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[dark10x]

One thing that's interesting...

The final game actually looks pretty much on par with the E3 2003 demo. There is still self-shadowing in the cutscenes in the final game and some self-shadowing in game, for example. There really is nothing about the E3 demo that really looks far beyond what we actually got. That level is obviously not in the game, of course, but what's there more than matches up.

Also, weapon effects and feedback are superior in the final game. The SMGs look awful in that demonstration.

It WAS a pretty accurate showing of the game afterall. The differences between that and the final are all quite minor (pretty much the only notable difference is the fact that all characters are self-shadowed at all times, unlike the final game, where it only occurs in certain areas).

 

[celestial body]

darkx: on the other hand we lose detail texturing which was present on virtually all surfaces in halo. In fact It and timesplitters 2 are the only two games to make serious use of it i think and it's a shame it's gone because it looked great, no blurry textures up close.

 

[dark10x]

darkx: on the other hand we lose detail texturing which was present on virtually all surfaces in halo. In fact It and timesplitters 2 are the only two games to make serious use of it i think and it's a shame it's gone because it looked great, no blurry textures up close.

Meh, that's nice...but I can understand why. They are already using more texture layers than the original, sooo...

Halo 2 has a larger variety of textures as well. Halo 1 used a LOT of repeating surface textures, so a detail texture layer wasn't a big deal. Halo 2 is obviously already struggling with the XBOX's memory limit (hence the texture pop-in), so detail textures would probably push it over the edge.

Halo 2's E3 2003 demo did not have detail textures either, which is what I was discussing initially...

 

[Lakitu]

Hey guys, what are your personal fave tracks from Halo 2 OST Vol. 1?

Mine are, "Halo Theme (Mjolnir Mix)", "Ghosts of Reach", "Heretic Hero", "Flawed Legacy", "Impend", "In Amber Clad", "Orbit of Glass", "Heavy Price Paid", "High Charity" (my personal fave out of the bunch) and "Remembrance".

Damn the soundtrack is amazing, best I've heard in ages

 

[DopeyFish]

Hey guys, what are your personal fave tracks from Halo 2 OST Vol. 1?

Mine are, "Halo Theme (Mjolnir Mix)", "Ghosts of Reach", "Heretic Hero", "Flawed Legacy", "Impend", "In Amber Clad", "Orbit of Glass", "Heavy Price Paid", "High Charity" (my personal fave out of the bunch) and "Remembrance".

Damn the soundtrack is amazing, best I've heard in ages

I have a feeling volume 2 will be much better The best orchestral music really never made it onto volume 1

 

[dark10x]

I have a feeling volume 2 will be much better The best orchestral music really never made it onto volume 1

I agree. They really need to hurry up with a Volume 2, as there are many songs I would love to have a copy of. I want the complete score this time.

 

[Lakitu]

Yeah, it seems aloot of good stuff will make it's way to Vol 2. Although my fave overall track in the game is "High Charity". Hearing that song during that level, was otherwordly, together with the amazing level design/art, it was such an amazing experience. I seriously got goosebumps and when a game does that to me, it's doing something right.

 

[Shogmaster]

Spoiler

Most likely because the prophets knew it would be difficult to maintain their position of power were involved once humans came in to play. Earth is "the ark." We controlled the planet that would have been most important to their "great journey." Of course, Regret seemed not to expect us to even be on earth, so it's hard to say. Perhaps only Truth knew that.

Spoiler

Not only that, I think Truth knows that the humans are the decendants of the Forerunners. And that fact would crumble the whole society that's based on a religion that's obviously flawed as flawed can be. If the truth (har har) came out, the consequences for the prophets and the ruling class would be dire. The prophets had no choice but to cover up the fact about the relationship between the Forerunners and the humans. Total war on humans were the only choice left to them other than end of the covenent society as they knew it.

 

[Dez]

Turn widescreen off. For some reason when Widescreen is one it splits the screen side to side. A buddy of mine played through the entire game that way. Sucks to be him. :lol

If you turn widescreen off, then won't the picture be distorted (ie stretched) on 16 by 9 displays? Sucks.. Why wouldn't they put an in game option for horizontal split-screen? peripheral vision is more important in an FPS.

 

[Drek]

Legendary sucks more than it did in Halo 1. ;P

 

[CajoleJuice]

Just jumping in here with my impressions. My friend got the game and I played Co-op for about 30 minutes on Normal and got bored with it. Then we plugged the XBox into the college LAN and started playing. That was when it got amazing. We played so much this weekend. Fun as hell.

 

[yoshifumi]

legendary is ridiculous in halo 2...

halo 1 was do-able, i could do every level on my own except for the one section in truth and reconciliation where you first enter the ship...but halo 2, i don't think i'll be able to do it at all.

 

[MrAngryFace]

I dont get why people bitch so much. Sure its shorter, but how often do any of us finish games anymore. Now I see topics and notices all over saying "hey I finished Halo" blah blah. How many of you plan on playing Single Player that much with all of the Multiplayer options?

