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Halo 2 is merely an extention of the first

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 72 / 79
Date: November 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Halo 2 is an excellent game, there's no doubt in that. The core of the game still remains the same as the original, making it almost impossible to take a step backwards. The thing to think about here is how have the changes and improvements affected this game over its predecessor.

For campaign mode the story is not quite as captivating as the original. In addition you need to have it on Heroic for any type of challenge. And, as many other reviews have said, the game is simply much shorter than the previous (the cut scenes graphically were a little dissapointing too). However, the game is really entertaining. The maps are much more detailed, there's more variance in the layout between checkpoints. They did a pretty good job in making the layout not as repetitive. Plus the scenery is pretty interactive and makes you do a lot more cool stuff to accomplish a mission.

Weapons as well have changed a lot. They have increased the types of weapons, as well as improving ones that used to suck (the needler) and taking away some power from the pistol. The much talked about dual weilding is defiantly a nice advantage. It takes a little getting used to know how to use it best and the best combinations of weapons. Although people have complained about the fact you can't throw grenades while using it, it's more realistic (you do only have two hands). So they've made it a powerful tool, but they didn't want it to be unstoppable. Basically it seems like they've leveled the playing field more and although you may be disappointed because something isn't as dominate as before or than you thought it would be, ultimately it's for the better.

Same thing goes for vehicles: you have more to choose from, with different advantages, but they also made each a little more vulnerable and less unstoppable (the rocket launcher lock helps tremendously from the last game).

The multiplayer part of course is amazing. Looking past some minor faults (not all maps are good, the energy sword is too dominate here, etc.) this part really makes the game a cut above anything else.

The limited edition version here only really provides an extra DVD with the making of (which is interesting but not really necessary... you could easily have a friend tell you the stuff on there that's worth knowing). Besides that and the metal case, it's the same. It's really up to you weather $10-15 bucks difference is that big of a deal for you, cause it's not that big of a difference.

Bottom line: Halo 2 is a great game. It's definitely a lot of fun and very enjoyable. It's a little disappointing because the original Halo was such a huge difference from anything out there and I think everyone was expecting Halo 2 to do the same. Unfortunately, it didn't make any drastic leaps that leave you stunned, but maybe (besides living up to the hype) it didn't really need to be. What it did do was make a lot of tweaks, to try and improve on something that was already incredible. You have to praise Bungie for trying their best to please everyone. In the end the hype may have been too much, but don't let it deter you from enjoying this great game.

Best console FPS to date!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 34 / 37
Date: November 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I just have to preface by saying that I feel bad for all the people who ordered from amazon who are apparently getting screwed. However, thats not what these review spaces are for. On to my review of the game:

Graphics---9.5/10
Far and away the best graphics of any xbox First Person Shooter, its kinda dissapointing that the in-engine cutscenes look so rushed. The cutscenes are usually a little choppy with a little bit og pop-in. When I first read this in reviews I didnt want to believe it, but its true.

Audio---10/10
The original Halo had great voice acting, great sound effects, and the best music and musical timing of any game EVER at the time. Halo 2 has the best voice acting, the best sound effects, and the best music and musical timing EVER in a console game. Listening to this game is an experience.

Gameplay---10/10
There are really 3 main gameplay additions-
-duel wielding- ability to hold two weapons at once
-swords- ability to fight with swords
-hijacking- ability to steal a vehicle from an opponent while they are riding on it.
Each new feature adds another element to the game. However, the most important gameplay change is speed: The action is much faster in halo 2. You run faster, you jump higher, your weapons do more damage, and the change in how health and shields works means that you're never camping in a corner for extended periods of time. For me, this is awesome, because I come from PC games where the action is typically very fast, and I always complained about how slow you moved and how long it could take to kill someone in the original halo. The ghost, banshee, warthog, and tank are all slower than they were in the previous game, or maybe they just seem slower compared to your new, faster running ability. In any case, it evens the playing field between people on foot and in vehicles.

