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[Baconäger]

Spoiler

I really don't think Cortana is turnging on MC and the humans. I mean yeah, it seems like is going to help a bad guy by answering questions or whatever, but you have to realize that they both have the same immediate goal, which is stopping the Halos from going off.

I also still think the forerunners are human. I think Bungie is trying to be all ironic by making the race the Covenant worship the same as the race they hate and are at war with. The war and hate never win message and all that crap. Reminds me of the Matrix...

 

[Prine]

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.

are you on Live?

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

Err, well trolling is a bad thing- but could you think for a moment someone actually didn't like the game's ending? People got pissed off at FFVII for its ending as well despite how much they may have enjoyed the game up until that point.

FFVII? i thought that wasnt out yet...either way, FFVII is a RPG...where story is a BIG EMPHASIS unlike an ACTION game Even tho Bungie put alot of work into the story, Action games usually arent about the story, but about the Action.

What action game other than Silent hill 2 had a GREAT story?! and Silent hill 2 isnt even that much of action game either.

peace

 

[Tellaerin]

FFVII? i thought that wasnt out yet...either way, FFVII is a RPG...where story is a BIG EMPHASIS unlike an ACTION game Even tho Bungie put alot of work into the story, Action games usually arent about the story, but about the Action.

What action game other than Silent hill 2 had a GREAT story?! and Silent hill 2 isnt even that much of action game either.

peace

The thing is, action games (particularly FPS's) don't have to have poor or nonexistent stories, and there's nothing wrong with that element of the game being important to people. Stop telling everyone how they shouldn't care about that aspect of games--it's fine if you don't, but we can't all be you.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

I just think its stupid to put emphasis on story ABOVE gameplay.

 

[kaching]

I need to know if anyone else has experienced and/or if this is just a problem with my setup:

Playing single-player, while signed into XBL, has anyone lost their network connection momentarily which caused the game to reboot? It's happened to me twice. Prompt comes up middle of screen saying that it lost the connection to XBL and then proceeds to reboot the Xbox.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

The thing is, action games (particularly FPS's) don't have to have poor or nonexistent stories, and there's nothing wrong with that element of the game being important to people. Stop telling everyone how they shouldn't care about that aspect of games--it's fine if you don't, but we can't all be you.

if that element is IMPORTANT To people..then why play a game? there a shitload of books available that OWN any story in Any videogame.

also, i bet these people who find these stories in videogames SO important like Nintendo games also, and you know, all Nintendo games have the BEST story EVARRRR.

 

[Gantz]

Halo 2 has the worst fucking ending ever.

 

[GhaleonEB]

if that element is IMPORTANT To people..then why play a game? there a shitload of books available that OWN any story in Any videogame.

Games have the ability to convey a story in a way that books and movies cannot. Each medium can tell a story differently - movies have the obvious visual power as well as audio, books can provide more depth into emotions and characters.

Games can take the best elements of both and add compelling gameplay to invest the character in what is happening. I've been gaming for over 20 years, in addition to being an avid reader and movie lover. Some of my favorite stories come from games.

I won't do the laundry list, but a few games stand out. Panzer Dragoon Saga, Lunar: Eternal Blue (Sega-CD) and, yes, Halo all have stories that I find compelling, and they could not be told with the same effect in a movie or book.

I was looking forward to Halo 2 for two reasons: Gameplay, and the continuation of a story that I find very fascinating and entertaining. Since Bungie has put a tremendous emphasis on the story in this game, that was not an unreasonable expectation on my part.

I'm about 1/2 way through the game, and so far I love nearly everything about it - including the story.

 

[MetatronM]

Halo 2 has the worst fucking ending ever.

Untrue. But it does just kind of end.

I see no real difference between the end of Halo 2 and the end of, say, something like Fellowship of the Ring.

All in all, I'm quite pleased. And now I can't wait for Halo 3. Dammit. :lol

Oh well, I'll be on Live a little later probably.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

Games have the ability to convey a story in a way that books and movies cannot. Each medium can tell a story differently - movies have the obvious visual power as well as audio, books can provide more depth into emotions and characters.

Games can take the best elements of both and add compelling gameplay to invest the character in what is happening. I've been gaming for over 20 years, in addition to being an avid reader and movie lover. Some of my favorite stories come from games.

I won't do the laundry list, but a few games stand out. Panzer Dragoon Saga, Lunar: Eternal Blue (Sega-CD) and, yes, Halo all have stories that I find compelling, and they could not be told with the same effect in a movie or book.

