At last! While we, the hardcore, have been offered a few stalwart stand-ins to sate our thirst for intense gameplay and merciless challenge since the launch of Xbox 360™, we have always looked forward to the day of Halo® 3. The king has arrived! We bow in recognition, and now we shall also bring every fiber of our gaming skill to bear, and twist every last morsel of challenge from Bungie's masterpiece.

Leave the turret for the novices.

For the hardcore gamer, every kill, every level completed and awarded multiplayer MVP must be earned with the greatest available skill and self-imposed challenge. Thus, I present to you the ultimate Hardcore Halo 3 challenge.

Lonely Legendary
Rumor has it that Legendary difficulty on Halo 3 offers even stiffer resistance than its predecessor. Rejoice, for this is true, but don't think that allows you the luxury of playing Legendary on co-op. Sure, you may assist friends in need, but for your own campaign, playing Legendary solo is the only way to fly.

There may be no greater challenge in all the Halo
kingdom than gathering a group of novice players and
leading them to victory in ranked, Matchmaking games.

From the moment Master Chief picks himself off the lush jungle floor, every inch gained against the Covenant must be hard fought. Even Covenant grunts should cause you a moment of pause and the crack-shot snipers should induce tearful fits of frustration. In short, every level completed should provide you with a shuddering sigh of relief.

Skull It
If you thought the previous challenge was unforgiving, imagine the same difficulty but with a Gold Skull challenge enabled. Not only you should make it a point to hunt down each and every skull throughout every level, but whatever skull you've most recently recovered should be active (silver skulls don't count).

That better be Legendary Campaign I'm seeing.

Yes, this means the hardcore will have to endure an entire level without a HUD, that they shall deliberately enable far more aggressive and damaging A.I., play through a chapter where every death sends them back to the beginning, struggle through an entire chapter where only a melee kill will recharge their shields, and oh, so much more. Those that prevail will know full well that they are the most rare of a rare breed.

Old School Multiplayer
Multiplayer matches follow a predictable path in the opening moments. Everyone runs like children to their nearest favorite weapon, upgrade, or piece of equipment. While this is both understandable and permissible for the novice, the hardcore player requires no such bolstering of their default weaponry.

Instead, let those two frag grenades and your assault rifle (not to be confused with the battle rifle) work miracles on the battlefield and prove once and for all that skill, not gear wins the day.

No Camping Allowed
Another standard Halo tactic that is not to be found in the hardcore gamer's repertoire is lying in wait, otherwise known as camping. Any kill scored by the hardcore should come courtesy of pressing the attack at all times. If you find yourself staying put around a corner waiting for that little red dot you just spotted, you know you've failed. Keep moving!

Those are my kind of odds.

Play it Newb
There may be no greater challenge in all the Halo kingdom than gathering a group of novice players and leading them to victory in ranked, Matchmaking games. You'll need cunning strategy, constant communication and enough skill to make up for your "newb" (I say it lovingly, of course) comrades. If you can manage this with any degree of consistency, you are gifted indeed.

Co-Op Simplicity
Playing co-op competitively is one of Halo 3's most treasured features. While the goal may be to outshine your comrades, there are a few simple rules the hardcore should follow:

• Basic weaponry: Energy wards, gravity hammers, brute shots, maulers, rocket launchers, shotguns, and turrets of any kind should be handed over post haste to your teammates. They require a fighting chance, after all. As in multiplayer, the hardcore earn their points with simpler gear.
• Your shot, your kill: Pay close attention to which enemies your teammates are attacking, and leave them be. The hardcore do not steal kills.
• You drive: Whether it's the Warthog, Brute Prowler, or Mongoose, do the driving and let your comrade handle the gunnery. If you're going to score points, it will be courtesy of "splatter" kills.
• Hoof it: If only Brute Choppers, Scorpions, Ghosts, Banshees, or Pelicans are available, allow the others first choice.
• Head start: If you're really itching for a challenge, offer your teammates a two minute head start. If you can still overtake their point total while adhering to the preceding challenges, you are indeed a Halo master.

Notching 1,000
There are some games whose achievement challenges are so unearthly that even the hardcore cannot manage the full 1,000 Gamerscore. Don't fool yourself. Each and every achievement in Halo 3 is eminently within reach, so there is no excuse for an unfinished achievement list.

Halo 3 represents a defining moment in this generation and every moment it can offer deserves to be cherished, and to be played with the utmost care and challenge. This is the game the hardcore have been waiting for and Bungie has delivered what we crave above all: brilliant gameplay, staying power and game design that encourages each of us to test our gaming mettle. Enjoy the ride.

Article by Hardcore