Those first marines that get splattered are so funny to me. There are loads of choppers around so they decide to take a static position - an interesting strategic choice!
@@BenPlaysGamesfor me I didn’t like the first two levels that much on first play through but have a platoon of marines with you for tsavo highway made me so exited. I then proceeded to rave to my friends about how cool tsavo highway was lol
this was a mission I replayed quite a bit as a kid - mainly due to the skull being relatively easy to get. they were so much more fun to obtain back then. the mission itself is serviceable, I remember the ‘Hillside Firefight’ being an absolute nightmare for me on Legendary.
The key is to arm your Marines with as many fuel rod guns, beam rifles, and Sniper rifles as you can, which makes the encounter go from brutal to absolute hilarity as you watch the phantoms become piles of debris from all the fuel rod shots.
Loving halo 3 atm. Played through it 3 times this week. Heroic legendary then easy just to see how fast for the crack. One of the goats of gaming. Perfect sandbox
Wait, isnt the final cutscene just Miranda talking to Chief from her Pelican? The one at the end of the Storm or even Floodgate end/The Ark beginning would be better candidates imo
Random radio chatter: "New mombassa space elevator?" Marine: " it collapsed when the city got glassed." Random chatter:"But the tether was thousands of kilometers high" "Yeah well now it's scattered all over the savanah." Then in odst you it happen. Man halo 3 and odst have great synergy!
I still think it should have been called Halo 2: ODST, though, considering when the events in that game actually happen. Everything's done and dusted by the time Halo 3 rolls around. As you say, everything does sync up nicely across the titles too.
@@BenPlaysGames I often suggest that new players play ODST before 3 rather than after it, both for narrative continuity and sandbox alignment (SMG, anyone?)... and I've always been surprised at how many people seem to disagree.
@@BenPlaysGames It's Halo 3: ODST as it's basically the H3 engine and gameplay loop. I think the naming has more to do with IRL continuity and game association. Calling it Halo 2: ODST after Halo 3's release is not a smart marketing move either.
I think that while it's first three levels don't advance the plot very quickly, they do a lot to establish what you're fighting for: Earth, and its people. You spend a lot of time exploring it, defending it, basking in its nature. The first level is a jungle; even in the future, the beauty of Earth's natural environment persists. Crow's Nest gives you more connection with the Marines, fighting in one of their bases, defending their home. And Tsavo Highway, as you said, is a journey, a gauntlet to get yourself and your marines across territory the invaders have claimed, but all the while you can see the irreparable damage they've caused, both in the destruction of the Space Elevator and the massive excavation going on. They aren't about plot, they're about atmosphere, and connecting you to humanity and Earth in a way the series hadn't quite yet nailed.
It's one of the things I really like about 3 (and later Reach) especially. Even the middling levels are still a really good time, even if they don't do anything particularly surprising.
This is a level I didn't like too much at first. Light on story, setting done better in ODST's Uplift Reserve, and 3's Vehicle damage problem coming to the forefront on higher difficulties vs the waves and waves of choppers. It's only with time that I came to appreciate it, where I experienced the different playthough options. Skipping everything (including the roadblock) in the Chopper, loading up a troop hog full of snipers and fuel rods, sniping on foot + discovering the easily overlooked sniper perch near the first wraith, and nabbing a wraith to demolish everything in the last half.
It's a nice varied level that moves at a good pace, which generally keeps everything interesting throughout. I never had many issues with the vehicle segments on legendary, but the holdout on the hill drove me insane.
My last playthrough of Halo 3 came immediately after playing Halo 2. After fighting through High Charity and being left on that cliffhanger, the first 2 missions left me super impatient for the narrative to pick back up again. But Tsavo Highway, even if it was mostly just a transition, felt really where Halo 3 started to pick up for me and I think that's just from how damn fun it is.
Absolutely, I can imagine the transition between 2 and 3 being particularly jarring if you go from one straight into the other. Massive change of pace.
This level is 100% reliant on Co-op. The segment where they introduce choppers is so chaotic when you have a newbie driving and he trying to dodge the choppers and the brutes and the guys on top of the rock cliff thing and the shade turret and then they name into the shield it’s a ton of fun. Plus on solo I love saving all the fuel rods I can and using the scout hog to clear through the final section.
Ben, idk if you’ll see this or read this but please keep doing halo uploads. You’re so spot on (for me) on this levels how good they are and a break down of the game I love. I live for it. You have such an easy voice bro like I could easily listen to you all day. Thank you for everything you do.
Thanks for the kind words Eric, appreciate the support dude. I've no plans on stopping any time soon and plan to do a video on every Halo level Bungie created (along with other stuff too), so plenty more to come!
Cheers dude! Tsavo Highway isn't anything super special, but it's a good solid bit of Halo that always entertains. Every game needs to have a few levels like that, I reckon.
The warthogs in this mission and getting them to places they weren't designed to be was what really got my Playstation only mate into the game when we played it on couch co op one evening. It does tend to feel very default, almost like a table from ikea of a halo mission story wise however, but it is nice to play. Btw im pumped for the halo legendary streams soon.
That hold out section with all the goodies at the top of the hill is one of my favourite encounters in the entire game. No idea why, but it sticks out in my memory.
@@BenPlaysGames probably tried setting up a minefield only for the marines to set them off before the brutes got there That's happened a few times to me, at least
You missed out on one of the greatest parts of the section where you have to hold out against the waves of enemies after you leave your vehicle. Above the large structure (some sort of gate or wall or something of that nature - the one you pass through at roughly the 7:24 mark), Bungie leaves a small cache of ammo near some dead marines that includes a sniper rifle. You can use it to pick off the Brutes (including the jetpack Brutes which is quite helpful). It also puts you in a really good spot to snipe from. It's great if you want to save the fuel rod cannon that you can find shortly after for the Wraith (or the Phantom, which is what I always do).