I was looking forward to Halo 2 for two reasons: Gameplay, and the continuation of a story that I find very fascinating and entertaining. Since Bungie has put a tremendous emphasis on the story in this game, that was not an unreasonable expectation on my part.

I'm about 1/2 way through the game, and so far I love nearly everything about it - including the story.

for me, its all about gameplay unless its a rpg. in a Rpg, story is important i think because of the type of game it is, and still im not as harsh on the story as some people are who expect the greatest story ever told. I remember when everyone hated on Grandia II's story, but i actually enjoyed it, and the gameplay owned of course.

and regardless of how things may be "conveyed" in a game.....ive never played a game that had stories that completely owned great movies ive seen or books ive read(story-wise).

peace

 

[Tellaerin]

I just think its stupid to put emphasis on story ABOVE gameplay.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I end up doing that every time I play a JRPG. I love the genre, but I find the battle systems in most of them mildly entertaining at best, and definitely not anything I'd spend 40+ hours on if I wasn't interested in the characters and seeing the plot unfold.

Halo 2 combines the epic themes and presentation of a first-rate RPG with top-notch action gameplay, and that's part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. I just wish more games could be like that.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Untrue. But it does just kind of end.

I see no real difference between the end of Halo 2 and the end of, say, something like Fellowship of the Ring.

All in all, I'm quite pleased. And now I can't wait for Halo 3. Dammit. :lol

Oh well, I'll be on Live a little later probably.

Now, I have not beaten the game yet, but I have two thoughts so far from what I've read. One, that the game does not resolve the conflict of the story, and leaves a cliff-hanger. Well, Halo didn't resolve anything - the battle with the Covenant, the purpose of Halo, the fate of the Forerunner and function of the Flood. Nothing was resolved whatsoever.

It would not suprise me at all if there are still plenty of story threads open for the sequel.

And along those lines, I strongly suspect the following: Knowing the timing of MS's next system launch, Bungie does not have enough time to come up with a launch game. It is highly rumored that Perfect Dark Zero will fill that gap. I suspect MS asked Bungie to have Halo 3 ready for the 2nd holiday season of Xenon as a way to build momentum for their young system and bring in the fold from XBox.

That's all the speculation I'll do until I've beaten it. I reserve the right to be pissed off later.

 

[GhaleonEB]

for me, its all about gameplay unless its a rpg. in a Rpg, story is important i think because of the type of game it is, and still im not as harsh on the story as some people are who expect the greatest story ever told. I remember when everyone hated on Grandia II's story, but i actually enjoyed it, and the gameplay owned of course.

and regardless of how things may be "conveyed" in a game.....ive never played a game that had stories that completely owned great movies ive seen or books ive read(story-wise).

peace

Oh, I agree with that - gameplay is king. But a good story can make you care about what you do in the game that much more. It's one thing to be shooting aliens, but when the story adds a layer of urgency to the action, things get taken up a notch.

Action games are my favorite genre, and a story isn't requisite (most of them have a premise for the conflict, not a story to drive the action). Halo had a story, and I liked it. It was a story I don't see working as a movie or book in the same way.

That's all I was trying to say.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I end up doing that every time I play a JRPG. I love the genre, but I find the battle systems in most of them mildly entertaining at best, and definitely not anything I'd spend 40+ hours on if I wasn't interested in the characters and seeing the plot unfold.

.

yea thats what i hate about JRPGS might as well make it into a Anime or a movie why actually put in those tedious random battles? I hate turnbased battles but the cutscenes really do look amazing.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

Oh, I agree with that - gameplay is king. But a good story can make you care about what you do in the game that much more. It's one thing to be shooting aliens, but when the story adds a layer of urgency to the action, things get taken up a notch.

Action games are my favorite genre, and a story isn't requisite (most of them have a premise for the conflict, not a story to drive the action). Halo had a story, and I liked it. It was a story I don't see working as a movie or book in the same way.

That's all I was trying to say.

yea i see what you're saying, and its cool that bungie did try to put a good story into an action game instead of just throw some wacky/cornball sega/capcom type story in there.

but some people wanna judge the whole game just on the basis of the story, when the game is much more than a damn story.

shpankey is right.

just something for haters to cling onto i guess.

peace

 

[GhaleonEB]

yea i see what you're saying, and its cool that bungie did try to put a good story into an action game instead of just throw some wacky/cornball sega/capcom type story in there.

but some people wanna judge the whole game just on the basis of the story, when the game is much more than a damn story.

shpankey is right.

just something for haters to cling onto i guess.

peace

Agreed on all counts.

