Halo 3 (Xbox 360)

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We're going out on a limb here, but we're willing to admit that out of all the videogames ever created, none resonates with as many people as the Halo franchise. Whether you're a gamer or not, you've probably heard of it -- it has managed to proliferate itself into the mainstream all over the world, and when it was released last fall, it had a single-day take of over $170 million. That's six zeros, folks. It was listed as the most successful day in entertainment history -- beating out any Spider-man movie opening and yes, even Mr. Potter.

So was all the hype justified? Is Halo 3 all that? To put it simply, yes. Although the game's not perfect (more on that later) Halo 3 still manages to thrill, excite and entice with its immense scope and ultra-high production value. From its epic single-player campaign to the balanced multiplayer, Halo 3 exceeded expectations. Developers Bungie Studios along with Microsoft have created something truly special that anyone can dive into and enjoy.

In terms of story, Halo 3 picks up right after Halo 2's much-criticized cliffhanger ending. Players once again take on the role of the venerable Master Chief, this time taking the fight to Earth. With newfound allies such as the Arbiter at your side, players unite with various other Earth forces to prevent the Covenant from activating the floating space weapons known as Halos, which would destroy all sentient life in the galaxy. We could go on more about the story, but quite honestly, you should experience it for yourself. And if you remember Halo 2, the storyline was anything but clear -- a bit too cryptic for most. Thankfully Halo 3 wraps everything up nicely and provides satisfying closure to the story.

Halo 3 doesn't have the longest of Campaign modes (veteran gamers should be able to finish it in about 10 hours), but it is incredibly deep and robust. Although it doesn't offer any new gameplay mechanics for the first-person shooter genre, it still manages to create drama and excitement at every turn. Bungie calls it their '30-second rule,' where the gamer will experience 'something' every 30 seconds. This could be a tactical engagement, a vehicular battle, or an epic fight across a battlefield -- it's all incredibly satisfying. As an added bonus, you can play through the Campaign with up to four players, cooperatively.

New to Halo 3 is the inclusion of 'equipment.' These deployable specialty items do a variety of things -- some are more for offensive moves, while others are merely for defense. You'll first be introduced to the new equipment in Campaign, where you can experiment to see how each item works and see which you prefer. Granted, while it's fun to use the new equipment in the Campaign, where these really make an impact is in multiplayer. If used correctly, each piece of equipment can be extremely effective in battle. Here are some of our favorites: The Bubble Shield, for example, provides a protective force field that surrounds you for a short period of time. If you find yourself getting bombarded from all sides, throw up the Bubble Shield to cover you until your normal shields return. The Grav Lift allows you to jump to higher areas with ease. You can also put one of these in front of a charging vehicle -- just when they think they've got you, they'll go flying end-over-end past you. Lastly, there is the Energy Drain, which saps everyone's protective shields and leaves them vulnerable to attack. It also stops vehicles dead in their tracks.