For what is there, we get a BETTER story, even if you dont like the way it ends it is told better on a technical level so shut up fuckers. Vehicle usage is TONS better, the levels with the warthogs and tanks are fucking fantastic. The foot levels are exciting and different around every corner. A solution to EVERYTHING people bitched about in Halo. Ohh library! same hallway.

Challenging? Yes. As Challenging as Halo 1? Well jesus folks, most of you played Halo on fucking legendary and heroic, and played Halo 2 multiplayer FIRST and expect single player to be as challenging as it was in the First Halo? Halo was really the first of its kind. Its like expecting Jurassic Park 2 to have the same shock factor as the first. Not going to happen.

So in short, if you think the single player sucks *NOW* you are off base and a stupid fucking idiot. You need to sell your Xdude and grow a penis.

Multiplayer is also fun. I like the matchmaking. I dont like being called a CumSlut tho. Thanks Xdude gamers.

 

[Guzim]

Wrong forum MAF!

 

[Gek54]

you suck at forum posting.

 

[nitewulf]

uh...

 

[deadhorse32]

 

[Wario64]

I dare you all to play legendary mode and say it's a short game

 

[MrAngryFace]

haha, they wont move my soda thread to the ot forum tho I bet

 

[tedtropy]

I'm taking my time playing through the single player campaign, and I've got zero complaints. Even if it does turn out to be short, what's there is so incredibly polished and fine-tuned, that I'm fine with that. The weapons, the squad AI, the vechicles, most of the level design - this is FPS at its finest. Oh, and I just recently got the chance to have a go at multiplayer at a buddy's house with two of my friends - lemme' just say the Ghost rocks. Most fun I've had in awhile on both fronts.

 

[Shogmaster]

MAF is loosing his mojo.

 

[Alf-Life]

legendary is ridiculous in halo 2...

halo 1 was do-able, i could do every level on my own except for the one section in truth and reconciliation where you first enter the ship...but halo 2, i don't think i'll be able to do it at all.

No, don't give up... the first two Pelican bays are quite tricky but after that it's actually much easier. I think it's because you don't get much choice in weaponry earlier on.
For the record, boarding the T&R took me like a full day to get past on Legendary, while the 2nd Pelican Bay (which has been the hardest spot on Legendary for me so far) took me a couple of hours.

Also, for the forum, I saw this at www.ntsc-uk.com ....Halo 3 for the 9th Feb?

http://alwaysgame.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000GdB&topic_id=SEGA Forum&topic=

 

[Lakitu]

Agreed! (@ Original post)

 

[_Angelus_]

I'm taking my time playing through the single player campaign, and I've got zero complaints. Even if it does turn out to be short, what's there is so incredibly polished and fine-tuned, that I'm fine with that. The weapons, the squad AI, the vechicles, most of the level design - this is FPS at its finest. Oh, and I just recently got the chance to have a go at multiplayer at a buddy's house with two of my friends - lemme' just say the Ghost rocks. Most fun I've had in awhile on both fronts.

I'm in the same boat. I've taken my time with its single player,played some cooperative play,messed with the varying difficulties to see their differences too. I'll hop on live eventually,but there is no hurry. The game is too well made to simply rush through.

 

[XboxGamers]

You need to sell your Xdude and grow a penis.

:lol


I also beat Halo 2 and it's much better then Halo.

 

[Shompola]

Is Halo 2 SP really shorter than Halo SP? I have played so far 20h and havent' finished it yet on heroic level. Btw heroic difficulity is just perfect, hard but not too hard. It's challenging but not cheap, exactly the way I want it to be.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

its funny seeing the soda stread still in the gaming forum :lol

 

[PhatSaqs]

Is Halo 2 SP really shorter than Halo SP? I have played so far 20h and havent' finished it yet on heroic level. Btw heroic difficulity is just perfect, hard but not too hard. It's challenging but not cheap, exactly the way I want it to be.

Agreed about Heroic. And no to your first question. Its just that Normal is too easy and does the SP no favors IMO.

 

[Solid]

Yep, the singleplayer rocks. Easily my GOTY so far! I don't believe any game will remove that. Well... maybe Prince of Persia 2

No but seriously, Halo 2 is so much better than Halo. The new enviroments are so beatiful I want to move to... you know where.

 

[Solid]

Agreed about Heroic. And no to your first question. Its just that Normal is too easy and does the SP no favors IMO.

Too easy? I died many times during my playthrough on Normal :S

I began playing on Heroic today though, died a few times during the first level. Can't wait to try out the Brutes on Heroic.. I found them really hard on Normal :lol :O

 

[Any1]

Agreed about Heroic. And no to your first question. Its just that Normal is too easy and does the SP no favors IMO.

Basically, if you have beaten the first Halo in any difficulty, then Halo 2 should be played on heroic. I got the game on the 9th and am about 3/4 of the way through. Sadly, normal is way too easy and you lose any strategy and fun when played on that level.

 

[drohne]

yup. it's unimpeachably brilliant. the best its detractors can manage are typically illiterate videogame dork complaints about the plotting. "CLOSURE CLOSURE CLOSURE!" ia emphatically wtp.

