Product ReviewsHalo 2 (Xbox, 2004)

Talk about fun... Played it straight through

Let me get the complaints outta the way. There aren't that many. The ONLY thing I don't like about this game, is the analog aiming and firing. If only this game was on a PC. Besides that, plenty of action, story, and fun to go around. This game is a total blast. For all you Halo fans, this is a must play. Beautiful graphics, easy to learn controls, I had hours of fun on this one. That's just the single player. Get online and play some real people, and this game's replay value shoots throught the roof. Enjoy!Read full review...

Great classic game, expect minor tech issues.

Disc is a little damaged and has some graphics and audio quality issues but that is to be expected from a 15+ year old game.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: decluttr_store

I love this game

Fantastic game, probably the best Bungie has ever released. Halo 2 truly brought in the era of online console gaming, and was a smashing success for Microsoft and their newly released Xbox live. This game incorporates many multiplayer features found in the first real multiplayer PC game, Counter Strike. The campaign is detailed, linking past and future games in the Halo franchise, and the game is well-polished. Even though Halo 1 and Halo 2 were made for the same console, there is a striking difference in detail and graphics for the second. Highly recommended game.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: goodwillofsouth...

Halo 2

Fun game with lots of action and a twist. This is a first person shooter, but this time you get to use both hands. However, this can be tricky, becuase you have to throw down a weapon to use grenades. The twist is the story line switches back from the Master Chief (human) to an alien (elite - arbiter). As you play both parts things begin to unravel for all and you end up back at earth to finish the fight.

The story line in Halo 2 develops a bridge between Halo and Halo III.

You'll love some of the cinematic scenes. Some of the gaming scenes could be better.Read full review...

Halo 2 (Xbox)

HALO 2 is the sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo Combat Evolved. In HALO 2, the saga continues as Master Chief a genetically enhanced super soldier is the only thing standing between the relentless Covenant and the destruction of all humankind, all of which we already know!

Halo 2, possibly the most anticipated game of all time, is finally here. Bungie and Microsoft have done their part to make sure everyone sees and knows what Halo 2 is, and they've done a good job of it. But with increased hype comes high expectations. Halo 2 has been praised by fans as the game to get for 2004 and even the greatest game of all time before it was even released. So does it live up to the hype? And is LIVE enabled multiplayer as good as it gets? On with the review…

The single player mode is, of course, the bread and butter of any game (excluding party games). It's what makes or breaks a game. At its core, the campaign mode of Halo 2 remains very similar to that of the original. That's definitely not a bad thing as Halo's campaign mode was what made it such an outstanding game. But that's not to say that the gameplay is without updates and additions. Bungie wanted to show that they did not forget about the single player mode and they have done a good job. Tactical fighting becomes even more important in this game due to the new additions and changes. Combat is more refined and the levels feel more varied. One of the biggest changes the player will notice is that the health bar has now been reduced to just one bar instead of a bar plus multiple heath cells. Most of the levels are greatly designed, with areas that are perfect of standoffs or all out gunfights. The AI has been vastly improved upon. Enemies are even smarter and they will use their own unique strategies against you… Even the simplest fights can lead to your demise. Friendly AI has also been improved and your allies now have the ability to drive vehicles (though not very well). Additions to the weapons arsenal were expected, and the game delivers. The new weapons are great to use and many of the returning weapons have been reworked. The duel wielding ability adds a new twist to combat but doesn't necessarily make things any easier. The updates to the weaponry department means those old tactics of yours might not work anymore. There is more importance on the use of vehicles, which leads to some really fun levels. The physics have received some updates as well, everything moves very realistically. The rag-doll physics on enemies are excellent. You'll also take on the role of someone other then Master Chief during some missions, which leads to some refreshing levels and gameplay elements. The campaign mode feels very balanced for the most part. Bungie went the extra mile to remove the long load times between levels so that the action flows undisturbed. But this is rather pointless as each level starts out very slowly and eventless. There are some others flaws with the gameplay as well, including some returning ones. Some missions seem as if they are endless and continue to drag-on. The AI tends to become predictable midpoint through the game and the friendly AI is useless at times. Lengthwise, the campaign mode is still pretty short... less than 15 hours in normal difficultly. Of course, the co-op mode and 'Legendary' difficulty will definitely ask for another play through or two. All and all, Halo 2 really rocks and will forever !Read full review...

Halo 2: The disappointing sequel

Yes, I have played both Halo and Halo 2. When Halo hit the Xbox it went off and running sending sales figures through the roof. I can understand why with the superior Xbox graphics capabilities and awesome gameplay in either single player mode or death matches. But Halo 2 doesn't live up to that of its predecessor. They've only added a couple of new weapons, that being the alien sword and alien gun. And the ability to dual wield handguns. Other than that its just like the original with in my opinion the same type of graphics. So Halo 2 can be summed up as a mini upgrade to the original Halo. For the folks who were expecting to enter a totally new gaming experience were left unsatisfied like myself. The new additional maps and Xbox live support also were a plus, but like I said: if all this game has to offer is just plug-in/patch type of features to the original, why not just wait for Halo 3 on the Xbox 360 and save your money.Read full review...

