Swedish mag breaks Halo 3 details?

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted Oct 27, 2006 10:56 am PT

Source: Scans of Swedish gaming magazine LEVEL, partially translated by a poster on Gaming Age Forums. What we heard: Last week, Bungie mentioned in its weekly update that it had shown off early builds of Halo 3 to a variety of gaming press outlets and that magazine articles on the visit would...

Source: Scans of Swedish gaming magazine LEVEL, partially translated by a poster on Gaming Age Forums.

What we heard: Last week, Bungie mentioned in its weekly update that it had shown off early builds of Halo 3 to a variety of gaming press outlets and that magazine articles on the visit would start hitting mailboxes shortly.

It appears that Swedish mailboxes are plum stuffed with Halo 3 news, as purported scans of the latest issue of LEVEL have hit the Internet with gobs of info about Bungie's highly anticipated first-person shooter. The multiplayer-focused sneak peek dished out details on new weapons, vehicles, and features for the game, some of it expected, some not so much.

First, the bad news for hermitic gamers: According to the magazine article, Halo 3 won't have bots. If Halo 2 is any indicator, there shouldn't be any shortage of human opponents to frag online, but antisocial players or those who tire of powergaming play styles won't be able to fake their multiplayer fix. According to a translation on GAF, LEVEL quotes a Bungie rep as explaining that the developers would rather spend that time working on the weapons, levels, and netcode for the game.

Speaking of weapons, Halo 3 will apparently feature a few new ways to off opponents. The Spartan Laser should help players open up vehicles like so many sardine cans, while the self-explanatory nail grenade should be a real hit at parties. There's also a Brute spiker to play with.

As for new vehicles, the Mongoose ATV that was once intended for Halo 2 will be available. Although it lacks firepower of any kind, the Mongoose seats two and should be good for getting Spartans where they need to be ASAP. And while it isn't quite a vehicle, the "Man Cannon" will launch players across the map unprotected on air streams. Gamers launched by the cannon will be vulnerable to enemy fire, but they'll also be able to fire back.

Bungie's also switching up some of the familiar Halo gameplay, according to the scans. For one thing, the X button will no longer reload. Instead, players will use the left and right bumpers on the Xbox 360 controller to independently reload their primary and secondary weapons. As for what the X button will do, Bungie is keeping that under wraps for now. In another tweak, players' secondary weapons will be visibly slung over their backs at all times, so players will no longer be able to conceal the fact that they're carrying around four-foot plasma swords in their pockets.

Finally, the scan indicates that the limited-edition release of Halo 3 will be called the "Legendary Edition" and will come packed in a replica of the Master Chief's helmet. The four-disc set will include the game, documentaries and developer interviews, Red vs. Blue content along with other Halo tie-ins, and HD cutscenes from the whole Halo trilogy.

The official story: Microsoft isn't talking, but Bungie today put up a news post acknowledging that magazine scans with new Halo 3 content had started hitting the Web and threatening a permanent ban for anyone posting them on the company's forums.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus, although we hope the term "Man Cannon" is the result of a translation error.

627 Comments

  • Cube_of_MooN

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 6:44 pm PT

    So old... WOW

  • Monkdog22

    Posted Jan 11, 2007 5:14 pm PT

    Hmm... replica helmet, if its made out of something durable and it fits, its my new paint ball mask.

  • Stukes

    Posted Jan 11, 2007 4:44 pm PT

    "whats a halo?"

    are u serious?

  • doombag2

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 11:31 am PT

    I just have to chuckle at the "Man Cannon", they better come up with a better name than that. Other than that slight issue though, this sounds great! Anyone got ideas on the new X button function?

  • Unit_tyler

    Posted Nov 24, 2006 1:41 am PT

    yeah i got the legendary edition reserved already it costs $100.00 plus tax. and that helmet better be a helmet i can put on and wear or i am going to be pissed.

  • eezzy_rider

    Posted Nov 21, 2006 5:08 pm PT

    hey guyz whats a halo?

  • --21--mataratas

    Posted Nov 12, 2006 8:11 pm PT

    i hope than man cannon thing is true ..... sounds fun and i wanna laugh my ass off seein people flying across a map .....

  • valizotha

    Posted Nov 9, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    *praying* Please O Mighty Bungie!!! Let the "Man Cannon" be just a trnslation error!!!

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    It sounds and looks so good!

