Editing Halo 3

{{era|H3}}

{{Ratings}}                        

{{Game Info Box                     

|name=''Halo 3''

|image=HALO 3 BOXART.jpg

|Developer=[[Bungie Studios|Bungie LLC.]]

|Publisher= [[wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]]

|US Date Released= September 25, 2007

|MX Date Released= September 25, 2007

|UK Date Released= September 26, 2007              

|Genre= [[First-person shooter]]            

|Game modes=[[Campaign Mode]], [[Multiplayer]], [[Forge]], [[Theater]], [[Co-Op]] ,

|ESRB= Mature (M) for Blood and Gore, Mild Language, and Violence

|Platform=[[Xbox 360]]                  

|Media=DL-DVD

|Current Version=1.2

|Website=[http://www.halo3.com halo3.com]

'''''Halo 3''''' is a first-person shooter video game, based on the science fiction events and settings in the [[Halo Universe]]. It was developed by [[Bungie Studios]] and published by [[Microsoft]]. Halo 3 was released on September 25th, 2007 exclusively for the [[Xbox 360]].          

''Halo 3'' is the sequel to ''[[Halo 2]]'' and concludes the current story arc that the previous two games told. It involves [[SPARTAN-II|SPARTAN]] [[John-117]] returning to [[Earth]] in order to stop the [[Prophet of Truth]] from activating [[The Ark]], thus activating the Halos, which would result in the extermination of all life in the galaxy. Shortly into the game, he also has to contend with the arrival of the [[Flood]] on Earth, as well as retrieve [[Cortana]] from the clutches of the evil [[Gravemind]].

Even though the game does not progress directly on from the end of [[Halo 2]], Halo 2's cliff-hanger, ''[[Halo: Uprising]]'', a mini comic book series released by Marvel, filled in the missing segments between Halo 2 and Halo 3 on Earth.

Halo 3 was released on the long-awaited September 25th in North America and Australia, the 26th in Europe, and the 27th in Japan. It has been rated ''M'' for Mature (blood, gore, violence, and mild language) by the [[wikipedia:Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]], but M 17+ means that Halo 3 is '''recommended''' for 17 years or older, not restricted (this is only a rating for parental guidance) by the [[wikipedia:OFLC (Australia)|OFLC]], but in many stores, like GameStop, ID was required because anyone under the age of seventeen is unable to buy a copy of Halo 3. Europe's PEGI rating system gave the game a ''16+'' rating, which serves as a guideline rather than as a rule. However the UK Release is rated 15 by the BBFC which means it is slightly easier to purchase.

Exactly like its predecessors, Halo 3 was a prosperous, record-breaking game. Accompanied by its record-breaking 1.7 million pre-orders in the U.S, it was set for release on the sought-after 25th of September, and few expected it not to break any records. 24 hours after release, Halo 3 had generated a record-breaking $170 million in the U.S., transcending the number that Microsoft was expecting, $155 million, which later was beaten by Grand Theft Auto IV's worldwide $310 million. Microsoft never released a 24-hour sales number, but it is estimated to have sold in the region of 2.4 - 2.5 million copies within 24 hours of availability in the U.S. - approximately 1.8 million units after 8 hours - with that number increasing to 3.3 million units 12 days after release. Within 24 hours, over 1.1 million gamers had played Halo 3 on Xbox Live. One week after release, over 2.7 million players - nearly one-third of the total Xbox LIVE members at that time - had played it on Xbox Live. As of November 17, 2008 Halo 3 had reportedly sold 8.8 million copies worldwide. <ref>[http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=6964&region=All VGChartz News]</ref>

[[Campaign]] consists of 10 levels, of which 9 are playable, tells the story of ''Halo 3''.

 

===Plot===

<!-- When the game begins, [[Spartan]] soldier [[Master Chief|John-117]] returns to [[Earth]], where the [[Covenant Loyalists]] ([[Prophets]], [[Brutes]], [[Drones]], [[Grunts]], [[Hunters]] and [[Jackals]]), led by the [[Prophet of Truth]], have laid waste to most of the planet. Humankind's population has been reduced to at least 200 million people, and is backed up against a wall, fighting for its very survival. The only reason that they have survived for this long is that the [[Covenant]] is preoccupied by an excavation site a few miles from the ruins of the East African City [[New Mombasa]], which is presumably believed to be [[The Ark]], a massive [[Forerunner]] structure that has been buried under the planet's surface for thousands of years. -->[[Image:Master Chief & The Arbiter.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The [[Master Chief]] and the [[Arbiter (Character)|Arbiter]] in an African jungle in the level Sierra 117.]] The storyline begins several weeks after the events of the  ''[[Halo 2]]'' era. John-117 - the [[Master Chief]], after hitching a ride on the Prophet of Truth's [http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Dreadnaught Dreadnought] (an ancient Forerunner ship), enters [[Earth]]'s atmosphere and crash lands in an east African jungle. [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]], the [[Arbiter (Character)|Arbiter]], and a handful of [[Marines]] retrieve him, but was presumed dead until the Master Chief assures them he's alive, responding to [[Avery Johnson|Johnson]]'s statement, "We're not leaving him here," with, "Yeah, you're not." After coming to consciousness the Master Chief is questioned by Johnson about Cortana's location. The Chiefs reply is simply, "She stayed behind." After being questioned the Master Chief sees one of his old enemies, the Arbiter. He sprints toward the [[Covenant]] Separatist (unknown to John-117 at the time), pistol in hand. However, Johnson holds the Chief back, explaining to him that the Arbiter is their ally in the war now, as they share a common enemy [The Prophets and their followers/Flood]. The group then makes their way through the jungle toward a designated extraction point. Covenant forces are sighted in the area and Johnson makes a strategic decision to split the group up to reduce their chances of getting spotted. Master Chief and the Arbiter continue on their way to the extraction zone with the second squad, fighting off numerous Covenant troops in the process, but upon reaching the extraction zone, Avery Johnson's [[Pelican]] group consisting of two Pelicans, are ambushed and shot down by two [[Banshees]]. Johnson and his men are then captured and taken prisoner by a number of Brutes led by a Gravity Hammer-wielding Chieftain. The Master Chief, Arbiter, and company fight their way through hordes of enemies and eventually rescue them, after which a Pelican arrives and picks them up.