Single Player---9.5/10
The game itself on normal difficulty isnt particularly long or hard. The awesome music, great gameplay, and great storyline all bring it together to make a great experience. Like the original halo, the best features for the SP game are the diferent difficulty levels and the co-operative play. Even tho playing through the game on normal difficulty isnt a trying experience, YOU ARE going to want to go back and play through it again on hard or legendary difficulty levels. Also, playing through the game with a friend is awesome. However, there are some dissapointments. Firstly, the save system is inflexible.
You only have one slave slot that maintains your exact position in a level, and if you want to go back and play a different level or play some co-op, you lose that save slot and have to start the level you were on from the beginning. Also, forget about 2 people who are sharing the xbox going through the campaign at the same time for the same reason. Secondly, Bungie decided not to include system link or XBOX Live co-op. That really stinks. Its great fun to play co-op as it is, sharing the screen, buts its really cramped, and would be much more fun if both people could have their own screen. Also, being able to play with a friend at seperate houses, maybe across the country, would have been nice.

Multiplayer---10/10
Simply put- amazing. More levels, many more features, plus Xbox Live and even some new features that arent available in other games. My favorite is the "party" system, which allows you to get together with some friends and travel between games as a group. Its unfortunate, but there usually is some lag on the bigger games. Lag seems to be the plague of XBL, and they just cant get rid of it. Oh well, theres always LAN parties, which are always lag-free.

Overall Score---9.8/10

I Have Played it for Over 8 Hours Now!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 52 / 79
Date: November 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I waited in line at midnight last night for over an hour to get this game and it was well worth it of course. The graphics are the best I've seen and the single player mode is fleshed out much better than the first in terms of story and the environments you walk around in. Just wanted to let everyone know that this game is worth the hype and I was one of those who thought it might have been a big let down, but Bungie pulled through. I gotta go play online now, so if you haven't already, go out and brave the crowds and try to find a copy today before they sell out.

Fantastic Game, but didn't live up to the hype.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 23
Date: November 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Don't get me wrong when I say that Halo 2 did not live up to all of the hype that it recieved, it is an excellent game. What I am saying is that in this day and age, it's impossible for a game to live up to all of the hype that this poor game recieved. But, that's not going to take a star off of my rating, because with all let downs set aside, it is an amazing game. It is a definate improvement over the first installment, and the most 'complete' console FPS out there, yet there are a few elements that just let me down. For starters, playing this game is like having the 'safe mode' from the computer version of the first game on constantly. You can fall any distance (as long as you're falling to a place that is walkable) and not take a scratch on your fancy new Merc-6. Also, there are repeated levels, like Blood Gulch to Coagulation, and Battle Creek to Beaver Creek. And they also changed my dear pistol... Anyways, that's all I didn't like about this game, now on to the good stuff.

The dual weilding system is fantastic. Using the right trigger to fire your right hand weapon and the left trigger to fire your left just feels so right. It just wouldn't be the same with the shoulder 'buttons' on the PS2. With some quick trigger fingers, you can turn two magnums into an SMG. Another great thing about this game is the enthralling campaign mode. The story is fantastic, and my hat goes off to all of the writers at Bungie. The story picks up RIGHT after the ending of Halo, so you won't be lost in the story when you first put in the game -- if you completed the first Halo. The story of this game takes the seemingly savage Covenant that were portrayed in the first Halo, and gives them a heart. I can honestly say that I actually felt bad killing the Elites in the later levels. There are 15 levels, in which you will alternate between the heroic Spartan, Masterchief, and the outcast Elite, The Arbiter. I also loved the ability to choose if you will play as a Spartan, or an Elite in the multiplayer mode. It's also nice to have an emblem.

One of the biggest things that I liked in this game was the graphics. I will start out by saying that they are superb. Although in the cinematics the frame rate can get a little choppy and the texture may take a few seconds to load, I found no large problems in the gameplay. I loved the lighting effects. Seeing things in different lighting makes the awesome texture all the more beautiful. I highly reccommend this game.

Wow...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 15
Date: November 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

My god this game was crazy. I got it the Monday after it came out, and I haven't stopped playing it since. It's definitely an improvement on the first, and the first is STILL one of the best First Person Shooters out there. There are very few things I disliked about the game, and them so minor that I didn't even notice them until after I was done playing for the day. I'm gonna seperate this for everyone, just to make things easier to read...

