My Halo News.com

The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft

  • Your love is the only power-up I need.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Hawty McBloggy put up some nice eValentines for you over at her site – go celebrate, Halo-style.(Louis Wu 14:41:18 UTC)

  • Assasszzzzzination.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Gah! I did it again – and I’m not even sure HOW this time. I forgot to post yesterday’s One One Se7en – so here it is. (Maybe I passed out when I read it?)(Louis Wu 14:15:19 UTC)

  • Devil May Cry 4

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    shorap

    Opening

    Devil May Cry 4, the hotly anticipated sequel in the DMC franchise thrusts players back into the world of demons, action, metal music, and scantily-clad vixens that the series is known for. Unlike the previous games though, gamers this time around will play as new protagonist Nero (think Virgil from DMC 3 with a different haircut and wardrobe) as he fights the endless hordes of the demon world with a little help from series mainstay, Dante. Players control both characters throughout the game but the majority of the spotlight is taken by the newcomer in this outing.

    Platform

    PlayStation 3

    Publisher

    Capcom

    Visuals Score

    10

    Visuals

    “Woah” is what most people will either think or say upon seeing DMC 4. The game is gorgeous, from the character and enemy models and their respective animations to the various, detailed environments all while maintaining a rock-steady framerate that only dips slightly during cutscenes.

    The sole visual detriment most people will notice is some of the work done on environmental shadows. Character shadows are near flawless with minute detail such as realistic, self-shadowing hair but they contrast harshly with pixilated shadows being cast by some of the game’s environments. Even running in high def these pixilated shadows still look they belong to a previous generation game.

    That the only graphical complaint is minor pixilated environmental shadows doesn’t undermine the fact that DMC 4 is without a doubt one of the best looking games this generation and a testament to the developers skill in presenting such a visual showcase without hindering the gameplay and framerate.

    Product Link

    Sound Score

    6

    Sound

    Capcom changed the routine a bit this time with quality voice over work for the characters. It won’t win any accolades but the voices fit the characters and emotions are conveyed competently.

    What didn’t change however is the metal music. It’s back and like the previous games, the same song plays each and every time a battle ensues. While the music isn’t atrocious and both characters have their own song it is disappointing that the developers didn’t choose to add more variety to the music. The only change is an orchestral piece that’s played during a few cutscenes between Nero and love interest Kyrie.

    Gameplay Score

    10

    Gameplay & Controls

    Fast and furious is what best describes the series gameplay and DMC 4 is no different. In fact both Nero and Dante seem to move a little faster than what was previously seen in the past. Add into the mix a “looser” feeling sensation to movements and combos and even people new to the series will be looking like a pro to any passerby while playing.

    Like the Special Edition of DMC 3 which let gamers play as Vergil, this game features 2 different characters to play as. Unlike DMC 3: SE however, both players are available throughout the campaign with the game switching out the controllable character a little over half way through.

    Another change is that instead simply looking different and having different weapons (the only real change between Virgil and Dante) Nero and Dante both have distinctly separate gameplay mechanics. Both do have similar combos and the gameplay doesn’t change drastically but it’s enough of a disparity and change of pace to keep gamers from getting bored with either.

    Dante’s features are a slight evolution from the formula used in the previous game. He has multiple weapons and fighting styles which can be switched to on the fly, creating some mind-blowing combos. It is complicated and deep but not a necessity to get through the game.

    Nero on the other hand utilizes a demonic arm that can pull distant enemies within reach for a combo or, using the arm, can perform a throw, slam, smash, etc. It’s also used in boss fights to inflict massive damage once the boss is dazed or in certain situations as a “grappler” to get through minor platforming segments.

    Longevity Score

    8

    Longevity & Drawbacks

    For a single player only game DMC 4 offers a healthy amount of unlockables to lure players back to it with different difficulties that not only change enemy numbers and damage but also expands upon the enemies attack repertoire on the higher levels. Various minor nuggets like wallpapers, character art, and a survival-mode arena await those hardcore enough to unlock them not to mention completing both Dante and Nero’s combo/weapons lists which can take several playthroughs depending on the gamer’s skill as more “proud souls” (currency) are given to skilled players for use in purchasing the moves/weapons list.

