After thoughts on HALO2 (some spoilers inside)

[LittlePaintballBoy]

Here's what I think of HALO2 so far. Some thpughts are also of my friends I have been playing with.

Good stuff

~I really like the energy swords. And when they run out of juice and you go to fists I like them all the better.
~I like the double handed shooting. 2 SMG's in multiplayer is insane.
~The wider variety of guns on campaign. Lotsa more guns to pick up.
~Being able to play as the covenant! I loved it, added more variety to the game IMO.
~More awesome vehicles to drive on each map are pretty sweet.
~More customizable stuff for your profile.
~Balancing out of weapons. Pistol needed to be shut down a little in DMG department, but I am glad it is faster now.
~Getting to go back and fight on the ring.
~Vehicle jacking > Your soul.

Bad Stuff

~Not digging the whole flashlight thing. WTF is up with that? It just goes off after a while.
~Return of the flood. Bungie could've just killed 'em off and everyone would have pretended to forget and all would be fine. But someone apparently has a black hole for a heart at bungie studios.
~At the same time, my friends don't like playing as the covenant. They really prefer the human campaign.
~All the features taken out of the customize menu for game modes. I dunno if we are just missing something, but we can't find anything about unlimited nades, more health, or anything that we usually use for our favorite modes on HALO.
~It's really frigging dark on all the mutiplayer maps.
~The Multiplayer maps are so cluttered. The multiplayer is AMAZING, but most of the maps are so dark and thick with stuff you can't even play with less than 6 people or so.
~SMG could be a bit more powerful, and I don't really like the burst-only thing with the AR


Overall it is a great game, but as much as I say it I don't think it is all it was hyped up to be. Definately one of the best games i've played in the last year or so, though.

Feel free to post your own comments.

[Python14]

I just got back from playing it for 11 hours straight. I agree with most of what you said.

About my only disagreement is that the maps were too dark. Some of them were, but most of them were fine.....especially if you play in the dark. Infact, after playing for so long, it was easier on my eyes than playing with brighter maps.

[TraXeR]

Just picked up my copy of the Limited Edition. Just watched the intro vid and now I just started the game, I'm about to start the first little battle. So far I love the menu layout and how good everything looks.


... I'm freaking 8 foot tall.

[LittlePaintballBoy]

I just got back from playing it for 11 hours straight. I agree with most of what you said.

About my only disagreement is that the maps were too dark. Some of them were, but most of them were fine.....especially if you play in the dark. Infact, after playing for so long, it was easier on my eyes than playing with brighter maps.

For the most part it was with us too, but that last part. We also played in the dark, picked it up at 12 and played for the last six hours or so.

[Fred]

Bad Stuff

~Not digging the whole flashlight thing. WTF is up with that? It just goes off after a while.
~Return of the flood. Bungie could've just killed 'em off and everyone would have pretended to forget and all would be fine. But someone apparently has a black hole for a heart at bungie studios.
~At the same time, my friends don't like playing as the covenant. They really prefer the human campaign.
~All the features taken out of the customize menu for game modes. I dunno if we are just missing something, but we can't find anything about unlimited nades, more health, or anything that we usually use for our favorite modes on HALO.
~It's really frigging dark on all the mutiplayer maps.
~The Multiplayer maps are so cluttered. The multiplayer is AMAZING, but most of the maps are so dark and thick with stuff you can't even play with less than 6 people or so.
~SMG could be a bit more powerful, and I don't really like the burst-only thing with the AR

Flashlight thing?
Havn't gotten to the flood yet, but I figured they would...
Multiple Campaigns = Totally sweet!
Havn't played multiplayer yet, but unlimited grenades got old REALLY fast in the first one.
Darkness is good...

I agree on the SMG, but I really dig the burst mode, it makes it much easier to rock on Elites, hosing them in the first one was very ineffective, using the original AR in short bursts would always drop their shield faster (with less ammo wasted hosing).


I only played for about 2.5 hours last night... I had to get to work today...

Added: I totally agree with all your good comments!

---Fred

[FragTek]

Havn't played multiplayer yet, but unlimited grenades got old REALLY fast in the first one.
---Fred

No one forced you to use unlimited grenades... Thus it being an option so people that wanted to create new gameplay modes with it enabled could.

I think that it's really shiesty of Bungie to take away some of the key features features of Halo 1 when creating Halo 2.

[Fred]

True, I concede the point.

However... might it be an unlockable thing?

---Fred

[LittlePaintballBoy]

Fred: Haven't you noticed the flashlight not staying on? Our always just turns off in the middle of stuff which gets very annoying.

[Bluestrike_2]

Make the text white in color. Highlight to view. Some might want to read opinions, but not spoilers. You sucked me in. I figured you'd make 'em white.

Does this board have spoiler tags?

[spoiler]Hope so[/spoiler]


See, WHITE!

[LittlePaintballBoy]

Sorry bro, lol I really thought people would see "some spoilers inside" and figure there would be spoilers

[Archangel Kid]

I LOVE looking down and seeing my feet I think that is awesome. Anyone else notice how HIGH you jump? I feel like I can jump over a building . Ohhhh well only 2 more hours of school, been running on 3 hours of sleep THANK YOU BUNGIE I LOVE YOU!

[LittlePaintballBoy]

I forgot that! Not being able to see your feet has been a major gripe of mine in almost every FPS made (as stupid as it sounds) and I just love how they put it in HALO2!

And you do jump noticeably higher

[Fred]

I always turn my flashlight off until I see movement... i assume you do know that having the flashlight on makes you a whole lot less stealthy...

Is there a flashlight power-meter? i didn't notice one...

the shield bar in the lower left corner bugs me, i'm so used to seeing it in the upper right.

I think the new Grenade display is a big improvement!

---Fred

[TraXeR]

After playing it for about 5 hours ive started to really get into the game. Thus my point of view as follows:

Pros:
-New health system takes some getting used to, but is much easier since you dont need health packs
-Battle rifle sucks at first, after you realize how much damage it can do with well placed shots, you love it
-Dual weilding the smg is simply awesome
-The graphics are much better on my HDTV
-The cutscenes are amazing
-The plot has much improved and thus has the storyline
-Grenades seem more realistic (do more splash damage, you odnt throw them 800 yards, etc)
-Vehicles movement is much faster albeit a little more arcadish
-The menus, options, and mission objectives are much better layed out and easier to use
-Ability to jack vehicles is a never ending source of fun
being able to take the covenant in campaign mode really amazes me
-Power sliding the warthog is very fun
- Energy sword

Cons:
-The scorpion is now just lame, too powerful and way too fast shooting
-No online co-op
-The vehicle entry on the warthog is much slower
-Allies control the warthog like morons
-Allies really aren't much help
-Levels feel shorter overall


Overall, while it didn't live up to the hype (nothing really ever does), but far exceeding its prequel in gameplay and online ability. Halo 2 didn't 'reinvent the wheel' for XBox, but it still is an amazing game.

I'd give it a score of "9.3/10"

[gibby]

Does the game allow link up co-op play? If so, online co-op play is solved by way of xbconnect.

https://www.xbconnect.com

I've tried it before with Halo 1 and UT and it worked out pretty good.