Halo 3: ODST Forum
This topic has moved here: Poll [51 votes]: How fast should you move in the Halo 3: ODST campaign and Firefight?
  • Poll [51 votes]: How fast should you move in the Halo 3: ODST campaign and Firefight?
Subject: Slower Movement Speed in ODST? Seriously?

Poll: How fast should you move in the Halo 3: ODST campaign and Firefight?  [closed]
Faster then in Halo 3:  8%
(4 Votes)
The same speed as in Halo 3:  27%
(14 Votes)
Slower then in Halo 3:  65%
(33 Votes)
Total Votes: 51

So I was listening to the latest Bungie podcast last night, and was surprised to hear that among the limitations placed upon the ODST's is a reduction to movement speed. While this makes sense within the story, from a gameplay standpoint it worries me.

Movement in Halo 3 is already VERY slow. I fail to see how making the ODSTs even slower is going to make the game more fun. In fact, I predict that the game will greatly suffer for it.

Bungie has strongly stressed that you aren't as powerful as the MC in this game. I LOVE this approach. It has the potential to completely change the overall style of gameplay in singleplayer Halo to something requiring more unique tactics and clever thinking. Reducing melee attack power, jump height, and removing the ability to duel wield are all great changes. Yet I feel the impact of these changes will be reduced if the ODSTs cannot move as quickly, not to mention the negative affect that this will have on individual skill in the game.

While the other changes Bungie have made will place emphasis on precise, well-executed hit and run tactics, reducing movement speed will simply stagnate the gameplay. Movement affects ALL aspects of combat, and I can't see slowing down the movement speed having any positive affect on the "30 seconds of fun" that the campaign is known for.

What do you think? Is slowing down the ODSTs a good idea? Please vote in the poll, and post the reasoning behind your opinion.

  • 06.04.2009 8:25 AM PDT

Posted by: Anon
i woke a bit ago and my son was playing halo 3 he was on forge i saw at the bottom of the screen was a charge for 35 dollars is that real or not did he charge 35 bucks or is that justfor the in game

-NO RECUITMENT MESSAGES PLEASE

Does anyone think they may stoop as low as a sprint function to combat this? They could rename the game Call of ODST too... Hopefully it's just me being negative.

I'm not too worried about a slower movement speed. You will probably find that the levels will be smaller and gameplay will also be at a reduced speed, so ultimately you probably won't notice any reduction.

  • 06.04.2009 8:30 AM PDT
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The Spartans can move up to 40 MPH, and Kelly can move at over 60 MPH. So, slower.

  • 06.04.2009 8:31 AM PDT
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Andy

The Spartans, from what I know, carry about half a ton of armor. Yet they can still run quickly.
ODSTs can't run as fast, but they carry less weight. I say little less, or maybe a "Sprint" feature, like in GoW2 and Call of Duty4. Or perhaps like in Mirror's edge, where you have to run in a straight movement and gradually get faster, while turning, jumping, etc. slows you down.

  • 06.04.2009 8:36 AM PDT

We're building a better world...all of them, better worlds.

I really never thought the Halo 3 movement speed was all that slow. It's fluid. Rather, I find other game's speeds to be entirely too fast. I think Halo 3 gets it just right.

As for ODST, it would only make sense they would move slower than a Spartan. I'm not worried about this at all.

  • 06.04.2009 8:36 AM PDT

i like the fact that they will have made it slower because if it is the same as halo3 you are not master chief or a spartan :P so being able to jump high and run faster would make no sense its good that they have made your charachter more human :D however the option to sprint would be nice :)

  • 06.04.2009 8:48 AM PDT

i won't worry too much about the speed, and if this game does have a sprint function (which i'm sure it won't) how does that make it automatically like CoD? there have been hundreds of games with a sprint function before CoD.

  • 06.04.2009 8:54 AM PDT

Posted by: MADMAN Redux
I really never thought the Halo 3 movement speed was all that slow. It's fluid. Rather, I find other game's speeds to be entirely too fast. I think Halo 3 gets it just right.

I agree, which is why I don't think a change in movement speed between Halo 3 and ODST is needed.

As for ODST, it would only make sense they would move slower than a Spartan. I'm not worried about this at all.
Yes it makes sense. But will it be as fun? I doubt it.

  • 06.04.2009 11:00 AM PDT

We're building a better world...all of them, better worlds.

Posted by: Nokterne
Posted by: MADMAN Redux
I really never thought the Halo 3 movement speed was all that slow. It's fluid. Rather, I find other game's speeds to be entirely too fast. I think Halo 3 gets it just right.

I agree, which is why I don't think a change in movement speed between Halo 3 and ODST is needed.

As for ODST, it would only make sense they would move slower than a Spartan. I'm not worried about this at all.
Yes it makes sense. But will it be as fun? I doubt it.