    At the same time DMC 4’s strict reliance on abundant backtracking and regurgitating previously beaten bosses puts a bit of a damper on replayability. Then again some, like me, won’t mind as fighting the same bosses with two different playing characters isn’t a hardship nor is running through the splendid looking environments a second time a chore either.

    Overall Score

    8.4

    Amazon link

    Closing

    While the core gameplay in DMC 4 mainly unchanged from previous installments, Capcom has addressed most of the series shortcomings while also offering up a few nice surprises with a more functional camera system, better balanced and more varied gameplay, and a refreshingly good story surrounding the full throttle action. Anyone who’s waited to take the plunge in to the DMC pool step up, the water’s just right.

  • Visual Effects Society Honors Bungie

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    Bungie.net’s Recent News
    The Visual Effects Society named Halo 3 the recipient of its award for Best Real-Time Visuals in a Video Game. CJ Cowan, cinematics director on Halo 3 answers a few questions about his recent trip to the awards show.

  • Card Sagas Wars?

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Merc found a YouTube video that shows off a bunch of characters in a 2D fighter… Master Chief holds his own.(Louis Wu 22:31:30 UTC)

  • Turtle!

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Dustbunny27 was looking to make a human version of the Scarab. How did he do?(Louis Wu 22:26:37 UTC)

  • Netflix Drops HD DVD! Blu-ray Stands.

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    Oculus

    I just received this email from Netflix:

    “We’re Going Blu-ray
    Dear …,

    You’re receiving this email because you have asked to receive high-definition movies in the HD DVD format. As you may have heard, most of the major movie studios have recently decided to release their high-definition movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. In order to provide the best selection of high-definition titles for our members, we have decided to go exclusively with Blu-ray as well.

    While we will continue to make our current selection of HD DVD titles available to you for the next several months, we will not be adding additional HD DVD titles or reordering replacements.

    Toward the end of February, HD DVDs in your Saved Queue will automatically be changed to standard definition DVDs. Then toward the end of this year, all HD DVDs in your Queue will be changed to standard definition DVDs. Don’t worry, we will contact you before this happens.

    You can click here to change your format preferences.

    We’re sorry for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call us at 1 (888) 638-3549.

    -The Netflix Team”
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    This saddens me greatly as it looks like my recently purchased 360 HD-DVD player is now going the way of the Betamax. Could this be the beginning of the end for HD-DVD?

  • RT: Forced Enjoyment Week 3

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    Rooster Teeth News
    Hey everybody, Jack here sharing the all the sweet love and warmth I have with all of you. Entries for the first-ever “Halo 3 Scavenger Hunt for Stolen Goods” are now closed. I’ll be digging through the three thousand or so images to pick out…

  • Frag a Friend

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    halo@bungie.org
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    LordGideon let us know about Frag a Friend, a Halo Nation event being coordinated by PraetoriaGuard. If you are a leader of a Halo clan or community, swing by and sign up! Next game night is February 28, at 9 pm EST.(Louis Wu 20:57:48 UTC)

  • Top-Notch Visuals – Halo wins some VES awards

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Marty O’Donnell pointed out the 6th Annual Visual Effects Society awards, announced in Hollywood last night. Halo-related winners included Marcus Lehto, Jonty Barnes, Stephen Scott, and CJ Cowan, whose Halo 3 footage took home “Outstanding Real Time Visuals in a Video Game”, and Matthew Gratzner, Alan Scott, Seth Curlin, and Greg Boettcher, whose work on the Halo 3 Believe campaign (and the John 117 Monument Miniature in specific) won “Outstanding Models or Miniatures in a Broadcast Program or Commercial”. Nice work, guys! (Louis Wu 20:37:02 UTC)

  • Multiplayer Tips and Map of Month: Construct

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    Dialpex

    Grab a full sniper and jump off the map with it, so the other team won’t have it.

    Got better tips than this one? Then send them in… This week we will be sharing with our listeners all the multiplayer tips that you have for the halo nation. Com’on click on the green button to the right and send us some smoking tips to help people level up and stay there.

