Popcorn: "Worst" Halo 2 review so far

G

gollumsluvslave

Member
70% :-
http://www.firingsquad.com/games/halo_2_review/

Some quotes :-
Missions blandly lead you through one ambush point after another.
Click to expand...

Many corridors were virtually unadorned, and rooms lacked cohesion and common sense. All areas were lifeless.
Click to expand...
:lol

Lack of color is another sore point. Almost everything is washed over with pale blues and grays that further make all of the levels blur together. Vibrant colors are so few and far between
Click to expand...
Did I even play the same game? If anything I thought Halo 2 was garish... :lol

Level design and architecture also combine to make for some truly uneventful combat.
Click to expand...
WTF?

Occasionally you have to pilot a Warthog buggy or a Ghost hovercar through areas so tightly scripted that you can practically read page numbers flipping by at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...

Halo 2’s multiplayer is pretty cool, thanks to a pile of game options, stellar Xbox Live support, and a co-op mode (which only works in split-screen, though, which is hard to understand). But even this only stands out if you don’t have a PC. There are at least a dozen PC shooters with superior online multiplayer modes, and they don’t charge subscription fees a la Xbox Live.
Click to expand...
It's all over! Sell your Xbox Live!!! :lol

Now it gets to the point...
there isn’t anything here that you won’t find in a PC shooter. So it doesn’t make much sense to go through the trouble and expense, unless you’re a serious Halo fanboy.
Click to expand...
:lol :lol :lol

How did this get 70%? Sounds like 40-50% :lol
 
I read this review after finishing Halo2 on Heroic. I couldn't understand many of his points of reference but ultimatley figured that I just disagreed with him. As do many other critiques. Its probably got this web site loads of hits and when you read into the review its most certaintly got a " my 3000k computer must have better FPS than a 3 yr old £99 Xbox" and thats the angle the review comes from. Ultimaley the review is let down for me when he says you are led from a one linear area to another to await an ambush" Err pretty much like HL2 then? The only point he missed was the game maybe entirely linear (although it doesn't feel like it) but its fun, lots of fun in fact. Actually is fantsically fun and thats a FACT! Besides this review just makes all the PC gamers on that site feel better and superior.
 
I haven't yet finished Halo2 singleplayer, but having dabbled with it on Live and in splitscreen Co-op, I can't entirely disagree with the assertion that there is nothing there, in terms of multiplayer, that you can't find elsewhere in PC-land. In fact, there's a fair bit in PC-land that isn't there in Halo2. I was shocked when I tried to play multiplayer with a friend and couldn't add AI players.

The only new thing as far as I can see right now is the dual-wielding with different weapons (as opposed to UT2k4's dual wielding with the same weapons). I expected more though, and my expectations weren't sky high to begin with.

In terms of single player, I haven't played that far. I found the second level to still be the best though, and it was indeed a lot of fun. The third level was quite meh, and the fourth level isn't much different.

Maybe more will come to light as I play further...these are just very provisional comments based on relatively limited playtime.
 
The whole point though and its a simple one, Halo2 is not a PC game (well at the moment). So comparisons with PC games are a triffle as we say in the UK "utter bollocks".
 
Pug said:
The whole point though and its a simple one, Halo2 is not a PC game (well at the moment). So comparisons with PC games are a triffle as we say in the UK "utter bollocks".
Click to expand...

Not really for me, personally, since I can either spend my limited playtime with one or the other..obviously if you have multiple platforms, you're going to make cross-platform comparisons. I'm not going to laud Halo2 just because it's the best FPS on Xbox when apparently better alternatives are available elsewhere (note: I said apparently since I still feel I haven't played enough of Halo2 to make a proper judgement). Critics MUST also make such comparisons since all games should be viewed as part of the larger whole and their contribution to videogames as a whole should be judged..they shouldn't just be viewed within the boundaries of each console's library.
 
Haha, my coworker told me that he heard Halo 2 totally sucked from a review from a "trusted source" that came out yesterday, this must be it! :lol
 
Almost everything is washed over with pale blues and grays that further make all of the levels blur together. Vibrant colors are so few and far between
Click to expand...
Wait, is this a review of the title screen?
 
gofreak said:
I I can't entirely disagree with the assertion that there is nothing there, in terms of multiplayer, that you can't find elsewhere in PC-land. In fact, there's a fair bit in PC-land that isn't there in Halo2. I was shocked when I tried to play multiplayer with a friend and couldn't add AI players.
Click to expand...

Hmm? This is where I'm a little surprised.

Halo 2 keep a record of your connection quality in every game and then chooses hosts based on that rating. It has a matchmaking service that keeps you paired with players of similar skill (it works pretty well as I'm always in 4th out of 8 haha). You can move an entire party around to multiplayer games. The host of any game can disconnect and the game will start up on the next best server. You can sign people on with serperate live accounts on the same box and they can use the communicator, check thier friends list, etc. You can send voicemails to an entire friends list. You can give host controll to any player in a party.