 

The [[Pelican]] brings them to [[Crow's Nest (Base)|Crow's Nest]], an underground 21st century facility, believed to be an old NATO base, used as a local base of operations by the [[UNSC]]. Here, Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Lord Hood]] plan a last-ditch effort to stop the Covenant from activating a Forerunner artifact uncovered outside the ruins of the city of [[New Mombasa]], which is assumed to be [[The Ark]] - from where [[Truth]] is able to activate all the [[Halo]] rings in the galaxy. Their plan is to have the Master Chief with a small group of marines to punch a hole in Truth's anti air defense, so that Lord Hood can initiate a low level strike on the artifact. Their planning is quickly interrupted when power is cut and the Prophet of Truth broadcasts an announcement to all surviving human forces that their doom is inevitable. Soon after that, the Covenant discover the facility and mount a heavy assault. After a brief struggle, the outpost is lost, due to an explosion of a bomb the Chief activated to clear all remaining Covenant forces still inside the base. Master Chief soon receives orders from Commander Keyes to clear a way into the African City of [[Voi]], [[Kenya]] via the [[Tsavo Highway|Tsavo Highway]], and destroy all Covenant anti-air defenses so that Lord Hood can lead the last of Earth's frigates against Truth and the artifact. Using the opening caused by the ground attack, Hood mounts an all out attack on Truth, but the [[Prophet]] activates the artifact and creates an enormous slipspace portal, into which all the Covenant ships retreat. At the same time, a Covenant cruiser controlled by the [[Flood]], a parasitic species, had broken through the [[Elite's]] Quarantine of [[High Charity]] and arrived suddenly via slipspace and crashes into Voi, and the parasite quickly spreads throughout the entire city.

As the Human forces attempt to fight the infestation, many are infected by the Flood. Soon after the struggle begins [[Covenant Separatists]], a Faction which broke off from the entire Covenant during [[Halo 2]]/ Halo 3 (somewhere right after Halo 2 era), lead by  Shipmaster [[Rtas 'Vadum]], arrives at Earth and assists the struggle against the infestation, dropping off Orbital Insertion Pods containing allied Elite warriors via the Carrier [[Shadow of Intent]] and a few other Separatist cruisers. The Elites inform Commander Keyes that a UNSC construct is aboard the crashed Flood ship, and identify it as [[Cortana]]. The [[Master Chief]], [[Arbiter]] and the Elites fight off many Flood forms and retrieve Cortana from the Flood ship, losing a few comrades in the making. [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] (the Elites refer to him as the Oracle) arrives by a [[Separatist Phantom]], and insists that he take Cortana somewhere where he can make repairs, claiming that now his [[Installation 04|Installation]] has been destroyed he now must follow his second function of helping the Reclaimers, so decides to help the Master Chief destroy the Flood. Once the Arbiter and the Chief are evacuated, the Elites glass the entire infected half of Africa to prevent the Flood from spreading, which amplifies the hard feelings between Lord Hood and [[Rtas 'Vadum]],  [[Shipmaster]] of [[Shadow of Intent]], and Fleet Master of the current Covenant Separatist force.

343 Guilty Spark manages to make efficient repairs to Cortana, but the Master Chief realizes it isn't her, but only a recorded message from her. The message states that the [[Gravemind]] is coming to Earth on the former Covenant city, High Charity, and that the portal that Truth retreated into is unknown to the Gravemind, and on the other side is a solution to the Flood infestation, without having to fire the rings. Lord Hood questions Cortana's plan, saying it could be a Flood trap, but the Master Chief firmly tells Hood that he completely trusts her.

