Mike Works
Member
It has to be something to do with the pyramids, right?
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Official Halo 2 Thread
- Thread starter LukeSmith
- Start date
shpankey
not an idiot
Uno Ill Nino said:I'd like to hereby retract all negative statements I have made about Halo 2 as a game. I'm playing through campaign by myself right now (first time through was in co-op) and I'm noticing more this time around. Plus for whatever reason, the game seems more fun. Can't explain it. The story still irks me (why'd they ignore the books?!) but I'm starting to warm up to that even.
That said, multiplayer on LIVE rocks my world. I just played with a bunch of friends from my Splinter Cell/Rainbow days and had the best time ever with a game. I racked up 25 kills in a row with the wraith tank in a 5 on 5 team deathmatch game. I got "Un-freakin'-believable!" from the announcer. What a riot! Anyway, I always thought the multiplayer would be fun, but I had no idea it would rock this much. We played ALL the modes. That's something I never did with Halo 1. We played Crazy King, CTF, Oddball, Ninjanaut, Team DM, I mean all of it. And it was all good. Real good.
So in closing, I take back all negative statements I've made about Halo 2 excluding my comments on the story and ending. I'd have to agree now that it is indeed a 10/10. I guess I just needed more sleep, and more time with the game by myself to fully realize how sweet it is.
that took a lot guts to admit, nice post
Uno Ill Nino said:I'd like to hereby retract all negative statements I have made about Halo 2 as a game. I'm playing through campaign by myself right now (first time through was in co-op) and I'm noticing more this time around. Plus for whatever reason, the game seems more fun. Can't explain it. The story still irks me (why'd they ignore the books?!) but I'm starting to warm up to that even.
That said, multiplayer on LIVE rocks my world. I just played with a bunch of friends from my Splinter Cell/Rainbow days and had the best time ever with a game. I racked up 25 kills in a row with the wraith tank in a 5 on 5 team deathmatch game. I got "Un-freakin'-believable!" from the announcer. What a riot! Anyway, I always thought the multiplayer would be fun, but I had no idea it would rock this much. We played ALL the modes. That's something I never did with Halo 1. We played Crazy King, CTF, Oddball, Ninjanaut, Team DM, I mean all of it. And it was all good. Real good.
So in closing, I take back all negative statements I've made about Halo 2 excluding my comments on the story and ending. I'd have to agree now that it is indeed a 10/10. I guess I just needed more sleep, and more time with the game by myself to fully realize how sweet it is.
You're not going Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on us now, are you? Right? Right?!
Late Stage Marxist
Member
No, that's my job.Mrbob said:
You're not going Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on us now, are you? Right? Right?!
arhra
Member
Anyanka said:
I'm not so sure about that - there's another biblical Ark: The Ark of the Covenant [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant]. Of course, the fact that Noah's Ark was built to survive the Flood is highly suggestive, too...
Either way, i get the feeling that people are going to be debating the finer points of the story for years...
IJoel said:
I got the impression that the 'Ark' is actually the Forerunner ship that the Covenant were using to power High Charity, and that Master Chief's going to have to stop them from remotely activating the rings once they realize what kind of opportunity has just fallen into their collective laps. (I don't think they understand the true significance of the vessel yet, let alone expecting remote fire control for all the halos to suddenly go live...) I definitely believe that there's some connection between the Forerunners and the humans/Reclaimers, though I'm not sure exactly what the relationship is yet. I also have this sneaking suspicion that the Forerunners were supposed to survive the last firing of the Halos, but 343 Guilty Spark and his mechanical brethren arranged for them to be wiped out at the time as well--343 GS seems a wee bit overzealous in his mission, and I can easily see him deciding that allowing any sentient species to survive, even the Forerunners themselves, would be a fatal flaw in the plan...
Who cares about ping time? The game is fuckin' llaaaaaaagggggggged even in LAN multiplay....network speed is irrelevant. Gearbox totally botched the job. Anybody that says the PC version is superior to Halo 1 or Halo 2 Xbox multiplayer has.....has gotta.....has.....uggggh, it's just inconceivable.WordofGod said:34 ping on every server I play on
XboxGamers
Member
WTF? Is there a control panel or something?
this is gonna get locked, you might as well ask it in the main thread.
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=21966
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=21966
I might almost go as far as to doubt whether anyone touting the supremacy of Halo PC (online) has actually played it online....or whether they have played it over SystemLink. Maybe there are people that really liked having to lead their shots with the friggin' pistol (argggh), but I don't see how you can enjoy that sort of nonsense after you've had lag-free play on the Xbox. The situation has almost nothing in common with SFA2 and SFA3. Even if you thought the gameplay in SFA2 was better designed, I doubt that you'd wanna play it with a 1/2 - 1 second button lag. On to other things...
