Halo 2
Was there really any doubt that Bungie's masterpiece would end up on the top of our list? Sure, there are people who prefer the first game more, but, to paraphrase the immortal words of Nigel Tufnel in "This is Spinal Tap", this is Halo cranked to eleven. After creating the most popular game in the brief history of the Xbox, it would have been easy for Bungie to simply add some new weapons, touch up the graphics, implement Xbox Live support, and call it a sequel. However, the developers wanted to give fans something bigger and better in every way, and their hard work paid off in a big way.
Taking place right after the end of the first game, Master Chief finds himself on a space station in orbit above Earth. Not surprisingly, all hell breaks loose when the Covenant stages a daring assault, and the Spartan must take matters (and an obscene number of weapons) into his own hands if humanity is to survive. From there, the game takes the player all over the universe and introduces several new types of environments. From bombed-out urban settings to lush forests, it's all there. Best of all, the story twisted and turned, offering up one surprise after another. A lot of people complained about the cliffhanger that served as an ending, but you can be sure that they'll be the first in line when Halo 3 is released.
In addition to the new environments, Halo 2 game offered up several huge changes to the core gameplay, the biggest of which was the addition of dual-wielding. At first, it just seemed like a kick-ass gimmick, but after a few hours of playing it became obvious that it added some needed strategy to the proceedings. Should you toss grenades or charge your enemies with guns a-blazing? The game also introduced vehicle jacking, which allows you to kick your enemy out of his ride, then use it to satisfyingly run him down. Is there a better way to embarrass your foes?
While the single-player portion of the game made for a highly enjoyable 10+ hours, it was the addition of an Xbox Live multiplayer mode that turned it into an addiction for some folks. Fans of Halo were forced to drag their Xbox over to a friend's house if they wanted to play large-scale multiplayer games, as system link was the only option available. With the addition of Live play, however, gamers didn't even have to get off their couches. Bungie took online console gaming to a whole new level with the release of Halo 2, making it easy for players to check their stats, compare their skills to those of their friends, and even view detailed maps documenting each kill. There's a reason that the number of players on Live nearly doubled when the game came out: Halo 2 is that good.
Will: For me, choosing the top Xbox game of all-time was easy. It's pretty rare that I continue playing a game after I beat it, and even the multiplayer modes in most games get old fast. I just can't stop playing Halo 2, though, and it's been out for a long, long time (in gaming years, that is). I've beaten the single-player game on every difficulty level, and I'm currently playing through the Legendary co-op mode with a buddy. It just doesn't get old, especially when you're playing on the toughest difficulty. Man, those Brutes can be a bitch.
Like most people, though, it's the Xbox Live action that gets my heart racing. Sure, it's tough to find the exact gametype and map that you'd like, but the matchmaking system does a good job of keeping the playing field relatively even. I was most impressed with the party system, which makes it incredibly easy to meet up with a buddy and play together all night. After a while, more players will begin to come onboard, allowing you to set up custom games. Congratulations, Bungie, you've succeeded in creating a nation of Halo 2 addicts!
Justin Leeper: It's been out for eight months, and I'm still putting double-digits hours into Halo 2 every week. I don't think I can say that about any other game I've ever played, which will tell you how damn good this title is. Even though I turn it off in disgust at least a few times a week, I don't see myself slowing down any time soon.
Like most people, I played through single-player, enjoying the varied action and David Cross one-liners but lamenting the cheesy ending. However, online gaming was something I hadn't really put much time into before. Maybe that's because it's never been done this well before. The maps are awesome, and more keep getting added. The game types are diverse, though I think matchmaking gives too big of a nod to snipe-happy players. The strategies are near infinite, and I keep learning new tactics as I go. Clans and friend lists, online stats, and flawless headset support make this a shoo-in for the best Xbox game of all time.
Sluggo: I'm sure there will be people who argue that Halo deserved this slot more than the sequel, but for us, there was really no question: Halo 2 was a superior game in almost every regard. First, Bungie didn't mess with the basic formula that set it apart from other shooters: Master Chief's recharging armor, the ability to carry two weapons and tons of vehicles. The enemy AI is arguably the best of any shooter today, creating firefights that felt open-ended and unscripted every time you played them. But Bungie wasn't afraid to take a few risks, occasionally letting you see things from the Covenant side. And the pace was vastly improved: gone were levels like The Library that felt like extraneous padding -- Halo 2 was just good stuff from beginning to end.
And of course, how could you argue that Halo 2 wasn't a superior multiplayer game than the original? More maps, more modes, and -- finally! -- Internet play via Xbox Live. In many ways, Halo 2 fixed everything we thought needed to be improved over the original Halo, and was the rare blockbuster that lived up to the hype. It's a game that belongs in every Xbox collection, and we say: Bring on Halo 3!
* Game Information
* Screenshots
* Review
No comments:
Post a Comment