Once the Elites and Commander Keyes decide to follow Truth, the remaining Elite and UNSC ships leave Earth via the activated slipspace portal. Lord Hood stays on Earth to fight the remaining infected with some UNSC marines and the rest of the UNSC Army. On the other side of the portal, they find themselves near an immense artificial structure, which is soon revealed to be the real [[Ark]]. Arriving at the Ark, they engage a Covenant fleet three times their size, with Rtas 'Vadum stating "Then it is an even fight". After landing on the structure, Guilty Spark helps lead Master Chief and the UNSC armored force to the [[Silent Cartographer (Building)|Cartographer]], or map room of the Ark. After fighting their way in, Chief and the Arbiter find out that the Ark is in fact positioned at the edge of the Milky Way, just beyond the Halo rings' effective firing range. Soon Spark, understanding a Cartographer, explains that the UNSC and the [[Separatists]] must deactivate three shield generators, which are inside three separate towers, to access the [[Control Room]] of the Ark, where Truth is currently located and plans to activate the rings from.

Upon arrival at the three generators, the Master Chief takes 3 [[ODST]]s to the first tower, while the Arbiter takes his [[Elites]] to the second, and [[Sergeant Johnson]] takes another squad to the third. While Master Chief and the Arbiter succeed in deactivating the first and second towers, Johnson radios Keyes, telling her that the enemy forces are too heavy and he must retreat. [[Miranda Keyes]] then orders the Arbiter and Master Chief to go and assist him. On arrival to the third tower, Johnson and his men are nowhere to be seen. Master Chief, Arbiter, and the Elites kill the [[Loyalist]] force defending the tower and deactivate it. However, just after the final shield barrier protecting the Control Room deactivates, the Flood-infested [[High Charity]] arrives via slip-space and crashes onto the Ark, releasing [[Flood Drop Pods|Flood Dispersal Pods]] as it falls. [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Spark]] insists that he must assess the damage that High Charity did to the Ark, so the Arbiter and Elites leave the UNSC to protect [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Spark]] from being captured by the Flood. The Chief leads the remaining UNSC and surviving Elite force via vehicles in an attack on the [[Citadel]] containing the Control Room, which is defended by numerous Covenant armor forces. After all the forces are defeated, 343 Guilty Spark and the Arbiter return, but then the Arbiter and the Master Chief enter the citadel alone to avoid more casualties. Once inside, they see that Truth has captured Johnson, knowing that only humans can activate Forerunner Installations, but are too far away to save him. Just as Truth is about to force Johnson to activate the rings, Keyes commandeers a Pelican and crashes it in the Control Room, keeping the [[Brutes]] at bay with a [[Shotgun]] while tending to Johnson. Knowing she can't kill all of the Brutes, she realizes she must kill Johnson and herself to stop the rings from being activated. She is about to shoot Johnson before Truth grabs a [[Spiker]] and fires seven shots at her spine with it, killing her. Truth then pushes Johnson's hand down on the Ark's terminal, activating all of the Halos in the galaxy.

Then Master Chief and Arbiter take an elevator up to the Control Room, despite knowing it is too late. As they reach the top, two [[Flood Tank Forms]] confront them, but say that the only way to stop the Halos is by joining forces. With the Flood's help, the Master Chief and Arbiter kill all the Covenant forces defending Truth. Upon arrival to the Ark's terminal, they find Johnson mourning over Keyes' dead body, and Truth partially infected. The Arbiter, after a short confrontation with Truth over the truth of the Halos, executes Truth with his [[Energy Sword]], while the Master Chief deactivates all the Halos, and Johnson is seen walking towards the Pelican with the body of Keyes. After the rings are stopped, however, the Gravemind betrays them. Johnson attempts to escape with the Pelican of Commander Keyes, and he escapes, but the Gravemind prevents the Arbiter and Chief from escaping with him.

Johnson radios Chief, telling him to find another way out, so he and the Arbiter shoot their way back to the entrance elevator, but it is deactivated. Behind the elevator is a hole, leading to a lower level of the citadel. Cortana briefly shows herself to the Chief, and leads him to a control panel which reveals her plan - The Ark releases a 'replacement' Halo in the event of one being destroyed. The Chief decides he's going to light the single replacement ring in order to destroy the Flood for good. However, Guilty Spark tells them it will take quite some time to fabricate an [[Index]] needed to fire the Halo, but Master Chief remembers that Cortana still has the Index that she acquired on Installation 04. He infiltrates the crashed High Charity, which is completely overrun by Flood. Cortana becomes rampant before the Chief can reach her, but she is able to contain the functional part of herself in a stasis-field, where she waits. Master Chief breaks the stasis-field and retrieves a perfectly functioning Cortana. She tells him to overload High Charity's engines in order to destroy the Gravemind. The Arbiter arrives via a Banshee and helps the Chief fight the Flood. They find a Pelican, which had presumably crashed when the Flood used ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' to infect High Charity during the ''Halo 2'' era. Damaged but still flyable, the Master Chief uploads Cortana into the Pelican and both him and the Arbiter flee High Charity before it explodes.