On Legendary Mode: The only flaw here is that there are a handful of times when Bungie decides to just make you sit around in the same area and face wave after wave of incoming enemies that didn't exist in the easier modes. Cairo Station is probably the biggest offender (and the start of Gravemind -- arrrrgghghgh!). It's okay to make the game harder, but making me sit in the same room for 15 minutes where I just have to down squad after squad of Elites is just tiresome and frustrating. It never approaches the white knuckle intensity of the Covenant hangar in Truth & Reconciliation.....it just feels like a very difficult chore.
One-hit-kill snipers are also a little questionable, if only because they give you maybe one warning shot and then it's open season.
Other than that, it's great. The "easy" boss battles that I see people here whining about become real boss battles, and nothing is really a cakewalk. Also a nice way to shut up people who claim that Halo is another "mindless shooter", since you genuinely have to consider your strategy to succeed.
On Multiplayer Mode: Kind of funny that people are just now discovering the fun of Crazy King. It was a pretty big favorite in the original....particularly on maps like Hang 'Em High.
Am I the only one getting a big kick out of Territories? Maybe it's old hat to PC types, but so far it's proved to be a real blast and a nice way to let newbies get into the game without totally being destroyed. Swords-Only Territories is also great.....but swords-only anything is always great =)
On "The cord - I'm going to cut it": Arbiter > Master Chief. He has decidedly more character and a truly outstanding voice actor. I hope that there is more for him to do in Halo 3 or Halo 2: Downloadable SP Content.
On Legendary Mode: The only flaw here is that there are a handful of times when Bungie decides to just make you sit around in the same area and face wave after wave of incoming enemies that didn't exist in the easier modes. Cairo Station is probably the biggest offender (and the start of Gravemind -- arrrrgghghgh!). It's okay to make the game harder, but making me sit in the same room for 15 minutes where I just have to down squad after squad of Elites is just tiresome and frustrating. It never approaches the white knuckle intensity of the Covenant hangar in Truth & Reconciliation.....it just feels like a very difficult chore.
One-hit-kill snipers are also a little questionable, if only because they give you maybe one warning shot and then it's open season.
Other than that, it's great. The "easy" boss battles that I see people here whining about become real boss battles, and nothing is really a cakewalk. Also a nice way to shut up people who claim that Halo is another "mindless shooter", since you genuinely have to consider your strategy to succeed.
On Multiplayer Mode: Kind of funny that people are just now discovering the fun of Crazy King. It was a pretty big favorite in the original....particularly on maps like Hang 'Em High.
Am I the only one getting a big kick out of Territories? Maybe it's old hat to PC types, but so far it's proved to be a real blast and a nice way to let newbies get into the game without totally being destroyed. Swords-Only Territories is also great.....but swords-only anything is always great =)
On "The cord - I'm going to cut it": Arbiter > Master Chief. He has decidedly more character and a truly outstanding voice actor. I hope that there is more for him to do in Halo 3 or Halo 2: Downloadable SP Content.
I just completed it, you're right about that cliffhanger, damn I want more :\
I have so many questions, they probably can't be answered by you guys but...
It looks like to me some levels may have been cut, I'm going to have a look at the DVD now. The marketing campaign heavily markets the game as a devastating attack on Earth, whilst
, I found that odd. Though still, it is amazing, the art direction, the action, the scenarios, the story, I loved it, honestly, it's an amazing single player experience. Don't get me started on the music, numerous times, coupled with the enchanting music and the superb art, it gave me goosebumps; it's been a long time since a game did that. Well done to the Bungie team, I know it was a bit of a rush for them but it is amazing, I can't understand all this bitching about the campaign. At this rate I won't be able to stop yapping about it, give me Halo 3! 
I have so many questions, they probably can't be answered by you guys but...
What is the ark (sp?)?
Will Halo 3 delve deeper into the attack on Earth? I loved the Earth levels.
Who or what, was Gravemind?
After the credits, Gravemind says he is gonna ask Cortana some questions, I wonder what though, I hope she doesn't give him Earth's location I don't like fighting The Flood much. At least not as much as the Covenant and I hope we get to see her in Halo 3. It sounds like to me Halo 3 will be the final one, or at least the one to actually add some resolution.
Will Halo 3 delve deeper into the attack on Earth? I loved the Earth levels.
Who or what, was Gravemind?
After the credits, Gravemind says he is gonna ask Cortana some questions, I wonder what though, I hope she doesn't give him Earth's location
I don't like fighting The Flood much. At least not as much as the Covenant and I hope we get to see her in Halo 3. It sounds like to me Halo 3 will be the final one, or at least the one to actually add some resolution.It looks like to me some levels may have been cut, I'm going to have a look at the DVD now. The marketing campaign heavily markets the game as a devastating attack on Earth, whilst
you play on Delta Halo for the most of the time
Project Midway
Member
damn, I just completed the heretic level, the one with red corridors... it was INTENSE, and with great athmosphere. I'm loving it. Music in Halo 2 is very very high quality. Thumbs up, Bungie! 
lochnesssnowman
Member
Got it! Got it!
