Product Description
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Halo 2 is the sequel to the hugely successful and critically
praised Halo: Combat Evolved. In Halo 2 the saga continues as the
genetically enhanced super soldier, Master Chief, must defend
humankind from the evil Covenant.
.com
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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.
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 (the default weapon in the first
game) is not available. There is a single melee weapon known as
the Covenant , 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 s at the same
time and shoot double-fisted.
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.
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 ) return with a
host of new s. 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
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From the Manufacturer
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"Halo 2 is a lot like Halo, only it's Halo on fire, going 130
miles per hour through a hospital zone, being chased by
helicopters and ninjas," explained Jason Jones, head of Bungie
Studios. "And the ninjas are all on fire, too."
Halo 2 continues the story of the Master Chief, the genetically
enhanced super-soldier who is the only human ever to successfully
defy the Covenant--a coalition of alien races on a murderous
march toward Earth. Their defeat at the ancient Halo artifact was
only temporary, and they are pursuing their goal--the complete
obliteration of humankind--with renewed zeal. Human
forces are exhausted and unable to stave off the Covenant's rapid
advance toward Earth. Even with the Master Chief back in action,
the situation looks dire--and this is at the beginning of the
game, before things get even worse. In true Bungie tradition, the
solo campaign in Halo 2 deepens and expands upon the story that
began in the first game: old questions will be answered, new
mysteries will unfold, and the truly epic nature of the story
will finally be revealed.
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The Master Chief and his space-marine allies return to battle
the full complement of Covenant forces, as well as not yet
revealed foes. Halo 2 expands the Master Chief's already
substantial arsenal with powerful new weapons, many pried from
the tw claws of his defeated enemies. There will also be
yet more drivable vehicles, giving players new ways to speed into
battle or explore the game's vast landscapes.
See more pictures
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Halo 2 surpasses its predecessor in graphical beauty and combat
intensity, thanks to a completely new graphics engine designed
specifically for the Xbox. "Our code squeezes every drop of power
out of the Xbox," said Chris Butcher, one of the sequel's
engineering leads. "We're doing dynamic lighting and shadows,
per-pixel everything, rendering gigantic, lush environments. The
graphical features we're using are so advanced we don't even have
buzzwords for them yet."
In addition to an epic single-player campaign, Halo 2 allows
multiplayer via split-screen play, System Link (
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"We still have the multiplayer game types that people loved in
Halo, but we're planning something special for Halo 2," hinted
Je Griesemer, lead designer of Halo 2. "I don't want to ruin
the surprise, but imagine the essential Halo single-player
experience: pitched battles between the humans and the Covenant,
massive vehicle and infantry engagements. Now imagine that every
combatant is an actual person playing over Xbox Live!" The Halo 2
online multiplayer experience will feature squad-oriented team
play, real-time voice chat, and extensive community support.
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- Master Chief can now wield two weapons at once, board Covenant vehicles and steal Covenant weapons like the incredible double energy .
- Lead an all-new unit of super-soldiers, the ODST -- tougher, badder and deadlier versions of your old comrades.
- New enemies, allies and surprises around every corner - intense combat action with enhanced AI and real-time lighting.
- Immense single-player action with maassive landscapes and huge cities to explore and defend - destructible and interactive environments.
- Take the action online with your Xbox Live and switch sides, to become a Covenant Elite!.
- Works with an Xbox 360 console.