  • kingofgames4000

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 9:46 am PT

    cant wait

  • Airsoftsniper01

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 7:07 am PT

    The x button might be for switching grenades because thats what the bumper was for, and the other was talking to teammates. so that leaves that option out for possibilities on what it could be used for. I also heard that you might be able to parry swords with it cause, someone told me that you would be able to dual wield swords and need to parry so you dont die

  • konio38

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    There is a movie on machinima.com with images from that magazine

  • Hungry_bunny

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 1:27 pm PT

    Wow, I just read a few pages of it!

    There were some cool surprises in there, assuming it's all true.

    The poster talked about the "spiker" but he forgot to mention the "spiker grenade", "instead of exploding in all directions it gives a concentrated laser-blast. This grenade can be set on all materials, meaning you can put it on walls, roofs or preferably on someones face" - taken from the magazine.

    The secondary weapon is always vicible, meaning that all gamers who use the "lure-the-enemy-close-and-then-surprise-them-with-my-Plasma-sword" tactic will have to come up with something new.

    They've changed the weapon-spawning (weapon you start with after you've died) system in the mp mode, I'm not sure how but it had something to do with the improving of balance in the game.

    The standard assault rifle is stronger and more accurate now, it looks cooler and is a bit longer.

    The mp levels don't have cliff walls on the borders anymore, it looks alot more open, but if you go to far out some automatic assault rifles will pop out and scare you back into the area were the action is.

    I'll read some more, I might post something else later...

  • MONTE_BLK

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 6:47 am PT

    I really love the ideal of having the secondary weapon slung over the back. That is more human like and you get see what your enemy is packing. I hate having dual weapons and a battle rifle as my secondary weapon but my opponent is packing a sword but I don't know that his secondary weapon is rockets. Now you know what he is packing and whether you will have to call in back up to take him out instead of one on one.

  • WeAreVenom

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 12:43 am PT

    Starting today (November 1) you can reserve Halo 3 at GameStop and EB Games, even though we have no idea when it's comign out... lol I'm sorry, I think it's hilarious that we don't know when it's coming out yet we can already reserve it...

  • flying_dude

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 8:45 pm PT

    Man Cannon eh? That would be sweet to use in co-op mode. But then again, "man-cannon" and "Halo 3" don't really match do they? Maybe the basic idea of somehow firing someone across distance is where man cannon derived from. I think it is some air jet that you use to propel someone into the air.

    And these new weapons sound pretty cool to. This game would be very cool to play on the xbox 360 controller, since the buttons are more conveniently placed. But the cost, maybe ending up around $100? I would pay that, I mean, the Oblivion collectors edition cost me like $95, pretty expensive for 2 discs and some books......but if the collectors is $100 it would be a good deal, 4 discs, master chief helmet big enough to hold all discs etc.? Not bad....

  • calexriv

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 3:25 pm PT

    man cannon........why not just keep it at air lift or grav lift? but everything else sounds coll.

  • Hot_Potato

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 2:11 pm PT

    new gamer tag: H3 ManCannon

  • pazz999

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 10:27 am PT

    i cant wait to ride the man cannon

  • gR_Silent

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 8:04 am PT

    That man cannon is genius

  • Violent-M

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 7:51 am PT

    F*** that, the name "Man Cannon" better not be a mistranslation. Social phenomenon like Halo multiplayer get that way because of a light undertone of humor. If that isn’t the name I hope the Spartan’s in game (assuming they use such a thing in the single player) refer to it humorously as “Man Cannon”, believe it or not in war they try not to make things so dim and dreary (shouldn’t be hard to believe though, makes perfect logical sense). Remember how they called the karate chop only game type in GoldenEye “Slappers Only”? I can just see Sarge (or whatever that black guy is called) saying, “This is the M103494325-whatever, the latest in assault technology, capable of safely and efficiently transporting a soldier across the battlefield through the air. Ahhh.. makes me proud (ramble on about stuff old black war vets ramble about).” *Master Chief walks towards the cannon, looking it over and David Cross walks up from the cannon control area saying,* “Magnificent isn’t it? I like to call it my Man Cannon.” And so on with the David Cross humor (for those of you who don’t realize, he is a fam.. somewhat famous comedian who voiced a soldier in Halo 2 (he also made that show the Freak Squad, he plays the Siamese twin with the glasses.)

    In any case this game is sounding very promising now. I was getting it regardless but I may have a game that will create memories to replace the fond ones I have of GoldenEye multiplayer.

