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2nd chapter in the series with minor flaws but great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: December 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ok this is the game we have all been waiting for and its finally here. First id like to say that the campaign was alittle... disappointing. The multiplayer is great of coarse with the exception of getting lost in some courses trying to find your opponent. The story leaves off from the first game and it focuses alittle more about the covanent with the prophets and brutes. It didnt really have the same feel as the first halo (story wise) and its level layouts are totally new. You can now carry two weapons at once with some guns. This is called dual wielding and i thought it was pretty cool. AI is a whole lot better. Enemies will hit you in the back if off gaurd, you can take marines guns without killing them, EVERYONE can pilot vehicles (yes even the flood), and the game is simply more difficult than the first. At some points i found the game increasingly difficult (even on the normal difficulty) but the again that is what halo is all about. Im not going to spoil it but the ending in this game just sucked hard crap. You think you are gonna play another level until... BANG here come the credits... and you didnt even get to blow something up this time... Well speaking of blowing up, the vehicles actually show damage and later explode if taken enough damage. any i repeat ANY vehicle can be destroyed by you in the game except scarabs and giant covenant and human ships. Going back to the campaign, this time around the master chief is not alone. Sometimes you take the role of the master chief while other times the elite covanent known as the Arbitor. I wish the game wouldve set up two different campaigns (1 for each character) besides switching back and forth just when you begin to like the character you are (arbitor or MC) Now its pretty cool being an elite except he looks different than a typical elite armor wise (it actually looks kinda stupid but whatever). Whats so f*cking bullsh*t is you can go camoflauge like the elites you fight as the masterchief but it says your armor can only be camo for a short time (refer this to 3 seconds) so i mean there really isnt a point in going camo. However, in the multiplayer, when you make your character profile its WAY more indepth than in the first halo. You can either choose to be a spartan or a normal elite (not the arbitor thank god) and you can change different parts of your armor a different color and have a symbol. The multiplayer levels are mostly giant and you can get lost like i mentioned at the beggining but its fun to cut people open with a beam sword heh heh. Well i cant wait to get my xbox live hooked up. In the meantime, get this game if you havent already or play it if you do. Enjoy it until halo 3 comes out. Peace

Just Downright Fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The graphics look superb when "fully rendered". Unfortunately the game was rushed for the holiday season and sometimes during the FMV sequences the graphics arent fully rendered and then all of a sudden pop in. Ive even noticed this during gameplay a few times. The gameplay is tight and responsive! The shotgun is a tad better than the first game and the sword is nice but the sword eventually breaks but is still VERY cool to use on enemies! The SMG is the weakest weapon in the game and you seem to find them everywhere so dual wielding is the key with this weapon to add more power. Then there is the plasma pistol which doesnt home in on enemies anymore making it the worst weapon in the game. But the array of weapons in the game makes it fun. Different players will adapt to certain weapons etc. I personally prefer the shotgun and Sword.
The game is what youve come to expect from the franchise but it is quite short but NOT easy if you play it on legendary, I get sick of people saying that its TOO easy. Its NOT! Its easy on EASY but not on heroic or legendary. The multiplayer mode lacks "bots" so its only a vs. mode which stinks when you were expecting you and a friend to be able to fight together, nope ONLY on xbox live. However there is just something about sniping your best bud in the head and laughing at him.
Even with all of the graphics issues with the game it still will be a HUGE Christmas seller and still packs a punch where it counts "Fun". the sad thing also is that the next game will be on the next system. Its short but sweet and has an appeal to long time fans waiting for another dose of halo. Think of it as "more levels" than really a sequel as it carries over from the first game. Is the story breakthrough material? No, its the gameplay that will draw you in. I still find it fun and hope to get the patch to fix the graphics eventually. Meanwhile watch as Halo 2 stays on the charts for quite some time!

Overhyped

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: January 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Man, just like a lot of other people, I bought into the hype and when this game finally came out, was sorely dissapointed. Now, I don't want to give away any of the campaign mode, but that was one of the bright spots of the game for me. The 2 stars mostly comes from what everybody waited 3 long years for: online mode. I don't even know where to start. They have this new matchmaking mode, which at first, I can see why they made it, mainly to prevent cheating. It basically takes people of equal skill (I think within 5 levels of each other) and groups them toghether. So this way, the number 1 guy can't go out and beat up on new guys. But it has it's flaws. If you just want to play a simple, let's say, capture the flag, you can't do it. You have to wait there and let the game set it up for you. You don't know if you'll get what you want. You can set up your own custom games, but they are unranked. Sometimes they don't even put an even amount of people on the same team. I remember a game started off with 4 guys on red, and only 2 on blue. Why would they even start a game off like that? Overtime is inconsistant. Maybe it's just me, but I always thought that both teams get the same amount of overtime? Anyways, I've been in games where the opposing team got about, oh let's say, a good 5-6 minutes of overtime, and my team got about 5-6 seconds. Then, just when you think you're about to win the game, for some odd reason, sometimes the timer goes back to 5 seconds, and just stays there. Makes no sense at all. I did buy into the hype of Halo 2, but I have now learned that you shouldn't wait 3 years for a game.

