films, and [[Screenshots]] will be making a comeback as well.<ref>[http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2317/Halo-3-Recon-Bungie-Speaks/p1 Team Xbox Interview]</ref>
 
''ODST'' has been described as "returning players to familiar grounds on a vital top-secret mission". ''ODST'''s gripping story, co-operative campaign and new multiplayer content will have Halo fans 'Preparing to Drop' in Fall 2009". The game is shipping at the full-retail price of $60, even though it is believed that the game's campaign will only run three to six hours<ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/929/929686p1.html Halo Recon not Full Price]</ref>; however, in one of their weekly updates, Bungie expected that the campaign will last between three and five hours.<ref name="Bungie Update 11/14/08">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16208 Bungie Weekly Update: 11/14/08]</ref>. Over the course of development of ''Halo 3: ODST'', Bungie has expanded it to more of a full game, rather than the expansion that was planned <ref name="IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST Campaign and Firefight Demonstration">[http://video.ign.com/streaming/e3-2009/index.html?start=0&stop=1803&show=0&ep=http%3A//cms001.slc1.qcn3.movenetworks.com/cms/publish/vod/vodclip/foxign/5532.qvt IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST Campaign and Firefight Demonstration]</ref>. This includes a campaign length closer to the size of ''Halo 3'' in terms of average hours from start to completion, to the Firefight mode which was revealed at E3 2009. While previously stating that ''ODST'' wasn't going to be priced like a normal game, the increased depth added into the game was the cause for the $60 USD pricetag <ref name="Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content">[http://kotaku.com/5274549/halo-3-odst-priced-like-a-full-game-loaded-with-content Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content]</ref>.
 
As of E3 2009, Bungie employees (such as [[Brian Jarrard]] and [[Curtis Creamer]]) have stated that development on the game of ''Halo 3: ODST'' is already completed, and that the footage shown at the convention was from the final build/retail copy of the game <ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/989/989272p1.html IGN.com - E3 2009: Halo 3: ODST is 'Done']</ref><ref>[http://www.gamereactor.dk/grtv/?id=4855 GameReactorTV - E309: Halo 3: ODST Interview]</ref>.
 
===Gameplay===
[[File:ODST Screenshot 12.jpg|250px|thumb|left|VISR Mode]]
[[File:Battle of New Mombasa.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Battle of Mombasa.]]
[[File:The Squad.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The main cast of ''ODST''.]]
 
''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 how they get to the specific location, and in what order, giving a very open-world feeling to the game; something for which the main trilogy has been criticized for, due to its 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]], [[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 around thirty minutes, 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''.
 
Due to the fact that you are playing as an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]], you will not be using the shielding or the motion tracker featured on the [[MJOLNIR]] Battle Armor suits. The Rookie and his squadmates will also lose the ability to dual-wield weapons, such as the [[SMG|M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]] or the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle]].
 
On the other hand, you will receive a helmet-integrated data management system known as the [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]] (or VISR), which includes a new 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, and yellow outline for important objects. 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|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.
 
As stated by Bungie in the January 23rd Weekly Update, the [[Sangheili]] will not be appearing at all in ''ODST''.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 Bungie Weekly Update - 1/23/09]</ref>. Although throughout the campaign several groups of [[Sangheili]] corpses are found, 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>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551 Bungie Weekly Update: 12/19/08]</ref> Bungie's audio director [[Martin O'Donnell]] will contribute 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>[http://bpc.bungie.org/Bungie_Podcasts_Halloween_08.zip Bungie Podcast: 10/31/08]</ref>
 
===Multiplayer===
====Firefight====
{{main|Firefight}}
{{quote|Built on top of Halo 3: ODST's campaign, Firefight is a cooperative game mode that lets you and up to three of your friends put your skills to the ultimate test. It allows you to jump straight into the heart of Halo and experience traditional Halo sandbox encounters with a new, high octane twist.  Though you’ve squared off against most of the enemies you’ll face in Firefight before, you’re not going to be able to rely on your past experiences alone to guide you through all of the action. In Firefight, even the most "harmless" enemy can become a dangerous threat when you’re low on ammo, low on lives, and have your back against the wall. Throw gameplay modifying skulls into the mix and you'll find that the combat can become even more interesting and intense.|Bungie.net: Drop Into Firefight}}
 
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'', will be 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>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/08/bungie-why-halo-3-odst-firefight-doesnt-support-matchmaking/ Kotaku.com Australia - Bungie: Why Halo 3: ODST Firefight doesn't support matchmaking]</ref>. 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>[http://www.ethiopianreview.com/et/181 Ethopian Review - Seven Things You May Not Know About Halo 3: ODST]</ref>.
 
=====Firefight&nbsp;Maps=====
Below is a list of maps for ''ODST''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Firefight mode:


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>[http://www.marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.1 Marvel.com Catalog - ''Halo: Helljumper'' #1]</ref> and ending in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 5|November]].<ref>[http://marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.5 Marvel.com Catalog - ''Halo: Helljumper'' #5]</ref> An [[Xbox LIVE]] invitation to the [[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|Multiplayer Beta]] of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'',<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#beta Bungie.net : Invitation to the ''Halo: Reach'' Beta]</ref> announced at E3 2009, was included with ''ODST'', and ran from May 3, 2010 through May 20, 2010.
*[[Alpha Site (Level)|Alpha Site]]
*[[Chasm Ten (Level)|Chasm Ten]]
*[[Crater (Night) (Level)|Crater]]
*[[Last Exit (Level)|Last Exit]]
*[[Lost Platoon (Level)|Lost Platoon]]
*[[Rally Point (Level)|Rally Point]]
*[[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]]
*[[Windward (Level)|Windward]]
*[[Crater (Night) (Level)|Crater]] &nbsp;(Night)
*[[Rally Point (Level)|Rally Point]]&nbsp;(Night)


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>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-the-master-chief-collection-thank-you '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''A Thank You to Our Fans from Bonnie Ross'']</ref> 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>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-the-master-chief-collection-thank-you-faq '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection - Remnant & ODST FAQ'']</ref> On June 10, [[2020]], it was announced that ODST's [[Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)|Firefight]] mode would be joining ''The Master Chief Collection'' in Summer 2020.<ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST Firefight Teaser]]''</ref> The release date was later announced for September 22, 2020 - eleven years to the day since the game's original launch.<ref>''[[Prepare To Drop (trailer)|Prepare to Drop]]''</ref> However, like ''Halo 3'' for PC, ''ODST'' was released a day early.<ref>[https://youtu.be/QAU0ZmQrgY0?t=402 '''Halo Canon''': ''ONI Archive Analysis - Halo 3: ODST'']</ref>{{Ref/Note|This article uses the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time Zone]] to determine the release date.}}
[[File:ODST Controller.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Controls for ''ODST'' gameplay.]]
 
