In all fairness, Halo 2 isn't the perfect game I had hoped for, but one still has to admire and respect the sequel Bungie has presented. First, this is a true sequel to one of the greatest games ever made, and the fact that it plays nearly precisely like the original is a compliment. Halo 2 controls as well as its predecessor and adds just enough content to the battle scenes to give us a taste of something new. Now, there are a lot of people who are really complaining that there just isn't enough new stuff going on and that it reflects a laissez-faire attitude on Bungie's part - the old "if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it" adage. Well, if I recall, the original Halo received nearly perfect review scores across the board when it came out. I simply cannot understand the logic behind the thoughts of people who trash this game because it hasn't changed enough. That isn't to say that it doesn't have gameplay flaws. There is still an overabundance of repetition in level designs. On more than one occasion, I found myself getting turned around in a level map and not being able to tell where I had to go or from whence I just came. Normally I'd chalk this up to me being a dunce, but I really think there was just too much of the same stuff going on, visually. There are several levels where this takes place and it gets pretty annoying. I definitely don't want to be told where I'm going in a game, but it seems that having a bunch of the same exact landmarks on a map or in a room can get a little confusing, even to the most attentive gamer. Out and out, Halo 2 looks like the original with a new coat of paint added. The enemies look interesting and, in my opinion, a little more defined and clear. Take the jackals, for example. I think they have more character, visually, in Halo 2 than in the original. I do have to admit that the cutscenes aren't as stunning as they should have been. While there are two schools of thought on cutscenes (those who favor FMV - Final Fantasy style, and those who favor in-engine scenes), I really think there could have been some more time put into to them, regardless of whether they kept it in-engine or went to FMV. I, personally, love the cutscenes of a FFX - brings a definite cinematic feel to the game. On the other hand, once you get past the bumps and glitches in Halo 2's, they really do a great job of drawing the viewer into the game. Overall I think they work. Again, the sound design is wonderful. As I professional musician and composer, I am very attentive to what's going on aurally in these games we play, and I think that Marty O'Donnell has done a tremendous job sucking the gamer in with his beautiful score. This music is in the upper echelon of any entertainment genre, whether it be games, film or theater. Wonderful. The sound effects and voice work are also top-notch. From the over-the-top Sergeat Johnson to the introspective Arbiter, I enjoyed every vocal inflection. The value of this game is something that could be highly debatable, and while I'm sure a lot of people might give the game a low score here due to the shortness of the campaign, I think it's really pretty above average. Multiplayer aside (which gives tremendous replay), we all have to realize that this isn't the end of the Halo story, it's seemingly only beginning. I was barely seeing when Empire Strikes Back came out, but I'm pretty sure some people were just left dumbfounded as they walked out of the theater - and I'm sure that dumbfoundedness brought on some distasteful reviews. In my opinion, Halo 2 does a wonderful job of moving the story along and is probably just the right length (campaign-wise) for what it is (unless, of course, Halo 2 is the last in the series. If this is the case, I retract the entire review!). Overall, I really believe that this sequel has done a more-than-passable job. Bungie had a lot of expectations to live up to and I think they did just that. There will be lovers and haters of great extremes, but any thoughtful person has to respect this game for what it is really about: fun.
By Madskillz999 | Review Date: Dec 23, 2005 | XBOX
I'm finally ready with the review of this awesome game! First off, this is obviously the sequel to the hugely popular initial Halo game. You are Master Chief, a space marine who is sent out to battle the enemies. You... Read Full Review
Halo 2 is a worthy sequel to Halo. While the story does lack in some parts, overall, the game is still excellent, one of the best games ever. To get the bad points out of the way, i didn't like the single player campaig... Read Full Review