If you Like good stories in games this Game is for you!

http://www.toysnjoys.com/importxbox/halo2.jpg
Halo 2 review
by
CLOUDNICK91

Now of course if you are like me ...or anyother person for that matter...you will love this game..i love this game....i've been entrapted in the Halo universe since the first game came out..i thought what a phenomenal story ....it's so compelling.The game was not only a magnificent FPS game, it's story was in a whole universe by itself. Just plain put - AMAZING!.
Move Forward 3 years and now we have Halo 2 .Now you must be thinking hey it's HALO 2!","this game is going to be awesome!" you are right you shouldn't ever hesitate to buy this game if you don't already don't own it.But i will say this.
"This gaming age has been the age of FPS games".

REVIEW.

Story
The opening cutscene shows the two major plot threads that will progress through Halo 2: the fate of Master Chief, Sergeant Johnson, and the rest of the human forces, which includes Commander Miranda Keyes, the daughter of the late Captain Jacob Keyes, and Lord Hood, apparently a ranking official in UNSC; and the fate of an unnamed gold Covenant Elite we come to know as The Arbiter, who was in command of the Covenant forces at Halo installation 04 and is consequently disgraced, accused of heresy, and then secretly sent on a special mission by the three Prophet Hierarchs of the Covenant: Truth, Mercy, and Regret.The Covenant Finally Find earth and Launch an Assault on the outer Orbital MAC stationary guns and send Dropships to Earth,INVASION.The Covenant Use the Ground troops, to board the UNSC's orbital stations and ships as a distraction to Plant bombs on the ships.Once they realize it , the Covenant have already planted bombs on several of the UNSC's SHIPs,Few of them explode....The Master Chief decides to give the Covenant a little suprise, One of their own bombs.

I wouldn't want to spoil any more of the story than i have to . All i can say is that it's magnificent. The best Story in a video game i've seen in years.

STORY SCORE 10/10

Graphics
Why are some people complaining about the graphics? The character models have normal mapping everywhere. They look so much better. Clothes have realistic folds and look amazing. The facial animations have been improved, heck, the animations just in general have been improved. Characters move much more fluently. I really loved all of the death animations and rag doll physics. Some of the ways that enemies die look really cool and sometimes funny. The textures have got better. Not much better since Halo 1 still has, arguably, the best textures in any video game.The only real problem is the facial textures in cutscenes.This is truly the only flaw this game has.
SCORE.9/10

Sound.
I will only say a little about this.
"AMAZING!!.Marty Mc'Donald's soundtrack is simply amazing! It adds so much depth and emotion to the story of the game. If anyone deserves ALOT of credit for making this game amazing it's HIM.
score.10/10

Gameplay.
What bungie basically did with HALO 2 is take the HAVOC physics engine and turn it into something amazing,the weapons control is better than ever . and plus you get a little auto aimer for those people who have a hard time aiming at their enemies with their controllers.you get very presise controls, very tight, you press a button it happens like BANG! no button lag.The best part is ..........*drools* melee attacking.
score
10/10

overall
you should buy this game , if you like .
FPS games,great stories..and great graphics this game is forRead full review...

**Halo 2 Review Guide**

The Good

* Some of the best first-person shooter gameplay in the business
* Outstanding multiplayer features--tons of fun modes and customization options
* Incredible audio--music and sound effects both major highlights
* Impressive artificial intelligence
* Co-op mode tons of fun.

The Bad

* Disappointing story
* Short campaign
* Some unsightly graphical issues
* No co-op online.

Halo 2, the long-awaited sequel to one of the most widely praised, most influential first-person shooters ever created, has a very tough act to follow. Fortunately, it's built on a foundation that's as strong as they come. The game's success was preordained--publisher Microsoft tallied more than 1.5 million Halo 2 preorders in the weeks leading up to the game's release, which demonstrates just how confident Halo's fans are in the sequel's quality. But how is it, really? The good news is, the sequel to the Xbox's defining action game is an absolutely superb, fully featured game, boasting an excellent presentation, a highly replayable campaign, and the greatest, most complete online multiplayer component in a console shooter yet. A surprisingly disappointing story and a fairly short single-player portion are noticeable shortcomings, but there's just so much breadth of content in Halo 2, and the action itself is so outstanding, that there can be no denying its quality. Overall, it's one of the very best action games available.

It's good to see you, Master Chief.

