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Halo 3: Recon to run 3-5 hours, not cost $60

December issue of GI magazine reveals Bungie's UNSC shock trooper spin-off will be a lean-and-mean expansion to its epic shooter.

Microsoft may have officially taken the wraps off of Halo 3: Recon at the Tokyo Game Show last month, but information beyond what GameSpot sleuthed out shortly before this year's E3 2008 has been in short supply. As reported then, the game will be a spin-off that resembles "a cross between Ghost Recon and Gears of War," one that reportedly tells a "less cartoony" and "more bloody, violent, and grim" tale of a battle between UNSC forces and the pan-racial religious empire known as the Covenant.

Halo 3 rearmed.

Halo 3 rearmed.

That information was corroborated in part by Microsoft's reveal at TGS, where the publisher said the game would feature a new hero and campaign. The game will apparently serve as a prologue of sorts, seen from the eyes of a UNSC shock trooper marine who has crash-landed behind enemy lines.

Now, the next wave of substantive information appears to be on the way, courtesy of the December issue of Game Informer. As reported by fan site Halo.Bungie.org, the magazine, which will hit newsstands shortly, has a 10-page spread devoted to the game.

While devoid of actual gameplay footage, the cover story does shed a bit more light on Microsoft's carefully worded billing of a "new Halo 3 campaign experience." Namely, Bungie design lead Joe Bertone says the game is "a three to five-hour expansion pack," with cinematic director Joe Staten saying "we do not view this as a $60 title." The article also claims that the limited-release Recon Armor will also be available to anyone who completes the Vidmaster Challenge achievement series.

Halo 3: Recon is currently slated to arrive exclusively on the Xbox 360 in fall 2009. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

405 Comments

  • stupid4

    Posted Dec 21, 2008 4:04 pm GMT

    im pissed now
    huge letdown, its going to be super short

  • TheSargeGuy

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 1:13 am GMT

    dont expect that. they said they wont make an appearance at all

  • omegakie

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 8:41 am GMT

    Halo 3 ODST looks really good but i except a appearence from the arbiter and possibly chief at the end

  • tntkng

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:32 pm GMT

    Shorter and still awsome and at only $40 bucks! Sign me up.

  • chibidaniel

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 6:52 pm GMT

    were it a full game, id say AWESOME, but since its only a 3-5 hour expansion that makes the entire game way cooler...oh, wait...AWESOME!!

  • BattleSword1

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 1:20 pm GMT

    I just hope the new protagonist talks more.

  • jedi-gamer

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:23 pm GMT

    If the campaign is only 3-5 hours long then the game should just be DLC

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 9:08 am GMT

    Nice idea ... master chief was getting boring already ... we need a new hero!

  • Niner0

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:09 am GMT

    man, 3 hours? This is a rent. Oh yeah, renting isn't available where I live. Goddamit, I'll have to buy it xD

  • Turbo-Evil

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 7:04 pm GMT

    @ stryfeforlife

    Maybe you need to read again... it doesn't say that. Ouch.

  • Bobio1138

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 6:18 pm GMT

    Great, now all the little kids can get a hold of it easier.

  • TSNAKE617

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 5:57 pm GMT

    Sorry about my previous comment I just get annoyed with people that only focus on the negative things about the PS3. Three hours at a reduced price can be a great deal if the game is good and has good online.
    (I know most of you don't focus on the bad things about the PS3)

  • stryfeforlife

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 4:29 pm GMT

    @doctor_octagon

    read again dude.."it WONT be a cross....... yeah

  • mankeyador

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 12:12 pm GMT

    halo needs something fresh like this. 3-5 hours doesn't sound too bad if they polish the hell out of it like in COD4. If they add a few multiplayer modes this is a must-buy.

  • dr_octagon

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 8:30 am GMT

    "a cross between Ghost Recon and Gears of War"? What does that mean, is it going to have a cover system?

  • Evolution-X0

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 4:39 am GMT

    Why halo 3 recon why not just call it halo recon

  • sabitrulz

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 4:02 am GMT

    Well,Halo-4 is secretly running under the production of Gearbox Software.It'll be the launch tittle for the XBOX-Monalisa.

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 12:37 am GMT

    Hmm short but if the gameplays good...

  • Falru

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 12:18 am GMT

    People need to stop thinking of this as Halo 4...it's not Halo 4, it's Halo 3: recon, it's more of an expansion pack/add on >_>

  • DaClint91

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 6:03 pm GMT

    The nerds can finally get their Recon.....

  • icecoldkilla78

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 4:26 pm GMT

    to the ps3 guy... there are NO games on ps3 that i really want on the 360...

  • TSNAKE617 posted Nov 18, 2008 2:02 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    TSNAKE617

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 2:02 pm GMT (hide)

    I am glad to be a PS3 fan right now. (Sorry but Halo is the only Xbox game that I really want on the PS3) 3 hours is a joke.

  • Andrew0824

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 11:47 am GMT

    This looks interesting. Can't wait to play it. Does it come with any MP or is just the campaign?

  • thekey

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 8:29 am GMT

    If thats true thats WACK! 3-5 hours it better be only $20

  • Falru

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 10:51 pm GMT

    I'm glad they're making this clear that this is more of an expansion than a whole other game. People seem to think you can't POSSIBLY release a game for under $60, and if you do it must be crappy or some silliness like that. I hope it's good, I'll always be a fan of the halo universe, loved the games, loved the books.