A few people have mentioned this, honestly never realised it existed! Just goes to show, there's always something new to uncover in these games even when you think you know them like the back of your hand.
I think that much of the purpose of Halo 3's early levels were to get new players acquainted with the way Halo plays and feels. Having large story beats mixed in with this may have been overwhelming for new players and so having a few missions where the objective is basically "prepare for the rest of the game" puts one in the mindset of getting to grips with the controls. You have to remember that Halo 3 was developed long before any MCC, CEA, etc, so it wasn't assumed that many people would be willing to play 2 games from a previous generation just to prepare for one game on a new, expensive console. Thats probably why so much doesn't happen until Floodgate and The Ark. Bungie has to re-introduce all the players, establish stakes, and give perspective on the existing war with the Covenant.
I don’t always catch the uploads like i used to, but I always love to tune in and see the channel grow, I love seeing a channel that clearly puts the work in, great things are in store for you and your channel!!!
Tsavo Highway was always one of my favorites. The Covenant and The Ark are great, but I always felt like Tsavo Highway hit a better tempo of infantry/vehicle combat. Which, I guess, just goes to show my preferences, especially with Halo 3 wraith and chopper being my favorite vehicles in the franchise. And the different perceived tempo may just be how my playstyle shakes out on them. I'd still rate it below the other two due to many of the reasons you listed, but it's one of my most replayed missions. I pretty much always did Tsavo+Storm as a two-parter. Imagine if there was a fairly brief mission between Crow's Nest and Tsavo. Call it.... Rat's Nest? ;D Basically, after the base blew the elevator crash left Arby & the Chief stranded and without equipment, maybe even without shields for a while. Then you have an Eventide Island mission through the ruins of the now wrecked underground of the base, rescuing marines who didn't make it all the way out, fighting off weak Covenant survivors, and some Covie SpecOps groups eliminating survivors. Since the base was shown to have extensive open areas, you could include the ability to rescue marines with passenger hogs and some with guns, while having some wrecked larger areas that are open enough to play in a vehicle while risking ambush but with enough cover to walk through on foot, fighting to get your equipment through intact. Form your platoon as you go, while trying to rescue wounded without sustaining more casualties. That then feeds into the start of Tsavo, in that room with a bunch of wounded and wrecked equipment. The more you got through the Rat's Nest, the more and better stuff you get at the start of Tsavo. Even if it can't be 1-to-1, you could excuse any stuff you can't carry over with that stuff going to the casualties that stay behind to not slow you down. It would add some environment to the game, and would offer a good chance to characterize the UNSC and remind you how dire it is, like that cutscene at the start of CN did with the blinded marine, right before the chest-pumping ooh-rah push of the One Final Effort. I can't remember which, unfortunately, but Metro 2033 or Last Light had a mission that reminds me of a much more linear version of this, where you have a long tunnel and a trolley, but there are many areas off the sides of which only some are required to be fully explored. The areas off the path can be VERY dangerous, but pose a great chance for player exploration and agency and reward good players well enough. Something like this is what I'm thinking, but less linear, and with a convoy of wounded/burdened marines instead of the trolley. And while you keep some of the resource acquisition, it's more about saving marines and getting better stuff rather than just getting prewar bullets. So, I guess, like a mix of the Metro level and the second half of Halo, but the marines are still in the game world instead of flown away. Maybe even hints of later levels, where you get out to turn on a light bridge so the marines below can move the armoured column across, but on smaller scale with more of a feeling of fighting for survival. BONUS: Highlight the Covies suddenly becoming much more concerned with the Portal than the UNSC, especially at the end of RN and the start of Tsavo, building up to that cutscene with the cruiser and banshees flying over to it. Toss in a line or two from Hood/Keyes about the Covies' focus tunneling in on the Storm thing. Give that point much more weight, since you follow the Rat's Nest's kill squads with the Covies basically ignoring you to all gather around the Structure. Like "this is bigger than THE DEMON? WHAT IS IT!?" It would also make the awesome Effort at the end of the Storm feel much more like the UNSC *chasing* the Covenant, which feels more desperate. And, I guess I should add, I imagine Crow's Nest and maybe Tsavo/Storm being a bit cut down in length with this. Mainly Crow's Nest. But maybe I'm just biased since I only really loved a few parts of Crow's Nest. Overall, it would be a mission light on story but heavy on atmosphere, and give buildup so that Tsavo and especially the Storm feel like much more is going on than the way it is now - which to me felt like a dragged out "go here do this" since nothing really got time to ruminate. Make "Rat's Nest" the Exodus to Tsavo/Storm's New Alexandria. You're adding more stuff that isn't really important to the story, but it adds "vibes" to immerse yourself in instead, making the big story moments (end of Storm) feel much stronger. Tsavo/Storm's problem as it stands is that it's in the middle: too long for its story to feel impactful, and too short and with too little utilized breaks to immerse you. I always felt like the picture of 3's first half felt smudged: long but unimportant. Stuff happened *around* you and you just waited to have an impact. Why not use that time to build up what was around you? Why stop and NOT smell the roses?
What i liked about the earth levels of halo 3 is that as far as the player knows at that point in the story, the battle on earth is far more important than it was in halo 2. Theres a sense that if you dont stop truth, something very bad is going to happen. I know some people say halo 3s earth levels are slow story wise, but i think its a rather justified slow burn. First you link up with the human forces on earth, then you learn what truth is doing in africa (at least partially) and that theres a plan to stop him, but first you must evacuate the base. Tsavo highway and the storm are kind of a two parter in the push towards truth until he unexpectedly unlocks the ark and the flood arrive. The pacing then ramps up from here in a pretty graceful way all things considered.
The music track “Out of Shadow” plays at the beginning of the mission, and it’s one of my favorite tracks in the game. The level itself was fun too! I love to take the transport warthog and gather as many marines as possible.
As a kid I never liked this level, I was terrible with vehicles and the last part with the wraiths was difficult. But now I see it as a fun little level to play, and I love the vehicles in it.