====Map Packs====
 
All map packs (''[[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]]'', ''[[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]]'', and ''[[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]]'') will be available for those who haven't already purchased them over Xbox LIVE Marketplace <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=17195 Bungie Weekly Update - 2/06/2009]</ref>. In addition to the other map packs, an additional map pack will be featured in the ''ODST'' package. These maps are currently known as ''[[Citadel (Level)|Citadel]]'', ''[[Heretic (Level)|Heretic]]'', and ''[[Longshore (Level)|Longshore]]''.
 
While previously confirmed to only feature a Campaign element as the only gameplay mode, the second disc in the ''ODST'' box will contain all of the maps, which you will be able to play directly from there, without having to download the maps to your Hard Drive and starting ''Halo 3'' <ref name="IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST Campaign and Firefight Demonstration"/>.
 
<br clear="all">
 
===Achievements===
 
{{Halo 3: ODST Achievements}}


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
===Characters and setting===
{{Under Construction}}
[[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 led 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===
===Opening Scroll===
{{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;"
Shown after the [[Bungie Studios|Bungie]] and [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]] logos, and before the main menu, is an opening scroll, which is new for the ''[[Halo]]'' games. This is likely a carry over from the ''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' comic series, which opens with such a scroll before the comic begins.
! 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".
{{Opening Scroll
|name = The year is 2552
|text=Humanity is at war with the alien alliance known as "The Covenant".


We are losing.
We are losing.
Line 61: Line 121:
Now military leaders of the "United Nations Space Command" have prepared their response...
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.
Teams of "Orbital Drop Shock Troopers" are ready to assault the carrier from Navy ships in low orbit.


This is a near-suicidal mission.
This is a near-suicide mission.


But these troopers are the best of the best.
But these troopers are the best of the best.


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


====The Drop====
===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.
[[File:H3 ODST - Buck Dare Argument.png|250px|thumb|right|GySgt. Buck and Capt. Dare arguing.]]


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.
<small>
{{quote|The Navy put up a good fight.|Private First Class Michael Crespo.}}
{{quote|'Course they did. It's Earth.|Corporal Taylor Miles.}}
{{quote|Better late than never.|Lance Corporal Kojo Agu.}}</small>


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.
The game begins on a UNSC warship orbiting high above [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] on [[Earth]] at about 4:00pm (16:00 military time) on [[2552#October|October 23rd, 2552]] <ref name="IGN.com - Behind the Scenes - PAX 09: Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and More (Off-Screen)"/>; where the majority of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|Squad]] is relaxing around a holo-table displaying the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Assault Carrier]] hovering directly near the [[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator|Orbital Elevator]]. [[Taylor Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]], [[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], [[Michael Crespo|Private First Class Michael "Mickey" Crespo]], and [[The Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] sleeping in the back, jokingly remarking how the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] only put up a good fight until the [[First Battle of Earth|Invasion of Earth]] and still managed to allow a [[Covenant]] carrier to slip by the [[Orbital Defense Platform|Orbital Defense Grids]] high above the planet, to which Dutch criticizes Romeo for, stating that they left the lone ship for the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] to infiltrate. Shortly after, the ship is put on alert when their team leader, [[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]], enters the room with an attractive [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] operative named [[Veronica]] or "Dare". Romeo quickly responds to them entering the room with "hello, beautiful", which caught the attention of Buck, ordering them to their [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV "Drop Pods"]].


[[File:ODST Screenshot 7.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The Rookie approaches the Assault Carrier.]]
Walking to the armory nearby, Buck is stopped by Veronica who talks about the men in his squad being replacements, to which they go on about the small numbers of combat-experienced Marines they have to lead into combat. Conflicted about what she likely told him prior to entering the room, Buck attempts to protect his men by confronting his previous romantic interest about the Assault Carrier being a more vital concern than her covert mission. Dare reminds them they have orders to follow, and that she should be referred to her rank of [[Captain (Ground forces)|Captain]], in keeping with military regulations.
{{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.
Buck directs the Captain to their pods, when Romeo asks about her; obviously angry about the mission, he confronts the curious Lance Corporal, informing that she is their "new boss". He gives a short speech to his men, and hands a [[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D Sniper Rifle]] to Romeo, confusing him and his teammates about the Assault Carrier mission they were previously given by the Admiralty. Proceeding to enter their pods, Romeo hits the Rookie across the head with the stock of his rifle (the player then transitions to a first-person mode) while still in his pod, which Dutch pushes him out of the way, handing the F.N.G. an [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]]; the Rookie's pod is then shut closed, spun around, and lowered into the launch bay to begin drop preparations.  


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.
[[File:ODST Screenshot 7.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The Rookie approaches the Assault Carrier.]]


====The Rookie awakens====
{{quote|Troopers, we are green, and very, very mean!|Gunnery Sergeant Eddie Buck.}}
{{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.]]
Marine forces are informed by Dare that the [[Covenant Army]] is massing beneath the carrier near the Mombasa Orbital Elevator for an organized retreat. Dozens of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] 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 Frigates|Frigate]]-type ships in orbit around the elevator, and begin to enter cloud cover above the city. After a flash forward (as shown by a brief white flash), the Captain orders the squad to adjust their trajectory and drop locations on her order, which launches the Marines way off of their intended course.


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.
Before the Marines can ever deploy the internal parachutes, the invasion forces have already evacuated inside the carrier. Dutch picks up a radiation alert in his pod, and the Assault Carrier proceeds to enter [[Slipspace]]. The slipspace rupture generates a devastating shockwave, while the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} (FFG-142) enters the rupture provided by Regret's flagship. An EMP blast emitted by the rupture causes the Marine assault force to lose power in their SOEIV Pods, throwing them all over New Mombasa.


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.
===The Rookie Awakes===
Six hours after being knocked unconscious by the impact of Mickey's pod and a violent landing into the side of a building, the Rookie finally wakes up at 10:02pm (22:02 military time), to the noise of a flight of [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Type-52 "Phantom" Troop Carriers]] flying low above the city. After regaining his situational awareness, the Rookie arms the four explosive bolts located in all four corners of the door to exit the pod. With the door removed from the pod, the Rookie jumps a couple dozen meters down into the streets below, completely draining his stamina. After combing the area for medical supplies, he regains his health, and proceeds to find his lost Marines.


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.
Located only a few minutes away from the Rookie's location is a small area patrolled by at least two Covenant squads (one Jiralhanae and four Unggoy each), this is where the Rookie spots a ringing data terminal shortly after defeating both of the squads using his limited arsenal of suppressed weaponry. This introduces the [[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]], a 2nd Gen. dumb A.I. responsible for the infrastructure of the city. This A.I. provides data unlocked by their commanding officer, Dare, a long time before he encounters the terminal. Complete with maps and notable locations throughout the city, the Superintendent begins to aid this young Marine in his mission.


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.
==Appearances==
[[File:The Rookie.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The main protagonist of the game, [[The Rookie]].]]


