The long-awaited sequel to the most popular X-Box game ever has finally arrived. "Halo 2" brings new meaning to first-person shooter ... again.
The fact that it's an amazing game with a pioneering engine, sound and team-playing capacity is virtually a given. The questions to ask are: Was it what it was hyped up to be? Was it worth the wait?
Here's a rundown of some of "Halo 2's" finer upgrades.
The ability to Double-fist weapons is a much-needed improvement. While sporting two weapons takes grenades out of the game and counts as your back up weapon, it allows for some serious firepower in tight situations where there's plenty of ammo lying about.
The graphics have improved the overall suspension of disbelief. The first "Halo" certainly wasn't blocky, but its sequel is even smoother, adding more lifelike looks and features to both enemies and allies.
Intense drumbeats and a kind of Enya-esque vocals in the background add an interesting rhythm to the game play. There are even some samples from pop bands such as Incubus.
You are also able to delve into the mind of the enemy, playing as the failed general of the Halo defenses from the first game (called the Arbiter). With energy melee weapons and regenerating cloaking abilities, this does more than just flesh out the story, it offers a completely different character for multiplayer games as well.
The premise is very much the same -- kill the covenant, defend Earth and don't die doing it. However, the covenant seemed to have learned the art of tactical combat, as they now evade, regroup and invariably seek the high ground. Expect a couple of newbies, too, complete with snipers, fliers and some good ol' muscle.
The urban warfare is one of the biggest changes -- a welcome break from outer space (just as the crafted environments inside the Halo made the first one that much better than the same mundane spaceship).
The game itself is a bit short, however. Even with the extended plotlines, extra stages and cut scenes, it doesn't take more than 10 hours to beat on the normal setting. The cooperative play is once again a disappointment, since you can't save your progress (for reasons that completely elude me).
Granted, with four difficulty settings, a stellar multiplayer mode and online playing ability, "Halo 2" is bound to be as much a staple of the X-Box as the first one. Gamers will undoubtedly play the campaign a couple of times, but its greatest appeal is the plethora of multiplayer modes.
The game is $50 (as expected), with the special edition ringing in at $55. This was a smart and cool move by Microsoft, seeing as how they could have broken the invisible ceiling on this game and sold just as many at 60 or 70 bucks apiece.
In all, "Halo 2" is a fun time for anyone wanting to play it alone and an absolute must for any multiplayer fans. There won't be any shortage of players online for some time, and with a clan-based team system, there's plenty of room for old pros and amateurs alike.
Happy hunting.
Reach the reporter at darren.todd@cox.net