I can imagine the final big vehicle bit being super hard if you're not good with vehicles. There's so much ground to cover and an insane amount of choppers!
I feel like the point of this mission was to build up to taking back Voi. You start the mission in burning ruins with the wounded and gradually rise out of the ashes (potentially building up a decent marine force). By the start of the next mission you've saved enough marines to make the starting convoy feel like an achievement
I can definitely see that. I guess, for me, as much as I enjoy the level, the story aspect of it is pretty lacking, which is a bit weird given how much the game packs in later on. Add some more story beats to Tsavo Highway and it would be an especially strong mission.
I love these videos, I watch them all the time when I’m in work breaks for example. Just fun to revisit the levels and to get a good idea of lore and design
I could have sworn you already made a video about this level but I must be getting it confused with The Storm. Anyway, I still really enjoy Tsavo Highway, it’s similar to The Halo back in the first game in the sense that you’re dusting yourself off after abandoning the Pillar of Autumn, or in this case an exploding base. You pick up a few stragglers who made it out safely and now rallying together for a major offensive, attacking the dig site that was once New Mombasa or saving Captain Keyes from the Covenant. Being able to see Covenant ships fly overhead and the Forerunner Dreadnought loom in the background is a great way to show you what you’re about to tackle. And I really like the callback to Halo 2 with the marines talking about the orbital elevator scattered across the savannah which is an excellent example showing what humanity had lost because of this war. Even more, it’s a great story piece too. Back when humanity was exploring the stars, that orbital elevator ferried supplies that let humanity travel further and further from Earth. Now, it’s fallen to the ground which could be seen as a metaphor for humanity being pushed back to their birthplace, Earth. I suppose I could be reaching with that last part, but I like to think the writers put a lot of thought into very visual in the game.
Ben, this video made me replay Tsavo Highway after so long, and its honestly a blast! I have so many memories of struggling to hold out against the brutes on legendary, but I just breezed through it this time 😂
Thanks Joey! This was the first level when I played 3 on release during which I really had 'that Halo feeling'. And then most of the rest of the game after is quality.
To me this is one of my more favourite mission in Halo 3, but that may come down to the fact I really enjoy running around with lots of marines and actually doing my best to keep them alive and lead them across missions. Interestingly seeing some of your other reply’s, I’d suggest if your playing it again, avoid the gun warthog and instead take the troop transport as the driver, have the marines load up and try and actually see about keeping as many of them alive as possible alongside the second vehicle. It actually gives alot more fun and context to the mission with Chief actively going towards Foy however rallying the scattered and beaten elements of the marines units fighting alongside you, to the point where if you reach the end alongside most of your ally marines, you actually kind of note that the convoy you have feels somewhat resembled to the convoy you get in the Storm.
Tsavo highway is definitely one of the more interesting ones! I love the environment, and the little details that it has to offer! One of my favorites parts is that it connects to the level of what’s to come!🙂
I really like Tsavo Highway. Halo 3's vehicle combat is still one of it's weaker elements as the balance can be whack, but it's an improvement over Halo 2's vehicle segments.
i think what could of improved this level would be large structure you had to fight through to break up the pace of just driving around, instead of that defense section they added in. but i really agree with your points on it improving upon halo 2's linearity quite a lot. and i really think what really helps this level to is that its visualy pleasing and unique. its a place i want to be in instead of some of those ugly halo 2 environments
I think there’s a good reason why this was the go-to demo level for Halo 3: basically nothing happens story wise, it shows off how much better the game looks compared to Halo 2, and it’s got a great mix of vehicular and (optional if you’re savvy) on foot combat.
I remember this one during my Legendary playthrough. I got to the final encounter, decided to try destroying the shield without killing the Brutes first, and at first it seemed to work, only for me to die just as the cutscene started and get punted back to the last checkpoint. And, as if to mock me, the achievement popped even though I still hadn't finished the level.
Halo 3 isn't the best Halo in my estimation, *but*, if I where to judge games based on level design alone it would not only be the best Halo, it would be the best FPS of all time. It really says something when what is a weak level in the game is *this damn good*. And yeah, I think gameplay is ultimately what matters. Like you others (like Raycevik/GOGConnected in his Halo 3 9 years later…), it's remarkable how Halo 3 truly is the best of CE and 2 combined. You describe it well here in level design, but it's the case in so many ways. Another great video! It's amazing how you keep pumping these out at this rate yet retaining such high quality yet always finding something interesting to talk about!
I agree - in pure gameplay terms, 3 is probably the Halo I have the most fun with. There are just so many great moments littered throughout the campaign and everything's ridiculously playable. Shame about Cortana really, as without it the game wouldn't have a single bad mission. Thanks too, Torb - I don't sleep so great, so often end up working into the night or similar, so always plenty of time! I constantly have about 3-4 scripts on the go too, so always something nearly ready to go.
@@BenPlaysGames I appreciate the videos, but please don't wreck your health over them! If Halo had you fighting ai as engaging as CE elites (or even 2 ones probably too), it would be the perfect Halo game in terms of gameplay!
7:47 Whenever I get to this part of the mission, I always equip my marines with Fuel Rod Guns, go out microwave some popcorn, come back, and the entire arena is littered with destroyed phantoms.
Man, I love Halo 3. My favorite part is when Master Chief said "It's chiefin time" and then the Arbiter said "It's arbitin time" then they chiefed and arbitered all over the covenant together. Truly one of the Halo moments ever.
I can’t help but think this mission should have been a “gather struggling marines” mission like the mission “Halo” from CE. Which would also make the ending cutscene make more sense.
This level was a slow grow on me but it’s super rewarding on legendary difficulty - especially during the hold out section if you arm your marines correctly.
Tsavo Highway is one of my favorite Halo missions, retarded marine driving AI aside. It does great for the world building and placing Chief’s story in the larger Halo universe and Human-Covenant world. It fleshed out human society and cities, future earth, and the almost hopeless desperation at this point of the war. Maybe Chief’s storyline didn’t move forward too much by some measures, but I think it was great for building up the larger story of Halo.