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.
===Characters===


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.
*'''[[United Nations Space Command]]'''
**[[The Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] - The main protagonist of ''ODST''. 
**[[Dare|Captain Veronica Dare]] - The Rookie's female commanding officer and [[ONI|Naval Intelligence]] operative <ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 1</ref>. She is voiced by actor [[Tricia Helfer]] <ref>[http://www.spike.com/video/gttv-2009-vgas-e3/3175518 GameTrailer TV: E3 2009 Special]</ref>.
**[[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]] - The former-leader of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|squad]].<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/>. Voiced by [[Nathan Fillion]].  
**[[Taylor Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]] - The Heavy Weapons specialist.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/> <ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 5">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 5</ref>. Voiced by [[Adam Baldwin]].
**[[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]] - The Marksman in the squad, and is quoted as being a "wiseass".<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/>  <ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 5"/>. Voiced by [[Nolan North]].
**[[Michael Crespo|Private First Class Michael "Mickey" Crespo]] - He is the demolitions expert for the squad.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/>. Voiced by [[Alan Tudyk]].
**[[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]] - New Mombasa's Urban Infrastructure A.I. construct. Voiced by [[Joseph Staten]]<ref>Halo 3: ODST Credits</ref>
**[[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson]] - An experienced Staff Non-Commissioned Officer with nearly a half-century of combat experience. Voiced by [[David Scully]]. <small>(Epilogue only)</small>
**[[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood]] - The Commander-in-Chief of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]. <small>(Mentioned only)</small>


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.
*'''[[Covenant]]'''
**[[Vergil]] - A Huragok with the data and memories of the Superintendent transferred into him.
**[[Prophet of Truth]] - The de-facto leader of the [[Covenant Empire]], he leads a fleet to Earth in order to find the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. Truth can be seen during the Legendary Ending in a cave that goes underneath New Mombasa to the [[Portal]] hidden beneath the city.
**[[Prophet of Regret]] - One of the three Hierarchs of the Covenant, his only known role in the game is at the beginning where his [[Assault Carrier]] enters slipspace over New Mombasa. <small>(Mentioned only)</small>


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.
===Locations===


====Reunited with the Team====
*[[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]
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.
**[[Lumumba|Lumumba District]]
**[[Mbaraki|Mbaraki District]] - Most of Dare's squad landed in this district after they diverted their course from the Assault Carrier to the area surrounding the ONI facility directly across from the Space Tether.
***[[Kikowani Station]]
***[[Kizingo Boulevard]]
***[[NMPD Headquarters]]
***[[ONI Alpha Base]] - This [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Two|Section Two]] facility was the site of a [[Battle of ONI Alpha Base|fierce battle]] that pitted New Mombasa Police and the UNSC Marine Corps, against a Covenant assault from across the bridge. This building was destroyed shortly after the battle for unknown reasons. A Firefight map, known as [[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]], takes place in front of the entrance to the facility <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU061209 Bungie Weekly Update 6/12/09]</ref>.
***[[Tayari Plaza]]
***[[Uplift Reserve]]
**[[Tanaga|Tanaga District]]
**[[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator]] - Severely damaged by the Slipspace Jump caused by the Prophet of Regret's Assault Carrier, and later destroyed by a falling [[F99 Wombat]] Drone, wreckage from this space tether can be seen all across the city. Only the base of the tether and the bottom few rings survived the jump, though the structure can be seen from most places in the city, blazed in an inferno.


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.
===Equipment===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}


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]].
'''[[Weapon]]s'''


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.
*'''[[United Nations Space Command]]'''
**[[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]]
**[[M6C/SOCOM]]
**[[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System]]
**[[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]]
**[[M9 Fragmentation Grenade|M9 HE-DP Fragmentation Grenade]]
**[[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]
**[[M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher]]
**[[M68 Gauss Cannon]]
**[[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|M90A Close Assault Weapon System]]
**[[M165 Demolition Charge]]
**[[M7057/Defoliant Projector]] <ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', level ''[[Data Hive (Level)|Data Hive]]''</ref>
**[[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D-S2AM Sniper Rifle]]
**[[Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle|W/AV M6 Nonlinear Rifle]]


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.
*'''[[Covenant]]'''
[[File:ONI orbital facility.png|thumb|250px|Sergeant Johnson and Captain Dare arrive to interrogate the Huragok held in the facility.]]
**[[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade]]
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.
**[[Type-2 Antipersonnel Fragmentation Grenade]]
**[[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer]] <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=15956 Bungie Weekly Update 10/14/08] - ''CJ Cowan just made a Brute Chieftain introduce the business end of his Hammer to some dudes.''</ref>
**[[Type-3 Antipersonnel/Antimatériel Incendiary Grenade]]
**[[Type-25 Carbine]]
**[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol]]
**[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae Variant|Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae]]
**[[Type-25 Grenade Launcher]] <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16887 Bungie Weekly Update 1/16/09] - ''At one point I found myself inquiring aloud if the Brute Shot had been powered up.''</ref>
**[[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher]]
**[[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon]]
**[[Type-51 Carbine]]
**[[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]]
**[[Type-52 Pistol]]


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 dirt.
{{col-2}}
{{Spoiler/end}}


==Gameplay==
'''[[Vehicle]]s'''
[[File:H3ODST Campaign 1stPersonVISR02.jpg|250px|thumb|left|VISR Mode.]]  
*'''United Nations Space Command'''
**[[D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship|D77H-TCI "Pelican" Dropship]] (Police Variant)
**[[Warthog|M12 "Warthog" Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]]
**[[Gauss Warthog|M12G1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle]]
**[[Mongoose|M274 "Mongoose" Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle]]
**[[M808B Main Battle Tank|M808B "Scorpion" Main Battle Tank]]
**[[M831 Troop Transport|M831 "Warthog" Troop Transport]]
**[[M312 Elephant HRV|Olifant Waste Recycling Vehicle]]
**[[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle]]
**[[F-99 Wombat|F-99 "Wombat" Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle]] <ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', level ''[[Uplift Reserve (Level)|Uplift Reserve]]''</ref>
**[[UNSC Frigate]]
***{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}
**{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} <small>(Teasers only)</small>
**{{UNSCShip|Tokyo Rules}} <small>(Teasers only)</small>
**Various Civilian Vehicles


''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.
*'''Covenant'''
**[[Assault Carrier]]
**[[CCS-class Battlecruiser]]
**[[Type-25 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Type-25 "Chopper" Rapid Assault Vehicle]]
**[[Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage|Type-25 "Wraith" Assault Gun Carriage]]
**[[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Type-26 "Banshee" Ground Support Aircraft]]
**[[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Type-32 "Ghost" Rapid Assault Vehicle]]
**[[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Type-47 "Scarab" Ultra Heavy Assault Platform]]
**[[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Type-52 "Phantom" Troop Carrier]]
**[[Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Artillery|Type-52 "Wraith" Anti-Aircraft Artillery]]


