How to improve on perfection...
Written: Nov 18 '04 (Updated Nov 19 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The best graphics we'll likely see this console generation, awesome multiplayer, much improved singleplayer
Cons: Story ending is lame, more multiplayer skins would have been cool
The Bottom Line: This game is awesome. Play it.
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| ez_money's Full Review: Halo 2: Limited Edition for Xbox |
Overall
Before I get into the intricacies of Halo 2, I’ll cut to the chase and say that it is the most fun game that I have played this console generation. Everything you know and love from the last game has been improved sevenfold. The game’s graphics and sound are the best we’ll likely see until successors to the current platforms are released, and they combine to create one the most realistic and immersive games since the Medal of Honor series. Levels in the single player campaign are varied, and the game becomes incredibly intense on higher difficulty levels. The multiplayer modes are extremely customizable, and its easy to set up either slower paced matches with an emphasis on strategy and stealth or fast paced, arcade-like firefights where the player with the fastest trigger finger will prevail. In short, Halo 2 is the peak of modern gaming, and whether you played the first game or not, whether or not you’re a fan of first-person shooters, even if you have to buy/rent/steal an X-Box, you need to play it.
Graphics
The first thing you will notice when you play the game are the new and improved graphics engine, which uses bump-mapping to add textures to surfaces. This means that is you look closely, you will see insane amounts of detail on objects like boots, tires, and rocks. It might not sound like a big deal, but it makes the environments look a lot more realistic than those of the first game. Everything else in the game also features an extra layer of visual sheen, and the graphics are on par with Team Ninja titles like Ninja Gaiden and DOA: Xtreme Beach Volleyball.
Sound
The sound is amazing… if you have a surround sound system. It is easy to tell what direction bullets are coming from, and being able to tell what type of enemies you’ll be fighting before you see them by listening to the tell-tale noises that they make adds a lot to the experience. If you don’t have surround sound, the sound is decent. The soundtrack itself is solid. The game still features the chanting songs from the first game, but geetarist Steve Vai lent his talent to the game, and its cool when you are suddenly surrounded by enemies or you are ambushed after walking into a room and a heavy riffs starts playing. Many of the songs were borrowed from Halo 1, and some new tracks would have been a nice touch.
Singleplayer
The single player campaign is much more diverse and interesting now. Many people complained about the levels in the last half of the first Halo because they featured three or four areas that were recycled over and over again. The levels in Halo 2 do an excellent job of keeping the action fresh and making you wonder where you’ll be going next. For example, in one level you fight enemies in a small courtyard before defending a hotel and fighting back enemies at a series of structures before driving into an underground highway and reemerging in the city to battle down a two mile long bridge in a tank. At the end of the bridge you enter the inner city and fight a group of enemy tanks in another small area. The level ends with you fighting enemies atop a walking tank while a heavy riff plays in the backround. The fighting remains fast-paced and intense the whole way through, and nearly all the levels in the game are this varied.
Story
The story has evolved a lot since the last game, but that isn’t really saying much because the cinematics in Halo 1 just told you why you were in each new area and vaguely explained how the Halo worked. This time there is some surprising plot twists, and the story is much more deep, especially since you can now play as the Covenant, and it was interesting seeing their side of the story and why they hate the human race. Some people have complained about the ending and plot holes that are noticeable, but seriously, do you play shooting games because they have engaging story lines?
Multiplayer
While the rest of the game is awesome, and I would still strongly recommend this game even if it was only a single-player game, the real meat of the Halo 2 experience is the multi-player modes. At first glance it appears to be just a rehash of the first game’s multiplayer, and that is partially true. All of the old game types are back, and two new ones, Assault and Territories, were added. In Assault you attempt to destroy the opposing team’s base with a bomb, and Territories is like King of the Hill with multiple hills. The first few times you play multi-player the experience may seem similar, but after you play for awhile you begin to notice that the levels and weapons are much more balanced. Gone are the open fields that were easily dominated with a vehicle in the first game. Now there are always rocks or walls to hide behind, and most levels feature multiple tiers that are perfect for sniping, although staying in one spot for too long will no doubt result in death. The game is even more fast-paced than before, and with the addition of the energy sword that can kill in one hit and new weapons like the brute shot that can cause extremely heavy damage is used properly you will always have to keep your wits about you.
Weapons/Balancing
Although the new sword can kill in one hit, you have to be within about ten feet of your target to do lunge and kill them, and while it has normal attacks you have to be right on top of your opponent to inflict any damage. All of the weapons in general are much more balanced than in the first Halo. The pistol, which was over-powered in the last game, is less accurate at a distance, no longer has a scope, and only carries eight rounds in a cartridge. The rocket launcher fires rockets at a slower velocity, but one rocket can destroy any vehicle besides the tanks with one direct hit. Every weapon has its own balance of weight (which determines how fast and strong melee attacks are) power, accuracy, and power. This gives the game a surprising amount of strategy. Should you dual-wield two SMG’s and fill the air with lead, or are you better off grabbing a carbine and taking accurate shots from a distance. It is this level of depth that takes Halo 2 up and beyond all other shooters in the multiplayer area.
Conclusion
All in all, Halo 2 is one of the defining games of this console generation, and everyone should at least give it try. A Collector’s Edition is also available. It costs only $5 more than the normal version and features several documentary’s that show some features that were left out of the game, but don’t watch it before you complete the single player game, because it contains a lot of spoilers.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ez_money
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Reviews written: 5
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