I've always enjoyed this level a lot. It's just a classic when it comes to gameplay, albeit less interesting when it comes to story. The level really shows how much more Bungie was able to do with the added performance. That cruiser flying overhead, it's things like that I always missed in Halo 2. I must say I've never heard those 2 custom dialogues, so that's an eye opener. Even as veteran, I've still missed so many things in the series it's actually insane. In my opinion, this mission wasn't necessary, but neither were the first 2. Without the first 2, this level wasn't needed as a bridge to close the gap to the Storm. You've mentioned in the past that Halo 3 could have just started at the Storm and that's entirely true. The level isn't the issue however, it's just how the story was crafted, and again, gameplay wise it's just excellent imo. P.S. That Hillside firefight absolutely DOES NOT have enough ammo/weapons to deal with the wave when playing Legendary without risking your life to grab other weapons, and I generally skip it when playing Legendary or higher.
I think this level is mainly focused on getting around a “snag”, as described in the books. They had an unexpected problem and had to overcome it. Not exactly plot-centric, but definitely has to be surpassed for the plot to continue, in a way.
My favorite part of this level is using the Gravity Lift and driving the Warthog over the gap on the broken bridge. Funny how the Marines choose to not board the Warthog even after the Covenant were eliminated in the next section before the Pelicans drop more Warthogs. Halo logic.
Ben, a thought: could it be H2 had more narrow levels due to Xbox technical limitations? The graphics are gorgeous for the system, and with no loading screens, the game is also loading in areas behind the scenes as you play. In order to make this happen, perhaps they had to make narrower levels with fewer large gorgeous environments to render complete with lighting.
Yeah boy!! You said ‘Tsavo’ right. Sorry just being a wind up. Still loving the vids. Am playing through Halo Wars again after your play through inspired me.
Played it on release, loved it. I actually did a video about it a long time ago but it's far less polished than my work nowadays, was still learning how to make videos back then: ruclips.net/video/GRilqFI45To/видео.html
Ben, can you do a little series on how Ruby’s Rebalanced campaign mods add and improve on the levels’ environment and story? Mainly his Halo CE Rebalanced mod and maybe later when its complete, his Halo 2 Rebalanced mod.
I love all the missions in halo 3 except for cortana and the last one. Everything up to that point is gold. I will usually stop playing around cortana and start over again. I haven't played any halo games in close to a year but maybe this weekend if it rains i will replay them all for the 1 billionth time. I needed a break. 343 has ruined a lot of things for me.
Should a scorpion tank have shown up in this level? that is the big debate. i mean a final one last push to attack the prophet and kick him off earth and not one tank was spared?
It'd be neat to have a Scorpion dropped off depending on difficulty (a bit like H2 Great Journey, where you can only get in Half-Jaw's Wraith on easier difficulties). The part when pelicans drop off extra troops would be a good part, considering how many choppers and wraiths we have to face immediately after
A scorpion run towards the end including the big battle with loads of choppers in the largest area would have been awesome. My guess is that Bungie were sort of hoping you'd take one of the choppers for that part, given where they're positioned just prior to you reaching the area.
Between this and what Ben said about these three levels being light on story, I'm really seeing why I don't like H3's campaign near so much as any of the other Bungee games to be polite.
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Master Chief's way or the highway.
This is probably my second favorite level in the game, behind The Covenant.
It's not quite that high up for me, but it's one of six in 3 I like to replay. Sierra 117, Crow's Nest and Cortana I'm not so fussed about.
The introduction of the choppers was done very well. They are the first thing that comes to mind whenever I play this level.
Those first marines that get splattered are so funny to me. There are loads of choppers around so they decide to take a static position - an interesting strategic choice!
I always love gathering as many marines as I can and moving across to the third part of the mission.
Especially if you get the Troop Carrier Warthog and load them all up with Beam Rifles and Fuelrod Guns
People are so imaginative with this kind of thing. I just totter through the missions using little imagination to speak of.
@@PineappleStickers yeah, fun times.
Absolutely share your opinion on the three first levels. Tsavo Highway came in clutch.
Game gets so much better from Tsavo Highway onwards! I still think as a whole the campaign could have done with at least two more levels as well.
@@BenPlaysGamesfor me I didn’t like the first two levels that much on first play through but have a platoon of marines with you for tsavo highway made me so exited. I then proceeded to rave to my friends about how cool tsavo highway was lol
this was a mission I replayed quite a bit as a kid - mainly due to the skull being relatively easy to get. they were so much more fun to obtain back then. the mission itself is serviceable, I remember the ‘Hillside Firefight’ being an absolute nightmare for me on Legendary.
Just give everyone fuel rod cannons. Trust me, it'll be so much better.
It was for me too! I remember back in 2007 getting stuck on that part for a good while. Was super entertaining too though, from what I can recall.
Me and my brother replayed this mission endlessly back in the day. Warthog’s + marines were just so cool.
The key is to arm your Marines with as many fuel rod guns, beam rifles, and Sniper rifles as you can, which makes the encounter go from brutal to absolute hilarity as you watch the phantoms become piles of debris from all the fuel rod shots.
Loving halo 3 atm. Played through it 3 times this week. Heroic legendary then easy just to see how fast for the crack. One of the goats of gaming. Perfect sandbox
Wow, that's some commitment. Completely agree too, a spectacular game.
The final cutscene for this mission is easily my favorite cutscene in the entire franchise, save for the Sabre launch.
Wait, isnt the final cutscene just Miranda talking to Chief from her Pelican? The one at the end of the Storm or even Floodgate end/The Ark beginning would be better candidates imo
They end of this is when Hood says "One Final Effort is all the remains" as the song One Final Effort crescendos.
Not my personal fave but do really like the "one effort part" part!
Random radio chatter: "New mombassa space elevator?"