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''.
{{col-end}}


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.
===Other===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}


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.
====Sentient Species====
 
*[[Human]]s
As stated by Bungie in the January 23 Weekly Update, the [[Sangheili]] do not appear as enemies in ''ODST''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 Bungie Weekly Update - 1/23/09]</ref> 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>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551 Bungie Weekly Update: 12/19/08]</ref> 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>[http://bpc.bungie.org/Bungie_Podcasts_Halloween_08.zip Bungie Podcast: 10/31/08]</ref>
 
===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]]
*[[Huragok]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]]
*[[Kig-yar]]
**[[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]]
*[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Sangheili]] <ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', level ''[[Tayari Plaza (Level)|Tayari Plaza]]''</ref>
*[[San'Shyuum]]
*[[San 'Shyuum]]
*[[Unggoy]]
*[[Unggoy]]
**[[Special Operations Unggoy|SpecOps]]
**[[Unggoy Heavy|Heavy]]
**[[Unggoy Major|Major]]
**[[Unggoy Minor|Minor]]
*[[Yanme'e]]
*[[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|
{{col-2}}
*[[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|
====Allies====
*[[Sol system]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[Earth]]
**Marine Infantryman
***[[Africa]]
**[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
****[[East African Protectorate]]
*[[New Mombasa Police Department]]
*****[[Kenya]]
**NMPD Officers
******[[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|
{{col-end}}
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Battle for Earth]]
***[[Battle of Mombasa]]
*[[Great Schism]]


|title-6=Weapons|
====Enemies====
====UNSC====
{{col-begin}}
;Usable
{{col-6}}
*[[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
*Jiralhanae
*[[BR55HB battle rifle]]
**[[Brute Chieftain|Chieftain]]
*[[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]
**[[War Chieftain]]
*[[Point-defense gun]]
**[[Brute Captain Ultra|Captain Ultra]]
**[[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]
**[[Brute Captain Major|Captain Major]]
**[[Brute Captain|Captain]]
**[[Brute Ultra|Ultra]]
**[[Brute Major|Major]]
**[[Brute Minor|Minor]]
**Specialists
***[[Jump Pack Brute|Airborne]]
***[[Brute Stalker|Stalker]]


====Covenant====
{{col-6}}
;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
*Unggoy
*[[Energy projector]]
**[[Grunt Ultra|Ultra]]
*[[Focus cannon]]
**[[Grunt Major|Major]]
*[[Heavy plasma cannon]]
**[[Grunt Minor|Minor]]
*[[Plasma cannon (starship)|Plasma cannon]]
**Specialists
*[[Pulse laser turret]]
***[[Special Operations Grunt|Special Operations]]
*[[Energy sword]]
***[[Heavy Grunt|Heavy Weapons]]
*[[Plasma mortar#Type-26 35cm Directed-Energy Mortar|Type-26 Directed-Energy Mortar]]


|title-7=Vehicles|
{{col-6}}
==== UNSC ====
;Usable
*[[M12 Warthog]]
**[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]
**[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]]
**[[M831 Troop Transport]]
*[[M274 Mongoose]]
*[[M808C Scorpion]]
*[[M8900 drop pod]] {{1st}}


;Unusable
*Kig-yar
*[[D77H-TCI Pelican]]
**[[Jackal Major|Major]]
**[[D77C-NMPD Pelican]] {{1st}}
**[[Jackal Minor|Minor]]
*[[F-99 Wombat]]
**Specialists
*[[UNSC frigate]]
***[[Jackal Sniper|Sniper]]
**{{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 ====
{{col-6}}
;Usable
*[[Chopper]]
**[[Barukaza Workshop Chopper]]
*[[Banshee]]
**{{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}
*[[Ghost]]
**{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}


;Unusable
*Mgalekgolo
*{{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}}
**[[Mgalekgolo#Ranking System|Standard Hunter]] (Blue Armor)
**''[[Solemn Penance]]''
**[[Mgalekgolo#Ranking System|Unknown Hunter]] (Gold Armor) <ref name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]"/>
*{{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|
{{col-6}}
;[[Equipment]]
*[[Bubble shield]]
*[[Deployable cover]]
*[[Flare]]
*[[Invincibility]]
*[[Power drain]]
*[[Radar jammer]]
*[[Regenerator]]


;Armor
*Yanme'e
*[[Jiralhanae power armor]]
**[[Drone Major|Major]]
*[[Kig-Yar combat harness]]
**[[Drone Minor|Minor]]
*[[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
{{col-6}}
*[[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|
*Huragok
*[[UNSC site operation security initiatives]] {{Mo}}
**Unknown Rank, used as suicide bombers by the Jiralhanae <ref>''Official Xbox Magazine: October 2009'', page 53</ref>.


}}
{{col-end}}


==Multiplayer==
==Marketing==
[[File:ODST Controller.jpg|250px|thumb|Controls for ''ODST'' gameplay.]]
===Viral Campaigns===
===Firefight===
====Superintendent====  
{{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>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/08/bungie-why-halo-3-odst-firefight-doesnt-support-matchmaking/ Kotaku.com Australia - Bungie: Why Halo 3: ODST Firefight doesn't support matchmaking]</ref> 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>[http://www.ethiopianreview.com/et/181 Ethiopian Review - Seven Things You May Not Know About Halo 3: ODST]</ref> Firefight mode returned in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and Bungie have specifically confirmed that ''Reach'''s Firefight mode will feature matchmaking.
 
===Map packs===
All map packs (''[[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 Xbox LIVE Marketplace.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=17195 Bungie Weekly Update - 2/06/2009]</ref> In addition to the other map packs, an additional map pack is featured in the ''ODST'' package. These maps are ''[[Citadel]]'', ''[[Heretic]]'', and ''[[Longshore]]''.
 
While previously confirmed to only feature a Campaign element as the only gameplay mode, the second disc in the ''ODST'' box, [[Halo 3: Mythic]], contains all of the maps, which you can play directly from there, without having to download the maps to your Hard Drive and starting ''Halo 3''.  {{clear}}
 
==Marketing promotions and release==
===Viral campaigns===
====Superintendent====
{{Main|Superintendent (Viral Campaign)}}
{{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.
On May 29th, 2008, a viral campaign for ''Halo 3: ODST'' started focused around [[Superintendent (Construct)|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====
====ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A====
{{Main|Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation}}
{{Main|ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A}}


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]].
On September 4th, 2009, a second viral campaign was released on Xbox.com, letting fans watch interviews of the main characters of ''ODST'' <ref>[http://cdn.haloodst.xbox.com/odst/index.html ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]</ref>. These videos go into the background of each character, with Buck and a various teammate talking about their past, military career, their education, and about the misson ahead. Clips directed by Rupert Sanders can be seen via a marker the Marines place on their right [[Wikipedia:Temple (anatomy)|temple]].  