 

[PhatSaqs]

Basically, if you have beaten the first Halo in any difficulty, then Halo 2 should be played on heroic. I got the game on the 9th and am about 3/4 of the way through. Sadly, normal is way too easy and you lose any strategy and fun when played on that level.

My thoughts and situation exactly.

 

[LakeEarth]

Do you get a new map beating it on Heroic or is that just a rumor?

 

[Deku Tree]

I finished Heroic in 3 days playing at night. Probably between 12-20 hours. Awesome. Halo 2 single player delivers much more than I expected from it. Rocks.

 

[Wario64]

Now play it on legendary and prepare to get your ass kicked

 

[IJoel]

I dont get why people bitch so much. Sure its shorter, but how often do any of us finish games anymore. Now I see topics and notices all over saying "hey I finished Halo" blah blah. How many of you plan on playing Single Player that much with all of the Multiplayer options?

For what is there, we get a BETTER story, even if you dont like the way it ends it is told better on a technical level so shut up fuckers. Vehicle usage is TONS better, the levels with the warthogs and tanks are fucking fantastic. The foot levels are exciting and different around every corner. A solution to EVERYTHING people bitched about in Halo. Ohh library! same hallway.

Challenging? Yes. As Challenging as Halo 1? Well jesus folks, most of you played Halo on fucking legendary and heroic, and played Halo 2 multiplayer FIRST and expect single player to be as challenging as it was in the First Halo? Halo was really the first of its kind. Its like expecting Jurassic Park 2 to have the same shock factor as the first. Not going to happen.

So in short, if you think the single player sucks *NOW* you are off base and a stupid fucking idiot. You need to sell your Xdude and grow a penis.

Multiplayer is also fun. I like the matchmaking. I dont like being called a CumSlut tho. Thanks Xdude gamers.

IAWTP

 

[Mr. Lemming]

Do you get a new map beating it on Heroic or is that just a rumor?

You get the new map beating it on any difficulty but apparently there is a bug you need to work around to unlock it.

Basically what I did was start a new profile and play co-op on the last level with my new profile and the profile I previously beat the game with. When you are in the banshee with the new profile, when the tutorial for doing stunts comes up, make sure to do a few barrel rolls. Beat the game, and the new map should be unlocked on the new profile.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I need help on the last level on Legendery, i am right up to the end and fighting Tarturous but i cant beat him AT ALL, i almost had a 30 min battle with him beofore i wrote this but Mr White Head just wont die. I think i have hit him about 20 times after his shield has been taken down witrh needlers, should guns, brute shot, pluss every other weopn available on the level but he just wont die!

I also manage to bring a Banshee all the way with me to the final battle but even its power wont help me kill him.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!

Tactics??

Best Wepon to use?

 

[Shogmaster]

I need help on the last level on Legendery, i am right up to the end and fighting Tarturous but i cant beat him AT ALL, i almost had a 30 min battle with him beofore i wrote this but Mr White Head just wont die. I think i have hit him about 20 times after his shield has been taken down witrh needlers, should guns, brute shot, pluss every other weopn available on the level but he just wont die!

I also manage to bring a Banshee all the way with me to the final battle but even its power wont help me kill him.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!

Tactics??

Best Wepon to use?

LOL, I don't think anything handheld will beat the Banshee's cannons in power.

BTW, how did you manage that? Just cram the bitch into the corridors?

 

[Baconäger]

The last boss is easy. Just jack on of the elite's swords and wait until Johnson snipes him so his shields are down. It only takes a few charges with the sword to kill him.

 

[GashPrex]

I really don't find the game "short"

this isn't some epic 80 rpg here

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I like it.

And I'm not a big FPS fan (I'm playing on easy though, 'cause I have no skills, I'm going to try work my way up through the difficulties until it gets too much). Haven't touched MP yet either. Is there a GAF clan or something? I know I've got to get up early tomorrow but I think I'm going to go on and give it a go tonight.

 

[Deku Tree]

Now play it on legendary and prepare to get your ass kicked

No doubt. :lol :lol :lol

 

[Ghost]

Maybe if you hover low enough he'll jack the banshee and you can just blow it up?

 

[border]

It only takes a few charges with the sword to kill him.

In Legendary? It would probably take a lot more than that (he can withstand multiple headshots from the beam rifle). Getting close with the sword is pretty risky anyhow, given that his melee attack is a one-hit-kill.

The only advice I can give is just to keep hammering him when Johnson takes his shields down. If you actually managed to smuggle in a Banshee, then perhaps use the plasma rockets.

 

[Truelize]

If you turn widescreen off, then won't the picture be distorted (ie stretched) on 16 by 9 displays? Sucks.. Why wouldn't they put an in game option for horizontal split-screen? peripheral vision is more important in an FPS.

It doesnt seem like it to me. I don't know. Give it a try and post what you found. But I know that that will fix it.

 

[Truelize]

Here's a question for you all.

How do you pronouce Mjolnir ??

 

[Gribbix]

Mee-yolnir

 

[MoxManiac]

Legendary makes me cry like a little baby. It seems like all the enemies have to do is sneeze on Master Chief and he dies.

I suck at FPS though, so it's probably just me. I finished it on Normal, probably should have started on Heroic.