 

[Kuroyume]

I just beat the game... what a LAME ASS ending. Anyway I was blown away by this game more than I was with the original Halo. I love how Bungie gave the Covenant more life; the voice acting was top of the line (with the exception of shitfaced Michelle Rod, but she was only there for one scene.) I read the latest OXM and they said how the level designs don't make sense (ramps that lead nowhere) and I agree with that criticism. Some of the Alien architecture is stupid but nonetheless it's all pretty too look at. There need to be more variety in the level design too because I got lost a few times. The graphical glitches were annoying but I could put up with them just to play such a beautiful game. Anyway here is a breakdown of what I thought...

Spoiler

The arbiter is an awesome character, I'm glad he lived and I hope he returns for Halo 3.

Spoiler

It was beautiful to see the elites, grunts, and hunters join me in the fight.

Spoiler

I’m sick... fucking sick of the Flood. They were the worst part of Halo and here too they're a pain in the ass even though they're not in as much. I just can't stand the levels where I have to fight them. They're too ugly too look at (shit designs) and they're cheap as fuck.

Spoiler

The music is 100x better (first game's music was overrated)... I'm in love with the electric guitars.

Spoiler

The first few levels on earth were boring as hell.

Spoiler

Bungie (even with the shit ending) managed to create an exciting story. I never understood the big deal over the Halo story (why nerds read the books and drool over the story of the first game) but this game was so emotional (mostly the story of the arbiter.)

Congrats to Bungie... there hasn't been as much excitement over a game since Zelda:OOT or maybe even MGS2, but unlike MGS2 they didn't disappoint me.

 

[Sander]

The extra dialogue of your allies is a great improvement. I think one of my

Spoiler

Elite brethren

just referred to the plasma grenade he threw as 'Holy flare' :lol

 

[IJoel]

The extra dialogue of your allies is a great improvement. I think one of my

Spoiler

Elite brethren

just referred to the plasma grenade he threw as 'Holy flare' :lol

Staring at them can be quite comical at times.

Spoiler

I stared at an Elite and he said: "Well Arbiter, I... I... I think you're cute too."

 

[Kuroyume]

I remember one of my female allies saying "I'm kicking ass and taking names" :lol

 

[3rdman]

In the SP ED DVD, one of the actresses says "I'll shove my foot so far up your ass, you'll be tasting shit for a week!"

:lol

 

[Ninja Scooter]

:lol I had completely forgot that i had an Xbox in the house. My brother left his old one here in corner of the living room, didn't even notice it until today, so i rented Halo 2. So far, its pretty kickass. Graphics are a bit spotty, but then again im playing it on a p.o.s. tv so its really hard to tell. its also a lot harder than i remember the first game being (playing it on Normal, like i did part 1). The enemies can be pretty ruthless, whereas in the first game it was pretty easy to just go around butting the shit out of everyone with your gun.

 

[Sai]

Weekly What's Update

Elite Operative asks: Will there be downloadable updates and maps? Will there be new Campaign stuff?

Yes. We have not announced a schedule yet, but we will be making new downloadable multiplayer maps. They rock too. I've played a couple. There will likely never be downloadable Campaign content, however.

B A S T A R D S . . .

 

[Solid]

I also beat the game today (got the LE yesterday).

Spoiler

-First off, I too loved the Arbiter. Man, when I first saw that I was gonna play as him I laughed of joy and thought of MGS2. Playing with different characters is genious! From here on Arbiter kicks Chiefs ass!

-The game is really beautiful. People say Riddick looks better but I'll have to disagree on that one. Some of the Halo levels are just INSANE! The water and everything looks gorgeous!

-The story was awesome too! But the ending was a little lame. I mean, it's like Return of The King would end right when Frodo and Sam are up at the Mount Doom. It can't end like that. Halo 3 better be here soon!

-And the whole war between Elites and Brutes were awesome! I love being between them. But man, was the Brutes annoying in the dark? When they go mad it's almost impossible to avoid or see them. I loved the last mission though. It was really awesome having those big blue guys at your side.

A couple of questions though.

-When Halo2.com launched you could translate the site, remember? Well, on the earth map it said "this is what we came for" on Africa.. what was that? Why did they choose Mombasa of all places?

-Who was that giant plant? Dunno what to call it. But the one who tells Chief and Arbiter that Halo can't be activated. The sequence with Cortana at the end was quite confusing as well.

