September 22^nd, Roseville CA.

The Official Game Guide to Halo 3: ODST has finally dropped, and takes you directly into the action as the Battle for New Mombasa rages on. Playing as key members of the ODST “Helljumpers” squad assigned to a classified mission within the hellscape of a major evacuated city under constant Convenant bombardment, it becomes imperative to learn precisely where you are, what enemies you face, the crucial weapons for all manner of foe takedowns; essentially how to survive the mean streets of New Mombasa. This is where the Prima Game Guide comes in.

Written over a period of months with the help and support of Bungie, this 320 page book is packed with tips, hints, and takedowns; tactical knowledge that’s not only been battle-tested, but approved by veteran testers from both Microsoft and Bungie. Quite simply; if this guide doesn’t have a tactical plan in it, the plan isn’t worth knowing about. With the game featuring a complex Campaign mode, an all-new Firefight game, and all 24 Halo 3 Multiplayer maps, the guide tackles all these aspects methodically, and with extreme attention to detail. Here’s how it all breaks down:

The guide begins with a section on Basic Training. This reveals biographies for each member of the ODST squad you’re fighting with, before a primer with general tactical knowledge, notes on the brand-new Heads-Up Display features, mapping, combat information, and aspects of the infamous Legendary mode. At the end of this chapter, you’ll be ready to drop.

Chapter 2 focuses in on Armaments and Equipment. Every available piece of UNSC and Covenant machinery, whether a weapon, turret, grenades, vehicle, or other equipment type, is inspected thoroughly; followed by the item’s strengths and weaknesses. Need to know how a Suppressed Magnum fares against a Hunter? Or what type of grenade works best against a Shield Jackal? Then peruse this chapter, and use it to update your knowledge as soon as you encounter a new piece of equipment in the game.

Facing the Covenant threat can be difficult. However, Know Your Enemy (Chapter 3) brings every single killing tactic to the table, and reveals how to cut down every Grunt, Jackal, Brute, Drone, Hunter, and the all-new Engineer that you’ll face in both Campaign and Firefight modes. Exploits are revealed, and most importantly, a massive chart showing the effectiveness of each weapon compared to every other weapon, for all enemies, on all difficulty levels, shows just how committed we are to obsessive details.

The Campaign section of this guide is an enjoyable romp through New Mombasa, on a search for the Superintendent. Every Mission is revealed along with a fully-labeled map of the combat zone, along with well-practiced strategies for every Chokepoint you encounter throughout the Mission. Specific Cooperative and Legendary tactics are showcased constantly, allowing you to learn precisely how to deal with every battle, search, and slaughter effortlessly and easily, no matter what the difficulty. There’s also a Tour of New Mombasa, mapping out the maze of Districts and flagging the landmarks in each one, allowing quick and easy navigation.

Firefight Missions are both tense and incredibly addictive, and even more fun to play once you’ve read up on all ten Firefight maps, tailoring tactics to each of them. Aside from the fully-annotated maps, each Mission receives a variety of advice on the best two weapons to use through the various Sets and Rounds. Enemy incursion points are tagged, along with specific plans for each Map: Invaluable advice abounds.

As Halo 3: ODST is packaged with all 24 Halo 3 Multiplayer maps, it is only right to provide complete tactical knowledge of every single one of these areas. Working with the veterans of Clan PMS, masses of tactical knowledge is imparted, from weapon spawn times to ambush spots, topographical techniques to game mode advice. Key knowledge from the three new maps – Citadel, Heretic, and Longshore – are also provided.

Finally, whether you need to know the Skull or Score Multipliers or Game Unlockables, the Appendices chapter at the back of this weighty tome has everything you need. Check off and gain advice on the trickier Achievements (including the Vidmaster Challenges), or calculate how many points your Firefight Medals are worth; all in one place.

Don’t forget to check Xbox Live for video strategies, dropping constantly throughout the upcoming weeks!