Cortana makes contact with Johnson, who safely made it back the Shadow of Intent along with the other human and Elite survivors. He tells her that he will land the frigate [[Forward Unto Dawn]] near Halo's Control Room, and will be ready to pick them up and head back to Earth after they activate the Installation. When they arrive on the newly built Halo, they quickly discover that Gravemind is attempting to reconstruct itself on the new ring. The Chief, Arbiter, and Johnson quickly make their way to the Control Room, where they attempt to fire the Halo. However, Guilty Spark realizes that this will destroy his new ring because it is not fully ready yet, as well as the Ark. Guilty Spark becomes rampant, and fires his defensive laser at Johnson as he tries to activate the ring. Guilty Spark soon turns on the Master Chief and locks the Arbiter out of the room, leaving the Spartan to destroy Guilty Spark himself. Johnson is mortally wounded in the attack. He tells the Chief to send him out "with a bang" and dies. Cortana activates Halo, and Chief takes Johnson's [[Warthog]] with the Arbiter and race towards the Frigate. With no time to reach the cockpit, the Master Chief uploads Cortana into the frigate to start taking off before the Arbiter is able to take the controls. The front half of the ''Dawn'', containing the Arbiter, makes it through the portal. However, as Halo shakes itself to pieces during its firing sequence and damages the Ark, the portal deactivates before the other half of the ''Dawn'' containing Chief and Cortana made it through.  

Back on Earth, Lord Hood holds a memorial service in honor for those who died in the [[Human-Covenant War]], with the Arbiter and many Marines in attendance. With Truth dead, the Covenant destroyed, and the Flood wiped out, the long and devastating war is finally over. Though he says he can never forgive the Arbiter for what the Covenant did to the human race, Lord Hood sincerely thanks him for standing by the Master Chief until the end. Everyone thinks the Chief is dead. After the service, Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum, tells the Arbiter that he wants to make sure the Elite [[Sangheilios|home world]] is safe. The Arbiter tells him that with the eradication of the Covenant, they have made it so. He tells the piloting Elites to take them home. Just after this you see the camera zoom in to the memorial where the number 117 is scratched onto the front. Then credits roll.

After the credits, it is revealed that the Master Chief and Cortana are still alive on-board the rear section of the ''[[Forward Unto Dawn|Dawn]]'', which had apparently torn off before going through the portal; the pair are drifting through space. Cortana tells the Chief she will drop a distress beacon, but that it could be years before they are found. The Chief floats to a cryotube, and as he is climbing in Cortana comments "I'll miss you." He replies "Wake me, when you need me."

If the last level is completed on Legendary difficulty(however there is a bug that allows you to see it on other difficulties), the section of [[Forward Unto Dawn]] that Cortana and the Chief are aboard is seen drifting towards an [[Legendary Planet|unknown Forerunner planet]].

Rumours have it that the unknown planet, is Onyx, a shield planet the Forerunners would go to if they ever had to activate the rings (see [[Onyx]] for more information).

[[Image:Brutecaptain.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A render of a [[Brute|Jiralhanae]], or Brute, Captain.]]

=====Major Characters=====

'''[[UNSC]]'''

* [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]]

* [[Artificial Intelligence|AI Construct]] [[Cortana (AI)|Cortana]]

* [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery J. Johnson]]

'''[[Covenant Separatist]]s'''

*[[Arbiter (Rank)|The Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]

*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]

'''[[Flood]]'''

*[[Gravemind]]

'''[[Forerunner]]'''

*[[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]]

 

'''[[UNSC]]'''

*[[Lieutenant]] "[[Hocus]]"

'''[[Forerunners]]'''

*[[Offensive Bias]]

 

'''UNSC'''

*[[Voi Factory Workers]]

 

'''Covenant Separatists'''

*[[Sangheili]]

 

'''Covenant Loyalists'''

*[[Unggoy]]

*[[Kig-yar]]

 

'''Flood'''

**[[Ranged Form]]s

 

'''Forerunner'''

 

These are the weapons in the game:

 

*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle]] (Plasma Rifle)

*[[Type-26 ASG|Type-26 Anti-Personal Stationary Gun]] (Shade)

*[[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]] (Beam Rifle)

 

 

 

 

[[Image:Flamethrower.jpg|thumb|Players were thrilled to hear that the [[Flamethrower]] would make its return in Halo 3.]]

*[[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]] (SMG)

*[[M9 Fragmentation Grenade|M9 HE-DP Fragmentation Grenade]] (Frag Grenade)

 

*[[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]] (Machine Gun Turret)

*[[LAU-65D/SGM-151]] (Missile Pod)

 

<div class="thumb tright"  style="width:200px;">

*[[Active Camouflage]] - Multiplayer only (similar to [[Cloaking]])

*[[Overshield]] - Multiplayer only (similar to [[Invincibility]])

 

[[Image:Starry Night by the Ark.PNG|thumb|right|A Covenant [[Carrier]] Battle Group.]] [[Image:Banshee 2.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A [[Banshee]].]] [[Image:Forward into dawn.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Forward Unto Dawn]] over the Ark]]

 

*[[Type-52 Infantry Support Vehicle]] (Brute Prowler)

 

*[[Covenant Seraph-Class Starfighter|Seraph Fighter-Interceptor]]

