CJReport

Halo 3, one of the most anticipated and heavily marketed video games in history for the Xbox 360, has gone on sale at thousands of stores across the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Some analysts estimate that over 4.2 million copies of the game were shipped to retailers, and Microsoft claims over 1.6 million units have been preordered.

Given the staggering amount of hype, many felt they had little choice but to buy Halo 3. For weeks, gamers were beaten over the head by Microsoft's $10 million marketing campaign, which promoted the game with cudgel-like subtlety. Even before launch day, Halo 3 achieved a level of media saturation typically reserved for Hollywood blockbusters, with the likeness of its hero, the Master Chief, appearing on everything from snack chips to NASCAR racers.

It's no surprise that video games have replaced movies as the No. 1 entertainment choice for the younger generation. Halo 3 is like the best science-fiction action film, except you're the star, you get to play with your friends and this time you can also be the director - creating your own battle zones and sharing them with others over Xbox Live.

The last part of the Halo trilogy delivers everything you'd want from the most eagerly awaited video game of the year, with greatly improved visuals on the Xbox 360 and some explosive new weaponry that even the National Rifle Association would admit warrants a 30-day waiting period.

But strong storytelling makes this game a classic and points to a potentially brighter future for video games. Narrative structure has been a huge weakness in the industry, but it's one of the strongest elements in the Halo saga. Even if you take away all the first-person carnage, "Aliens"-style chaotic firefights and the turret-mounted machine gun that could level a shopping mall, Halo 3 would still make a decent sci-fi paperback.

The main game in Halo is excellent, but some of the best battles will be fought long after the fate of the galaxy is revealed.