I have mixed feelings about Halo 2. Part of me loves the sequel to the brilliant Halo, while part of me is disappointed by it.
Of course, you are once again put in the shoes of Master Chief as you embark on another adventure that has you battling the Covenant, the Flood, and a host of new foes such as the Brutes. However, unlike in Halo 1, you are put in control of yet another hero--the Arbiter, a Covenant Elite who has been held responsible for the fall of Halo from Halo 1. I won't divulge the story for the few of you who have yet to play campaign, but understand that a considerable ammount of your time on campaign will be assigned to the Arbiter.
Moving away from the story, Halo 2 play brilliantly. Just as smooth as the first Halo, but with some new features such as the ability to dual-wield certain weapons, and the ability to hi-jack enemy vehicles. Everything action is easy to execute, allowing for engaging fire-fights and vehicle warfare.
As for the weaponry and vehicles, themselves--they are fairly unchanged. Most of the weapons that appeared on the original Halo are back for Halo 2--and upgraded (i.e. Rocket Launchers lock-on feature). Not all the weapons are upgraded, though--nor do they all reappear from the original Halo (standard pistol, assault rifle have been scrapped, for example). Like the weapons, the vehicles are pretty much the same. The warthog, ghost, banshee, and scopion tank each makes a return. In addition to the "old" vehicles, there are a few new one's as well. The Wraith tanks you saw on Halo 1--well, you can now drive them, yourself. Horray! Also, there are a few varieties of warthogs (now equipped with a horn!), etc.
Now, for the my thoughts on the game. I'll keep this brief. Halo 2 has a disappointing campaign. The story is better, but the campaign itself is not. Too much time is spent AWAY from Master Chief as you control the Arbiter. Also, there are less "WOW" moments on Halo 2 then there were on Halo 1. Campaign is decent, but definitely a disappointment given Halo 1's greatness.
Multiplayer is where Halo 2 shines. Xbox Live via Halo 2 is sensational. Great customizable options for matchmaking, a neat ranking system, and easy-to-join games makes it a must-play for Xbox owners. If for nothing else, buy Halo 2 for online play...nuff' said.
Create an Account
Member Login
