News:Archive/9 June 2009/Brute Plasma Rifle replaces Elite variant in Halo 3 ODST

Intro
Halo 2 seems to have been the last Halo game (not counting Halo Wars) to include Elites as enemies... Halo 3 appears to be the last game to include Elites at all. Just like in Halo 3, the main enemies in the upcoming Halo 3: ODST will be Brutes. However, not only is Bungie getting rid of the Elites, they are also completely replacing their signature weapon, the Plasma Rifle, with Halo 2's Brute Plasma Rifle.

News
In a recent Bungie.net Halo 3: ODST update (see all relevant links here), the Brute Plasma Rifle was announced to return. This former Halo 2-only variant of the Plasma Rifle was renowned for it's sloppy but fast and withering rate of fire, and unlike the Plasma Rifle, which spouts blue plasma, the Brute variant fires bright red plasma.

Just when many people thought the Brute Plasma Rifle and the original Elite Plasma Rifle could go hand-in-hand, Bungie had another announcement. Not only was the infamous and horribly over-hyped Battle Rifle not returning, the Plasma Rifle was not going to make a comeback.

It will be interesting to see the Spiker and the Brute Plasma Rifle both in this new installment to the Halo series. Perhaps now Halopedians will be able to tell whether a Brute wielding a Spiker or a Plasma Rifle has the higher rank. Perhaps Grunts, or Jackals even will sometimes wield the Brute Plasma Rifle, as they did it's Elite counterpart in Halo 2.

Whatever the outcome, whether the Brute Plasma Rifle becomes a huge success, or whether it fails, let us hope that Halo 3 didn't spell the end for the hugely popular Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 favorite; the Plasma Rifle. And as per KillerCRS on the returning Brute variant, "...while not exactly a fan favorite, it should be interesting to see how the Halo 3: ODST era Brutes manage to manipulate it."

Finally, you may also be wondering whether more Halo 2 Covenant weapons and vehicles will be making a comeback, and whether Bungie has more surprises in store for Halo 3: ODST. Let us hope so.