I imagine the speed reduction is slight. I haven't seen any threads from anyone who's actually played it, saying the movement speed affected their experience. I've spoken to people on Xbox Live who have played it, and they haven't mentioned it. I think it's a legitimate concern, but I don't think you have anything to worry about.

As for changing it, yes, it makes sense. How would an ODST be able to move as fast as a cybernetically enhanced human being who, even with one ton of armor on, can run an average of 40 km/h?

Regardless, though, you have a point that the bottom line question is whether it's fun or not. I think if it wasn't, Bungie wouldn't do it. This game is chock full of decisions that might not make the most sense but were made to conserve the fun aspect.

Again, I'm not concerned.

  • 06.04.2009 11:16 AM PDT

I hunt for the Prophet of Contentment, the San 'Shyumm that murdered my son, and stole his birthright, his Energy Sword. They call our species Heretics. They claim to all that our tongues sting, our words a vile poison that feeds on the unworthy. I have seen the true face of Heresy. The head of a gallant warrior lay on the ground. His neck scorched and blistered, scarred by his own blade. I shall retrieve the weapon, and drive it through that bastard's heart! Punishment for his sins is nigh.

Play on 75% speed, and 150% gravity, you will feel VERY human.

  • 06.04.2009 11:17 AM PDT

In Halo 3 you walk at the same speed as marines and ODST soldiers, so I don't see any reason to make you walk even slower in Halo 3: ODST.

  • 06.04.2009 11:17 AM PDT
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since this games open world it will most likely have extra stuff to find/do

  • 06.04.2009 11:18 AM PDT

Posted by: SnakeRunner40
The Spartans can move up to 40 MPH, and Kelly can move at over 60 MPH. So, slower.

Holy $H1T! How come I never knew that? *goes back to read the fall of reach*

  • 06.04.2009 11:20 AM PDT

Posted by: MADMAN Redux
As for changing it, yes, it makes sense. How would an ODST be able to move as fast as a cybernetically enhanced human being who, even with one ton of armor on, can run an average of 40 km/h?

What I was really hoping to get from ODST was the feeling that I am no longer playing as a walking tank, which is how I always felt during Halo 3.

Specifically, I was hoping for an increase in start-stop time, while overall movement speed stayed about the same. Sort of like I had sacrificed some armour, and thus had to carry less weight around. This would allow for faster strafing and changes in direction. I imagined the game being much more evasion based, with the ability quickly duck in and out of cover, dodge rounds more effectively, and use other similar tactics. Because we no longer play as Spartans, and thus have no shielding, we need other ways to deal with the barrage of gunfire coming our way, and this sounded like a fun way to do it.

When I heard that the movement was slower, I wondered how exactly we would be overcome the disadvantages of being an ODST. Without the brute force, and now without evasion, what do we have left?

If Bungie must keep the default movement speed slower, I have a request. I would ask that they at least throw some custom options into the Firefight mode that allow us to change a few of the ODST's attributes, including movement speed. Similar to how we can have different gametype options in regular Slayer, I recommend the same for Firefight. Obviously the "custom game Firefight" matches would not be ranked (assuming leaderboards are put into place) but the options should still be there.

Regardless, though, you have a point that the bottom line question is whether it's fun or not. I think if it wasn't, Bungie wouldn't do it. This game is chock full of decisions that might not make the most sense but were made to conserve the fun aspect.
Normally I would dispute the above sentence. I feel that with Halo 3, Bungie made decisions that catered more to accessibility instead of long term fun.

However, I am incredibly excited to play ODST simply because it was developed by a small team. The changes I have seen so far make much more sense when you look at them in the context of a smaller group working on the game. We are getting a much more focused and refined experience, and for that reason I am excited.

  • 06.04.2009 1:22 PM PDT
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You aren't a Spartan, so you move slower....

  • 06.04.2009 1:26 PM PDT

Posted by: Mizzou
You aren't a Spartan, so you move slower....
Would you sacrifice the longevity of this entire game just to keep some very minor point in the Halo fiction consistent?

Start thinking about the FUN people.

  • 06.04.2009 1:29 PM PDT
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Posted by: Nokterne
Posted by: Mizzou
You aren't a Spartan, so you move slower....
Would you sacrifice the longevity of this entire game just to keep some very minor point in the Halo fiction consistent?

Start thinking about the FUN people.

You don't even run slow in Halo 3. All the maps are bigger than before, and since there is no "sprint", it seems like you are slow.

  • 06.04.2009 1:36 PM PDT

Vancouver BC, Canada.

If you play as someone who is smaller and weaker than the Chief, you should move a bit slower.

  • 06.04.2009 1:41 PM PDT

I would hate the a slower paced game and I'm too used to the halo speed so I say the same

  • 06.04.2009 1:49 PM PDT
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ODST's are'nt Spartans they run slower they run just fine.

  • 06.04.2009 1:51 PM PDT

it will make halo players better...

  • 06.04.2009 1:52 PM PDT