Marine: " it collapsed when the city got glassed."
Random chatter:"But the tether was thousands of kilometers high"
"Yeah well now it's scattered all over the savanah."
Then in odst you it happen. Man halo 3 and odst have great synergy!
I still think it should have been called Halo 2: ODST, though, considering when the events in that game actually happen. Everything's done and dusted by the time Halo 3 rolls around. As you say, everything does sync up nicely across the titles too.
@@BenPlaysGames I often suggest that new players play ODST before 3 rather than after it, both for narrative continuity and sandbox alignment (SMG, anyone?)... and I've always been surprised at how many people seem to disagree.
@@BenPlaysGames It's Halo 3: ODST as it's basically the H3 engine and gameplay loop. I think the naming has more to do with IRL continuity and game association. Calling it Halo 2: ODST after Halo 3's release is not a smart marketing move either.
@@HaloDiv From a gameplay standpoint, playing ODST after 3 makes sense. It's sandbox is a better adjusted H3 one.
Theres no usable br in odsts campaign tho :(
I think that while it's first three levels don't advance the plot very quickly, they do a lot to establish what you're fighting for: Earth, and its people. You spend a lot of time exploring it, defending it, basking in its nature. The first level is a jungle; even in the future, the beauty of Earth's natural environment persists. Crow's Nest gives you more connection with the Marines, fighting in one of their bases, defending their home. And Tsavo Highway, as you said, is a journey, a gauntlet to get yourself and your marines across territory the invaders have claimed, but all the while you can see the irreparable damage they've caused, both in the destruction of the Space Elevator and the massive excavation going on.
They aren't about plot, they're about atmosphere, and connecting you to humanity and Earth in a way the series hadn't quite yet nailed.
Always loved getting a vehicle past the bridge! Also climbing to the top of the bridge for another sniper + jet pack brute set piece
I was wondering if he was gonna mention the extra sniper. Always nice to be rewarded by taking a goofy route
I didn't even know there was an extra sniper, going to investigate that now!
This is one that I didn’t like as much at release, but loved way more on my more recent play throughs. So many fun and memorable moments
It's one of the things I really like about 3 (and later Reach) especially. Even the middling levels are still a really good time, even if they don't do anything particularly surprising.
This is a level I didn't like too much at first. Light on story, setting done better in ODST's Uplift Reserve, and 3's Vehicle damage problem coming to the forefront on higher difficulties vs the waves and waves of choppers.
It's only with time that I came to appreciate it, where I experienced the different playthough options. Skipping everything (including the roadblock) in the Chopper, loading up a troop hog full of snipers and fuel rods, sniping on foot + discovering the easily overlooked sniper perch near the first wraith, and nabbing a wraith to demolish everything in the last half.
It's a nice varied level that moves at a good pace, which generally keeps everything interesting throughout. I never had many issues with the vehicle segments on legendary, but the holdout on the hill drove me insane.
This is probably one of the most replayable halo missions of all time, it’s short and a lot of fun. Great video keep up the good work.
Agreed, and nice one Jacob - will do.
My last playthrough of Halo 3 came immediately after playing Halo 2. After fighting through High Charity and being left on that cliffhanger, the first 2 missions left me super impatient for the narrative to pick back up again. But Tsavo Highway, even if it was mostly just a transition, felt really where Halo 3 started to pick up for me and I think that's just from how damn fun it is.
Absolutely, I can imagine the transition between 2 and 3 being particularly jarring if you go from one straight into the other. Massive change of pace.
This level is 100% reliant on Co-op. The segment where they introduce choppers is so chaotic when you have a newbie driving and he trying to dodge the choppers and the brutes and the guys on top of the rock cliff thing and the shade turret and then they name into the shield it’s a ton of fun. Plus on solo I love saving all the fuel rods I can and using the scout hog to clear through the final section.
Ben, idk if you’ll see this or read this but please keep doing halo uploads. You’re so spot on (for me) on this levels how good they are and a break down of the game I love. I live for it. You have such an easy voice bro like I could easily listen to you all day. Thank you for everything you do.
Thanks for the kind words Eric, appreciate the support dude. I've no plans on stopping any time soon and plan to do a video on every Halo level Bungie created (along with other stuff too), so plenty more to come!
Another day, another banger by Ben! this level is a hell of a lot of fun. Good old Halo fun on this level. peace and love from across the pond!
Cheers dude! Tsavo Highway isn't anything super special, but it's a good solid bit of Halo that always entertains. Every game needs to have a few levels like that, I reckon.
under rated level
Agreed mate.
The “Out of Shadow” soundtrack is by far one of my most favorite in the entire series. The subtle guitar, the electronics, it’s so perfect
This would've been a great way to mix in firefight and base building.
I love seeing human infrastructure in halo. Highway was great, but halo 3 odst highway was better
I'd give the edge to Coastal Highway too, that mission is quality.
It was a fun and under-played mission.
Definitely, by far the best mission in the game's first act.
@@BenPlaysGames yeah. It's a good "lead in" mission. Like the second level of CE.
The warthogs in this mission and getting them to places they weren't designed to be was what really got my Playstation only mate into the game when we played it on couch co op one evening. It does tend to feel very default, almost like a table from ikea of a halo mission story wise however, but it is nice to play. Btw im pumped for the halo legendary streams soon.
i remember there was a lot of Sniper ammo, Trip Mines, and Fuel Rods.
i liked that
That hold out section with all the goodies at the top of the hill is one of my favourite encounters in the entire game. No idea why, but it sticks out in my memory.
@@BenPlaysGames probably tried setting up a minefield only for the marines to set them off before the brutes got there
That's happened a few times to me, at least
You missed out on one of the greatest parts of the section where you have to hold out against the waves of enemies after you leave your vehicle.