Overall:
Sweetness. Pure sweetness. The new weapons are some of the coolest weapons I have ever seen. The plasma sword is the ultimate of melee weapons, and is so fun to use. Walk up to someone... Whack! And it's all over. Then the SMGs are just fun as anything. One gun spits out 60 bullets in less than 4 seconds. And dual weilded thats 120 bullets in your enemies face before they can even see whats shooting at them. The physics are more realistic than the first, and probably any game I've ever seen. The SMGs recoil keeps making you adjust for them, the Battle Rifle reacts exactly like a real rifle would, trust me, I've shot many of them. The one thing that probably impressed me most was that the Warthog respond EXACTLY like a real car would while it was spinning, or flipping, etc. Every time one wheel touched the gound, the spin would change accordingly. You could pull out of what would normally cause you to fall out by controlling the wheels right while flipping. That just impressed me a lot. Being able to drive the Wraith now, and having the new Covenant Spectre are just two bonuses. Having four people riding in a Spectre, one driving, on on gun, and two riding on the side, those two people with a rocket and a shotgun, while assaulting Blue base in the middle of a 16 player CTF game was probably the best time I've had in any multiplayer game. And the graphics are beyond anything I've ever seen. Destructible environments, boarding vehicles (REALLY fun if done right) are just awesome additions. Overall, this game is awesome.

Campaign:
The storyline is awesome. And the cliffhanger at the end made it a perfect set up for the next Halo. I'm not gonna reveal any more about that for everyone who hasn't played the game yet. Anyway, it's a 15 level campaign, even if its more like 13 levels, because the first two aren't really levels, more like tutorials... But from the start of the third level the action begins. The Covenant fleet finally arrives, and they're boarding your station. while playing, you can interact with your allies more than ever. You're able to swap weapons with them, giving them your rocket launcher, or plasma sword. But it's realistic- you can't give a grunt a plasma sword, or a rocket launcher. The enemy AI is some of the best I've seen, moving at the right times, taking cover, giving out orders to eachother. And the chatter between people during battles is a very nice addition. You'll hear them screaming out warnings and insulting the Elites right to their faces. And the levels aren't repetitive AT ALL. You'll encounter the same things once or twice, like a barge, but it's a different situation, with different people and different guns. And its not near enough to have a repetitive feel. And co-op is fun as anything. During Co-op there are more enemies, and more vehicles, all suited to match the extra player in the game. The campaign mode is one of, if not the, best I've ever seen.

Multiplayer:
Wow. This just blew me away when I saw it. The levels are extremely detailed, and you can set up traps for the other team. You can roll and explosive barrel in front of a door, and when an enemy walks through it just blow it up, damaging or killing him. Or you can push that same barrel off a ledge onto an enemies head as he walks by. The vehicles have weak spots that make them all fairly even to use. And the levels themselves... Wow (again). They are never exactly alike, one base to the next. But they are always very fair, or built to suit the map. On Zanzibar, one team attacks from the beaches, while the other defends a base. We had some really cool D-day simulations on that. And with four teams going its a real deathmatch. We had a 4v4v4v4 slayer match going, and it was like having small squads working together. Two teams would gang up against one, then procede to destroy eachother. And on FFA slayer, one person can get into the side seat of another's warthog, even if they're on seperate teams. And once in there he can help the person, or turn to the side and whack the heck out of the driver. And boarding your friend's vehicle, then proceding to run him over with it, is one of the funnest things I've ever done.

This game is DEFINITELY worth your time buying. It's the best FPS game EVER to come out, and it probably won't be topped for a while.

Halo 2 really does meet the hype!

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

I loved the first Halo. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Halo 2 but I have kind of felt in the back of my head that there is no way that Halo 2 can meet the hype. Well I got the game yesterday and I have been very happy with it.

Pros:
1. I love that you can hop on an enemy vehicle when the they go by, punch them and throw them off. On the covenant "Wraith" you even have to punch through the top to pull them out, or throw a grenade in. I found that to be excellent attention to detail. You can operate more vehicles and there are more options when you do.

