Halo 2 for Xbox

Halo 2 begins where the first left off. Master Chief (the character you control) and the military must protect Earth from an invasion by the Covenant. The Covenant is a bunch of plasma gun carrying aliens trying to get revenge on humans for destroying Halo (a mega-weapon that could potentially destroy all life). The story moves along with cut-scenes between missions, but ultimately it doesn t pull everything together. The poor dialog, the introduction of other beings, and a few other surprises are cheap efforts at trying to bring something fresh to the series. But then again this is Halo 2, and as far as I m concerned, I don t need a freaking story when I got great gameplay.

Gameplay
Campaign gameplay focuses on meeting a handful of objectives and fulfilling those needs in any way possible. Tasks include securing strong points, eliminating enemies, penetrating bases, and rescuing soldiers. Along the way you ll stumble upon flocks of Covenant resistance. But the vast array of weapons, vehicles, and infantry support will aid in your victory. Machine guns, rifles, grenades, pistols, and enemy weapons can be picked up and used to your advantage. Vehicles found along the way also generate additional firepower and fast getaways, while stationed torrents serve as perfect killing spots. Computer controlled soldiers also do their job by providing cover and supplying weapons.

Several enhancements have been made to the guns and gameplay. The first biggie is the ability to fire two weapons at the same type. Dual wielding adds a bit more strategy to the fighting. Firing two weapons means you ll inflict more damage but limits functions such as throwing grenades. The inclusion of a few new guns also spices things. A collection of the Covenant s best weapons can now be used on the battlefield. The Brute Shot makes for a nifty grenade launcher and the Energy Sword is powerful lightsaber that can kill an enemy instantly. The second most notable feature is the ability to jump into vehicles occupied by enemies. These hijackings allow you to throw grenades into a tank or simply punch a person off their ride.

Improvements in other areas of Halo s gameplay are apparent. Although still goofy at times, enemy AI manages to pack a mean punch. They take cover behind structures, dodge grenades, sneak around corners, and try to run you over with vehicles. One thing that many people complained about in the first game was the level design. This time around environments are much more versatile and flow at a nice pace. Hallways and rooms are equally matched with outdoor landscapes that are filed with boxes, shields, trees, and vegetation. The repetitiveness factor shows up a bit near the end, but other than that the levels are easy on the eyes.

Xbox Live
The biggest new feature to Halo 2 is the addition of online play. The online mode is a bit different from other games I ve played on Xbox Live. Online modes include Slayer (deathmatch), Team Battle, and Head-to-Head. There are different variations for each game, but these are just the basics. Instead of picking a server and joining any game you want, Bungie (developers of the game) decided to do everything for you. Bungie chose to implement a matchmaking system that organizes games. Each player is ranked. Beginners are ranked at 1 and play against gamers in that skill range. Winning matches increases your rank and allows you to play against tougher opponents. Being ranked at 8 for example, lets you play against people ranked 6, 7, 10 and so on. But there s a cut off number that determines who you play against. A person ranked 8 can t play against someone at 2 or someone at 16. Make sense?

This matchmaking system means you have no control over what type of game you play when selecting Quickmatch or Optimatch. Selecting one of these modes will automatically throw you in a room with the same skill level of players and all aspects of the game, such as weapons and levels, are automatically selected. As a result, these restrictions and player ranks are supposed to create balanced and competitive games. But if the randomness of these modes doesn t sit well, you can create your own matches. The catch is that only people you invite from your friends list or from your clan can participate. The good thing is that ranking doesn t matter and 16 people can play together.

There are a few things I don t like about the online interface. I hate not being able to select a specific game type or level that I want to play. On Slayer, Optimatch limits you to 6 minutes, 8 players, and 5 maps. Optimatches are also limited to certain venues. There were times when I played the same level four times in a row. As for the levels, they re nothing spectacular but are decent arenas for the game types they host. I was a bit puzzled that there are around 10 levels total. Considering Bungie spent so long making the game, I don t know why there aren t 20 or 30 maps. Nonetheless, it s still a fun online experience.

*UPDATE* On 12/1/04, Bungie revamped their matchmaking playlist and included a few more levels and options to Slayer and other modes. There has also been an increased amount of time for matches and modes like Team Slayer and Rumble Training have been added.

Graphics
There s very little to complain about when it comes to the graphics though. Everything looks much brighter and detailed compared to its predecessor. I doubt the visuals will win any awards, but it s just a nice game to look at. Trees and plants are lush while slick enemy and ally movements fill the screen with eye candy. The framerate keeps up with the action and hardly slows down. Again, everything just looks good.

Sound
Sound for the most part holds its ground. Voice acting and comments on the field are funny and passionate. Gunshots and explosion sound effects echo through the environments and fill the air with tension. The music has changed quite a bit. The original concentrated on a orchestrated score with several ambient pieces thrown in the mix. Halo 2 sticks with the same formula and adds more rock and electronic elements. Most of the music is good. A couple of songs fall flat here and there, but the ambient tracks that contain chanting and moody synthesizers make up for a few of the misses. Lastly, I couldn t hear anything during the cut-scenes. A majority of the speech was inaudible because of the high music volume.

Overall
Halo 2 excels on many levels. On one side, you have a well-crafted single player campaign that has enough surprises and excitement to keep you coming back for more. It s just a shame the story doesn t hold up with the intense action. Then there s the online play that feels a bit incomplete in some areas but delivers an entertaining multiplayer experience. All and all, this is one of the best Xbox games released this year. The great visuals, online capabilities, and solid gameplay make it a must buy for Xbox owners.