===Trailers===
===Trailers===
====Announcement====
====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)}}
{{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.
[[Video:Halo 3: Recon - Announcement Trailer|300px|left]]
 
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, 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 [[HEV]] 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 [[Phantom]] dropship has passed by, the object opens to reveal a lone surviving [[Unnamed Marine Shock Trooper|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 (Construct)|Superintendent]], presumably leading him to safety.


Elements from this trailer have dramatically altered from announcement to the present day.
Elements from this trailer have dramatically altered from announcement to the present day.  
 
[[Video:Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|300px|right]]


====E3 2009 Gameplay====
====E3 2009 Gameplay====
{{main|Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer}}
{{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.
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, looking for his lost squadmates, along with Dutch who fights during the [[Battle of ONI Alpha Base]].


This trailer also shows the very first glimpse of Firefight, the brand new cooperative game mode designed specifically for ''ODST''.
This trailer also shows the very first glimpse of Firefight, the brand new cooperative game mode designed specifically for ''ODST''.
Line 470: Line 377:
{{main|Halo 3 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.
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]].
Also shown are little clips of the flashback missions, namely, featuring GySgt Buck and LCpl 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 Banshee fighters.  


====ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.====
====ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.====
{{main|Halo 3 ODST 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.
The second ViDoc for ''ODST'' first shown at the 2009 Games Convention in Cologne, Germany, ''Bip. Bap. Bam.'' shows off the new ''Firefight'' mode revealed 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.
[[Avery Johnson|SgtMaj Avery Johnson]] is the narrator of the ViDoc, making a stylish entrance in a [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV "Drop Pod"]] over the ''[[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]]'' map. During the video, Johnson details the gameplay of this new gametype for ''ODST'', along with telling how they can play him by pre-ordering the game at a number of participating retailers.


====ViDoc: Terra Incognita====
====ViDoc: Terra Incognita====
Line 486: Line 393:
The third ViDoc for ''ODST'' released on Bungie's website, focuses on the development of Halo 3: ODST.
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.''
The game developers at Bungie were entering unfamiliar territory, making the largest enviroment 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.


===Other===
====We Are ODST====
====We Are ODST====
{{main|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.
A 2 minute live-action short made exclusively for the launch of ''Halo 3: ODST'' will be released on September 7th, 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]].
This short showcases the [[19th Shock Troops Battalion]] during their operations in the [[Human-Covenant War]].


====ODST Tour====
====ODST Tour====
[[File:ODST tour vehicle.jpg|200px|thumb|A render mock-up of the tour truck.]]
[[File:ODST tour vehicle.jpg|200px|thumb|right|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>[http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2009/08/20/sc200.aspx Xbox Press.com - “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle embarks on a nationwide tour]</ref> Beginning August 22 in Redmond, Washington, this tour lasted for nearly a month, coinciding with the release of the game.
To promote the upcoming release of the game, Bungie and Microsoft started an "ODST Tour", showcasing the game's Firefight mode to fans all across the [[United States]] <ref>[http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2009/08/20/sc200.aspx Xbox Press.com - “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle embarks on a nationwide tour]</ref>. Beginning August 22nd in Redmond, Washington, this tour will last for nearly a month, coinciding with the release of the game.
{{clear}}
 
==Pricing==
[[File:ODST Collector's Pack.jpg|180px|thumb|right|The Collector's Pack]]
 
Early after its announcement, Bungie stated that they did not see ''ODST'' as a regular $60 game <ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/929/929686p1.html Halo Recon not Full Price]</ref>. At E3 2009, Microsoft confirmed that ''Halo 3: ODST'' would retail at the standard normal price of $59.99 <ref name="Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content"/>, which they think that the game features warrant the normal price tag.
 
As a bonus feature for those who pre-order ''ODST'' at select retailers (including such stores as GameStop and Amazon.com), a token to play as [[Avery Johnson|SgtMaj Avery Johnson]] in [[Firefight]] will be included <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#johnson Bungie.net - PRE-ORDER BONUS: Brings Sgt. Johnson into the Firefight]</ref>.
 
[[File:Halo3- ODST Sgt. Johnson.jpg|220px|left]]
 
'''Contents:'''
*''Halo 3: ODST'' Campaign
*''Halo 3: ODST'' "Firefight" mode, a cooperative campaign mode where up to four players can assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies. Facing increasingly challenging waves of enemies together, striving to earn the highest scores possible, while various ''[[Halo 3 Skulls]]'' are progressively activated.
*Three new maps of a second [[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]] pack on a standalone disc.
*All three Multiplayer Map Packs (''Heroic'', ''Legendary'', and ''Mythic'').
*A key to the upcoming ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' Multiplayer Beta.
 
===Special Edition===
 
A "''Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack''" is available alongside the standard version. This includes the game itself, along with a limited edition UNSC-style Xbox 360 controller, and will retail for $99 USD (£60 GBP). The Collector's Pack is only currently available at GameStop in the USA, EB Games in Australia, and Game.co.uk in the UK.


==Merchandise and promotions==
===Related Products===
[[File:ODST Collector's Pack.jpg|200px|thumb|The Collector's Pack edition of ''ODST''.]]
====Strategy Guide====
Additionally, 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.
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide}}


Prima Games released a 272-page [[Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide|strategy guide]] alongside ''Halo 3: ODST''<ref name="''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-ODST-Prima-Official-Guide/dp/0761562885/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245259711&sr=1-3 ''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product_ID=74846 ''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on GameStop.com]</ref>
Prima Games will release 272-page strategy guide on the release date of ''Halo 3: ODST'' for $25 USD <ref name="''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-ODST-Prima-Official-Guide/dp/0761562885/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245259711&sr=1-3 ''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product_ID=74846 ''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on GameStop.com]</ref>.


[[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>[http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=4020 '''SPAWN.com''' - ''Product page for The Rookie'']</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13588 '''SPAWN.com''' - ''First Look at 'The Rookie' ODST Action Figure'']</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news2.aspx?id=13590 '''SPAWN.com''' - ''Halo Series 6 'Medal Edition' Photography Revealed'']</ref>
Contents include <ref name="''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com"/>:
*'''Move Out Soldier -''' Complete coverage of the single player missions. With labeled maps for New Mombasa and tactics included for the Legendary level of difficulty.
*'''Team Up -''' Intense Co-Op strategy to ensure you and your squadmates survive. With input from the actual developers and testers to give you the inside track.
*'''Clan Wisdom -''' All Halo 3 multiplayer maps with breakdowns and tips from some of the best clan players out there.
*'''Rise Through the Ranks -''' Detailed info on every Achievement from Halo 3: ODST and Halo 3. More than a list, instructions and tips for every one.


