Electric Arcade--October 2009

ELECTRIC ARCADE—OCTOBER 2009
By
Allen Gardner

Microsoft/Bungie release the long-awaited HALO 3: ODST (Xbox 360), a two-disc set that offers Halo players a new hero fighting the good fight in the year 2552. The Covenant is in control of the city of New Mombasa, searching for something beneath its darkened streets. Your character, an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, must gather your scattered squad, join forces and escape the occupied city. Oh yeah, and please kill, maim and blow up as many Covenant scumbags as you can!



Eye-popping graphics, sound and gameplay make this a worthy successor to the previous two Halo titles, and is sure to generate uber-hours of gameplay, even for the most jaded console hounds.

Package features a second disc, THE COMPLETE HALO 3 MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE, which has the complete Halo 3 collection of 24 maps, including the customizable Sandbox and three brand new maps, culminating in Heretic, the highly-anticipated return of Halo 2’s Midship. One of the best multiplayer games currently on the market.


Features: 1-4 players. Co-op 2-4. System link 2-16. HDTV 720p/1080i/1080p. Optimized for hard drive. Online multiplayer 2-26. Content download. Voice. File sharing.

Rated M for blood, language and violence.

Microsoft and iNiS release LIPS: NUMBER ONE HITS (Xbox 360), a lip-synching/karaoke-style game that allows players to sing along to 40 genre-spanning hit songs from diverse acts such as Culture Club, Coldplay and Kanye West. In addition, LIPS players can customize a “Number One hits” set list with a song pack of their choice containing five additional songs, available to download for free from Xbox LIVE.


Equipped with an Xbox 360 wireless microphone that is equipped with motion sensors and lights, the mike responds to players’ actions and can be used as percussion accompaniment. Microphone is also compatible with other music games such as “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band.” Other features include Avatar Integration which allows the player to literally get into Lips. Avatar Rewards lets players earn accessories including a hat, shoes and even Lady Gaga’s shades for your Avatar by scoring the right notes and sharing them with all your friends on LIVE.

Great fun for young and old alike, and an ideal party game, whether you’re drinking Hi-C or Stoli (or both!).

Features: 1-4 players; Co-op 2-4; 4MB to save game; HDTV 720p/1080i/1080p; Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone; Content download; Leaderboards; Avatar in-game rewards.

Rated T for lyrics, mild cartoon violence, sexual themes and tobacco use.