*[[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform]] (Scarab)

 

*[[AV-14 Hornet]] (Hornet)

*[[Warthog#M12 Warthog LRV|M12 Warthog LRV]] (Chaingun Warthog)

*[[M12G1 Warthog LAAV]] (Gauss Warthog)

*[[M274 Mongoose ULATV]] (Mongoose)

*[[M808B Scorpion MBT]] (Scorpion)

*[[M831 TT Warthog|M831 Troop Transport]] (Troop Transport Warthog)

=====Non-usable=====

*[[D77H-TCI Pelican|D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship]]

*[[Albatross|Albatross Heavy Dropship]]

*[[C709 Longsword-class Starfighter|C709 Longsword Fighter-Interceptor]]

====Standard Maps====

[[Image:Val ext3.jpg|right|thumb|The map Valhalla.]]

On release, ''Halo 3'' was shipped out with 11 [[multiplayer]] maps that could be played over [[Xbox Live]]. ''Halo 3'' has the smallest number of multiplayer maps released on launch, as [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] had 13, and ''[[Halo 2]]'' had 12. To combat this lack of maps, many players customized the maps using the new feature, [[Forge]].

*[[High Ground (Level)|High Ground]]

*[[Narrows (Level)|Narrows]]   

*[[Sandtrap (Level)|Sandtrap]]/[[Sand Tarp (Level)|Sand Tarp]]

*[[Snowbound (Level)|Snowbound]]/[[Boundless (Level)|Boundless]]

*[[The Pit (Level)|The Pit]]/[[Pit Stop (Level)|Pit Stop]]

*[[Valhalla (Level)|Valhalla]]

====[[Heroic Map Pack]]====

[[Image:Heroicmaps.jpg|right|thumb|Foundry, Rat's Nest, and Standoff: the three Heroic Maps]]

The [[Heroic Map Pack]] is downloadable through Xbox Live Marketplace. Previously an 800 point purchase, it is now available as a free download. The maps included in this Map Pack are:

 

*[[Foundry (Level)|Foundry]]

*[[Rat's Nest (Level)|Rat's Nest]]

*[[Standoff (Level)|Standoff]]

====[[Legendary Map Pack]]====

*[[Avalanche (Level)|Avalanche]]

*[[Blackout (Level)|Blackout]]

*[[Ghost Town (Level)|Ghost Town]]

====[[Cold Storage (Level)|Cold Storage]]====

This map is downloadable through Xbox Live Marketplace for free and is the [[7|seventh]] downloadable map for Halo 3. It released on 07/07/08, Bungie Day, as a free gift to the entire Halo 3 community around the world .

====[[Mythic Map Pack]]====

These new maps have been mentioned or announced by Bungie, all with varying degrees of information. The following maps below have been confirmed by Bungie to be together in the Mythic Map pack. The first part of the Mythic Map pack (Assembly, Orbital, and Sandbox) was shipped with the Limited Edition of Halo Wars on March 3rd, 2009 (in North America). On April 9th, 2009, the first part of the Mythic Map pack was released on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 points. A Bungie Pro bonus was also added. Special online competitions are also being held to get the first three maps free. As to the second part of the Mythic Maps, they will be included in the shipping of [[Halo 3: ODST]].

The Service Tag is how you and your team can be identified quickly on the battlefield, instead of the long names and complex number combinations which are not suitable for battle situations that require quick tactical orders or communication. The service Tag is comprised of a letter followed by two numbers. A few examples of Service Tags are K90, C27 , A12, S86, D17, and D21.

When certain specific Service Tag coding is entered for example: I17 ''(117)''  an error message will appear stating ''"This Service Tag is currently in use by the UNSC"'' and to choose another. Another error message will happen when ''"N64"'' and ''"P52"'' (Nintendo 64 and Playstation 2) are entered but this is due to trademark infringement of the companies, and as a result the service tag will not be allowed. Similar error messages are shown if you put in "A55", "N00", "P00", "F00", "J00" and "T17" as they are offensive references. "O00 has also been blocked as it is reserved as guest service tags.

According to [[Bungie]], as of March 14th the most used Service Tags by players of Halo 3 are, in descending order, ''O07'', ''M16'', ''I69'', ''P26'', ''S80'', ''N99'', ''F18'', ''H20'', ''I87'', and ''D13''.

The chances of two people having the same service tag on Xbox Live is 2574 to 1 or would be if the tags were chosen randomly.

====Armor Permutations====

{{main|Armor Permutations}}

There are two player models which you can choose from, the standard [[Spartan]] model or an [[Elite]] model. Each model has several armor permutations which can be combined. All [[Armor]] permutations do not have any effects on gameplay.

=====Spartan=====

[[Image:Armor Permutations.png|300px|thumb|right|All of the Spartan Permutations. Note: If a part of the armor set doesn't exist it has been substituted with Mark VI.]]

*[[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/C variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI [C] variant]] - The Close Quarters Battle (CQB) armor.

*[[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/V variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI [V] variant]] - The Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) armor.