===Soundtrack===
====Original Sountrack====
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Original 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.<ref>[http://twitter.com/MartyTheElder Martin O'Donnell's Twitter "''MartyTheElder''"]</ref> Though over three hours of music was composed for ''ODST'', only two hours were released on the soundtrack.<ref>[http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=361 Music 4 Games - Behind the Music of Halo 3: ODST - Interview with composer Marty O'Donnell]</ref> Upon release, the soundtrack received near-unanimous praise from critics,<ref>[http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/g-l/halo-3-odst?page=0%2C2 OXM: Halo 3: ODST review]</ref><ref>[http://ie.music.ign.com/articles/102/1029363p1.html Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack Review on IGN]</ref><ref>[http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/699307/Halo-3-ODST-Soundtrack-Review---Music-for-Repelling-the-Covenant.html Halo 3: ODST Soundtrack Review - Music for Repelling the Covenant]</ref> and won the Spike Video Game Award for "Best Original Score".<ref>[http://www.chiff.com/recreation/video-game-awards.htm 2009 Spike TV Video Game Awards Winners, Nominees]</ref>


===Campaign Edition===
{{quote|Overall I think this score is a bit more intimate and personal. We're telling a human story, not a cyborg story. This isn't a space opera but a story that takes place on earth in one city. Although the player get's to inhabit the shoes of several characters, they still primarily should feel like one person discovering the mystery that lies behind the ruins of New Mombasa|Martin O'Donnell to Music 4 Games.}}
On April 9, 2013, ''Halo 3: ODST'' was added to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace in the form of ''Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition''.<ref>[http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-CA/Product/Halo-3-ODST-Campaign-Edition/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d530877 '''Xbox Live Marketplace''', ''Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition'']</ref> This version of the game does not include the [[Halo 3: Mythic|''Halo 3 '' multiplayer content]] found on the second disk of the original retail version; it includes only the ''Halo 3: ODST'' campaign and Firefight found on the first disk. The Campaign Edition sells for less than half the cost of other on-demand ''Halo'' games.
 
Like previous games in the series, ''Halo 3: ODST'' will be 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 <ref>[http://twitter.com/MartyTheElder Martin O'Donnell's Twitter "''MartyTheElder''"]</ref>. Though over three hours of music was composed for ''ODST'', only two hours will be released on the soundtrack <ref>[http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=361 Music 4 Games - Behind the Music of Halo 3: ODST - Interview with composer Marty O'Donnell]</ref>.
 
==Trivia==
 
*The tagline for the game is ''Prepare to Drop'', which references the method of Orbital Drop used by the ODST's for quick insertion into operations.
 
*A teaser trailer for ''Halo 3: ODST'' was ''[[Keep It Clean]]'' released on September 25th, 2008 at 07:07:07 am PST, which coincided with the one year anniversary of the launch of ''Halo 3''. The trailer was viewed through the many security cameras around New Mombasa. The time at which this trailer was revealed is a reference to Bungie's long-time "obsession" with the number [[List of "Seven" References in Halo|seven]].
 
*Bungie released the track played in the Announcement Trailer, named "Prepare to Drop". It's track length is 1:17, a reference to [[John-117]]. The track is available [http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=15841 here].
 
*The "''Road to Recon''" challenge, as named by Bungie, will give players the chance to unlock the [[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|MJOLNIR Mk.VI "Recon"]] (simply referred to as "''Recon Armor''") for use in ''Halo 3'' multiplayer <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#recon Bungie.net : Road to Recon]</ref>. This challenge will require unlocking the current [[Vidmaster|Vidmaster Challenges]] from ''Halo 3'' <ref name="Bungie Update 11/14/08"/>, and three more Vidmaster Challenges only available through purchasing ''ODST'' <ref>''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 4</ref>.
 
*On November 25th, 2008, Bungie LLC. renamed the in-development ''Halo 3: Recon'' to ''Halo 3: ODST''.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/Blog.aspx?mode=news#cid16289 Bungie.net Blog - ''Halo 3: ODST'']</ref> The reasons to why the upcoming expansion was renamed is due to the player playing the character of an ODST in the game, and to focus attention off of the fact that players will be able to receive [[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI Reconnaissance Armor]].
 
*Though the game takes place during the events of ''Halo 2'' ([[First Battle of Earth]] and [[Battle of Installation 05]]); all of the character, weapon, and vehicle models were taken from ''[[Halo 3]]'', creating an inconsistency within the canon, unless regarded as a Retroactive Continuity.
 
[[File:RvB ODST - Training Film.png|250px|thumb|right|"Umm...so where's the movie with the regular soldiers?" - Grif.]]
[[File:H3 ODST - Unknown Image.jpg|250px|thumb|right|"Death Comes to All of Us".]]
 
*During an interview at Gencon 2008 in Brisbane, Australia; [[Alan Tudyk]] commented on a so called ''Halo 3 Supplemental'', in which himself and fellow [[Wikipedia:Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]] actors [[Nathan Fillion]] and [[Adam Baldwin]] would lend their voices to the game.<ref>[http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive30.pl?read=886556 Alan Tudyk does voice work for Halo 3 supplemental]</ref> All three of the actors played the role of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] in ''[[Halo 3]]''.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Credits]]''</ref> Assuming that this supplemental is ''Halo 3: ODST'', Tudyk and Baldwin will likely voice members of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|squad]] in the game. The ''E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer'' confirmed Fillion, Baldwin, and Tudyk's roles as Buck, Dutch, and Mickey, respectively <ref name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]"/>.
 
*To accompany the launch of the Xbox 360's new Avatar Marketplace, Xbox LIVE members will be able to purchase a special clothing set featuring the ODST's Battle Armor <ref>[http://kotaku.com/5274407/xbox-360-avatars-getting-new-outfits-props-marketplace Kotaku.com - Xbox 360 Avatars Getting New Outfits, Props, Marketplace]</ref>. As of early September 2009, only a UNSC Marine Infantryman costume has been released.  
 
*[[McFarlane Toys]] will release a 6-inch figurine replica of The Rookie as a part of their "Medal Edition" line of Series 6, due out in October 2009 <ref>[http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=4020 SPAWN.com - Product page for 'The Rookie']</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13588 SPAWN.com - First Look at 'The Rookie' ODST Action Figure]</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news2.aspx?id=13590 SPAWN.com - Halo Series 6 'Medal Edition' Photography Revealed]</ref>. Included in the package is the M7S/Caseless Submachine Gun and exclusive Medals.
 
*In early September 2009, [[Rooster Teeth]] began a four-part ''[[Red vs Blue]]'' special debuting ''ODST''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Firefight mode to the cast of ''[[Red vs Blue: Recreation|Recreation]]''. The first episode, entitled "''Guys Like Us''" (referring to both the cast of ''RvB'' and ''ODST'' being "normal" soldiers), can be viewed on Rooster Teeth's official website ''[http://redvsblue.com/archive/?id=836 here]''.