COLLECTORS EDITION IS BETTER THEN ORIGINAL HALO 2!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: April 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Halo 2 is definetely my favorite game for the Xbox system currently. With amazing graphics, gameplay, sound, many weapons, vehicles and the best online play to ever hit the Xbox so far, halo 2 is is the most playable game ever created.

Halo 2 has a basic story, its just that Master Chief has returned and is once again trying to stop the covenant from taking over earth and all of the other planets. Master Chief is also trying to deny a weapon of massive power and one that would have a great effect on the world!

Even though this game has a simple story, the gameplay is unthinkable. I will break up my review into different categories listed below...

Graphics: One of the best parts of Halo 2 is definetely the graphics. The background detail is superb, the texture is smooth and clear. The water is also very well done compared to halo 1, but still not as good as some games have done. The cutscenes are worth bragging about, for example, when i was watching a halo 2 cutscene and my cousin came into the room he told me to "change the channel," as he obviousely thought i was watching television which i thought was kind of funny. The animations of your character reloading, moving and shooting are truely amazing as well, (you switch off from being the covenant and master chief throughout campaign) as it seems like a real movie like a previousely mentioned. Master Chief looks much cooler then he did in Halo 1, as he has a redesigned suit and many more guns with much better graphics. Although it seems like i am saying that the graphics are amazing, i do think that they could have done just a tiny bit of a better job on them just so that it could be one of the best games in terms of graphics to every hit the Xbox Console, that would be great! But all in all, the graphics are wonderful, and definetely not an aspect of the game to complain about, unless you are picky, wait, lemme refrase that, too picky!

Gameplay: There is one word, and only one word to describe the gameplay in this game. Fun! Thats it, this is arguably the best game on the xbox console, and there are many reasons to support that.

First of all, you are able to sprint at twice the speed that you could in Halo 1. For those of you who play Halo 2 you probobly do not see a difference really in the sprinting aspect. I didn't either when i first played the game, but after i played a lot of halo 2, and then played halo 1, you could definetely see the difference between the two in terms of the speed that you can sprint, which is much better then the first.

You are also able to highjack vehicles which gives the game a little "grand theft auto" them to it which is very fun to do. When your playing on Xbox Live, you get a medal each time you highjack a vehicle. (You get medals for each bonus thing you do such as highjacking, sniping, assasinating, etc.) Of course you could not do this in the previous halo 1 game so thats another difference between the two.

Another better thing in this game then there was before in the previous one is that the A.I is much smarter. For example, they can sometimes form a "short time alliance" with another enemy and they can swarm at you, or the grunts can hide behind corners and wait for you to come. The elites are also much better at dodging your shots which makes it much harder to hit them. Also, if you want your allies to drive a vehicle they can which you couldn't do in the first halo game. The only problem is that sometimes they don't show that they're smart by slamming into walls and you have to switch seats repetitively before they'll get there "nack" back.

But as a result of my gameplay review, it has changed a lot over the long and painful time that it took for the sequel to come out.

New Weapons: There are many new weapons in halo to and i will list them underneath. They include...(Keep in mind that the ratings are intirely my opinion)

BR55 Battle Rifle: 2x scope, burst shots, all in all its an ok weapon, not the best. Long range: 6/10, Medium range: 6/10, Close range: 6/10

Covenant Carbine: Basically the Covenant form of the Battle Rifle except that its not burst, its just a one shot fire. Pretty good though, as it can fire much faster then the battle rifle. Long range: 7/10, Medium range: 8/10, Close range: 8/10

Particle Beam Rifle: Covenant form of Sniper rifle, except that if you shoot two shots in a row it has to charge back up which takes a couple seconds, but i think its better then the sniper rifle seeing that if you have a good aim, you can finish your enemy off quickly! (Or ally, ha ha!) Long range: 10/10, Medium range: 8/10, Close range: 6/10. The reason why the ratings decrease is because the closer you are to your enemy, the harder it becomes to shoot considering that your aimer is unbearably small, so its hard to aim, even from a far distance, but it doesn't take that much skill to be able to snipe people from afar.

