- Halo 3
- Available on: Xbox 360
- More information: wikipedia
- Cover scans: mobygames - covergalaxy
- FAQ's/cheats: gamefaqs
- Press review: ign - gamespot - gamespy - teamxbox
Content review for this game:
Pertaining to content listed in the upper left corner of this site.
The Halo trilogy is very consistent content-wise. So, the majority of the review will be the same for all three. However, the specific language, blood, gore and violent scenes for each game will be listed individually.
Blood and gore: When you shoot or hit an enemy, its blood will hit the ground in wide, thin puddles, and lightly stain walls. Blood also does splatter--well, more like trickle. Most of the enemies in the game shed neon blue, purple or green blood, which isn't too offensive or graphic. However, there are two races in this game that shed red blood: the humans, and the aliens known as the Brutes. It sheds the same as listed above, and again, it really isn't too graphic for an "M" for Mature rating. Also worth mentioning is that blood and bodies linger. There is no option to turn blood off in this game.
Throughout the game you see many injured or dead soldiers lying on the ground. Most are visibly bloodied.
Specific scenes of blood & gore:
Two of the main characters are captured by the enemy, to be used for activation of a computer interface. When they refuse, one of them is killed by being shot in the back multiple times. The other's face is visibly bloody and bruised from being beaten. The surviving character is rescued, and the captor is killed by being stabbed through with a sword.
The first encounter with the Flood (an enemy that is explained further below) has you come upon an area that has had a visit from them. You see several dead human bodies and only one surviving human, who looks very disturbed. He then screams, "They were all infected! It was terrible! I could see them (the Flood) crawling under their skin!!" As you leave the scene you can still hear him sobbing.
Mild Language: There are over 6 uses of d**n, 3 uses of h**l, 3 uses of b****rd, and 2 uses of a**. Other than the scripted cutscenes, fellow soldiers will use language like, d**n, h**l, b****rd, a** and b***h spread lightly throughout gameplay.
Violence: The overall gameplay is heart-pumping, sometimes stressful and intense, with your character being put in almost insurmountable and impossible situations throughout. But as I will explain a little lower in this review, it's usually not too graphic or offensive, especially for a "M" for Mature game.
The main character has a variety of weapons at his disposal, from grenades and pistols to submachine guns and rocket launchers. You also have access to the aliens' weapons, and can knock enemies with the butt of your firearm. Many vehicles are granted to you throughout the game, and you are able to shoot and run over enemies with them. Also, you can shoot, hit, run over, and kill your fellow human soldiers, if you choose to do so, that is.
The enemy consist solely of aliens, ranging from "grunts," who are small and have squeaky, almost comedic voices, to "Brutes," who resemble that of an oversized ape. As mentioned above, it's hard to say how offensive the violence in this game is because, honestly, it's all a bit over the top, and even cartoony. Though an enemy I am about to explain might change the "not too offensive issue" I was talking about.
They are called the "Flood," and are enemies both to the main character and the aliens. The Flood give the game an overall light horror feel; screaming and howling in spooky tones, and giving the whole area a feeling of despair and hopelessness. They are a symbiotic creature, which means they take over the human and alien bodies as hosts. In their default form they resemble a shrimp-like creature that latches onto the bodies of it's victims, and quickly takes over their DNA, resulting in a large and hideous mass forming from the remaining body. In their new form they have yellowish colored skin, and you can still see whatever remains of the human or alien body here and there. When you hit them they surprisingly break apart into dry, flaky chunks, and not bloody chunks like you would imagine. They are predominantly present in 4 of the 10 levels towards the end of the game, including a level that takes place in one of their lairs. It is entirely organic (made of them), so the doors when opening and closing resemble the stomach, and the overall ship writhes and pumps like it's alive (which it is).
