Halo is back, and the Master Chief is ready to fight the hordes of Covenant once again. But is it a case of third time lucky for gaming fans or are Microsoft and the game’s developers, Bungie, merely cashing in on a favourite series?

The Halo series is one of the best action-shooters, and Halo 3 does not disappoint. The gameplay has not changed much so fans will be able to jump straight into the action. The single player option is still a strong element, but where Halo 3 builds on previous outings is in its multiplayer features.

Even within the campaign mode, you have a choice of playing with up three others, and not all have to be sitting in the same room. Get into multiplayer proper and it is clear that this is where Microsoft sees the franchise going.

While there are plenty of multiplayer maps available within the game, Microsoft says that it plans to offer more for downloading on its Xbox Live service, and because players will be able to create their own maps, the options are limitless. Halo 3 also lets players play “God” by allowing them to edit the game while it is in play. If, for example, the God player feels that one side is doing better, he/she will be able to add – or take away – guns, vehicles and kit.

So should you bother queuing up when the game comes out today? If you are interested in shooter games, you should; it is classic arcade gaming at its best. But if you are looking for a game that doesn’t require lightning-fast reactions and a past storyline to understand, then this probably isn’t for you.