Brute Shot: In my opinion i hate this weapon. Only the brutes use it (in single player) and they can never kill me with it because it sucks. Its almost impossible to aim at anything moving from afar or even medium range. The only good thing is that the shots can bounce of walls, wooooopy! Long range: 1/10, Medium range: 3/10, Close range: 5/10

Covenant Energy Sword: Probobly the best weapon for close range is the sword. Even from medium range you can lock on to your target and unleash a super upercut attack which is a one hit kill unless your openent uses a cheap overshield, which i personally think they should take out of the game, seeing that whoever has the overshield cannot be stopped by one person unless the openent has a sword or a rocket launcher. Long range: 0/10, Medium range: 8/10, Close range: 10/10

Fuel Rod Gun: Ahhhh, i wish this gun was in multiplayer but i guess it would be way to cheap, considering the amount of ammo it has and that it is a one hit kill. But for single player it works mighty fine! Long range: 10/10, Medium range: 10/10, Close range: 10/10

Two other things i have to add is that you can dual weild certain weapons, but the only problem with this is that you cannot chuck grenades when you are dual weilding which kind of makes sense when you think about it. Also, the rocket launchers can lock on to vehicles which makes it much easier to destroy those cheap @$$ vehicle lovers!

Vehicles: I will now mention the new vehicles in Halo 2. They are...

M12G1 Warthog LAAV- Basically the same as the previous Warthog, except it uses a Gauss Cannon which is a one hit kill instead of the machine gun. (The previous Warthog is in Halo 2 as well.)9/10

Specter: Sort of like the Wraith, (Wraiths can be used in multiplayer now) except its faster and can hold three people, one for the plasma cannot turret at the back, one in the side seat, and one obviousely driving the vehicle. 9/10

Shadow: The vehicle that the covenant use, can hold up to 8 combatents depending on the species of convenant, an ok vehicle when your using it. It uses a plasma cannon like the rest of the other covenant vehicles. 7/10

Two more things i have to add about the vehicles are that the Banshee can now be used in multiplayer as well as the Wraith which makes multipayer much more fun.

Sound: A great game needs great audio right? Well halo 2 listened. From the classic halo chant, to the rather heavy halo 2 beat, comes wonderful sound and definetely good enough quality that you can just sit their drinking tea/coffee and listening to it. Well, i guess if your that obsessed with the audio, you can just by the soundrack right?

Online: Now comes the best part. The online multiplayer play. I have to say, i though crimson skies had the best online multiplayer play, but as soon as this hit came out i quickly regreted myself saying that. Basically, there are ranked games and unranked games, (unranked games are known as training games.) As you win ranked games you gain levels, you start out at level 1 and the last level is level 50, but i believe that the highest level right now is 27, so as you can see its extremely hard to work your way up once you get past level 20.

The different ranked games are as follows...

Rumble Pit: Up to 8 players all dualing it out against each other. Thit matchmake playlist can include normal slayer, all rockets, all swords, all shotguns, odball, or king of the hill. This is probobly my favorite kind of playlist to play.

Team Skirmish: Up to 8 players, 4 on 4, on a team obviousely. This playlist usually includes the different types of Capture the Flag, team odball, 3 plots or assault. Pretty fun playlist to play!

Team Slayer: 8 players, 4 on 4 against each other can include normal team slayer, team rockets, team swords, Fiesta Team slayer, team shotguns or team phantoms. Probobly runner up for my favorite playist to play halo 2 on.

Head to Head: Simple straight up slayer games 1 v 1 can inlcude normal slayer, all swords or all rifles. Very fun, and addicting especially when your winning.

Big team battle: Huge game, up to 16 players, 8 v 8 can include team slayer, different types of CTF, Assault, or land grab where you have to take over different areas of land. Very fun playlist as it sounds like, but can get very hard and boring considering that your dying a whole tun, especially when your playing on a smaller map.

Clan Battles: Basically, you can join a clan which in different words is like a club and you get your clan together and battle with them in different match types. Pretty fun, good for bragging rights. When your clan starts winning, it will level up.

In conclusion to my online review and whole halo 2 review, the online aspect is probobly the best part of this entire game. Its so much fun trash talking to your opponents and so addicting to play ranked games. You can also just play custom games where you can invite all your friends to play whatever type/map you want. You can also customize ever thinkable option which makes this game truely worth your time and money.

Halo 2 delivers excellent gameplayer/graphics/sound/online play which definetely makes the game a worthy $50. Halo 2 is definetely not one of those games that you are going to end up returning straight away after you get it, you'll be twice as addicted to it as you were to Halo 1! (Unless you don't have Xbox, and if you don't like halo, no offence, but theres something wrong with you.)

COLLECTORS EDITION:

With collectors edition, you get a ton of new features which includes a cooler looking game case, a "behind the scenes" footage of halo 2 and how this amazing game was made. It also includes Visualizing the story (Concept Art, Early Level Design From Script to Game, Narrated Storyboards and Character Tests. Also, the collectors edition includes bonus materials which has features such as trailers from halo 1 and 2, Cut scenes, commentaries, Inside Bungie, A bungie history, before halo, the making of halo 1 and Gameographies.