Above the large structure (some sort of gate or wall or something of that nature - the one you pass through at roughly the 7:24 mark), Bungie leaves a small cache of ammo near some dead marines that includes a sniper rifle. You can use it to pick off the Brutes (including the jetpack Brutes which is quite helpful). It also puts you in a really good spot to snipe from.
It's great if you want to save the fuel rod cannon that you can find shortly after for the Wraith (or the Phantom, which is what I always do).
A few people have mentioned this, honestly never realised it existed! Just goes to show, there's always something new to uncover in these games even when you think you know them like the back of your hand.
2:18 I've played this game for almost 17 years and never knew about this bit of dialogue.
Fun fact, the dialogue is also different if you have marines tagging along, which I didn't. Pretty awesome!
I think that much of the purpose of Halo 3's early levels were to get new players acquainted with the way Halo plays and feels. Having large story beats mixed in with this may have been overwhelming for new players and so having a few missions where the objective is basically "prepare for the rest of the game" puts one in the mindset of getting to grips with the controls. You have to remember that Halo 3 was developed long before any MCC, CEA, etc, so it wasn't assumed that many people would be willing to play 2 games from a previous generation just to prepare for one game on a new, expensive console. Thats probably why so much doesn't happen until Floodgate and The Ark. Bungie has to re-introduce all the players, establish stakes, and give perspective on the existing war with the Covenant.
I don’t always catch the uploads like i used to, but I always love to tune in and see the channel grow, I love seeing a channel that clearly puts the work in, great things are in store for you and your channel!!!
Cheers Patrick, always appreciate you stopping by dude!
Tsavo Highway was always one of my favorites. The Covenant and The Ark are great, but I always felt like Tsavo Highway hit a better tempo of infantry/vehicle combat. Which, I guess, just goes to show my preferences, especially with Halo 3 wraith and chopper being my favorite vehicles in the franchise. And the different perceived tempo may just be how my playstyle shakes out on them.
I'd still rate it below the other two due to many of the reasons you listed, but it's one of my most replayed missions. I pretty much always did Tsavo+Storm as a two-parter.
Imagine if there was a fairly brief mission between Crow's Nest and Tsavo. Call it.... Rat's Nest? ;D Basically, after the base blew the elevator crash left Arby & the Chief stranded and without equipment, maybe even without shields for a while. Then you have an Eventide Island mission through the ruins of the now wrecked underground of the base, rescuing marines who didn't make it all the way out, fighting off weak Covenant survivors, and some Covie SpecOps groups eliminating survivors.
Since the base was shown to have extensive open areas, you could include the ability to rescue marines with passenger hogs and some with guns, while having some wrecked larger areas that are open enough to play in a vehicle while risking ambush but with enough cover to walk through on foot, fighting to get your equipment through intact. Form your platoon as you go, while trying to rescue wounded without sustaining more casualties. That then feeds into the start of Tsavo, in that room with a bunch of wounded and wrecked equipment. The more you got through the Rat's Nest, the more and better stuff you get at the start of Tsavo. Even if it can't be 1-to-1, you could excuse any stuff you can't carry over with that stuff going to the casualties that stay behind to not slow you down. It would add some environment to the game, and would offer a good chance to characterize the UNSC and remind you how dire it is, like that cutscene at the start of CN did with the blinded marine, right before the chest-pumping ooh-rah push of the One Final Effort.
I can't remember which, unfortunately, but Metro 2033 or Last Light had a mission that reminds me of a much more linear version of this, where you have a long tunnel and a trolley, but there are many areas off the sides of which only some are required to be fully explored. The areas off the path can be VERY dangerous, but pose a great chance for player exploration and agency and reward good players well enough. Something like this is what I'm thinking, but less linear, and with a convoy of wounded/burdened marines instead of the trolley. And while you keep some of the resource acquisition, it's more about saving marines and getting better stuff rather than just getting prewar bullets. So, I guess, like a mix of the Metro level and the second half of Halo, but the marines are still in the game world instead of flown away. Maybe even hints of later levels, where you get out to turn on a light bridge so the marines below can move the armoured column across, but on smaller scale with more of a feeling of fighting for survival.
BONUS: Highlight the Covies suddenly becoming much more concerned with the Portal than the UNSC, especially at the end of RN and the start of Tsavo, building up to that cutscene with the cruiser and banshees flying over to it. Toss in a line or two from Hood/Keyes about the Covies' focus tunneling in on the Storm thing. Give that point much more weight, since you follow the Rat's Nest's kill squads with the Covies basically ignoring you to all gather around the Structure. Like "this is bigger than THE DEMON? WHAT IS IT!?" It would also make the awesome Effort at the end of the Storm feel much more like the UNSC *chasing* the Covenant, which feels more desperate.
And, I guess I should add, I imagine Crow's Nest and maybe Tsavo/Storm being a bit cut down in length with this. Mainly Crow's Nest. But maybe I'm just biased since I only really loved a few parts of Crow's Nest.
Overall, it would be a mission light on story but heavy on atmosphere, and give buildup so that Tsavo and especially the Storm feel like much more is going on than the way it is now - which to me felt like a dragged out "go here do this" since nothing really got time to ruminate. Make "Rat's Nest" the Exodus to Tsavo/Storm's New Alexandria. You're adding more stuff that isn't really important to the story, but it adds "vibes" to immerse yourself in instead, making the big story moments (end of Storm) feel much stronger. Tsavo/Storm's problem as it stands is that it's in the middle: too long for its story to feel impactful, and too short and with too little utilized breaks to immerse you. I always felt like the picture of 3's first half felt smudged: long but unimportant. Stuff happened *around* you and you just waited to have an impact. Why not use that time to build up what was around you? Why stop and NOT smell the roses?
5:30 guy sounds more annoyed than in trouble.
Definitely haha.
What i liked about the earth levels of halo 3 is that as far as the player knows at that point in the story, the battle on earth is far more important than it was in halo 2. Theres a sense that if you dont stop truth, something very bad is going to happen.
