Just got home from a few hours of playing Halo 3 at Microsoft Australia's HQ in Sydney. And while Brian's already given his impressions, I'm now going to give mine. Mostly, they revolve around a deafening sense of deja vu. And the wheels we rolled in on. Pictured above.

Quickest way to disappoint a crowd of onlookers? Park two enormous, stretched Hummers outside Sydney's Queen Victoria building. Let them think the world's biggest rock stars have just turned up, so they're all taking photos. Then show the cars are full of games journalists, about to head off and play some Halo 3. LETDOWN.

For them. I had a ball. Well...in the car. Truck. Car. Whatever. Once we hit Microsoft and got our hands on Halo...the excitement factor dwindled just a little.

It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. The graphics are nice (if, as Brian said, a little jaggy, though that'll be fixed in the coming months), it handles well, the new toys are a blast (especially the missile pod); it all feels slightly improved and very familiar. But I've played this game, and I've played it to death on two previous occassions. This just looks a little...shinier.

So is this a big problem? Not really. This is a multiplayer-only beta. With only a handful of maps. Of an unfinished game. If you've got your golden ticket for Wednesday, don't expect the world from it. Just expect a few weeks of good times with an old friend. Nothing more. Nothing less. Luke Plunkett