{{clear}}
*Marketing for ''ODST'' will encompass a broad range of mediums, including print ads in magazines; with television spots taking center stage "with multiple ads prepared and sponsorship of key shows arranged" <ref>[http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35402/Halo-marketing-blitz-detailed#after_ad MCV.com Gaming Industry - Microsoft plans Halo 3: ODST marketing blitz]</ref>. Advertisements will be shown up to Christmas 2009 and into early 2010. Such ads can already been seen in the American version of the ''Official Xbox Magazine'' and even here on [[Halopedia]]. GameStop has already began their advertisements, showing off both UNSC and Covenant in the Firefight mode dancing to SgtMaj Johnson, a bonus unlock item for those who pre-order the game <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8iAeUicU9I YouTube.com : Gamestop Video - Halo 3: ODST]</ref>. [[Wikipedia:Spike TV|Spike TV]] has designated September as the "Halo Month", with five programs lined up over the course of sixteen days <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>. One such show will mark the debut of a live-action [[We Are ODST|ODST short]] and a preview of ''[[Halo Legends]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ODST-centric film ''[[The Babysitter]]''.


==Reception==
*Copies of ''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 22nd <ref>[http://kotaku.com/5346774/microsoft-taking-action-against-those-who-buy-and-play-halo-3-odst-early-%5Bupdate%5D Kotaku.com - Microsoft Taking Action Against Those Who Buy and Play Halo 3: ODST Early]</ref>. Microsoft France lead manager Stephen Toulouse later stated that they would not ban legitimate buyers of the game <ref>[http://kotaku.com/5347615/early-halo-odst-players-wont-be-banned-so-long-as-they-bought-a-copy Kotaku.com - Early Halo: ODST Players Won't Be Banned (So Long As They Bought A Copy)]</ref>.
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>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/102/1025307p4.html '''IGN''': ''Halo 3: ODST Review'']</ref> 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 A.I. had "major issues" in the game.<ref>[http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/212166/halo-3-odst-review-xbox-360/ '''Gamepro''': ''Halo 3: ODST Review'']</ref>
*On the morning of September 3rd, 2009, [http://www.ign.com/ IGN.com] released a teaser for the upcoming ''ODST'' with an article called "''Death Comes to All of Us''" and a description of "What could this surprising image mean for one soldier's future?" <ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/102/1021261p1.html IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST - Death Comes to All of Us]</ref>. This article contained an image of torn ODST insignia, possibly a flag or a uniform patch, laying on the ground. The author of this article, Hillary Goldstein, will reveal where this image is from on Friday, September 4th at 10:00am Pacific Standard Time. This image was later revealed to be from the upcoming release of the ODST live-action short.


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.
*Revealed at the Bungie panel at [[Wikipedia:Penny Arcade Expo|PAX 2009]], many "characters" were considered for an expansion for ''Halo 3'', most notably [[Arbiter (Title)|Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] <ref>PAX 2009: Bungie panel</ref>.
{{clear}}


==Trivia==
*In an interview with Microsoft Game Studios' Ryan Crosby on Joystiq.com, a sequel to ''Halo 3: ODST'' would be considered if fan and media reception exceeds expectations, and the need arises for a follow-up <ref>[http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/video-interview-inside-halo-3-odst/ Joystiq.com - Video Interview: Inside Halo 3: ODST]</ref>. Despite that, there are no current plans for a sequel, despite the hints of an "''ODST 2''" during the Epilogue cinematic.
*A teaser trailer for ''Halo 3: ODST'' called ''[[Keep It Clean (Trailer)|Keep It Clean]]'', 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 trailer was viewed through the many security cameras around New Mombasa. The time at which this trailer was revealed is a reference to Bungie's long-time "obsession" with the number [[seven]].
*The "''Road to Recon''" challenge, as named by Bungie, gives players the chance to unlock the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI/R variant|MJOLNIR Mk.VI "Recon"]] (simply referred to as "''Recon Armor''") for use in ''Halo 3'' multiplayer.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#recon Bungie.net : Road to Recon]</ref> 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>
*On November 25, 2008, Bungie LLC. renamed the in-development ''Halo 3: Recon'' to ''Halo 3: ODST''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/Blog.aspx?mode=news#cid16289 Bungie.net Blog - ''Halo 3: ODST'']</ref> The reasons to why the upcoming expansion was renamed is due to the player playing the character of an ODST in the game, and to focus attention off of the fact that players will be able to receive [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI/R variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI Reconnaissance Armor]].
*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>[http://kotaku.com/5346774/microsoft-taking-action-against-those-who-buy-and-play-halo-3-odst-early-%5Bupdate%5D Kotaku.com - Microsoft Taking Action Against Those Who Buy and Play Halo 3: ODST Early]</ref> Microsoft France lead manager Stephen Toulouse later stated that they would not ban legitimate buyers of the game.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5347615/early-halo-odst-players-wont-be-banned-so-long-as-they-bought-a-copy Kotaku.com - Early Halo: ODST Players Won't Be Banned (So Long As They Bought A Copy)]</ref>
*In an interview with Microsoft Game Studios' Ryan Crosby on Joystiq.com, a sequel to ''Halo 3: ODST'' would be considered if fan and media reception exceeds expectations, and the need arises for a follow-up.<ref>[http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/video-interview-inside-halo-3-odst/ Joystiq.com - Video Interview: Inside Halo 3: ODST]</ref>
*As a bonus feature 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 (Halo 3: ODST)|Firefight]] was included.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#johnson '''Bungie.net''' - ''PRE-ORDER BONUS: Brings Sgt. Johnson into the Firefight'']</ref>
*Players who have played this game with their current LIVE account can unlock the ODST [[Nameplates|nameplate]] in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_082010 '''Bungie.net''': ''Express Yourself'']</ref>
*Canada-based [[MEGA Brands|Mega Brands]] has released several ''Halo 3: ODST'' [[Mega Brands Halo Toys#Halo 3: ODST Sets|construction sets]].
*''Halo 3: ODST'' is the first game where player characters have dialogue during gameplay.
*A poster in the game shows Earth and what appears to be [[Luna|the Moon]] with the line "Destiny Awaits." This foreshadows Bungie's current game project, ''[[Destinypedia:Destiny|Destiny]]'', with the Moon actually being the [[Destinypedia:Traveler|Traveller]]. The ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' version of the game replaces the original poster with a [[Misriah Armory]] advertisement showing the Earth and the Moon with the text "For Her".
*''Halo 3: ODST'' is the first game in which [[Engineers]] are encountered in gameplay.
*Development of the game lasted 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}}
*The cover art for ''Halo 3: ODST'' depicts [[Rookie|The Rookie]] wearing a different, slightly modified variant of the ODST shoulder armor from ''Halo 3''.