I know some people say halo 3s earth levels are slow story wise, but i think its a rather justified slow burn. First you link up with the human forces on earth, then you learn what truth is doing in africa (at least partially) and that theres a plan to stop him, but first you must evacuate the base. Tsavo highway and the storm are kind of a two parter in the push towards truth until he unexpectedly unlocks the ark and the flood arrive. The pacing then ramps up from here in a pretty graceful way all things considered.
The music track “Out of Shadow” plays at the beginning of the mission, and it’s one of my favorite tracks in the game. The level itself was fun too! I love to take the transport warthog and gather as many marines as possible.
As a kid I never liked this level, I was terrible with vehicles and the last part with the wraiths was difficult. But now I see it as a fun little level to play, and I love the vehicles in it.
I can imagine the final big vehicle bit being super hard if you're not good with vehicles. There's so much ground to cover and an insane amount of choppers!
I feel like the point of this mission was to build up to taking back Voi. You start the mission in burning ruins with the wounded and gradually rise out of the ashes (potentially building up a decent marine force). By the start of the next mission you've saved enough marines to make the starting convoy feel like an achievement
I can definitely see that. I guess, for me, as much as I enjoy the level, the story aspect of it is pretty lacking, which is a bit weird given how much the game packs in later on. Add some more story beats to Tsavo Highway and it would be an especially strong mission.
I never realized that was the space elevator I’m shaking in me boots rn wow
When I first played this mission when I was 9, I thought it was a destroyed Halo.
I'm not sure if they intended it to line up so well with ODST in particular, but it's a pretty cool little detail.
I love these videos, I watch them all the time when I’m in work breaks for example. Just fun to revisit the levels and to get a good idea of lore and design
Cheers Jose, appreciate you always checking them out dude!
I could have sworn you already made a video about this level but I must be getting it confused with The Storm.
Anyway, I still really enjoy Tsavo Highway, it’s similar to The Halo back in the first game in the sense that you’re dusting yourself off after abandoning the Pillar of Autumn, or in this case an exploding base. You pick up a few stragglers who made it out safely and now rallying together for a major offensive, attacking the dig site that was once New Mombasa or saving Captain Keyes from the Covenant. Being able to see Covenant ships fly overhead and the Forerunner Dreadnought loom in the background is a great way to show you what you’re about to tackle. And I really like the callback to Halo 2 with the marines talking about the orbital elevator scattered across the savannah which is an excellent example showing what humanity had lost because of this war. Even more, it’s a great story piece too. Back when humanity was exploring the stars, that orbital elevator ferried supplies that let humanity travel further and further from Earth. Now, it’s fallen to the ground which could be seen as a metaphor for humanity being pushed back to their birthplace, Earth.
I suppose I could be reaching with that last part, but I like to think the writers put a lot of thought into very visual in the game.
Ben, this video made me replay Tsavo Highway after so long, and its honestly a blast!
I have so many memories of struggling to hold out against the brutes on legendary, but I just breezed through it this time 😂
Best thing I can hear from someone watching one of these is that it inspired them to go play some Halo. Cheers dude!
Nice vid Ben, I still remember the way this mission made me feel when I first played it in 2010
Thanks Joey! This was the first level when I played 3 on release during which I really had 'that Halo feeling'. And then most of the rest of the game after is quality.
To me this is one of my more favourite mission in Halo 3, but that may come down to the fact I really enjoy running around with lots of marines and actually doing my best to keep them alive and lead them across missions.
Interestingly seeing some of your other reply’s, I’d suggest if your playing it again, avoid the gun warthog and instead take the troop transport as the driver, have the marines load up and try and actually see about keeping as many of them alive as possible alongside the second vehicle.
It actually gives alot more fun and context to the mission with Chief actively going towards Foy however rallying the scattered and beaten elements of the marines units fighting alongside you, to the point where if you reach the end alongside most of your ally marines, you actually kind of note that the convoy you have feels somewhat resembled to the convoy you get in the Storm.
Tsavo highway is definitely one of the more interesting ones! I love the environment, and the little details that it has to offer! One of my favorites parts is that it connects to the level of what’s to come!🙂
I really like Tsavo Highway. Halo 3's vehicle combat is still one of it's weaker elements as the balance can be whack, but it's an improvement over Halo 2's vehicle segments.
i think what could of improved this level would be large structure you had to fight through to break up the pace of just driving around, instead of that defense section they added in. but i really agree with your points on it improving upon halo 2's linearity quite a lot. and i really think what really helps this level to is that its visualy pleasing and unique. its a place i want to be in instead of some of those ugly halo 2 environments
I think there’s a good reason why this was the go-to demo level for Halo 3: basically nothing happens story wise, it shows off how much better the game looks compared to Halo 2, and it’s got a great mix of vehicular and (optional if you’re savvy) on foot combat.
I remember this one during my Legendary playthrough. I got to the final encounter, decided to try destroying the shield without killing the Brutes first, and at first it seemed to work, only for me to die just as the cutscene started and get punted back to the last checkpoint. And, as if to mock me, the achievement popped even though I still hadn't finished the level.
Halo 3 isn't the best Halo in my estimation, *but*, if I where to judge games based on level design alone it would not only be the best Halo, it would be the best FPS of all time. It really says something when what is a weak level in the game is *this damn good*. And yeah, I think gameplay is ultimately what matters.
Like you others (like Raycevik/GOGConnected in his Halo 3 9 years later…), it's remarkable how Halo 3 truly is the best of CE and 2 combined. You describe it well here in level design, but it's the case in so many ways.
Another great video! It's amazing how you keep pumping these out at this rate yet retaining such high quality yet always finding something interesting to talk about!
I agree - in pure gameplay terms, 3 is probably the Halo I have the most fun with. There are just so many great moments littered throughout the campaign and everything's ridiculously playable. Shame about Cortana really, as without it the game wouldn't have a single bad mission.
Thanks too, Torb - I don't sleep so great, so often end up working into the night or similar, so always plenty of time! I constantly have about 3-4 scripts on the go too, so always something nearly ready to go.