 

[Prine]

The extra dialogue of your allies is a great improvement. I think one of my

Spoiler

Elite brethren

just referred to the plasma grenade he threw as 'Holy flare' :lol

even better when you exchange a good weapon with a weak one. He said

"Surly you jest?"

craked me up for some reason

 

[Prine]

Arbitors voice rocks

 

[shpankey]

Just to piss you off, I'm sure.

I didn't mean it like that, I just meant I found it hard to understand why someone would say the disliked the whole game because of that ending, which was a pretty good ending.

 

[Baconäger]

I also beat the game today (got the LE yesterday).

Spoiler

-When Halo2.com launched you could translate the site, remember? Well, on the earth map it said "this is what we came for" on Africa.. what was that? Why did they choose Mombasa of all places?

-Who was that giant plant? Dunno what to call it. But the one who tells Chief and Arbiter that Halo can't be activated. The sequence with Cortana at the end was quite confusing as well.

Spoiler

1. They came from the ark. My guess is they found the location of earth from their past relic findings or whatever, but didn't know thats where the humans lived.

2. Basically the flood king.

 

[Prine]

so how come theres an option to play co-op in online party mode???

 

[Sysgen]

Spoiler

2. Basically the flood king.

Is that factual or are you speculating?

 

[GhaleonEB]

Just got through the biggest vehicle-robot-whatever battle ever. Man - that was insane. In Level 11,

Spoiler

playing as the Arbiter for the second time.

. Holy S H I T !

 

[demon]

Well I just rented this game, and while so far it seems pretty much just like Halo, the menu music sure is damn good.

 

[Baconäger]

Is that factual or are you speculating?

Spoiler

Well, he's some kind of flood leader. I guess there could more of him on other halos or something, but I doubt it.

 

[GhaleonEB]

so how come theres an option to play co-op in online party mode???

From the FAQ at Bungie.net:

Q )Does Halo 2 support Xbox Live or System Link cooperative play?

A ) Bungie never announced Xbox Live or System Link cooperative play. Although we realize these would be cool features, they were not in our plan for the game's release on November 9th.

Call me crazy, but that's one weird way to shoot down online co-op. Doesn't even sound like the shoot it down....

 

[Prine]

it reads like (on the option sceen in party mode) "go through Halo 2 campaign online with a friend"

wtf?

 

[MetatronM]

I also beat the game today (got the LE yesterday).

Spoiler

-Who was that giant plant? Dunno what to call it. But the one who tells Chief and Arbiter that Halo can't be activated. The sequence with Cortana at the end was quite confusing as well.

Spoiler

It's called the Gravemind. I can only assume it is the leader of the Flood.

 

[Ghost]

TBH, before the game came out i thought id really want online co-op but now its out and ive played straight multiplayer i can honestly say that if the released it tomorrow i wouldnt want to play it, maybe (well definitely) if it was more than 2 player things would be different. But co-op was special in Halo because it was straight forward to jump into, instant fast paced action even if theres only 2 of you, now that it's just as easy to jump into a full multiplayer game (well, if your in a decent sized clan), id much rather just do that.

 

[Solid]

Spoiler

It's called the Gravemind. I can only assume it is the leader of the Flood.

Spoiler

Oh? That's cool. Not as hysterical as the rest of the floood

Didn't one of the Elites say Gravemind had escaped? Does that mean the Covenant's had the thing sealed?

 

[Solid]

Btw, easily GOTY so far. Goddamn I love this game!

 

[Do The Mario]

Spoiler

I really don't think Cortana is turnging on MC and the humans. I mean yeah, it seems like is going to help a bad guy by answering questions or whatever, but you have to realize that they both have the same immediate goal, which is stopping the Halos from going off.

I also still think the forerunners are human. I think Bungie is trying to be all ironic by making the race the Covenant worship the same as the race they hate and are at war with. The war and hate never win message and all that crap. Reminds me of the Matrix...

Spoiler

I don’t think cortana will have a choice if she aid’s the flood or not, she talks about a “presence” that makes it hard for her to infiltrate the computer system in the flood infested areas.

Maybe she will be dominated and reprogrammed to follow the flood, then placed inside a a body/vessel?

 

[DopeyFish]

Spoiler

this is going to sound really really stupid, but this is what i think about the AI/flood:

The Flood, as you may all know were pretty stupid throughout the original game all the way up to Halo 2. Maybe their existence isn't just multiplying and consuming of organic material but actual information and knowledge. The AI in the covenant ship that left Halo was a Flood infected replica of Cortana. (when she was in the Halo main computers). It's possible that the flood only acted simple in the original just because they only had a basic replication of intelligence (343 Guilty Spark), and would also explain how the flood "Gravemind" would have intelligence and control over Halo 05. Sort of like how the Flood were starting to gain control of Truth and Reconcilation. Maybe the battle of flood vs forerunners started to occur widespread when the flood got a hold of an advanced war AI (much like Cortana) which allowed them to obtain knowledge in the department of strategics and allowed them to properly pilot ships and vehicles as well as using shield technology.