==Gallery==
==Media==
===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===
===Concept Art===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:H3ODST Mombasa Haze Concept.jpg|War-torn Mombasa.
File:The Rookie.jpg|[[The Rookie]], the main protagonist.
File:H3ODST Mombasa Abandoned Concept.jpg|An abandoned parking lot.
File:Close Quarters Combat Trooper.jpg|[[Mickey]] laden in his heavy gear.
File:H3ODST TetherDestroyed Concept.png|The damaged Mombasa Tether.
File:ODST Sniper.jpg|[[Romeo]] equipped with his marksman gear.
File:H3ODST DropBay Concept.png|Drop pod bay.
File:Recon Trooper.jpg|[[Dare]] ready for a reconnaissance mission.  
File:H3ODST MombasaStreets Mood Concept.jpg|Nighttime Mombasa.
File:SMG Concept.jpg|A modular M7 Suppressed Submachine Gun.  
File:H3ODST AlphaSite Concept 1.png|Exploration of Alpha Site's main building.
File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-10.jpg|A landing zone for Pelicans, possibly concept art for the landing zone seen in Desperate Measures.
File:H3ODST NMPDHQ LandingPad Concept.jpg|A landing pad at NMPD headquarters.
File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-09.jpg|A possible concept art for the Briefing Room, seen in the ODST beginning Cutscene.
File:H3ODST TetherBase Concept 2.jpg|The base of the Mombasa Tether.
File:Halo3-ODST PodConcept-02.jpg|Numerous SOEIV Concepts.  
File:H3ODST MombasaBattle Concept.jpg|A battle in Mombasa during daytime.
File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-11.jpg|The Mombasa Orbital Elevator base.
File:H3ODST MombasaStreets Wraith Concept.jpg|The Rookie comes across the remains of a battle.
File:Battle of New Mombasa.jpg|A fierce battle in the streets of Mombasa.
File:H3ODST Sector10 Rally Concept Alt.png|Marines gather at a rally point near ONI Alpha Site.
File:Battle Aftermath.jpg|The same location as before, after the battle.  
File:H3ODST Rookie Concept.png|The Rookie in nighttime Mombasa.
File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-12.jpg|A waste ridden street corner.
File:H3ODST Mombasa Marines Concept.png|An ODST and a marine.
File:Concept citycolors.png|An experiment with various possible color schemes for the city.
File:H3ODST DropPod Concept 2.jpg|Drop pod design.
File:Concept drone.png|Concept art of a drone fighter aircraft.
File:H3ODST Engineer Concept 4.jpg|Exploration of Huragok.
File:City concept.png|Concept art of New Mombasa after the slipspace incident.
File:H3ODST CQCArmor Concept.jpg|The CQC variant of the ODST armor, which became Mickey's armor.
File:Tunnel concept.png|An underground tunnel.
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>
</gallery>


===Screenshots===
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:H3ODST PK MombasaStreets 1.jpg|The Rookie encounters a Covenant patrol.
File:ODST Screenshot 1.jpg|The Rookie faces a Jiralhanae Captain inside a Bubble Shield.
File:H3ODST PK MombasaStreets 4.jpg|First-person view of a Covenant patrol approaching while VISR is activated.
File:ODST Screenshot 2.jpg|The Mission Briefing, before the actual gameplay starts.
File:H3ODST PK TayariPlaza.jpg|Covenant troops approaching Buck and two marines.
File:ODST Screenshot 3.jpg|New Mombasa in flames.
File:H3ODST PK UpliftReserve.jpg|Dutch's Warthog drives past a Wraith.
File:ODST Screenshot 4.jpg|A Chieftain takes a swing at an ODST.
File:H3ODST PK ONIAlphaSite 1.jpg|Dutch fires his Spartan Laser a Jiralhanae.
File:ODST Screenshot 5.jpg|A team of players in Firefight.
File:H3ODST PK NMPDHQ 1.jpg|Romeo firing a detached heavy machine gun.
File:ODST Screenshot 6.jpg|The Firefight HUD.
File:H3ODST Firefight Crater2.jpg|ODSTs fighting Unggoy and Kig-Yar on [[Crater]].
File:ODST Screenshot 7.jpg|The Assault on Mombasa.
File:H3ODST PK AlphaSite 3.jpg|First-person view of a battle on [[Alpha Site]].
File:ODST Screenshot 8.jpg|Dutch holds off against the Covenant.
File:H3ODST PK SecurityZone 2.jpg|An ODST firing an M7S SMG at an Unggoy on [[Security Zone]].
File:ODST Screenshot 9.jpg|Dutch takes the initiative.
File:FirefightMap02.jpg|Johnson firing a Warthog's turret at Kig-Yar on [[Lost Platoon]].
File:ODST Screenshot 10.jpg|The Campaign HUD.
File:ODST Firefight RallyPoint-Day environment.jpg|Phantoms deploying troops to [[Rally Point]].
File:ODST Screenshot 11.jpg|Dutch and Mickey.
File:ODST Screenshot 12.jpg|Cooperative on Campaign.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Notes ==
===Videos===
{{Ref/Notes}}
 
==Sources==
{{col-begin}}
{{Ref/Sources|3}}
{{col-3}}
[[Video:Halo 3: Keep It Clean|300px|left]]
{{col-3}}
[[Video:Halo 3: Recon - Announcement Trailer|300px|left]]
{{col-3}}
[[Video:Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|300px|left]]
{{col-end}}
 
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
[[Video:Halo 3: ODST ViDoc - Desperate Measures|300px|left]]
{{col-3}}
[[Video:Halo 3: ODST ViDoC - Bip. Bap. Bam.|300px|left]]
{{col-3}}
[[Video:Halo 3: ODST ViDoc - Terra Incognita|300px|left]]
{{col-end}}
{{clear}}


==Related links==
==Related Links==
=== Internal ===
===Internal Links===
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[We Are ODST]]''
*[[Mombasa|Mombasa, Kenya]]
*[[Mombasa|Mombasa, Kenya]]
*[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s
*[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
*[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]
*[[ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]]
 
===External Links===
*[http://www.bungie.net/Projects/ODST/default.aspx Official ''Halo 3: ODST'' page at Bungie.net].
*[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx ''Halo 3: ODST'' Field Guide at Bungie.net].
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=ournextgame ''Meet Our New Game'' - Bungie.net].
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16271 ''The Guide to the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers'' - Bungie Weekly Update 11/21/2008].
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16545 ''Halo 3: ODST Concept Art Blowout'' - Bungie Weekly Update 12/26/2008].
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODSTsquad ''Meet the Squad'' - Bungie.net].
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODST_FeetFirst ''Feet First'' - Bungie.net].
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODST_Firefight ''Drop Into Firefight'' - Bungie.net].
*[http://cdn.haloodst.xbox.com/odst/index.html ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A].
*[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-3-ODST-Xbox-360/dp/B001HWB68K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1245259409&sr=8-1 ''Halo 3: ODST'' at Amazon.com].
*[http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product_ID=73841 ''Halo 3: ODST'' at GameStop.com].
 
==Sources==
{{Reflist|2}}


=== External ===
{{Halo Games}}
*[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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