Gamestyle gives Halo 3 a perfect score, but that doesn't mean it's a perfect game:

The craftsmanship here is astounding, but unfortunately the game is not perfect, as there are a couple of shortfalls. The first is the game's storyline, which throws players in at the deep-end and requires prior knowledge in order to fully appreciate it. This isn't a problem for fans, but anyone else who wants to enjoy the game will be wondering what is going on.

TVG awards Halo 3 a score of 8 out of 10, giving it kudos for multiplayer and setting the game on Earth, but points off for the visuals, "disappointing campaign" and... pretentiousness?

GameRevolution gives Halo 3 an A- for upgrading Halo 2's graphics to high definition and tweaking gameplay balance, but points off for weak ally AI and a lack of "custom match searches". Seems to me customs are designed to be private... but whatever.

The O'Collegian (the college newspaper of Oklahoma State) thought Halo 3 was the best Halo ever.

Fox News didn't think Halo 3 was all that and a bag of chips. Good, but not great.

Three reviewers at Entertainment Weekly all give Halo 3 their highest marks:

On its own, the single-player campaign would've earned a B+ from me. But when I factor in all of the innovative ways players can share in the experience online, Halo 3 gets bumped up to a solid A.

To see why the other reviewers gave Halo an A, read the full review.

UConn classics professor Roger Travis reviewed Halo 3 for the Hartford Courant. Strangely enough, unlike the Internet pundits who find Halo 3's story lacking, he finds unexpected depth:

Claudine Beaumont at the Telegraph found Halo 3 a thrilling experience:

Drost at 2Old2Play reviews Halo 3:

In Halo 3, you're going to war. In a very real sense, Bioshock and Halo 3 are different genres. Sure, they're both shooters, both FPS, which technically makes it seem as though they're the same, but ... no.

Another review that points out that Halo 3 is a game, and as such, should be fun:

After several hours spent exploring and blasting my way through the "Campaign" levels of Halo 3, I can safely say that in addition to the game's stunning graphics, highly realistic sound effects, haunting score and unprecedented hype...it is also a lot of fun!

Glad to hear it, I was worried. For the full review, check the Rome News Tribune of Georgia.

Fantastic sound and near-unlimited replay value figure highly in PlanetXbox's review of Halo 3, but the story gets a shout-out, too:

Lucky for gamers Bungie gives everyone the chance to finish that fight in Halo 3, this is the epic conclusion everyone has been waiting for and no storyline tidbits will be left unanswered; no cliffhangers here. When the end credits roll for Halo 3 you will know there is nothing left, this is the end of the series.

TGDaily says Halo 3 is definitely the Xbox 360's killer app:

It is quite undoubtedly the best single-player campaign of the entire Halo series, and anyone who buys the game needs to run through it at least once before getting too involved with the multiplayer modes.

G4 gave Halo 3 a perfect 5/5 score. Unlike most sites, they considered multiplayer first and campaign second, but they say either way, the game is pretty:

Ever since the multiplayer Beta, Halo has come under fire for its graphics, and comparisons to Halo 2 and Gears of War have been numerous. With the release of Halo 3, many of those dissenting voices will be silenced. Halo 3 is beautiful. And much of that beauty lies in its depth.

Dean Takahashi at the San Jose Mercury News thinks Halo 3 deserves the hype it got:

But "Halo 3" and the entire trilogy deliver what few games do. It combines artistic peaks - in graphics, game play, music, sound, witty dialogue and epic story - into a cohesive whole that makes you feel like you're in a struggle to save the world. Just about every scene is fun.

On an odd note, that's one of the few reviews that used the word 'fun'.