I think my theory also goes hand in hand with the fact that Cortana noticed that the covenant AI (supposed) looked quite familiar but it wasn't at the same time. You could say the same thing about infected soldiers. They look familiar... but they aren't. Now that the flood have had more time to examine things like this, you might see the flood become a much more dominant force and much more intelligent. In Halo 3, you could probably see them becoming about as smart as the covenant on the battlefield.

 

[Tellaerin]

Spoiler

this is going to sound really really stupid, but this is what i think about the AI/flood:

The Flood, as you may all know were pretty stupid throughout the original game all the way up to Halo 2. Maybe their existence isn't just multiplying and consuming of organic material but actual information and knowledge. The AI in the covenant ship that left Halo was a Flood infected replica of Cortana. (when she was in the Halo main computers). It's possible that the flood only acted simple in the original just because they only had a basic replication of intelligence (343 Guilty Spark), and would also explain how the flood "Gravemind" would have intelligence and control over Halo 05. Sort of like how the Flood were starting to gain control of Truth and Reconcilation. Maybe the battle of flood vs forerunners started to occur widespread when the flood got a hold of an advanced war AI (much like Cortana) which allowed them to obtain knowledge in the department of strategics and allowed them to properly pilot ships and vehicles as well as using shield technology.

I think my theory also goes hand in hand with the fact that Cortana noticed that the covenant AI (supposed) looked quite familiar but it wasn't at the same time. You could say the same thing about infected soldiers. They look familiar... but they aren't. Now that the flood have had more time to examine things like this, you might see the flood become a much more dominant force and much more intelligent. In Halo 3, you could probably see them becoming about as smart as the covenant on the battlefield.

DopeyFish,

Here's my theory about

Spoiler

the Flood and Gravemind

:

Spoiler

I think the Flood we saw in the first game are the first stage of the infestation. When enough sentients in a particular area have been transformed, a 'Flood King' begins to take shape. It grows by incorporating infected creatures into itself and absorbing their knowledge, eventually developing into a guiding intelligence that directs the horde. I believe that's what was happening to Keyes near the end of the first game.

I'd be interested in hearing other ideas, though. That's just my take on it.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Must...resist....reading....the spoilers.....

Must...play....more....Halo 2......

 

[StoOgE]

Just finished the game.. really loved it all the way through, though I thought the last level might not ever end :lol The ending was a little disapointing, but it is what it is.. people were pissed that Han Solo got left in stasis at the end of Empire Strikes Back.. its just a cliffhanger. Hell, people were left hanging at the end of Halo 1.. maybe not as bad, but the covenant were still kicking the humans ass, and guilty spark had gotten away.

Spoiler

I personally think that the next game is going to be absolutely crazy with temporary alliances being formed out of necessity and broken as soon as they can be. I think it could be really awesome.. what gets me most about this story is I care more about the Orator than I do MC... but Im pretty sure he is going to die (since its said all of the Orators have been designated during times of great peril, have suceeded in bringing the peace but dies in the process)..

I also have a question.. is the covenant homeworld that gigantic 'ship'? Or is that just some gigantic ship? It would be cool if their homeworld had been blown to hell, and they now could transport it around like a space ship

 

[Baconäger]

He is the arbiter, not the "orator"...

And Master Chief totally owns him.

 

[StoOgE]

sorry.. I think the Orator is from Morrowind :lol.

 

[AeroGod]

So what are the Halo books about? I dont really have time to read them but im interested anyways since Halo 2 really got me into the story. Do they have a synopsis or something somewhere, like cliffnotes or whatever you wanna call them. Do they even matter to the first game and Halo 2 or are they side things that have no connection?

 

[Rabid Wolverine]

Finished it.

Fantastic from start to finsh.

The only downfall it ends

Halo 3 on X2... Bring it !

 

[AeroGod]

Finished it.

Fantastic from start to finsh.

The only downfall it ends

Halo 3 on X2... Bring it !

Fuck that shit. Use the same engine, bang out a few missions, throw it on a disc and sell it to me this summer.

If Insomniac and Naughty Dog can stick out 3 quality games in 3 years Bungie can do the same, maybe even better.