2. The Plot is very good, and you really want to watch the video in between levels.

3. The graphics are surprisingly much better than the first Halo. The videos are amazing and the actual game graphics have great detail. (In the Multiplayer mode there is a new "Blood Gulch" level. If you compare the graphics there is no comparison.)

4. The plot runs side by side, with an enemy covenant who is punished for loosing the battle (in Halo), and Halo blowing up. On some levels you play as the enemy covenant. (You can even be him in multiplayer mode.

Cons:
1. The game is a little too easy. I would recommend not doing it on "easy" or "normal" if you want a real challenge. You have a new shield that seems a little stronger and recharges a little faster. It is cool, but having previous skill from the original Halo, it seems easier than the first one.

2. You can't be black in the multiplayer mode. Not a big deal, but I always liked have my profiled character be very dark.

That is it. The game is a lot of fun! And it has renewed my excitement level for Halo. I think it is important to understand that the game is Halo, with new levels and a few new details. If you loved Halo you will love Halo 2.

P.S. There are a lot of reviews on Halo 2 from before the game was even released, so I realize nobody is going to read this, but the game was so exciting I felt a need to give it 5 stars.

Amazon pisses me off

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 25
Date: November 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Well guys, never pre-order a video game for amazon again. When I preorder halo 2, it said it was going to be on my door on november 9th. Now it is November 9th and guess what... Im here pissed off writing a review about how amazon pissed me off. It says it hasn't even shipped the game yet. You guys will probobly give me bad feedback or whatever about this review because it doesnt say how awsome halo 2 is but I still am going to write it to tell everyone that you just can't trust amazon anymore.

I preordered 3 months ago and not even packaged!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 18
Date: November 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I dont understand how I can order something 4 months in advance and yet still not even packaged over 1 day after the instore release. The worst part is, I can't even find an email to talk to the amazon people to express my dissapointment

He's bigger, badder and stronger.

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

Master Chief comes back... with an attitude. There will be a "before" and an "after" Halo 2. The graphics, story, sound, music, enviroment... you'll think you're in the middle of the newest Hollywood big movie extravaganza.

The special of this "Special edition" is a "behind the cameras" DVD that comes with the game. It has a warning "don't see this DVD until you've finished the game or a lot of surprises will be spoiled". Following the advice, I popped in the Game Disc. It's hard, even in the easy mode. As I live outside the USA, my game is dubbed in the local language. Some phrases are great, some are dumb but a laugh or two have been stripped of me as I'm sure the normal game in English will do.

Enjoy it... alone. You'll need peace and solitude to play it. And put some bullets on the Elites for all the guys that couldn't had the game the day of it's launch.

Good Stuff

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 14
Date: November 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

GREAT GAME.
GRAPHICS: The Graphics have greatly improved since the original Halo. The bump-mapping has done a great deal for the game. Throw a plasma grenade on the ground and watch the lighting effects.
10/10
SOUND: I love the sound in this game, great music, and great sound effects. My only complaint is that the warthog sounds less "scary" and the smgs sound more like fully-auto cap guns instead of real guns. but other than that the sound is great.
9.7/10
GAMEPLAY: FUN! I love the new addition of dual weilding. I also like the way that you can board and enemy vehicle. These are just a couple of the many things that have greatly added to the already fun gameplay of HALO.
10/10
STORY (no spoilers): Good story. There have been many complaints about the ending...but I thought the story was very immersive. I loved it. Although the ending was SLIGHTLY dissapointing.
9.8/10
MULTIPLAYER: In Halo this was one of the main attractions. In Halo 2 multiplayer could have made a game. Its incredibly fun and addicting. Now with the new addition of LIVE you can play with new or old friends while on completely different continents. Multiplayer is what helped make this game what it is...a great game.
10/10
VALUE: Definatly a game that will keep you occupied for years.
10/10
OVERALL: Halo 2 leaves me completely breathless...well, it leaves me with enough breath to say "DAMN!"
SCORE:9.9

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