Halo 2
From Microsoft
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Product Description
Halo 2 continues the story of Master Chief, the heroic super-soldier who defied the invading alien Covenant and survived. The Covenant leaders within Halo are angry at this unheard of event. To save face, they launch an invasion of our planet. Earth's defenses are breached, and we're all in danger -- unless Master Chief can lead a small military squad to victory against Covenant forces, in all-out guerilla warfare!
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Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #132 in Computer & Video Games
Brand: Microsoft
Model: XBMSFT 805529792234
Released on: 2004-11-09
ESRB Rating: Mature
Platform: Xbox
Dimensions: 7.50" h x .80" w x 5.40" l, 2.00 pounds
Features
Master Chief can now wield two weapons at once, board Covenant vehicles and steal Covenant weapons like the incredible double energy sword
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!
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games Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
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 games 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 gmaes itself put most animated television shows to shame.
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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.
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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 Rifle (the default weapon in the first games) is not available. There is a single melee weapon known as the Covenant Sword, 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 guns 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 gmaes, 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 gmaes, 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 games.
Or with a Friend
Finally, no review of a Halo games 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 gmaes available in Halo (King of the Hill, Slayer, Capture the Flag) return with a host of new maps. 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 games 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
From the Developer
"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 military 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 games, 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 games: 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 twitching claws of his defeated enemies. There will also be yet more drivable vehicles, giving players new ways to speed into battle or explore the games 's vast landscapes.
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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, and Xbox Live.
"We still have the multiplayer games types that people loved in Halo, but we're planning something special for Halo 2," hinted Jaime 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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Customer Reviews
Decent, at best
This gmaes is a matter of comparison. It's SP, compared with its predecessor, is complete garbage. You get about two levels in, and you start to wonder why you are still holding the controller. If you want to keep up with the story, then play the SP game, and pay close attention, as it is rather complex. If you don't plan to get H3 and finish out the story line, then you probably won't have the patience to finish the games.
As for the MP, it is better than the first one. Which is not to say it is good, as the balance factor is terrible (battle rifle, plasma pistol, rocket launcher, and sniper rifle - thats it, the only worthwhile guns in the games, roughly in order of importance). The only more unbalanced online shooter I have played in recent memory was . . . well . . . Halo 1.
Overall, it is only valuable as a segue between Halos 1&3. Otherwise, avoid it, its not worth the time.
Just recently...
Halo 2 I just recently purchased HALO: Combat Evolved and HALO 2 from Amazon. Just yesterday I received both in the mail =). I was extremely pleased with the graphics, I am saving up to buy a XBOX 360 and HALO 3 ($[...] refurbished by Gamestop ,) I am so ready to pass the insolent levels of covanent! I am playing non stop everyday =)!!!
GOOD games!!
Great Halo
This was purchased as a gift for my son and he loves it. He completed the first one and is on his way to completing this one. Halo 2 is a little shorter than the first one but is still worth it if you liked the first Halo. I have played it a few times with him and it's not bad. I think this one may be better than the first, but it's a hard choice because they are both good. This plays fine on the Xbox 360, by the way, just as the first one does.
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