There are several reasons why the original Halo ranks up there with a very small number of other first-person shooters as one of the definitive games in the genre. For one thing, Halo succeeded at establishing a cohesive, memorable, and original science-fiction universe. For another, the Master Chief, Halo's cybernetic protagonist, made a great hero. A fearless, enigmatic man, the Chief could succeed where pure flesh-and-blood humans could not, and guiding him to victory against the alien menace known as the Covenant, as well as the parasitic creatures called the Flood, made for a gripping story and an intense and satisfying gameplay experience.

Halo's gameplay was amazing in that it seamlessly integrated top-notch first-person shooting with incredibly fun third-person vehicular sequences and outstanding friendly and enemy artificial intelligence. The game's subtle innovations--the tactical consequences of such things as having recharging energy shields, being able to carry only a couple of weapons at a time, the ability to throw powerful grenades in between shots, and the option of dishing out fierce melee attacks--also did a lot to differentiate Halo from other shooters, and proceeded to influence subsequent games. Halo's multiple, well-balanced difficulty settings, two-player cooperative campaign option, and assorted multiplayer modes also ensured that the game had tons of lasting appeal. All these factors contributed to the game's well-deserved success, and they're all back in Halo 2. For the most part, the sequel takes an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to its gameplay--everything that you loved about Halo's action is back in full effect here. At the same time, the handful of new additions in Halo 2 are well thought out and well implemented, enriching the gameplay and making it seem fresh but still familiar.

Everything that you maybe didn't love about Halo is pretty much back, too.
Overall Rating: 10 out of 10Read full review...

I have to say, The Best Game Ever

I have been playing video games for a very long time. It seems to be my passion. When the release of the first Halo game was made, I can honestly say that a second game would be needed to fulfill my desire for more alien shooting, heart pounding action. Finally, my wish was granted as Halo 2 was released. Not only have i played, and beaten this game, but I can’t seem to stop playing long after the release. The Campaign mode is wonderful with new weapons and better graphics. Even new characters arise in Halo 2, and evolutions of old characters. The new maps provide a very futuristic land of harsh American streets after an invading species has invaded. And the music for the game is wonderfully composed, it seems to be soothing at times, and keeps you at the edge of your seat for others.
The multi-player option is one of the most fun "get-together" activities you can share with friends. The new maps allow for more room to hide and sneak around without your opponent catching you. As well as new maps for a new experience every time you pick up the controller. In Halo 2, you can still play at some of your favorite maps including Blood Gulch, which has been renamed Coagulation. And the new weapons make it a lot more fun to hunt down your opponents and take him out while dual welding the SMG. And now, not only can you play as a Spartan, but you can now also play as an Elite in the multi-player option. As well as choose your armor colors, and logos.
To add to the multi-player experience, you can now go online with Halo 2 and play with people across the world from the comfort of your living room couch. I personally love the online feature as you can make your own clans, and communicate with your opponents through microphones that can be purchased for your Xbox game console. The best part about the online feature would have to be that with the new technology to download items onto your Xbox for extreme game play, the creators of Halo 2 have released all new sets of maps that can be purchased and downloaded onto your console without you having to leave the house.
I would have to say that Halo 2 beats any game around in the factor of hardcore action. And sooths your guilty pleasure of hunting down aliens, or your opponents in the multi-player option. Out of all of the games available on the Xbox console, Halo 2 is a must have.Read full review...

Halo 2, Everything Else is just a game

On board an UNSC Space Station, a lone Super Soldier gets outfitted with new equipment. Little does he know, that he has a long battle before him. This is the start of one of the greatests First Person Shooters ever to be created. The evil Covenant, aliens, attack Earth and it is up the the Master Chief to stop them. You battle on the streets of Earth to twart the aliens effort to take over. Then you jump to another character, the Arbiter, the Covenants equivalent of Master Chief. Here you battle against a faction of aliens who have rebelled against the war. You continue to fight as both the Arbiter and the Master Chief on various worlds and against various enemies, including the ever annoying Flood, a parasitic species of alien that caused the creation of the Halos, to prevent a widespread infestation. In your journeys, you utilize various weaponry to aid your assault on your enemy. Ranging from a Human Pistol to a Human Rocket Launcher, and a Covenant Pistol to a Covenant Plasma Cannon, you have a weapon for any mission. In your arsenal you also have a sword, which adds fun to the entire play of the game. Don't like to run everywhere you go? Then enlist the use of the games many vehihcles, including tanks, jeeps and hovercrafts. Battle your way through the levels, and end up in a battle for the universe when both the Covenant and Humans relize what the Halo rings really do. Then when you're done with the main game, head to multiplayer and battle it out with four friends, up to sixteen with LAN or battle it out online on Xbox Live and experience the true power of this game. There is downloadable content that enhances your gameplay and makes the whole experience fun. This game is rated Mature because of violence, blood and language and should not be played by gamers under the age of seventeen without parental consent. Now what are you waiting for, get the game and kick some alien behind.Read full review...