*[[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/EOD variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI [EOD] variant]] - The Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) armor.

*[[Mark VI(A) MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR Mark VI [A] variant]] - The Rogue helmet. 

*[[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/S variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI [S] variant]] - The Scout armor.

*[[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI [R] variant]] - The Recon armor.

*[[Mark V MJOLNIR (Armor permutation)|MJOLNIR Mark V armor]] - The ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' helmet.

*[[Mark V(m) MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR Mark V [m] variant]] - The Security helmet and shoulders.

*[[ODST Armor|ODST armor]] - The [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]] helmet.

*[[Hayabusa Powered Assault Armor|HAYABUSA armor]] - The rival to the MJOLNIR program armor.

*[[Katana]] - Sword that is non removable positioned on back

*[[Bungie Armor]] - Makes the players helmet appear to be on fire - exclusive to the Bungie workers.

*'''Most Popular Spartan Helmets are:''' [[Mark VI]], [[Rogue]], [[Hayabusa]], [[CQB]] and [[ODST]].'''

*'''Most Popular Spartan Chestpieces are:''' [[CQB]], [[Hayabusa]], [[Mark VI]], [[EVA]], [[EOD]].'''

*[[Elite Assault Armor]] - The type of armor worn by Elites of the [[Special Operations Elite|Special Operations]] rank.

*[[Elite Flight Armor]] - The type of armor worn by Elites of the [[Ranger Elite|Ranger]] rank. Flight Body: Successfully complete the "Tsavo Highway" mission on the Heroic or Legendary difficulty setting.

*[[Elite Commando Armor]] - The Commando armor is the armor worn by Commando Elites. Commando Body: Accomplish the "Triple Kill" achievement.

*[[Elite Ascetic Armor]] - The Ascetics Elite armor.

Ascetic Body: Accomplish the "Up Close and Personal" achievement.

Ascetic Head: Accomplish the "Steppin' Razor" achievement.

*The armor of the arbiter is only wearable in campaign mode.

{{Main|Multiplayer Emblems}}

According to Bungie on March 14th 2008, Weekly Update;

*'''Most Popular Emblems:''' Phoenix, Jolly Roger, Valkyrie, Crossed Sword and Champion

====Colors====

*'''''Steel''''', '''Silver''', and '''''White'''''

According to Bungie on the March 14th 2008, Weekly Update;  

*'''More Popular Primary Colors:''' Steel, White, Blue, Cobalt, Green, Sage

*'''Less Popular Primary Colors:''' Lavender, Pale, Salmon, Peach and Mauve

[[Matchmaking]] is where people can play with and against each other through a specially designed search system and multiple playlists. In Matchmaking [[EXP]] and [[Skill]] can be earned to raise ranks. You have a highest skill which cannot be taken away, but your current skill level can decrease if you play poorly in that variant. Also, on some maps like Guardian and Narrows, various equipment such as the [[Flare]] and [[Radar Jammer]] have been removed due to balance changes.

====Playlists====

[[Playlists]] are lists of different game variations from free-for-all to team games. They are split into Ranked, Social, Hardcore, Community, DLC, Tournaments and Double EXP Weekends. The Community Playlist returned on July 7, 2008 with the release of the free map Cold Storage.

The Ranked playlists are the more serious playlists. [[Skill]] can be raised and [[EXP]] can be gained.

*[[Lone Wolves]] - Various gametypes free for all up to six players.

*[[Team Slayer]] - Slayer based gametypes with two teams of three to four players.

*[[Team Objective]] - Objective based gametypes with two teams of three to four players.

*[[Team Doubles]] - Slayer based gametypes with two teams of two players.

*[[Squad Battle]] - Various gametypes with two team of six designed to fill some of the void left by excising Ranked Big Team Battle from the Halo 3 Playlists.

=====Social=====

*[[Multi-Team]] Various gametypes with four teams of two players. (This includes the "Rocket Race" gametype since the original playlist has as of September 2008, retired.)

*[[Social Team DLC]] It's like a mix of Social Slayer and Social Skirmish but it's a DLC playlist so you need to buy Legendary Map pack pack to play it. It's two teams of four to five players like in Slayer and Skirmish.

*[[Social Big Team]] Like in Big Team Battle, two teams of five to eight players but it's DLC like Social Team DLC.

=====Hardcore=====

The Hardcore playlists are the more realistic and competitive playlists. [[Skill]] can be raised and [[EXP]] can be gained.

*<!--Please Create Page-->[[Head to Head]] - [[Slayer]], [[Oddball]] and [[King of the Hill]] gametypes free for all up to two players. ''This playlist has been retired.''

*[[MLG]] - Various MLG gametypes on MLG map variants with two teams of three to four players. ''The MLG map variants were updated to v6 in the April 2009 playlist update.''

*[[Team SWAT]] - Ranked teams of 3/4 players playlist where players have to kill others with headshots (or enough body shots).

*[[Team Snipers]] - Ranked 4v4 playlist. Sniper Rifle spawns (no secondary weapons unless the game is shotty snipers) on maps forged with Beam Rifles.

