Ureview by: stinkipete
Ureview points: 12
Ureviewer since: February 2006
|
Reviewed On: Friday February 17, 2006
Price paid: $8.00
| Rating: 9 | Recommends product: Yes
|
Halo2 has stormed onto the FPS gaming field. Following the success of the original Halo, this sequel offers a much better online service, with a more creative storyline and better AI all mixed with tons of easter eggs and hidden secrets which have developed a wide online community where everyone can find something to enjoy. In the following review, my aim is to display to you exactly why Halo2 is so good, and also, the key areas that
Single Player/Story...
The aim of Halo2's story, in relation to its predecessor, was to offer a much more realistic environment whilst keeping the player involved and interested. On the whole, this objective has been acheived, as the plotline involves many twists and the introduction of the arbiter as a playable character came as a great surprise to most.
Although the addition of a new character added much more functionality to the game (especially since you can now play as an elite in MP), I personally find it quite a bore and would much prefer to play the game completely as a human. I'm not saying another character shouldn't be used, just that if you could choose which character you wanted to play as the game would open so many new doors, particularly in MP mode.
Multiplayer/Online
The multiplayer gameplay is not far removed from the way Halo PC used to be online. The action moves at a reasonable pace, but you don't feel overwhelmed as a noobie. The weapon choice is quite good and sniping is challenging yet satisfying and fun. Bungie's live service is fantastic to ssay it's an original xbox game, with online player tracking services, a great selection of ranked games and a fantastic custom game option. There are so many customisable options and the ability to have more than two teams (A la Halo PC) gives the party leader so many more options.
For me, the weapon choice is good, but not fantastic. Although the new weapons are great when you first see them (Brute shot, Energy Sword), the player soon realises their limits and they become tedious. A brute shot (for example) seems fantastic at first, but try using it at range and you dont stand a chance once you get up the rankings.
On the other hand, I feel that the vehicle choice is better than ever. The adition of the wraith and spectre as drivable gives many more options for assault, and the new Gauss Hog is fantastic whilst evading a horde in a frantic custom game of Zombies.
The maps are also fantastic, but what's even better is the release of more downloadable maps from xbox live. This brings up another point for me, as I feel that more weapons, models and vehicles should have been available for download, giving the game a much greater lifespan.
Extras
Halo2 contains many extras, all of which increase its lifespan greatly. Bungie's addition of "skulls" as easter eggs gave the game a kind of challenge mode, with players searching every part of a level in an effort to find them. My personal favourite easter egg has to be the scarab gun though, as it takes some serious co-op effort to obtain it, and brings the Covenant a whole new world of pain when it's found.
However, these single player easter eggs are not the most fun extras in the game, as Bungie either willingly or unwillingly have spawned a whole new gaming community: Glitching. In Halo2, "glitching" (finding and exploiting bugs in the game) consists primarily of "getting out" of maps. A particular example is getting onto the rooves of Headlong, or getting below the new map Gemini. This ability increases the game's lifespan for two reasons: 1) Gamers will try to find every glitch possible and 2) An enormous sense of satisfaction is gained whilst doing some of the harder glitches. I seriously recommend trying glitching if you haven't already. add stinkipete on xbox live if ya wanna learn some.
Overall, Halo2 is a fantastic game for all FPS fans. The matchmaking playlists on live offer both all-out wars and tactical assaults, and the single player just keeps you coming back, especially with the enormous amount of extras.
Scores:
Graphics: 8
Maybe a 7, I'm not sure...not the best, certainly not the worst.
Gameplay: 10
Fantastic in both SP and MP.
Online: 9
More downloadable content needed!
Options/Customisation: 9
Again, with more content, this would reach 10.
Overall: 9
Great game, credit to Bungie. Roll on H3!
| |
| Pros: Great online community and services, intruiging and creative plotline, new customisation abilities. |
|
| Cons: Some really annoying people on Live every now and then (more now than then;)), weapon selection could do with expanding, full functionality of Live not made good use of (the live service is good, but could be better) |
|
|
Ureview by: npr6933
Ureview points: 2
Ureviewer since: September 2006
|
Reviewed On: Wednesday September 20, 2006
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 0 | Recommends product: Yes
|
Halo 2 is a very good game to play, but in my openion it isent as good as the first, i did like the fact that you can now use two weapons at the same time, and you get to play two differant charetors.
I thank they should have changed the story line around a little bit, if follows the first game too much, they just added a couple other features to it, but it was still an exieting game to play.
I will buy the next one that comes out i have become addicted to hallo. i would recommend buying this game if you havent already.
| |
| Pros: good graphics, good role playing game, good story line. |
|
| Cons: story line can get confusing at times |
|
|
Ureviews RSS Feed
; "standard_final_3D.jpg")
; "standard_2D_hi-res.jpg")
; "egm_wallpaper_1024.jpg")
; "halo2_oxm_1024.jpg")
