Halo 2 - Xbox
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About this item
- 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!
- Works with an Xbox 360 console
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Old Skool Xbox Controller S-Type Wired Game Pad - Black
Product information
| ASIN | B00008J7NZ |
|---|---|
| Release date | November 9, 2004 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #32,720 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #159 in Xbox Games |
| Pricing | The strikethrough price is the List Price. Savings represents a discount off the List Price. |
| Product Dimensions | 7.75 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 8.15 Ounces |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Language | English |
| Rated | Mature |
| Item model number | XBMSFT 805529792234 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
| Item Weight | 8.1 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
| Batteries | Lithium Metal batteries required. |
| Date First Available | June 21, 2006 |
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Product Description
Product Description
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.
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
From the Manufacturer
"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 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.
See more pictures 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 game's vast landscapes.
See more pictures 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 game 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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Why such a late start you ask. Well, I was never impressed with the amount of hype the Halo series seemed to garner especially since it seemed Bungie ripped off every FPS convention that was the de facto standard on the PC, slap it on to a console FPS (some of which the Dreamcast could claimed to have been there and done that) and have it acclaimed as revolutionary. All gripes aside though, I started with ODST, moved to Reach and just beat CE: Anniversary. Now that I'm towards the end of Halo 2, I think I can insert my thoughts on this game on Amazon's review section.
I admit, the Halo series is fun. It's not the be-all, end-all of FPS games but it is very well done. Halo 2 is no exception. For a game that turning seven this year, it looks fantastic. I'm playing it on my Xbox 360 via a Sony KDS-60A2000 60 inch HDTV. If I didn't know any better, this game could serious pass itself as a very early 360 title. It looks fantastic; had I played this in 2004 the graphics would have blown me away in the same fashion Metroid Prime and RE4 did. It's really a rough sneak preview in types graphical wonders that are commonplace in games circa 2010 and 2011. Not to mention, this game is leaps and bounds better looking than its predecessor, in that game's original, un-remade form.
Now, all graphical gushing aside, I must admit the single player mode is very short. I have managed to reach one of the last levels of the game in just two, albeit, long gaming sittings. That being said, what is present in this short game is good but not without a one annoying flaw.
My biggest, and really only, gripe about this game is the predictability of it. It seems you are thrown into a scenario with some exploration, then you get bogged down in a room or two slaughtering enemy, after enemy, after enemy, after enemy, boss. Rinse and repeat until you get to the end. Sure, there are sprinklings of vehicular combat - which is very welcome considering the limited amount of vehicles you commandeer in Halo: CE - which give Halo 2 a break in the monotony.
Unfortunately, being that it's 2011, I totally missed out on online multiplayer. I remember some of my friends loving their LAN parties with the original Halo and also hearing what an excellent experience Halo 2 was on Xbox Live. I believe them, especially if it was anything like current online Halo exploits. I really wish I was better online though, or at least had a mouse or even Wii Remote type of device on the 360 as that'd give me a more competitive edge and precision over analog sticks.
The music is great as is the sound. There was an odd piece during one of the banshee fights that seemed out of place though. Also, the SMG sounds very weak compared the the Aliens-esque sounding assault rifle in the original Halo.
Anyway, enough rambling. Halo 2 is a very enjoyable game is still a lot of fun in 2011.
Halo 2 is better than but very similar to the original Halo. New weapons and vehicles are introduced, as well as dual wielding. While dual wielding adds a lot of depth and variety to your fighting strategy, the controls for dual wielding were somewhat unintuitive. Halo 3 fixed this, and those who say Halo 2's controls were better only say so because they have played it for so long that switching, even to better controls, is hard.
Story wise, Halo 2 was a massive improvement to the original, adding beautiful video cut scenes and a riveting plot, but it did repeat a little of the same story as the first, at one point even re-including the same tedious level (The Library) as you once again try (and fail) to save the world in exactly the same way you did before. Once again, Halo 3 improved on this. Some people didn't like playing as the Arbiter, as they wanted to hate the enemy, and playing as the Covenant rebels made it hard to hate them. I rather enjoyed the new weapon options, new enemies, and new storyline.
The music is spectacular, with many new and gorgeous tracks and arrangements added to the good of the original, many of which are still considered the best of the series and best of all video games. Halo 3 redid most of them with a live orchestra, so if you are an audiophile, Halo 3 is the version you want to listen to, though there are a few good tracks not repeated, and only to be found in Halo 2.
Graphically, Halo 2 still looks good, but you can tell it was made for the original xbox. Still good enough to play, the old graphics have their charms. If you are a sucker for graphics, and don't find any charm in antiquity, you would probably do better getting the remastered version, though it is full of glitches and does not feel the same as the original.
Online, Halo 2 was one of the most popular games ever, and was played by loyalists until online support was cut by Microsoft, this despite three newer Halo's had been made. Some may say it is hard to change, but it really is that good of a game that who can fault them? System linking is still possible.
If you like first person shooters, and liked the original, this is a must play. If you like first person shooters, and want something that feels different than Call of Duty or Battlefield, this will do it. If you like a good story, this will suit you, though you need to play Halo 3 to finish it. If you like dual wielding, Halo 2 and Halo 3 are the only ones in the series with it. In short, unless the first halo was too graphic for you, buy and play this game. Play through with a friend on your couch. you will not regret it.
note: for it to work in 360 you need an official xbox 360 hard disk, because it comes with a partition of the original xbox emulator. Without this the game will not boot.
if you do not have original hdd, you can install emulator using Explorer360 tool and a backup of the partition. you can google how to do this is very simple.
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Reviewed in Mexico 🇲🇽 on March 3, 2017

