I have some gripes with the game, but there are some aspects that are done so well I'm stunned.
 
gohepcat said:
Hmm? This is where I'm a little surprised.

Halo 2 keep a record of your connection quality in every game and then chooses hosts based on that rating. It has a matchmaking service that keeps you paired with players of similar skill (it works pretty well as I'm always in 4th out of 8 haha). You can move an entire party around to multiplayer games. The host of any game can disconnect and the game will start up on the next best server. You can sign people on with serperate live accounts on the same box and they can use the communicator, check thier friends list, etc. You can send voicemails to an entire friends list. You can give host controll to any player in a party.

I have some gripes with the game, but there are some aspects that are done so well I'm stunned.
Click to expand...

For all its "innovation" I had far less trouble getting set up in a game of UT2K4 the first time I played than I've had with Halo2. I've only played like < 10 games online though, so again, take this with a grain of salt. The skill-based matchmaking is interesting, but I've never found myself lost in a game of UT2K4..perhaps the larger teams in that game negate the impact of poorer players and simply allow them to learn more easily without messing things up too much.

Also, friends need *seperate* Live accounts to play online from the one box? Hmm..guess that's why I had trouble getting my friend online so we could play together in splitscreen mode. You should really be able to sign multiple guests on with your own account (and I thought you could? Perhaps when we tried it the system was being hammered...we tried accessing a game but we were just waiting and waiting and waiting...).

edit - also, the way games are set up, for me, isn't that relevant regardless of the platform. I'm more concerned with the actual mechanics once you get into the game.
 
You can get as many as three others on one XBOX (playing in splitscreen) to go online together, as guest accounts...

Anyway, I think that, even with the angle of comparing PC titles to consoles titles, this review is incredibly flawed. The moment-to-moment combat is basically miles ahead of anything on the PC thanks to its AI. The level design is questionable in a few places, but this is among the best...PC games included. Smells more like the PC-gamer consolation type of review to me...whereby the review makes the PC-gaming reader feel assured about their platform's 'invicibility' in the FPS genre... Just a plain old ignorant review.
 
Also, friends need *seperate* Live accounts to play online from the one box? Hmm..guess that's why I had trouble getting my friend online so we could play together in splitscreen mode. You should really be able to sign multiple guests on with your own account (and I thought you could? Perhaps when we tried it the system was being hammered...we tried accessing a game but we were just waiting and waiting and waiting...).
Click to expand...
You can play with guests without them having live accounts, but only in unranked games (arranged games and the Training Ground, plus bungie are adding an unranked Rumble Pit in the playlist update they're pushing out after Thanksgiving).
 
gofreak said:
Also, friends need *seperate* Live accounts to play online from the one box? Hmm..guess that's why I had trouble getting my friend online so we could play together in splitscreen mode. You should really be able to sign multiple guests on with your own account (and I thought you could? Perhaps when we tried it the system was being hammered...we tried accessing a game but we were just waiting and waiting and waiting...).
Click to expand...

Nope, a friend can join anytime. He just won't be able to use a headset. The touble you were having we ,atch,aking speed. That's been ironed out now.

As for not liking the "content" well that's just opnion. and I can undersatand that.
 
Gofreak to a point your correct, games should be comapared. However if your an Xbox owner, with a PC that can't run say HL2 or Far Cry or just don't own a PC what worth is comparing HALO2 with a PC control system, online aspects and graphical style (which is always a good one) and graphical power? There isn't a point. How good and how much fun is how any game game should be critiqued and I',m sure most reviewers look at from this angle. This review is how good it is it compared to my beloved PC! Besides I'm about 6 hours into HL2 and whilst I'm enjoying it where is the all this proclaimed revolutionary gameplay? Its exactly how the reviewer pointed out in the H2 review. Move along a linear path waiting for the next ambush. And Far Cry don't get me started on that!
 
I don't think anyone said HL2 was a revolution; what many people have said (the intelligent ones anyway) is that HL2 is pretty much the pinnacle of FPS gaming, something that plays out like an interactive action movie. On top of that the game has incredible atmosphere, graphics, animation, physics. The gameplay is stunning and many aspects of the game leave players awestruck. But no, by all means down play the game, after all we couldn't bring ourselves to admit that HL2 offers a hell of a lot better single player experience than a certain other FPS could we?
 
halo 2's level design is still pretty repetitive and shoddy in many places -- but the improved combat and AI more than makes up for those areas.
 
