Halo 2
Halo 2 is one of those rare video games that garnishes attention from regular folk who wouldn’t know which direction to point a game controller. With more than 1.5 million pre-orders and a massive release party in Times Square, the game enjoys the sort of buzz, and sales, generally reserved for boy wizards. But does it merit the hype?
Opening Scene
Halo 2 opens with a cut scene in the Covenant Holy City of High Charity. Much has happened since Master Chief (that’s you) created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do for his failures. This first cut scene is long, but the lush graphics, orchestral sound, and polished voice talent for both this and other cut scenes as well as the game itself put most animated television shows to shame.
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Much has happened since Master Chief created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do. |
In the end, though, Halo 2 is unabashedly a first-person shooter. It has a Mature rating and is not meant for kids. Gameplay is constant and intense. No sooner is one bunch of aliens taken care of than another descends. The controls are identical to the first game so those familiar with it will be up and blasting in no time. And the sound and graphics have been beefed up so that Halo 2 is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful console games available.
Opening Fire
Most of the weapons from the first game return, although strangely the MA5B Assault Rifle (the default weapon in the first game) is not available. There is a single melee weapon known as the Covenant Sword, but the controls for it are the same as that for all the shooter weapons, making it difficult to direct. Also, for a new twist, you can hold two of the smaller guns at the same time and shoot double-fisted.
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As for vehicles, the old favorites are back and joined by a few new, mostly Covenant wheeled monsters. Some improvements have been made to the AI so that the nonplayer characters can drive without running into too many obstacles while you man the turret. This improved AI also has enemies ducking for cover, and the banter from both the Marines and the bad guys has undergone massive improvements so that it no longer sounds quite so repetitive.
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On Your Own
The most significant change in the single-player game is with Master Chief’s much-touted defensive suit. At the beginning of the game, he is told that the suit has been upgraded, but it’s really undergone a severe downgrade. In Halo 2, the player has only one lifeline. Unlike in the first game, there is basically no defensive shield on the suit, making gameplay tougher. It can often take multiple–sometimes a maddening number–attempts to make it through thorny parts of the game.
Or with a Friend
Finally, no review of a Halo game is complete without mentioning multiplayer. One of the main reasons to buy Halo 2 is the ability to play through Xbox Live, a feature not included in the first game, which was among the original releases for the Xbox. Multiplayer for Halo 2 uses all of the same weapons and vehicles as in the single-player game, and the types of games available in Halo (King of the Hill, Slayer, Capture the Flag) return with a host of new maps. Multiplayer Halo 2 offers customizable profiles, control layout, and screens as well as a voice proximity feature, where you can talk with other players via an Xbox Communicator so that those closer to you sound louder than those farther away. Players can also create both permanent clans and temporary parties in the Xbox Live world. Undoubtedly, this multiplayer feature alone ensures that Halo 2 will remain a top-selling game for years to come. –David Morel
Pros:
- Lush graphics and orchestral sound
- Constant, thumping shoot-’em-up action
- Multiplayer available through Xbox live
Cons:
- Suit downgrade makes single-player often overly difficult
- Get ready for some bleary-eyed mornings
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars The game that brought xbox its glory. Halo Combat Evolved. Ambitious and Exciting.
Halo 2 is a great game with quality flare and just about everything imaginable to back it up. There is no true flaw to this game but nothing exactly in the game feels non-stop. Not to say that there isn’t moments where you just can’t help but scream “I love this game”, but there could be more heart pounding scences.
Halo like many FPS’s has a pretty bland story and you feel yourself just skipping many story elements for the basic fact that they are too long. The game exceeds any game of it’s time but feel as if “we’ve done this before right?”. Halo has many vehicles to choose from, Tanks, Aircrafts and hovercrafts. The one thing though is that there is not a wide array to choose from and the aircraft you see most in the game you cannot even pilot it.
One of the changes from the old game is now you are able to use a sword and believe me many people wanted it in the game. It can be difficult to use it as the sword loses power everytime you attack an object. There is only one sword to choose from which doesn’t help the lack of weapons. You do go through many weapons but it can feel all too easy to get caught up using one weapon. In intense levels though you frequently must pick up another weapon to battle the aliens that want to kill you.
A few things in the game are destructible but not enough to feel like that much of an intense firefight. Many of the times instead you will see the marks of a shot in the wall or the blood of you or your enemies, which makes it feel like a warzone after it is all said and done. Many times in the game you have A.I controlled partners who are extremely smart in fact if they see you killing too many of them they will start to fire back at you and eventually kill you if you don’t kill them.
The multiplayer easily is the best thing about this game. There are over 10 maps to choose from each with a different scenery from the next and there are a few revamped old school maps. The thing that makes the multiplayer s great is co-op when fighting with a friend against two other friends it feels so real and alive that you burst out with excitement. You can customize just about everything in the level from the weapons it will have on it to the vehicles it will have on it.
More over the game never has that many dull moments although in campaign backtracking can feel wierd and you get lost easily. The game is not a rent it’s a buy the game is the best game on the xbox to date and when its sequel comes out for xbox 360 you can bet it will be a hit too.
5 Stars Halo 2
This game was everything I hoped it would be. The campaign mode was very enjoyable to play all the way through. The story line was an interesting continuation of the first Halo game. I really liked the plot and how I got to play two different characters that opposed each other in the first halo and eventually cross paths. It was a very fun game to play. The multiplayer online and offline game play is also always fun. Good stuff.
5 Stars Just as good as the original.
Even though it shouldn’t have to be said, this game is really good. Really good. If you ever played the first Halo, “Halo: Combat Evolved”, then you should immediatly buy this sequel. You won’t be dissapointed. My only complaint about this game is the missing Assault Rifle, but it was easy to get over because of the added in SMG. If you play Halo 2, I guarantee you won’t ever be able to get enough of it. And just incase you do, I suggest you go buy a 360 and get Halo 3. Just trust me on this one, would I lie to you?
5 Stars Sweet game!!!
I own Halo Combat Evolved (Halo 1) and its pretty good but when I played Halo 2 at my cousins house it blew Evolved right of the map! Great graphics, awesome game play, about 1000 different weapons (alien and UNSC). You get to play as the alien traitor “THE ARBITER” and Master Chief (rip out guts tough as nails type of guy). Unfortunately as “THE ARBITER” you can’s kill humans. Story lines…eh… who am I kiding it sucked but ya’ know, ya’ win some ya’ lose some. I strongly recommend this game! Oh, buy the way this game wouldn’t be rated M if when you whack a flood (zombie like creatures) they kinda’ explode.
3 Stars Better than Halo
Halo 2 improved over Halo with better controls, dual wielding, and a few new weapons and enemies. One should be prepared for a little confusion, you not only fight as the master chief, in some chapters you fight as an enemy called the arbiter. I found this somewhat confusing and did not really care for playing the arbiter, it seemed like I was betraying my side. While it is a fun game, there are others I like much better.