    Throw a shield drainer on the big lift and a frag grenade right after.

    Well, im sure you guys can do better… So, how about we get some tips and useful info on our map of the month which is Construct. So go ahead, send us some stuff that will improve our games on this map.

    Ps. The deadline is tomorrow at 6:00 PM EST. So, lets get going!

  • Yes, You Can Has Recon

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    halo@bungie.org
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    The auction of Frankie’s Mister Chief Masterpiece, for charity, is going astoundingly well – high bid is now over $1000, with four days to go! If you scroll down to the bottom of the auction, there are a number of questions asked by viewers – the most common of which is “Can I has Recon?” The answer is a resounding Yes! – the winner of this auction will also receive Recon armor for his or her gamertag on Xbox LIVE. BONUS!(Louis Wu 20:15:02 UTC)

  • Stuffing the sausage into a sock

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Back in November, we listed a bunch of talks to be given by Bungie employees at this year’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, coming up next week. Today I heard from Mat “OMG TALK ABOUT ME” Noguchi, who’s now on the schedule… and it looks like an interesting session! Mat’s going to discuss how Halo 3 was optimized to play without a hard drive. (Louis Wu 20:08:24 UTC)

  • That’s gonna leave a mark.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Heh – The Onion Radio News has a piece (it’s labeled ‘podcast’, but it’s only a minute long) on ‘blown skulls and nearly-fatal bowel movements’ seen since Halo 3 was released. Funny. Thanks, dzejms.(Louis Wu 19:47:09 UTC)

  • Overkill Extermination Mongoose Mowdown

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    halo@bungie.org
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    thehomeland ran across someone bragging that they’d gotten an extermination with a mongoose; he didn’t believe it, but the film is still in gizmo777’s fileshare. (It’s slot 1, labeled “WTF!!!”) thehomeland decided to make it more accessible to those without access to the film, so you can watch it on YouTube, or you can download higher-quality versions from us (WMP9 or QuickTime, both a bit under 15 mb). Pretty nice!(Louis Wu 17:19:08 UTC)

  • Backseat Driver

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Today’s Halo Action Figure Theater takes a turn for the weird. Well… a farther turn. Okay, so we’ve gone completely around now, and have begun spewing pea soup. Go read.(Louis Wu 17:06:18 UTC)

  • Entertaining vids for your Monday morning

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Obienator found a couple of funny vids from female gamers – you can watch OboeCrazy’s funny ode to ‘Standers’ (folks who join social matchmaking and don’t actually play, assuming that at least some of the time they’ll finish in the top 3 and thereby gain an experience point without having to participate), and you can check out Little Miss Gamer’s review of Gitaroo Man. Wait, what does Gitaroo Man have to do with Halo, you might wonder? Well, there’s a really fun hand-drawn intro for this review which has Little Miss Gamer playing Rocket Race in Matchmaking. Check ’em out!(Louis Wu 14:23:50 UTC)

  • The Final Run, in LEGO

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Very awesome – Nannan Z. has recreated a vignette from Halo 3’s final run (if you haven’t played the game all the way through, this probably contains spoilers) – out of LEGO bits. You can view the piece, from a number of angles, either at MOCpages.com or Flickr. This one’s display-worthy, for sure. Thanks, Unique Name.(Louis Wu 14:13:18 UTC)

  • ITS A TRAP

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    halo@bungie.org
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    2phast wrote to say that the next Larry the Marine comic is up – I’m guessing Larry’s gonna have some trouble with this particular strategy.(Louis Wu 14:05:00 UTC)

  • Marty O’Donnell – Style Setter

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    halo@bungie.org
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    The UK’s Times newspaper has a bit in its online News in Brief this morning about Universal Music that caught my eye:

    Universal Music, the record company whose artists include Amy Winehouse and Eminem, is advertising for monks to record an album of chants after the popularity of the Halo computer game. Dickon Stainer, from Universal, said: “It’s going to be a challenge. You can’t open Yellow Pages and call a monastery.”

    Heh.(Louis Wu 13:59:32 UTC)