GET THE COLLECTORS EDITION, IT IS WORTH YOUR MONEY!

angry

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: November 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

add my name to the angry preorderers. i ordered mine on aug. 5th, and it comtinoually says that it will ship on the 8th. now, the 10th, still it will "ship soon" come on!

oh and about the game. i played the multiplayer at bungies fanfest in seattle on monday, and it was the best game i ever played. the maps were massive, and very fun, plus u can jump higher, run faster and survive longer drops. i also read some of the strategy guide, and it says that 1. there is flood, 2. theres another halo, 3. for one level u become a covy elite woops... spoiler! get the game... from some one else.

An upgrade only from Halo to Halo 2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: December 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game Halo 2 is great. The game play of Halo 2 with the new levels, guns, and vehicles makes it that much better than the first one. The graphics are better than before but they were already good not in any way down grading the original halo, but graphics aren't everything to a game.

I think the game play online is unreal when you face six or seven other players. I mean I played it for the first time recently on Xbox live and the experience was an epic when I played over a friend's. Intense is a good word to describe this game. If you don't have live I recommend you go out and get it because I know I am A.S.A.P. The online game play has got to be the best improvement and also the most annoying part of the game at the same time. Finally Halo on XBOX Live! This feature alone is well worth the purchase of the game. The unpleasant part about this is when we tried to sign on it took about 10 minutes to get into a game.

I have yet to finish the game, but so far so good. In this game there are just more options. One of the best options in this game is the dual-guns. People are complaining because they can't throw grenades or can't reload fast enough, but in a real life situation if you were holding two guns, are you going to throw a grenade with anything else but your hands? A personal favorite is the dual-magnums and then the sword. I think the shotgun was the biggest difference in weapons in this game. It downgraded I think from the first Halo.

I think the night that this game came out was worth the wait of two hours standing in line to receive a copy at 12:00 A.M. at a local mall. The music they play in the back round could be a little bit more intriguing, but is well enough. I could be playing my music in the back round but it still qualifies for Halo. Just turn up the volume and you'll feel as if your there. Also the scenes before the actual game starts are great. The storylines I think you have to watch in Campaign mode.
What is Halo? Halo is the aura of majesty or glory surrounding a person or thing that is regarded with reverence, awe, or sentiment by dictionary.com. If you don't have this game I think your should go get it. If you don't have Xbox live get it as well. The breath taking, heart filled game is worth the price. It was rated the best game out.

#1 of Winter 2004

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: December 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Halo 2's Campaign starts off right where Halo ended. Except this time the Covenant invades earth and Master Chief is called to go solve the problem. ::SPOILER:: As you move one you play as a Covenant Elite called the Arbiter which caused many Halo fans to dislike the campaign. But not this one. The campaign is very short and a little disapointing, which is why it would of recieved a 4 from me if it was not for the online play. Online in XBOX Live opens up a whole new world of Halo, and because of its online compatabilites it earned a 5. For $5 more one could get the collectors edition which contains:

- Metal DVD Case
- Special Edition DVD containing the making of the game
- 2 months free of XBOX Live

This game is a must have for any FPS lover, and a reason to by a XBOX and subscribe to XBOX Live

Fun Factor: 5/5
Campaign: 4/5
Online: 5/5
Controls: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Still Waiting

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: November 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I preordered this game planning on getting it as early as possible. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I wish that I had just gone to gamestop and preordered it there.

UPDATE: I got the game in the mail Nov. 11. I did want to get the game on opening day, but I got it 2 days later. If you really want to preorder a game, go to gamestop or some other store where you can walk in and pick it up yourself. Don't use amazon to preorder unless it's a long time before it comes out. Otherwise, amazon is great.

Awesome Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: November 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Though all you other people seem to think that this game is hardly better than Halo, I think this was an excellently crafted and well worked game. The idea that one can now be a covenant as well as Master Chief makes the game even mor exciting. It leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat as you watch some of the movies. The story line is similar yet the allowance for double weilding makes the game that much mor fun. The multiplayer as well allows for a more intense game, due to the large maps and excellent remake of BG. You can actually jouste people in warthogs as opposed to having an opponent just flip over, the vehicles damage actually drops or can be destroyed completely. There are so many great things about this game, I don't understand the poor ratings. Awesome game for any level of play.

amazon fails to come through

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: November 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

After going to the usual brick and mortar establishments in mid-September and finding that their first shipment (and most second shipments) had already been sold out, I decided to look online for a copy of Halo 2 that could be delivered on or about November 9th. Amazon boasted a ship date of 8 November. As this was the earliest date found during my web search, I went with them. Here it is, the 9th, and all I can get is that my order is "soon to be shipped." The funny thing is that the delivery estimate still says November 8th. Actually, that's not that funny. I'm hoping to get the game for tomorrow, but I will think twice before pre-ordering from Amazon again.

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