I played through the first couple of campaign levels and I'm very impressed so far. Very impressed indeed. Great music and some cool new stuff. I shall be back with more but it's class so far. I don't have LIVE yet so campaign/co-op and split screen for now.
I played through the first couple of campaign levels and I'm very impressed so far. Very impressed indeed. Great music and some cool new stuff. I shall be back with more but it's class so far. I don't have LIVE yet so campaign/co-op and split screen for now.
shpankey
not an idiot
just finished it, and man, I am so in love with this game. i can say now that was easily the greatest gaming experience of my life. i had been pecking away night after night since release, spending 2-4 hours each night. well last night i stayed up all night and played it nonstop till 7 am to get the finish (and that was on normal). so i'd say i have almost 19 hours on it to complete it. all i can say is, man that was an "experience". the story i thought rocked, no i mean really rocked. i got into it. i thought the ending was perfect and can't see why anyone wouldn't just love it.
anyhow, i started a Heroic game, on the 2nd level now but let me say WOW FUCKING WOW is this game awesome on Heroic. I agree it should have been the default difficulty as the game turns into a masterpiece of strategy and tactics. i've already has the enemy sneak around and flank me in one heated battle... it was awesome, he scared the shit outta me lol, i almost jumped out of my seat, that bastard!
Game of the fucking DECADE!
anyhow, i started a Heroic game, on the 2nd level now but let me say WOW FUCKING WOW is this game awesome on Heroic. I agree it should have been the default difficulty as the game turns into a masterpiece of strategy and tactics. i've already has the enemy sneak around and flank me in one heated battle... it was awesome, he scared the shit outta me lol, i almost jumped out of my seat, that bastard!
Game of the fucking DECADE!
border said:
I guess you were never around for Xband. I played hours and hours of Killer Instinct and Super Street Fighter and got adjusted to the lag. With Alpha 2 I use to play a lot of Mame online and had no problems with lag. There is lag on Xbox. So, your insult on Halo1 PC lag is meaningless, in my view, no matter what you want to say. I have read people in this very thread say the same thing.
For me, the difference can be compared to Halo1 against Halo2 and SFA2 against SFA3. I have played videogames for almost my whole life (now more than 25 years) and I know what I am talking about. If you do not agree that is fine, but how can you say I am wrong when I have put in the time on each game and know what I am talking about?
Of course there is lag, but it is very minimal and never affects the gameplay. Halo PC's netcode is bad enough that even a LAN game has lag when engaging in close quarters combat (which is important).
Halo 2's netcode is far beyond what is available in Halo PC. That's all there is to it. If you adjusted to the lag, that's fine, but that doesn't mean it suddenly isn't a problem.
border said:
The voice actor is Keith David. He seems to be the hotness in voices right now. Off the top of my head he's doing UPS, BMW, the Army, and now the Arbiter. You might have first noticed him as HBO's Spawn, or live action in Dead Presidents where he beat a would-be robber with his artificial leg.
dark10x said:
You watched the Pete Parson interview with IGN? Pretty interesting, Bungie sat down with the Xbox Live team to come up with new technology to facilitate the new features in Halo2. 8000 MS employees tested Halo2 WW. You can see how bungie was able to put in god like net code, i was shocked to hear XBL 3.0 was basically shaped by Bungie
I just finished the game last night. The ending was a bit dissapointing the way they just cut it off, but it does build up a very high anticipation for the continuation of the story, at least moreso then at the end of Halo 1.
Some of the level design still pisses me off though. Particularly the first mission you play as the arbiter. I guess I just prefer the outdoor environment, although the one inside the main covenant ship is awesome.
Some of the level design still pisses me off though. Particularly the first mission you play as the arbiter. I guess I just prefer the outdoor environment, although the one inside the main covenant ship is awesome.
Project Midway said:damn, I just completed the heretic level, the one with red corridors... it was INTENSE, and with great athmosphere. I'm loving it. Music in Halo 2 is very very high quality. Thumbs up, Bungie!
Yeah, that level blew me away. It just got more and more intense as it went on - and it was huge. That entire level, from the infiltration of the facility to the huge dogfight and ending with the massive
flood-infested tower
OG_Original Gamer
Member
Who has played co-op online and whats your upload speed?
OG_Original Gamer
Member
Mzo said:
Then how come my brother and I were able to setup a co op online game, that only allow members of your clan and friends list.
Kabuki Waq
Member
OG_Original Gamer said:
?