    "Die?" Kurt laughed. "Didn't you know?" he told the Elite. "...Spartans never die."
    Kurt turned his gauntlet face-up and pressed the detonator.
    -Halo: Ghosts of Onyx

  • glitchgeeman

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 6:45 pm GMT

    Sounds find to me as long as I get to play as a ODST Helljumper. Those guys were just as badass as Master Chief. They didn't have the super strength, super intelligence, nor the nice armor. Just good old human intuition and the balls to go head to head with a Brute.

  • maccer101

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 9:16 am GMT

    i wasn't gonna bother with this, cant wait now though, i need to start getting back into halo

  • trogdor_twogdoe

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 7:24 am GMT

    good thing its not a 60$ release.

  • jooms1060

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 8:08 pm GMT

    Oops, forgot my opinion on this game... I like the idea of it, it seems like Bungie really wants to reach out to every player, from Halo 3, to Halo Wars, to this. This one seems like it would be more GOW-type shooter, but I haven't played it yet so I can't get a good opinion. Reading below will tell you my take on Gears of War, but I am gonna get this anyways. Just so I can say I did, and im a pretty big fan of Halo too.

  • jooms1060

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 7:59 pm GMT

    danno08, I'm just going to state this before hand, I understand that everyone has their own intrests, and likes different games. That being said, I like Halo 1, 2, and 3 much more than both Gears of War by a long shot, and they are about tied with COD 4. COD 5 kinda ruined it in my opinion, it's like, come on, we all went through the WWII phase, and now that we are grown up from that, why go back? If I want to play a WWII game, I'll go pop in COD 3. I liked it better any how. And, the multiplayer on COD 4 is fun, I will definately give it that, but when your only allowed one person per console, that is what gets me. I will not say it is better than Halo until it includes that, and either a forge or theater-like thing, or a substituite.

    For Gears of War, this comes mostly from preference. I don't really like the story, nor the art design. Too dark for me, and I like how Halo has the ability for campers, and chargers. GOW seems like you can only be a camper. And it takes too long to drop an enemy for my liking. Of course I do like the Hardcore playlists on COD 4 and Swat and Snipers on Halo, but again, this is my preference.

    Now before you say I am unfair, please note that I did take the time to try all of the games out. I beat through all of their campaigns, and played atleast 30 online matches(30 for GOW 2, 50 for GOW, 50 for COD 5, 200+ for COD 4, 2000+ for Halo 3, and 2500+ for Halo 2, I just liked Halo better.) for each game.

    Btw: Flame this all you want, I won't check up on it.

  • megamega777

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 3:46 pm GMT

    "The article also claims that the limited-release Recon Armor will also be available to anyone who completes the Vidmaster Challenge achievement series. "
    Sound the "can I have Reconz" nerds!!!

  • tudyniuz

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 12:43 pm GMT

    Will wait for more info

  • giovanny131

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 9:49 am GMT

    nice

  • DataDream

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 6:47 am GMT

    Thewbacca -

    M$ never claimed this is one of their best games - not sure how you gleaned that. In fact quite the contrary, by saying that "we do not view this as a $60 title" - they have pretty much said the OPPOSITE of what you just did. Maybe your reading comprehension needs a little brushing up on?

    All they are doing is letting Halo fans know there is something fresh on the way.

    Again - not sure how you came to the conclusions you did as they are pretty much the opposite of what M$ has said.

  • Thewbacca posted Nov 15, 2008 11:28 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Thewbacca

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 11:28 pm GMT (hide)

    ....so, Microsoft are countering one of the best years of releases on record....with an expansion pack as their best game?

    They really have given up.

  • danno08

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 7:49 pm GMT

    Halo is for 10 year-old american boys that don't know any good games.

    Get with the times people! COD and GEARS!

    Love you all.

  • HellJumper

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 5:14 pm GMT

    As long as there are any Halo related games that Bungie themselves produced, I'm interested

  • Bahaa3000

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 1:33 pm GMT

    perhaps if they give the same quality multiplayer as halo3 i would consider buying this

  • Vegeta-sama

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 11:00 am GMT

    I'm going to pick it up for sure.. this seems more in line with the kind of game that I like to play

  • Scooter_6_7

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 6:18 am GMT

    I wish that it had a whole campaign like Halo 3 and the rest but oh well I'm still getting it, looks like fun!!!...more Halo awesomeness =]

  • MSG-Deathscythe posted Nov 15, 2008 3:07 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 3:07 am GMT (hide)

    microsoft has made squeezing $$$ out of gullible gamers an artform. clap-clap-clap.

  • shaun_mcwayne

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 2:33 am GMT

    its all about the multi player these days, take gears 2 the campain is ok but multi player is awsome lots of replay, i think this will be the same the story just sets you up for online play.

  • CyberCurse

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 12:25 am GMT

    Yea, well, it took them 3 years to make a 8-10 hour games, so it's actually quite normal, if they make a 3-5 hour game in 1,5 years.

  • Humikimi

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 11:52 pm GMT

    Uhoh am I sensing another Valve happening here? Are we going to have to wait for a couple years for 'episodic content' that is about 3-4 hours long each that runs at a 30-40 dollar price tag? Hm, I guess if it is really good then it will be worth it, we will see. I'll get it, I know I will, but this news gives me the impression that either they are trying to make the game action-packed and short just as a new style or...they are going to release a ton of expensive DLC...I hope my second thought is wrong.

  • JebusJM

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 9:44 pm GMT

    Yet another disappointing game. I'm not getting it.

  • mykel77

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:18 pm GMT

    it takes them that long to make a 3-5 hour game?? fall 2009? thats ridiculous

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