HL2 SP > halo 2's SP (it's just a more complete experience), but halo 2's multiplayer > CS source is how I'd rate it.

edit: and it's console GOTY for me although that may change with KOTOR 2.
 
xabre, I'm not down playing HL2 at all. I'm enjoying the game but I must admit I don't think in gameplay terms it has much over Halo2 be it, its immersion into the game world the story or the atmosphere. Halo2 still has better atmosphere and immersion for me. And take that away from the obvious graphical advantages that HL2 has I'd say both games are great although I've still a long way to go in HL2.
 
Halo2 still has better atmosphere and immersion for me.
Click to expand...

That's because you went into Halo 2 wanting to like it above all else, and then went into HL2 not wanting it to be as good as Halo 2. I seriously believe that an objective look at the quality of single player offered by both games puts HL2 well ahead. The gameplay is much more varied and interesting, the world itself is more intriguing, the physics and animation further deepen the immersion and it is simply the complete action gaming experience not offered by any other game before it.
 
Where's that roll eyes smiley whe you need him. This is totally getting out of hand. Folks are just bashing Halo 2 just to bash it now. The Haterade is flowing freely. :lol
 
That's because you went into Halo 2 wanting to like it above all else
Click to expand...

Err nope its just at the moment Halo2 was a more memorable and enjoyable game. As I said I have only really just started HL2 and graphically yep its very impressive and the way objects are handled is very impressive but I have yet to pulled in by the game like I was Halo2. Its nothing to do with Halo2 being the 2nd coming (!) its just my opinion, which maybe completely off centre but its truely the way I feel about the games as it stands.
 
I agree wth some of the things he says, however not with the score. And you can clearly see that he just slapped that score on the review to generate some hits, i mean what reviewer gives a game 70%? A real reviewer gives 75.8, and explains why it was so close to getting a 75.9!
 
Bungie.net stats bitchslaps any equivalent PC multiplayer stat tracking, as does Live's implementation of voice communication.


So there.
 
For all the flaws Halo 2 possesses, it's still an earnest class example of a pretty good FPS, console or not.

Sure it's not the best... but the reviewer really had an unbridled agenda in this review... the kind of professionalism I expect from a certain Gaming-Age reviewer of forum fan boys, but not a site like Firingsquad.
 
Pug said:
Gofreak to a point your correct, games should be comapared. However if your an Xbox owner, with a PC that can't run say HL2 or Far Cry or just don't own a PC what worth is comparing HALO2 with a PC control system, online aspects and graphical style (which is always a good one) and graphical power? There isn't a point.
Click to expand...

I see what you're getting at, but in my mind, all games should be held up against the the good and bad in their genre regardless of platform. I only read multiplatform magazines for that very reason...I don't invest too much belief in single-platform magazine/site reviews. These reviews aren't valid as far as critiquing games based on the state of the art, imo..they have a very narrow focus.

I wouldn't invest a whole lot of weight in Firing Squad's reviews for that matter, since they are predominantly PC-focussed (AFAIK). But I do agree with some of their points.
 
This is coming from PC centric firing squad, so just look at the source when you think about their judgement on Halo 2. I love the site for its PC coverage, but I wouldn't trust any console review from these guys at all. *Especially* a console first person shooter review. Many PC gamers get touchy when you talk about a console first person shooter and good game together.
 
I think he could've harped on the single-player a bit more. I was very unimpressed by the whole experience. Playing through a host of very solid single-player games over the years made Halo 2 seem very drab and uninteresting. But I think most will agree the allure was with the multiplayer, which I thought was perfectly fine in Halo 1 anyways. But Halo 2 does a good job of bringing back that magic and adding a little more to the package. I personally prefer Halo 1 single and multi over Halo 2. Even though there are more levels and variation of levels in the sequel, I got everything I needed out of Halo 1's two good vehicular levels. Weeks of LAN parties saw to that.
 
Zaptruder said:
Sure it's not the best... but the reviewer really had an unbridled agenda in this review... the kind of professionalism I expect from a certain Gaming-Age reviewer of forum fan boys, but not a site like Firingsquad.
Click to expand...

Heh, that's because I retired from FiringSquad. :) You guys used to trust my reviews right? :)

The pageview numbers for the Halo2 article are top secret, but they were typical FiringSquad pageviews. I'm suprised that FS gave GTA:SA a 98% either especially because FS scoring system is supposed to be really tough. You are eligible for editor's choice with a score of 88% or up and we used to give out maybe 10-15 editor's choice awards a year.

When I reviewed Gran Turismo 3 with the FF steering wheel, I said that I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun playing any game, from any genre, on any system and even though we were reviewing it at a time when the typical PS2 game looked worse than a typical Dreamcast game, I gave it 96% with the wheel, and 91% w/the gamepad...
 
That review really is terrible. Half of the "major" complaints that they throw at it are things you could say about just any other higher-rated FPS....oh no, the levels are linear! =\ Doom 3 is just as linear, and the levels are 10 times more repetitive AND the game is entirely corridor-based....but even that turd scored an 85% (different reviewer though). I suppose it's not even worth mentioning that those criticisms are grossly inaccurate anyhow....

