TGS 2008: Halo 3: Recon Facts

Microsoft and Bungie have finally taken the wraps off of their big follow-up to Halo 3 -- what was once a mystery about a Bungie supervisor and a pulled showing at E3 is now all out in the open. The game is Halo 3: Recon, a full-scale follow-up to Halo 3 that serves as a prequel to the epic "final" chapter of the franchise.

Rather than rehash the details, we have enclosed the complete fact sheet about Halo 3: Recon released by Microsoft just minutes ago. Everything you need to know about the game is revealed -- the game's new "Hell Jumper" heroes (no Master Chief here, players will not even be controlling a Spartan), the four-player co-op mode, the complete multiplayer and Forge suite inclusion, and the plans to release the game as a full disc-based retail title. IGN has not had hands-on time with the game, and the following content cannot be verified or qualified by us just yet (not that we're expecting Bungie or Microsoft to lie to us, but just be aware that what you're about to read is "PR'ified" and not typical IGN editorial content.) Read on for the official details.

Title: "Halo 3: Recon"

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Bungie

Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system; Xbox LIVE-enabled

ESRB Rating: Rating pending

Availability: Fall 2009

Product

Overview: Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, "Halo 3: Recon" is a stand-alone expansion that extends the award-winning "Halo 3" experience with hours of new campaign and multiplayer gameplay.* The release adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved for more than six years.

The new campaign chapter predates the events that unfold in "Halo 3" and gives players a new perspective through the eyes of a new hero in the "Halo" universe. New multiplayer maps ensure that the award-winning Xbox LIVE experience of "Halo 3" continues to thrive.

Top features include the following:

• All-new campaign content. The "Halo 3: Recon" campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief's return to New Mombasa in "Halo 3." Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy's finale. While the feel of this new chapter will greatly resemble that of previous "Halo" experiences, "Halo 3: Recon" will require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.
• A new hero: Prepare to drop. Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these "Hell Jumpers" more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.
• Expanded multiplayer collection. No "Halo" experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content,* and "Halo 3: Recon" gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and full Forge options, players will find more multiplayer content than ever before with "Halo 3: Recon."
• Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great "Halo 3" technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

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