Halo 2
Short overview sentence that summarizes the review goes here.
Introduction
Master Chief has already experienced one Halo installation and the Convenant race that were trying to activate the ring as a weapon and attempt to wipe out humankind with it. Now, he has come home only to find that the very same Covenant race has found Earth and were surprised to find their bitter enemy's home world. Now, they fight for domination over humans and Master Chief must set off on the hunt again.
The months of waiting are finally over. The sequel to the acclaimed Halo is running loose on the face of the planet. Those who take up a copy will succumb to it as much as any living being falls to the Flood.
Graphics
Halo 2 comes to the XBox with a power that is unbelievably remarkable. The graphics of the game are exactly like the first Halo multiplied times ten. Each level has considerably sharper landscapes and more vivid architecture to boast. This installation is very detailed when it comes to the form of every single object in the game. More effort has been played to make the Covenant ranks seem more rough and forceful. Master Chief's outfit sports a new aura that makes him seem more battleworn and skilled in warfare. Even the Flood are so detailed that they could appear real to the eye if they popped out of the screen.
Something that really is masterfully done in this title is the coloring of the different landscapes. No individual color seems to contrast with another one to create a visual array of eye candy that everyone will love to see every time they play the game.
The smoothness of the game is also a very redeeming factor. The terrain for the majority is smooth like the surface of a piece of obsidian. Everything looks spectacular for where is located in the universe and the individuality of each area is identifiable right down to the final detail.
Sound
Halo 2 comes packed full of sounds that will leave anybody reeling who hear them. Each level has a unique sound base to it that makes the area feel so original. Enemies also speak audible phrases that help move the action along as well. Even your comrades have a vast list of phrases that they can say every so often that can be repetitive or quite funny.
Every aspect of the game dealing with sound has been worked on to provide a listening experience that will leave you wanting to play more in the future. Let's face it, when it comes to the enjoyability of a game, sound does play a major factor and Halo 2 is no slacker in this department. While phrases from different characters are repeated sometimes, more often than not they are far and few between and also are hilarious to listen to sometimes.
The weapons and vehicles also exhibit a wide variety of sound when used. From the rapid firing of the submachine gun to the explosive shell of the Brute Shot, each weapon is distinguishable by the way it sounds. Vehicles are also something that have a good quality of sound to them. There is a very noticeable difference in the mechanics of both Covenant and human vehicles. The Covenant sound more like an energy driven system while the human wheels are good old mechanical systems.
The speaking of the characters can get a little annoying after so much play and there is no feature that can turn them off outside of muting the game so that definitely is a hindrance for the title.
Gameplay
This is where Halo 2 shines the most. It offers quite a bit of gameplay that when experienced, will leave a person wanting more of it. One thing that really stands out about Halo 2 is the way that it allows you to experience the universe from the eyes of two different races.
Yes, that's definitely correct. Not only do you take the role of the previous protagonist, Master Chief, but you also get to control an important person in the Covenant army as well. This creates a new view on things that only can be experienced from the other side. The levels are rich with flora and fauna that are rich in detail and offer a view of what different worlds look like.
The levels of single player play are much the same as Halo. One can choose the difficulty of Easy, Normal, Heroic, and Legendary and can also select which levels they would like to do, if they have been through them already.
One thing that is new to Halo 2 is the aspect of dual wielding weapons. Not all weapons can be dual wielded but those that can make an interesting combination. The pistol and rocket launcher have been toned down to allow for fairer playing fields. Also, the needler gun has been upgraded to allow for a very effective shot if many clips strike home. With the introduction of some new weapons as well, it truly makes for a complete arsenal at the disposal of the player.
Vehicles have also been given an upgrade as well. There is more variety when choosing what vehicles you want for a multiplayer game. A total of 6 vehicles are available for multiplayer levels. The humans are sporting two different types of Warthogs, one with the standard gun on the back that shoots bullets and another one with a Gauss cannon that shoots a magnetic beam, and the Scorpion tank. The Covenant vehicles are the ever standard and popular Ghost, the flying Banshee, and the newest vehicle to grace any level, the Wraith tank. Along with the Spectre and Shadow, the vehicle line-up for Halo 2 is very diverse and everyone will have fun using each vehicle. Oh, and if you were curious, you can't be run over and killed in a single hit now.
Boarding is also a concept that is very interesting to see in action. This occurs when a player boards an opposing vehicle and disposes of the occupant to gain control. It is very innovative to see what kind of ways people can board a vehicle in the heat of multiplayer action.
XBox Live is also compatible with Halo 2 which many people were pleased with seeing. One can join a group of friends for a nice little multiplayer party or fight off in a match to get experience. One thing that is distinctive about level gaining in online matches is that there will be no high level people playing against low levels and beating the crap out of them. It's all a pretty level playing field.
Lastability
Halo 2 will definitely see as much replay value as its predecessor in the months to come. People will enjoy having system link parties and also delight in taking the Halo experience online to face off against people from other areas. The wide variety of the multiplayer and XBox live capabilities alone will see months of replay. The single player campaign is also something that will see some relatively long replay sessions as well. Going off with one person or taking on a cooperative match will ensure that the gameplay is different every time through. Look for this game to stay around for the majority of 2005.
Overall
Halo 2 does live up to its hype in the aspect that it was well worth the 2+ years of waiting for the sequel to grace our Xboxes. Surely, one can find hardly any flaws in this game that are not controlled by the player directly. Other than that persistant friend who professes that he alternates his usage but uses the same tactics over and over again, one will truly be pleased with the title. Seriously, they had to take Halo and put a magnifying glass to it because the second title shows a lot more improvement over the first one that most people couldn't have foretold. Definitely, this title is worth the money for anybody that enjoys long hours of play with friends or via Xbox Live. This is definitely the cure for the common cold in the video game industry.
FINAL SCORE
98 %