It sounds as though it's being written by someone who doesn't even like the genre. He hasn't reviewed any other normal FPS games so it's pretty difficult to get a bearing on what he thinks they should be like. I don't understand why they handed the reviewing duties to someone who doesn't seem to have much interest in the genre.

If I had to guess I would say it has more to do with console fanboy-ism than PC elitism. Same reviewer gave 98 to San Andreas...despite all its deep technical flaws..
 
I'd agree with that border, except San Andreas isn't a first person shooter. I think plenty of the "FPS games can only be good on PC" elitism kicked in on this review. And while this is true most of the time it isn't true all of the time.
 
--------------
Save checkpoints might actually be the biggest contributing factor to the intensity of firefights, as there just aren’t enough of them. In the first couple of levels, Halo 2 automatically saves your progress practically every couple of feet. But these save points soon become fewer and farther between. They also seem somewhat erratic. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.
--------------

I don't understand that comment at all. Checkpoint system is just like the first Halo...there are MANY of them scattered throughout, but generally won't trigger when there is a lot of action on screen or you haven't cleared out all the enemies before heading to the next checkpoint. Makes sense and it's so easy to see that it makes wonder what the hell the dude was playing.

I remember seeing someone playing the first Halo years ago wondering what the fuss was about. He'd enter a room and say "ok now I kill this guy, and now this guy, oh man GOTY!!" Just marching through the game not paying attention to the weapons he was carrying, getting into position for cover, where the enemies were at, etc. This review reminds me of that bullshit, especcially cuz of comments like this:

----------
relaxed pace of the campaign
----------

WTF? Relaxed??. All Bullshit
 
I started playing the game on legendary last night and my love for the game increased 10x!! and i'm sure i'm in the minority here but i like the one kill snipes. it makes me so much more involved in the game trying not to get hit
 
that review is nonsense. He obviously has an agenda. I am very harsh sometimes when it comes to games and I can easily say Halo 2 is one of the top games I have played. Single player is great but not beyond great. And Online it is at times spectacular.

Nuff said. Jizzle
 
Hey, I can respect anyones opinion but reviewers need to understand that if you give a quality game a score like this, you lose credibility. Sure you maybe playing to your core readership ( I don't know anything about the site) but in the end you lose, not the game. MS has sold and will sell a shitload of Halo2 and therefore this review is irrelvant in the big picture.

I also disagree that you can compare the latest PC games to the current generation of console games. How can you compare platforms that are years old and stagnant to a constantly evolving platform? Given the platform, Bungie produced an incredible product.

Every dog can have his day and the dog at firing squad had his. Congrats.
 
Sysgen said:
I also disagree that you can compare the latest PC games to the current generation of console games. How can you compare platforms that are years old and stagnant to a constantly evolving platform? Given the platform, Bungie produced an incredible product.
Click to expand...

Well, we're not simply judging games based on technical achievement here..if we were, it would be unfair to compare them (obviously), but we're not.
 
gofreak said:
Well, we're not simply judging games based on technical achievement here..if we were, it would be unfair to compare them (obviously), but we're not.
Click to expand...

The only thing you can compare is the fun factor. Everything else is intrinsic to the platform.
 
"Halo 2’s multiplayer is pretty cool, thanks to a pile of game options, stellar Xbox Live support, and a co-op mode (which only works in split-screen, though, which is hard to understand). But even this only stands out if you don’t have a PC. There are at least a dozen PC shooters with superior online multiplayer modes, and they don’t charge subscription fees a la Xbox Live."


I would like the reviewer to Name these "at least a dozen superior online multiplayer modes" just for giggles

I would also like a list of the dozen or so fps that he feels are superior to halo 2, just for so more laughs as we get to poke holes in those games.

Its good to see it get some hate, it shows that its making an impact.
 
quin said:
I started playing the game on legendary last night and my love for the game increased 10x!! and i'm sure i'm in the minority here but i like the one kill snipes. it makes me so much more involved in the game trying not to get hit
Click to expand...

I don't see problem either. Legendary has a more realistic damage structure....and surprise, realistic means being killed with a high powered snifle rifle with one bullet...pretty much what a Sniper is trained to do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Poll
Your GotY so far? [Q2 2025]
Poll  2 3 4
187
513
DiscoDave replied
Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 offscreen gameplay footage(clearest so far)
2 3 4 5
232
11K
IlGialloMondadori replied
  • Poll
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach | Review Thread
Analysis Review  7 8 9 10 11
543
1K
TheRedRiders replied
What Switch 2 games, that have been shown so far, are you planning to buy?
2
85
3K
deriks replied
  • Poll
Your GotY so far? [Q1 2025]
Opinion NSFW Poll  2 3 4
156
6K
fart town usa replied
Top Bottom