The Tournaments are temporary playlists involving prizes. [[Skill]] can be raised and [[EXP]] can be gained.

*[[Living Dead]] - [[Infection]] up to thirteen players.

*[[Valentines Day]] - Various gametypes with two teams of two.

This playlist made a comeback as of July 7, 2008; with the free release of the map [[Cold Storage]], but was taken off by July 11.  [[EXP]] can be gained and guests are allowed.

*Icy Treats - Various gametypes of free for all on the newly released map Cold Storage.

<!--Notes about a specific playlist don't belong here-->

*[[Legendary Brawl]]  - Various gametypes on Standard, [[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]] and [[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]] maps, free for all up to twelve players.

*[[Mythic Brawl]]  - Various gametypes on Standard, [[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]], [[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]] and [[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]] maps, free for all up to twelve players.

*[[Fiesta]] - Various gametypes with random weapons on Standard, [[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]] and [[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]] Maps.

*[[Team Snipers]] - Sniper based [[Team Slayer]] on Standard, [[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]] and [[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]] maps.

*[[Rockets]] - Rocket based gametypes free for all up to eight players.

*[[3 Ball]] - [[Oddball]] with 3 Oddballs and four teams of three players.

*[[Team Melee]] - A variety of gametypes featuring Melee weapons  [[Gravity Hammer]] and/or the [[Energy Sword]].

*[[Rocket Race]] - A [[VIP]] variant in which a team of 2 players must reach certain objective before the opposing team does, While riding in a mongoose and scoping out the others using Rocket Launchers.

*[[Team Flag]] - A skirmish variant, where teams of five compete for the flag in [[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]] and [[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]] maps.

====Veto====

The Veto system is new for the Halo franchise. Vetoing a map and game type is a very useful thing these days. In a game, after the map and game type loads for each player, a 10 second countdown starts. If the majority of players in the match decide to veto, by pressing the (X) button, before the countdown ends, a different map and gametype from the playlist will be selected to be played on. But most times if you don't like the game that you get and you veto you will most likely get a game you like even less.(Note that not all playlists have the veto option).

If a map and gametype is vetoed, the option to veto will be lost during the next countdown. Sometimes you will see the map and gametype change, but you still get the veto option. This is just because the host's connection cannot support the map, or if anyone in the party cannot play the map. When this happens, you still have the right to veto the next map and game type. However, you cannot veto on a few gametypes, such as [[Grifball]].

Note: On certain gametypes, like Team SWAT, the gametype will be rarely changed from the only three types, but from no lack of maps, the map will almost certainly change.

====Ranks====

The ranking system is based on real military ranks. To progress in Rank, players must earn the required amount of [[EXP]]. For [[Officer]] ranks, players must also reach a certain skill level in a ranked playlist. If a player earns a certain amount of experience, but does not reach the required skill level to reach the next officer rank, they will instead be promoted to a higher grade of their current rank (For example, A [[Major]] who earns 200 [[EXP]] but does not have a skill level of 35 will be promoted to Major, Grade 2 upon earning 300 EXP).

Each Officer rank has a "final" grade which is represented by a unique name instead of a number. Gunnery Sergeant also has this feature. Many players judge others that have the grade 4 rank or "gold bars" as a sign of lack in skill, though not necessarily always true.

Halo 3 uses the [http://research.microsoft.com/osa/apg/trueskill.aspx Trueskill] system created by Microsoft to determine skill level in ranked playlists.

*[[Apprentice]] (grades 1 and 2)

*[[Sergeant (Halo 3)|Sergeant]] (grades 1, 2, and 3)

*[[Gunnery Sergeant (Halo 3)|Gunnery Sergeant]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Master Gunnery Sergeant)

=====Officer Ratings=====

*[[Lieutenant (Halo 3)|Lieutenant]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and First Lieutenant)

*[[Captain (Halo 3)|Captain]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Staff Captain)

*[[Major (Halo 3)|Major]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Field Major)

*[[Commander (Halo 3)|Commander]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Strike Commander)

*[[Colonel (Halo 3)|Colonel]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Force Colonel)

*[[Brigadier (Halo 3)|Brigadier]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Brigadier General)

*[[General (Halo 3)|General]] (grades 1, 2, 3, and Five Star General)

In the [[Custom Games]] Lobby you can choose the gametypes and maps you have made and want to play with your friends, these include Custom Game types and Map Variants. These games don't give you exp but they are still fun to play around with friends.

====Standard Game Types====

====Custom Game types====

In Halo 3, there are a number of options that can be changed. Press X in the lobby to change the default options, when changing press X again to save as custom game type.

===Forge===

Forge is an "object editor" that can be used to edit multiplayer maps. It does not allow as much freedom to edit/make maps as a PC map editor, such as the [[Halo: Custom Edition]] and [[Halo 2 Vista]] editing kits. You can, however, edit objects, spawn points, weapons, teleporters and properties of objects on the map, etc. And, when playing a map on forge, players may take control as a monitor (very similar to 343 Guilty Spark) and will obtain the ability to spawn weapons, vehicles and objects in-game, as well as move/adjust them too. You can also get more forging items if you get any of the new map packs from Bungie.