OG_Original Gamer
Member
Kabuki Waq said:
I forgot to add join, your co-op game.
OG_Original Gamer
Member
maynerd said:
We didn't play online because most the guys on my friends already in multiplayer matches and some were locked(clan matches).
The lag on the Xbox is virtually undetectable. The lag in Halo 1 PC is at least a second....you have to lead every friggin' shot because the bullets take a moment to actually get where they're going. At a long distance or in close quarters (or any time where it's difficult to predict which way an enemy will move) it means that you basically have to rely on luck. I have not seen a PC game lag as bad as Halo since I was on 56K! Most of us thought we waved goodbye to crap like that when broadband came about.WordofGod said:
If you got used to it then fine....but I haven't seen anyone else in "this very thread" saying that Halo 1 PC is really the best example of the game's multiplayer. Is this really all because you have to press a button to pick up a flag? That seems pretty insignificant compared to having every single game on the PC lagged.
Mr. Lemming
Member
I can hit stuff fairly regularly with the shotgun in Halo 2 multiplayer, Halo 1 PC multiplayer was a crapshoot. Not to mention all the other hitscan weapons... and the vehicles warping...
The only similarity I see between Halo PC and Halo 2 is the fact there is game message lag. Which IS freakin' annoying but at least the game itself moves and reacts properly.
The only similarity I see between Halo PC and Halo 2 is the fact there is game message lag. Which IS freakin' annoying but at least the game itself moves and reacts properly.
Do The Mario
Unconfirmed Member
Wow just finished the game on normal and I must say those last 6 levels were perfection!
The levels managed to stay fresh with all those weapon, vehicle and enemy possibilities.
I cant wait to get stuck into Co-Op in my Uni holidays which start in like a week and a half!!!
The levels managed to stay fresh with all those weapon, vehicle and enemy possibilities.
The ending was great, but I dont understand how bungie are going to start the next game with master chief at such a hardcore point! Normally they ease you into the game.
Plus i cant wait to find out if cortana betrays the humans; I suspected she might during the first halo. If so I expect to see an elite and human alliance defeat the covenant at the start of Halo 3 and then have to deal with the rejuvenated flood led by Cortana. I can just imagine master chief walking into a trap once he goes back to reclaim her.
Plus i cant wait to find out if cortana betrays the humans; I suspected she might during the first halo. If so I expect to see an elite and human alliance defeat the covenant at the start of Halo 3 and then have to deal with the rejuvenated flood led by Cortana. I can just imagine master chief walking into a trap once he goes back to reclaim her.
I cant wait to get stuck into Co-Op in my Uni holidays which start in like a week and a half!!!
Do The Mario said:
Maybe Halo 3 will start playing as the Arbiter? Or start with a cutscene?
Do The Mario said:
IIRC, one of the dev interview movies put out by bungie earlier this year suggested that Cortana would betray the MC in Halo 2 but it didn't happen... maybe I'm remembering incorrectly or maybe they chopped a few levels from the end of the game?
Mr. Lemming
Member
In that dev I interview think it was actually Miranda who strapped a bomb to the chief and pushed him down a hole.
Anyway my big story question is:
On the level where the Arbiter goes to get the index from the library... that is on Delta Halo right? Why the hell are we crawling through the wreckage of what looks like the Pillar of Autumn's reactor room? WHY!? And the level name "One-Hundred Thousand Years War" makes you think...
Anyway my big story question is:
On the level where the Arbiter goes to get the index from the library... that is on Delta Halo right? Why the hell are we crawling through the wreckage of what looks like the Pillar of Autumn's reactor room? WHY!? And the level name "One-Hundred Thousand Years War" makes you think...
Mr. Lemming
Member
IJoel said:
Yes, but that doesn't explain why a human ship, whose interior resembles very much the one we previously destroyed on a different halo, is there.
Finally saw the ending myself and I actually enjoyed it. I KNEW it was a cliffhanger, so I wasn't suprised about that, but I thought it was a good cliffhanger...
I was expecting a 5-10 second cutscene or something...but it was longer than that. People also said that it "took them by suprise", but I didn't get that impression either...
The game, as a whole, was absolutely fantastic. The two covenant levels (with MC) were the only low points. They weren't bad, per se, but they were the only areas in the game that used repeating segments (though not too heavily) and generally felt too confined and dark. They just didn't do anything for me.
Every other level was fantastic, though.
I was expecting a 5-10 second cutscene or something...but it was longer than that. People also said that it "took them by suprise", but I didn't get that impression either...
The game, as a whole, was absolutely fantastic. The two covenant levels (with MC) were the only low points. They weren't bad, per se, but they were the only areas in the game that used repeating segments (though not too heavily) and generally felt too confined and dark. They just didn't do anything for me.
Every other level was fantastic, though.
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