vehicles

and the way we gooooooooo

the Wraith stuck in this pose

don't even think about stealing it

well i was on AotCR and this elite did not shoot at me not even the AI bots on the tank (i must mention that this elite had an active camo)

same map same vehicle this time i'm the host and the original color of this beauty is green

me and the Chief kicking some Covenant ass

driving a badass vehicle

With the release of Halo 3, Bungie fans will be looking at new vehicles, new weapons, new maps, and new opponents. To kick off the promotional campaign for the game, the website Halo3.com launched late last month, with some preliminary information on Halo 3's characters, weapons, and vehicles, as well as a summary of the story to date.

Of course, like Halo2.com before it, the site is flash-based, graphics-intensive, and cannot be searched or commented on. So I've transcribed the text and created a Halo 3 Guide, not unlike our old Halo 2 Guide, to be the starting point for a database of items in Halo 3.

For each of these items, I have provided the original text, plus my own annotations.

Here's what we have so far:

The Story So Far (Halo 1 and Halo 2 spoilers, as well as Halo 3 potential spoilers)

Covenant

It is worth noting here that the "Human" vs "Covenant" descriptions are no longer quite as helpful as they once were, as the Brute-dominated Covenant are still the enemies of humanity, while the Elites are now their allies. Here I am maintaining the old distinctions, so categories are based on species, not alliances.

• Covenant Units
• Covenant Vehicles
• Covenant Weapons

Humans

• Human Equipment
• Human Units
• Human Vehicles
• Human Weapons

Flood

• Flood Units

Flood do not seem to have any vehicles or weapons, or indeed any technology, of their own, but are able to use what is available to them-- usually the technology belonging to their victims.

An extremely versatile craft used primarily for transportation of Covenant personnel and equipment. Phantoms are the Covenant's equivalent of a Pelican class human dropship but boast far superior firepower and the capability of reaching greater speeds and manueverability.

NOTE: This vehicle made its debut in Halo 2, replacing the tuning-fork shaped Covenant dropship that was quickly forgotten and never mentioned again. While cool-looking, it seemed out of place amongst the organic curves of nearly all other Covenant designs. Where that vehicle had a single large plasma cannon, the Phantom gets three; but at least the player could destroy the cannons and send the vehicle running for cover. Expect more of the same for Halo 3.

Updated archive information pending review by installation systems.

NOTE: As of this writing, Halo3.com does not have any text for this vehicle except for the above. This may indicate the vehicle will undergo significant changes from its Halo 2 counterpart, and perhaps those changes are not yet finalized.

Updated archive information pending review by installation systems.

NOTE: As of this writing, Halo3.com does not have any text for this vehicle except for the above. This may indicate the vehicle will undergo significant changes from its Halo 2 counterpart, and perhaps those changes are not yet finalized.

This fast-moving single-seat craft is used for scouting and assault missions, but its speed, maneuverability and flexibility make it almost ubiquitous in all Covenant activities. Armed with twin plasma cannons, it fires sustained bursts of superheated plasma with deadly force. If it has a weakness, it's an inability to turn during boosted speeds.

NOTE: If Halo 3 is anything like Halo 2, I hope you like blowing up Ghosts. With any luck, the environments will be a little bit less linear, so Ghost drivers don't have to line up for the privilege of being blown into bits by the Chief. Aside from the addition of boarding and boost, like the Banshee received, the Ghost was little changed from Halo 1 and will likely make it into Halo 3 much the same as it was in Halo 2.

The D77H-TCI Pelican is an extremely versatile craft used primarily for transportation of personnel and equipment by the UNSC. Standard armament consists of one class-three externally powered projectile weapon at the fore of the vehicle and one class-one gas operated projectile weapon mounted at the rear in the extended crew area. More heavily armed versions exist.

NOTE: Prominent mention is made here of the Pelican's armament, which is interesting. Pelicans in Halo 1 had no visible armament at all. In Halo 2, we did see chainguns mounted on Pelicans, but they were rarely used except in cutscenes, and never usable by the player, who takes only one Pelican ride in the game, and that one ends in a crash.

The Banshee is the Covenant's standard ground support aircraft. It is very fast, extremely maneuvarble, and capable of a limited hover. Power-sharing with its built-in booster makes it incapable of firing while undergoing rapid acceleration.

NOTE: The change in the way the Banshee flew from Halo 1 to Halo 2 was arguably the single largest change in any single element of the two games. It went from being something akin to a helicopter to something like an acrobatic glider on steroids. Despite clamoring from certain quarters for a return to the original's feel, it seems Halo 3's Banshee will fly much like Halo 2's did.

The Marines' fastest ground vehicle is the M274 ULTRA-LIGHT ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE or 'Mongoose'. Essentially four wheels and an engine, this ATV can travel very fast over nearly all types of terrain.

Because it possesses no defensive or offensive capabilities whatsoever, Human troops have been known to seat weapons specialists on the rear seat to provide firepower during combat.

NOTE: The Mongoose was originally slated for inclusion in Halo 2, but didn't make the cut because none of the game's missions had a unique role for the vehicle to play. Anywhere it could be used, a Ghost or Warthog was deemed to be more suitable. Unlike the Warthog, it only seats two instead of three; unlike the Ghost, it can seat two instead of only one. Unlike both, it has no weapons of its own, the only Halo vehicle that is completely unarmed; even Pelicans have weapons, at least starting in Halo 2, even if they aren't usable by the player.

With a higher speed than a Warthog and an ability to carry two players, unlike a Ghost, one can easily imagine the utility of this vehicle in objective multiplayer games, as well as in cooperative campaign play.