@@BenPlaysGames I appreciate the videos, but please don't wreck your health over them!
If Halo had you fighting ai as engaging as CE elites (or even 2 ones probably too), it would be the perfect Halo game in terms of gameplay!
7:47 Whenever I get to this part of the mission, I always equip my marines with Fuel Rod Guns, go out microwave some popcorn, come back, and the entire arena is littered with destroyed phantoms.
Man, I love Halo 3. My favorite part is when Master Chief said "It's chiefin time" and then the Arbiter said "It's arbitin time" then they chiefed and arbitered all over the covenant together. Truly one of the Halo moments ever.
This mission is great on co op, when you and your buddy both take warthogs and convoy the whole way through.
I can’t help but think this mission should have been a “gather struggling marines” mission like the mission “Halo” from CE. Which would also make the ending cutscene make more sense.
This level was a slow grow on me but it’s super rewarding on legendary difficulty - especially during the hold out section if you arm your marines correctly.
Tsavo Highway is one of my favorite Halo missions, retarded marine driving AI aside. It does great for the world building and placing Chief’s story in the larger Halo universe and Human-Covenant world. It fleshed out human society and cities, future earth, and the almost hopeless desperation at this point of the war. Maybe Chief’s storyline didn’t move forward too much by some measures, but I think it was great for building up the larger story of Halo.
I've always enjoyed this level a lot. It's just a classic when it comes to gameplay, albeit less interesting when it comes to story. The level really shows how much more Bungie was able to do with the added performance. That cruiser flying overhead, it's things like that I always missed in Halo 2. I must say I've never heard those 2 custom dialogues, so that's an eye opener. Even as veteran, I've still missed so many things in the series it's actually insane.
In my opinion, this mission wasn't necessary, but neither were the first 2. Without the first 2, this level wasn't needed as a bridge to close the gap to the Storm. You've mentioned in the past that Halo 3 could have just started at the Storm and that's entirely true. The level isn't the issue however, it's just how the story was crafted, and again, gameplay wise it's just excellent imo.
P.S. That Hillside firefight absolutely DOES NOT have enough ammo/weapons to deal with the wave when playing Legendary without risking your life to grab other weapons, and I generally skip it when playing Legendary or higher.
I think this level is mainly focused on getting around a “snag”, as described in the books. They had an unexpected problem and had to overcome it. Not exactly plot-centric, but definitely has to be surpassed for the plot to continue, in a way.
My favorite part of this level is using the Gravity Lift and driving the Warthog over the gap on the broken bridge. Funny how the Marines choose to not board the Warthog even after the Covenant were eliminated in the next section before the Pelicans drop more Warthogs. Halo logic.
Ben, a thought: could it be H2 had more narrow levels due to Xbox technical limitations? The graphics are gorgeous for the system, and with no loading screens, the game is also loading in areas behind the scenes as you play. In order to make this happen, perhaps they had to make narrower levels with fewer large gorgeous environments to render complete with lighting.
Yeah boy!! You said ‘Tsavo’ right. Sorry just being a wind up. Still loving the vids. Am playing through Halo Wars again after your play through inspired me.
Had to get it right eventually, although I did still say T-savo many time when recording. Thanks for the feedback too dude and enjoy Halo Wars!
This guys videos are da jam
(also have you played arkham asylum?)
Nice one Phil!
Played it on release, loved it. I actually did a video about it a long time ago but it's far less polished than my work nowadays, was still learning how to make videos back then: ruclips.net/video/GRilqFI45To/видео.html
@@BenPlaysGames Sick
Ben, can you do a little series on how Ruby’s Rebalanced campaign mods add and improve on the levels’ environment and story? Mainly his Halo CE Rebalanced mod and maybe later when its complete, his Halo 2 Rebalanced mod.
I feel they shoulda made variations of the chopper.
Like imagine a shotgun instead of the canons, or gauss, yknow.
I love all the missions in halo 3 except for cortana and the last one. Everything up to that point is gold. I will usually stop playing around cortana and start over again. I haven't played any halo games in close to a year but maybe this weekend if it rains i will replay them all for the 1 billionth time. I needed a break. 343 has ruined a lot of things for me.
When I reach the end of this video, much like the level Tsavo Highway, I find myself asking whether it really needed to exist.
When I reach the end of this comment, much like the level Tsavo Highway, I find myself asking whether it really needed to exist.
Wort can happen is endless in halo
Wort wort wort!
Wort wort wort.
Should a scorpion tank have shown up in this level? that is the big debate. i mean a final one last push to attack the prophet and kick him off earth and not one tank was spared?
It'd be neat to have a Scorpion dropped off depending on difficulty (a bit like H2 Great Journey, where you can only get in Half-Jaw's Wraith on easier difficulties). The part when pelicans drop off extra troops would be a good part, considering how many choppers and wraiths we have to face immediately after
You're spot on, that would definitely be the place.
A scorpion run towards the end including the big battle with loads of choppers in the largest area would have been awesome. My guess is that Bungie were sort of hoping you'd take one of the choppers for that part, given where they're positioned just prior to you reaching the area.
Between this and what Ben said about these three levels being light on story, I'm really seeing why I don't like H3's campaign near so much as any of the other Bungee games to be polite.
Wasn’t there radio snippets in halo the ark?
what is the song in the end cutscene its a remix of under the cover of night but what is it called
my guy still examining all the halo missions😭
I intend to do one on every single Bungie-developed Halo level. Not sure exactly how many are left to go, but getting there slowly but surely!
Funny random personal fact, I was on the bridge getting the skull when I was told Micheal Jackson died. 🤣🤣
A bizarrely specific memory haha.
Halo 3 was originally going to be part of halo 2 but due to time constraints bungie had to cut it. That may be why the story feels rushed
Not really a good justification. The campaign really needed a lot more attention and care. It's easily the worst Bungie campaign.