Expectations are not always a healthy thing.  Think of the success of any surprise party.  No matter who shows up or how crappy the food is you still end up having a Tard-Grin on your face for three days.  However, it’s hard not to have expectations, especially with video games.  However, the latest Halo showed up like an old college friend the other day.  I remember from a while a go he said he was coming out around now, and I told him he’d have a place to live for bit… but that was it… no follow up.  Then all of a sudden on Tuesday he shows up and I’m like “Oh…. hey yeah how’s it going nice beard.”  There just wasn’t the same fanfare that the previous halos had to their premiers.  However, the understated welcome is more of a symbol of modesty then of inadequacy.

I’ve played just a few hours of this new member of the Halo family, and I have been very impressed.  First of all the voice over cast is a reunion of Firefly and a special guest star from BSG

Halo ODST had cast three Firefly/Serenity actors to voice their troopers. Nathan Fillion (Mal) will take Sergeant Buck, Adam Baldwin (Jayne) voices Dutch and Alan Tudyk (Wash) lends his voice to Mickey. The Serenity crew are complemented by Nolan North (Desmond in Assassin’s Creed) and Tricia Helfer (Number Six in Battlestar).

Other then that the game play is smooth, with weapons we’ve missed, and some we’ve never seen.  One friend that is back with a little less kick but accompanied by a silencer is a pistol with a scope.  Other then that the campaign has a much darker feeling then previous halo’s, but a good story.

Personally I’m a big fan of  Bungie’s newest creation.