Now THIS is a proper remaster. Unlike certain other remasters on the current-gen, The difference between the original Halo 2 and Anniversary is like night and day. Everything is built from scratch, so detailed and pristine. Toggling between the graphics with a click of a button makes me appreciate the work they've done. The all-new cutscenes look absolutely cinematic. Other companies can learn a lot from this gem, namely the ones who would just upscale their game to 4K, change the lighting and call it a 'remaster'.
The game itself though...is by far one of the perfect sequels out there. It does everything a sequel must do, both as a game and a story. It jump-starts from right where we left off in Halo: CE, and we're immediately shown the consequences of previous events. The lore is better explored, the characters are more fleshed out, and the stakes have become even higher.
Apart from the beloved Master Chief, We also get to play an all-new character, the Arbiter. Gameplay-wise he's not different from Chief, other than being equipped with cloaking tech. But it offers a refreshing perspective, giving us the chance to see from the eyes of what used to be the enemy. It's not an easy task to juggle two characters in one story, But the writers and developers did a fantastic job, without ever sacrificing the pacing.
The gunplay remains identical to Halo: CE; no need to fix what's already perfect. The only major addition being the ability to dual-wield weapons. And the introduction of the most iconic coolest weapon of the series: the Energy Sword.
A sequel game should always improve upon the shortcomings of the predecessor, and Halo 2 did just that. They address the two criticisms I had with Halo: CE; the first being the repetitive level design. This time the game takes you across the universe and each mission have a unique map with different terrains and layouts. It never became tedious and I never felt like I'm going through the same rooms over and over. There are new enemy types as well, namely the brutes who play a big part in the story.
My 2nd nitpick from Halo: CE, the Flood returns. But they're used sparingly throughout the game, So it didn't become a mindless zombie shooter as Halo: CE did halfway through. Don't remind me of that infamous 'The library' mission...
Everyone's favorite vehicles also return, with driving mechanics smooth as ever. I can't stress enough how fun it is to drive a Warthog, fly a Banshee or destroy everything in sight with a tank. Another thing I love about vehicle segments is that in MOST cases, it is optional. If you want to raise the challenge for yourself you can proceed on foot, and face the enemy with a pistol rather than with a tank.
Much like with Halo: CE Anniversary we get new terminal cinematic cutscenes, this time going deeper into exploring the history of the covenant and stories of certain characters.
All in all, Halo 2: Anniversary is the perfect remaster for the perfect sequel. Play it. NOW.
RATE: 9/10