Disappointing is the single word I'd use to describe this game. I'm not so naive that I believe they actually consumed a 500 million budget on the launch title, but still, they probably consumed a meaningful sum (around $100 MM). And, for any game to have this much hype with so little substance is simply embarrassing. That's not to say there weren't positive elements and things that weren't done correctly. Just that these positives were far overshadowed by the negatives.
PROS
- Decent FPS experience. Not as good as other games but not bad either.
- Kinda cool looking graphics, although they looked washed out on my TV.
- Peter Dinklage did a great job as the voice of Ghost.
CONS
- The enemy indicator is non-specific.
- The story line doesn't make sense and there is little effort to explain it.
- The mechanics for movement are clunky, like Just Cause 2.
- AI is waaaaay to predictable and repetitive.
- The world is far smaller than anticipated.
- It forces an MMO style of play instead of allowing you to choose.
- They make you purchase the "upgrade pack" for an exorbitant amount of money, >$35.
- Loot drops are terrible because bosses don’t drop anything and higher levels still yield low level gear.
- The first person story line is too short for a $60 game, approximately 6 – 8 hours.
- Seem to believe that the producer’s names, not a great game, will motivate sales.
Overall, the plot was underdeveloped, the characters were unconvincing and the game was weak. Sorry Bungie, but you should have stuck to Halo instead of forcing us to participate in an MMO disguised as an FPS. I've already sold my copy back to GameStop while I could still get $30.