    Anticrawl

  • metal_assassin

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 7:45 am PT

    I want HALO 3 NOW!!!!!!!

  • metal_assassin

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 7:36 am PT

    Cool I want Halo3 NOW!!!!

  • nick0091

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 6:35 am PT

    4 disc special edition talk about milking the fan boys for money... I am getting the game most likly of course the regular edition.

  • granposho

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 6:08 am PT

    Gotta love Halo!

  • dinoseb

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 6:05 am PT

    Hmm... I am gonna go down to ICA and buy the LEVEL mag. (Im Swedish)

  • dinoseb

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 6:04 am PT

    Hmm... I am gonna go down to ICA and buy the LEVEL mag. (Im Swedish)

  • dhjohns

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 4:49 am PT

    Real men fire Man Cannons!!!!!

  • Edgemaster666

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 1:35 am PT

    I'm gonna wear the helmet and run through the streets with a nerf gun terrifying dogs and small children.

  • tr00k

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 1:04 am PT

    Yes... more man cannon jokes please

  • SethofDeath

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 10:23 pm PT

    I just want to know when the next halo 3 video(s) are coming out...simply!

  • Cypher_187

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 8:31 pm PT

    pheeew! I thought they said the right and left triggers were going to be the reload buttons. That would have been horrendous! What button would shoot be mapped to? Good thing it's only the bumpers they were talking about.

  • gzibocod

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    lol! Man Cannon!

  • mujeeb1

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:55 pm PT

    For all the people that don't want to shell out the money for the extra discs and the Spartan helmet like the rest of us (which we know we all want), that's the "Legendary" Edition, to go along with the Collector's and the regular, which means there are 3 versions. Yes, believe it or not, another taboo in the world of videogames..too much choice.

  • cdko

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    sexist what about a woman cannon... tsk tsk tsk

  • zeonne

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:23 pm PT

    nail grenade???haha halo 3 is going to rip off resistance fall of man, too funny...lol

  • Wanderer5

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:22 pm PT

    No bots? Man that sucks

  • Residentevil893

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:13 pm PT

    Man cannon = awsomeness!

  • b00

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    man cannon..... brilliant....

    Yah im hoping thats a translation error too. And I bet the X button is for picking up weapons. I had such a bad time in Halo/Halo 2 trying to reload (x) and it would pick up a gun! I can't wait for Halo 3 to come out.

    Anyone have any idea on the price of the "Legendary" edition?

  • SoralinkGS

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    I want the Legendary edition! The Spartan Helmet would be sweet to have!

  • chaoscontrol489

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:39 pm PT

    ooo, I want the helmet

  • mc2k4

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    Looks like Halo to me!

  • Omega_Pirateman

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:30 pm PT

    (My prayer to God tonight)

    God, I hope to, well, YOU that Halo 3 won't have something called the "Man Cannon". Think of the kitties. Bless Africa and Krispy Kreme.

  • Gmacrusher

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:17 pm PT

    This is sucks and is good at the same time, but awww wel!

  • tinytim10

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:10 pm PT

    sweet i want to drive the ATV and use the AR with laser secondary fire.

  • kyleali11

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:08 pm PT

    Man Cannon, Sweet

  • Jumbo120788

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:08 pm PT

    buster8695
    great, now the legendary edition will prob. be close to 100.
    yeah i was thinking that too

  • HappyInvader101

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 3:45 pm PT

    X doesnt reload anymore? Now im a tad worried

  • EvanO_O

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 3:41 pm PT

    WTF? What does Man cannon mean? Is there some sort of inside joke I don't know about?

  • GingeOnGinger

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 2:46 pm PT

    Owww! Am i the only one that thinks that Halo 3 not having bots is a bad thing? Yeah Sure this X-mas me and my bro are gonna get an Xbox 369 and xbox live Gold but what about when we want to mess about and have a laugh killing each other and the other AI less bots with sticky grenades? Like for example, the reason i played timesplitters excessively was because A= You could make your own maps and B= You could have bots. Me and my familly (even my Mum!) enjoyed playing Elimination on Timesplitters against a big gingerbread man. Now i know that Halo goes for the realism approach and would rather have amazing graphics then silly but fun characters (anyway theres nothing wrong with the chief!) but at least the bots. I think they should seeing as once i had completed Halo 2 twice i threw it to the back of my closet and only now has it made a reapperance. Ultimately its down to Bungie and Microsoft but its would be 'A real investment in pleasure!' (Sorry for qouting David Dickinson but oh well!)

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