Xbox 360 and Xbox Game Review

Halo 2

Halo 2 is out, and it Rocks!
All other video games pale in comparison! All hail Halo 2! Let the carnage begin.

Anybody who has played the Xbox knows about Halo. In fact, Halo is the reason that many people own an XBOX today. It's the game that set the standard for first person shooters, and in my opinion, one of the best video games ever made. From the very minute you finished Halo, you started thinking about when the talented crew at Bungie would release Halo 2. That's when the wait began.

With so much hype, and a bar set so high, how could the Halo team possibly beat the original?

The original Halo had it all. The best live action, a great story, phenomenal graphics, and a multi-player option that couldn't be beat. The only thing missing from Halo, was Xbox live.

So we waited. and we waited.. and we waited.

Meanwhile, those vidiots at Bungie were working magic, taking the game to a whole new level. Their philosophy was smart, take what works, and build upon it.

Halo 2 is everything you loved in Halo times 100.

You get to play both sides of the game now, the action is intense, the sound track perfect, it's the most worthy video game purchase you can make, but that's not all. This sequel includes many of the features players have been asking for, including new graphics, new environments and locations, new weapons, and cool new vehicles. They have added some cool new features like dual-wielding of weapons, destructible environments, and my favorite, vehicle boarding.

Not only is Halo 2 a great looking game, with all kinds of awesome features, but the Artificial Intelligence has improved. Your enemies will move smarter, using their environment for cover. They are more cunning and tactical in their attempts to blow you apart. The humans are smarter too, they point out trouble and know how to take cover. You'll find many improvements in the AI throughout the game.

The real star of Halo 2 is the multi-player, more specifically, the XBOX live. While I thoroughly enjoyed playing the campaign, the Halo 2 XBOX Live experience is by far the best online multi-player game, period. You get all the classic multi-player games including; Capture the Flag, Oddball, Race, King of the Hill, and Slayer. In addition they have added some new modes, including Assault and Territories, and every game is fully customizable.

The online multi-player menu allows for easily contacting your friends, even during match making, and a neat feature that I love is the Clan Administration and Party System. The party system will allow you to create or join a group of up to 16 players, who can then stick together all night as one solid unit. The party leader can decide on the rules, maps and weapons, or simply lead the party into an online game against other players or parties. Players can leave at any time, and if the party leader quits, those duties are simply transferred to another player.

The matchmaking feature puts players of the same skill level into matches with each other. You or your teams performance during a match will help or hurt your skill level and ranking.

Can you say "No Lag". O my god, it's been done. A game with virtually no lag. I have played with teams from all over the globe, and have yet to experience any notable lag during game play. Thank you Bungie!

Bungie took their time and made a great game. Their skill and effort has not gone unnoticed. I can only hope that other developers learn from their example and give us as much game as HALO 2 has for our money.

I love this game, and I bet you will too.

Bottom line: Buy it! But it now! Get XBox Live! and I'll see you in Halo 2.

Bob Narley
http://www.bobnarley.com

Online Hints:

1. Learn how to play the many different multiplayer games in practice mode. This way you can suck and it won't hurt your skill level and rank.
2. Form or join a party or clan. Playing together with the same guys, as a team, will improve your chances of winning. In team competitions, you all win or loose together. Teams that play well together always come out on top. Winning is key to improving your skill level.
3. Watch your radar. Watch your radar, even in a major firefight. Your radar is a great way to see where your enemies and teammates are in relation to you.
4. Mix up your weapons in duel wielding. Try different combinations of weapons when your duel wielding, using two of the same weapon is not always the most effective. A great combination is the plasma rifle and machine gun.
5. Wait to lock on the sword. The sword is a powerful weapon in the right hands. Hold the target on your enemy until the red light locks on and you can jump across the room and split them in half.
6. Drop the ball. Don't be afraid to drop the bomb, or the flag, and go to your guns to fight. If you backup is dead, running around with that flag isn't going to help much if the enemy is shooting at you. Drop what your carrying and fight. You can always pick it back up when your done. Smacking your opponent in the head with what your carrying works well in close quarters.
7. Learn the maps. Learn the maps by creating your own private party and exploring the terrain without enemies. This is a great way to learn where the weapons and hiding spots are.
8. Watch your Communication. Communicating with your teammates is essential for co-coordinating attacks and defense, however if your enemy can hear you, it won't help. Make sure to use the white button on your controller to talk to your teammates privately.

Bob Narley XBOX LIVE Name: Captain Kona

posted by Bob Narley @ 4:52 PM