Halo 2

by Microsoft

Product 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!

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002A2S26
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches ; 11 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 9, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (255 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,100 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: Xbox | Edition: Limited

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 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 Rifle (the default weapon in the first game) 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 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 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 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

Product Description

Halo 2 Limited Edition 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! Special Limited Edition includes DVD with behind the scenes making of footage, deleted characters and cinematics, art gallery, developer commentary and more Comes in special edition tin case

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Halo 2 is merely an extention of the first, November 16, 2004

By 

Scott D. Gribble (Baltimore MD) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Halo 2 Limited Edition (Video Game)

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.

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best console FPS to date!, November 10, 2004

By 

happygamer - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Halo 2 Limited Edition (Video Game)

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

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Game, but didn't live up to the hype., November 13, 2004

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Halo 2 Limited Edition (Video Game)

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.

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