"Time"s Lev Grossman wrote "ODST" was a "milestone" as it proved "Bungie can use the same instrument to play in totally different key," adding to the longevity of the "Halo" franchise. In contrast, Pete Metzger of the "Los Angeles Times" wrote that although "ODST" was a good game with a compelling story, action, and graphics, "the same can be said for nearly every first-person shooter that is released these days" and that "ODST" failed to raise the bar set by previous "Halo" games. 1UP.com's Jeremy Parish noted that while "ODST" had its flaws, its greatest success was bringing together players who preferred either the multiplayer or campaign portions with a game that would satisfy both camps. Critics were split on whether "ODST" was worth its price. "Official Xbox Magazine" critic Ryan McCaffrey confidently wrote that given the campaign, multiplayer mode, and second "Halo 3" multiplayer disc, "no one should have any qualms about "ODST"s value as a [US]$60 offering!" Other critics who judged the title a full game included the staff of "Edge" Magazine, Parish, and "Computer and Video Games" Mike Jackson. Erik Brudvig of IGN did not consider "ODST" a "true sequel", but more than an expansion, and recommended that those hesitant about buying the game do so. Those who disagreed included Ars Technica's Ben Kuchera, GamesRadar's Charlie Barratt, Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell, and IGN Australia's Narayan Pattison. In "The New York Times" Seth Schiesel wrote that "Microsoft Game Studios has overreached in trying to charge the typical retail price for a full game, around [US]$60, for a product that either should cost [US]$40 or have a lot more content for the single-player aspect of the product." Critics also disagreed sharply regarding whether the game was a large step forward for the series. Parish said that less enemy variety was balanced by changes he considered the most experimental things Bungie had done for years. "Edge" and Bramwell praised the contrast between the Rookie's nighttime segments and the more fast-paced flashback vignettes. "Edge" added that while the narrative design was not groundbreaking, it served as a structure for exploring every possible weapon choice and strategy in the series. While Parish considered the ODST's abilities much different from those of the Chief, other critics such as Jackson wrote that the "Halo" feel was barely changed and that this was not detrimental.