====Map Variants====

 

===Theater===

====Films====

Saved Films allow a player to view any game, campaign or multiplayer, from any angle. It uses game data to re-create the games, which makes file sizes very small (5 MB for a 15 minute multiplayer match). In the film, you can either watch your own player play through the entire mission or you can use a different way: bird's eye view. You can go anywhere you want, but they will limit your movement so that you cannot fly as high as possible or go very far from your character. You can also fast forward or rewind the film so that you can relive the parts you missed. On Campaign you can't rewind the film. Only your previous 25 games will be saved under the recent films category on your console. Older films will be deleted. (Note: If you haven't received the February Auto-Update, after your first 25 film slots are filled, about 1 out of the 3-5 films in future will only be saved due to a glitch. The AU fixes this glitch, but not entirely however, as all games played on Local area Network on the 360 still mostly have this problem.)

====Clips====

When playing a film you record a particular part of the film from any angle you want. Doing this allows you to look back at your greatest moments without having to watch the entire film, however, sometimes the [[HUD]] will not show up in a first person view, or the time bar showing the elapsed time appears, which is normally a problem because it normally can't be removed or the HUD can't be brought up for the start of the clip. If you would like to make a clip in FPS mode, but you accidentally get out of it, or switch to another player, you can just click on the right thumbstick to return to FPS mode. You cannot record clips of campaign films, but you can take screenshots. If you are in a party viewing a film, you will not be able to record clips, nor take screenshots.

====Screenshots====

Screenshots can be taken in any sort of film; all screenshots taken by Xbox Live players are sent to [http://www.bungie.net Bungie.net] via the Internet. You must be in single-player theater or film to take a screenshot. If your screenshot is favored by many and also [[Bungie]] employees they may put it on [[Bungie Favorites]]. The favorites link can be found [http://www.bungie.net/online/communityfiles.aspx?filefilter=772007&sort=3 here]

==Soundtrack==

[[Image:200px-halo3soundtrack.jpg|right|thumb|Halo 3 Soundtrack Cover Art]]

The [[Halo 3: Original Soundtrack]] was composed by [[Martin O'Donnell]] with the help of [[Michael Salvatori]] and was released on November 20, 2007. It is a two-disc set featuring all the music heard in-game, in order of appearance.

As the [[Halo: Original Soundtrack]], the music is in more of a medley format. However, similar to the [[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]] Volume 2, tracks are divided into 'suites' corresponding to each level in the game. A number of bonus tracks and a third-party song will be contained on the second disc of the album: 'LvUrFR3NZ' by Princeton.

Previews of the ''[[Halo 3: Original Soundtrack]]'' can be heard on the official site <ref>http://www.halo3ost.com/</ref>.

==Marketing Promotions and Release==

On June 11th, 2007, at 10:26AM PDT, a viral marketing campaign for ''Halo 3'' started, called "''[[Iris]]''".

====Trailers====

=====Announcement Trailer=====

At E3 2006, [[Bungie]] released their announcement trailer. It required long hours and hard work from many, many Bungie staffers, and utilizes real-game assets, fiction and locations from parts of the "real" game. It shows John-117 walking through some wreckage of the [[New Mombasa]] space elevator with Cortana appearing at several intervals to give her lines. He then stops at the edge of a cliff where the Covenant forces are hovering over a [[Forerunner]] structure (believed to be the Ark).  The trailer ends with the Forerunner structure opening and firing a beam of light.

 

:"I am your shield, I am your Sword."

:"I know you, your past, your future."

:"This is the way the world ends."

[[Frankie]] --[http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=weeklyupdatemay1206 Weekly Update May 12, 2006]</ref> which references the first of the [[Cortana Letters]]. The line itself refers to [[wikipedia:T. S. Eliot|T. S. Eliot]]'s ''The Hollow Men'', which ends:

:''This is the way the world ends''

:''Not with a bang but a whimper.''

Cortana's emphasis on "this" implies she is rejecting the poem, and that the world will end with a bang - likely referring to the Halo installations being activated.

 

====E3 2007 Trailer====

The final trailer for ''Halo 3'' was released during E3 2007.  Unlike the others, this trailer focused on showing various gameplay and movie clips. While the trailer did little to further knowledge about the ''Halo 3'', it confirmed many speculations about the game, the least of which was that the Arbiter and the [[Master Chief]] will fight alongside one another in the game at some point.

====Believe====

{{Main|Believe}}

Believe is a Microsoft marketing campaign for ''Halo 3''.

It features the word "Believe" as a tag line, and appears to be honoring the legacy of SPARTAN-117, citing him as a hero of the United Nations Space Command Defense Force whose brave actions inspired other servicemen during the Human-Covenant War. It has also been cited that it has been linked to the popular message board Neogaf. Its been noted that the Believe trailers took place about 50 years after Halo 3's storyline.

Halo: Landfall is a trilogy of short films designed to promote ''Halo 3'' as well as test the potential for a live-action [[Halo Movie]].