Anyhow, for those of you lucky enough to wield the Force for the first time, here are three quick tips to help you along the way.

1. Combo, Combo, Combo! This is not a button-masher, ladies and gents. The control system is complex and takes some practice to master, but once you do, nothing can stop you. Combos like Leaping Slam and Sith Saber Smash are extremely effective against tall enemies.

2. Combine your skills. What good is the ability to pick up and throw enemies with the Force if all you do is use your lightsaber? Combine your ’saber skills and Force powers to formulate some awesome combos. Force Push and Saber Sling, for example, are a great one-two punch for dispatching enemies from afar.

3. Upgrade your abilities! Not only can you wield the Force, but you can also tailor it to suit your fighting style. If you find that you prefer one Force ability over another, then increase that power’s strength to become a better assassin.

Bonus Tip: Take advantage of your amazing destructive powers. You are, after all, Sith. Nearly all of the environments in the game are destructible! As you go, tear the environment apart. Remove wall panels, cut down trees (in-game tip only! plant them IRL), destroy sarlacc teeth until your heart’s content. etc. to find all of the hidden Holocrons throughout the games. Sometimes, the only way to find a Holocron is to destroy the environment, so have at it!

Enjoy the Force, friends. And yes, “May the Force Blow Your Mind!” It did mine.

Anyhow, for those of you lucky enough to wield the Force for the first time, here are three quick tips to help you along the way.

1. Combo, Combo, Combo! This is not a button-masher, ladies and gents. The control system is complex and takes some practice to master, but once you do, nothing can stop you. Combos like Leaping Slam and Sith Saber Smash are extremely effective against tall enemies.

2. Combine your skills. What good is the ability to pick up and throw enemies with the Force if all you do is use your lightsaber? Combine your ’saber skills and Force powers to formulate some awesome combos. Force Push and Saber Sling, for example, are a great one-two punch for dispatching enemies from afar.

3. Upgrade your abilities! Not only can you wield the Force, but you can also tailor it to suit your fighting style. If you find that you prefer one Force ability over another, then increase that power’s strength to become a better assassin.

Bonus Tip: Take advantage of your amazing destructive powers. You are, after all, Sith. Nearly all of the environments in the game are destructible! As you go, tear the environment apart. Remove wall panels, cut down trees (in-game tip only! plant them IRL), destroy sarlacc teeth until your heart’s content. etc. to find all of the hidden Holocrons throughout the games. Sometimes, the only way to find a Holocron is to destroy the environment, so have at it!

Enjoy the Force, friends. And yes, “May the Force Blow Your Mind!” It did mine.

Anyhow, for those of you lucky enough to wield the Force for the first time, here are three quick tips to help you along the way.

1. Combo, Combo, Combo! This is not a button-masher, ladies and gents. The control system is complex and takes some practice to master, but once you do, nothing can stop you. Combos like Leaping Slam and Sith Saber Smash are extremely effective against tall enemies.

2. Combine your skills. What good is the ability to pick up and throw enemies with the Force if all you do is use your lightsaber? Combine your ’saber skills and Force powers to formulate some awesome combos. Force Push and Saber Sling, for example, are a great one-two punch for dispatching enemies from afar.

3. Upgrade your abilities! Not only can you wield the Force, but you can also tailor it to suit your fighting style. If you find that you prefer one Force ability over another, then increase that power’s strength to become a better assassin.

Bonus Tip: Take advantage of your amazing destructive powers. You are, after all, Sith. Nearly all of the environments in the game are destructible! As you go, tear the environment apart. Remove wall panels, cut down trees (in-game tip only! plant them IRL), destroy sarlacc teeth until your heart’s content. etc. to find all of the hidden Holocrons throughout the games. Sometimes, the only way to find a Holocron is to destroy the environment, so have at it!

Enjoy the Force, friends. And yes, “May the Force Blow Your Mind!” It did mine.