Almost three years ago, \Halo"" changed the genre of first-person shooters and introduced a level of gameplay that is rarely rivaled even today. The sequel to arguably the greatest XBox game of all time has some impossibly big shoes to fill, which is likely why the game seems like such a disappointment. Despite falling short of expectations, ""Halo"" successfully re-executes the first game's winning strategy.
Rather than trying to change a tried-and-true formula, the game opts to expand on a great concept. The game builds on its original, which immersed the player in a surreal world where enemies planned frighteningly realistic strategies and battles rarely unfolded the same way. The combination of putting a new spin on some of ""Halo's"" best attributes and throwing in a few crazy surprises creates a game that, while not as technically impressive as the original, is still a wholly satisfying experience that builds on its predecessor rather than trying to reinvent it.
Again taking on the role of the Master Chief, ""Halo 2"" starts right where its precursor left off. After the destruction of Halo the Covenant, a fanatical religious species, has launched an all-out attack on Earth. The story unfolds through a seamlessly integrated narrative, which is driven by well-written, and oftentimes, humorous dialogue. Though the plot is completely linear, it has a number of very surprising twists that results in a few dramatic-though certainly welcome-gameplay changes in ""Halo 2.""
Other changes in the game are mostly minor, but are executed so flawlessly they dramatically change the game. The ability to hold two weapons, for example, not only results in a different level of gameplay, but more importantly, changes the strategy of the game. Holding two weapons affords the option of firing an alien plasma weapon while a conventional human firearm reloads, which further complicates the decision of which weapons the Chief should take and which he should leave behind. This adds an interesting element to the game: trying to create a payload of which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Vehicles in the game have also seen marked improvement, and not just those that are newly introduced. The Ghost, a barebone hovercraft from the original, is now easily the most fun vehicle to pilot, making the elaborate dogfights the Chief is sure to encounter that much more interesting and strategic.
Both the vehicles and weapons have been improved graphically and still adhere to the shockingly realistic physics engine of the first. This is where the graphical improvement ends, however. Both the character models and many of the environmental components are graphically subpar by contemporary standards. Particularly disappointing is the fact that the majority of environments are not interactive. The ones that are, however, like the glass ceilings that cannot sustain the Master Chief's weight, are seamlessly incorporated and flawlessly executed. Visually, the game is certainly stunning. It just has not made any great graphical leaps, something that is particularly troubling considering how long it has taken for oft-delayed ""Halo 2"" to come out.
This exemplifies the game on the whole-there have not been a great number of changes made, but those changes that have been made add to the game immeasurably. This thankfully prevents the game from being branded a ""Halo"" expansion pack, though sometimes it does come close.
The cooperative mode is again a fun diversion, but it is in the multiplayer experience where ""Halo 2"" truly shines. Online play thankfully replaces the logistical nightmares of setting up 16 televisions. The frame rate is flawless and the overall online performance makes for a monumental level of replay value, along with providing hours of non-repetitive gameplay.
""Halo 2"" is not the visionary its predecessor was-it will unlikely inspire many copycats and is often guilty of rehashing overused gaming concepts. These weaknesses, however, are outweighed by the sheer number of things ""Halo 2"" does right. From witnessing an astoundingly elaborate battle unfold to the minute details on an enemy's face when obliterated with bursts of machine gun fire, it's easy to forget the game's shortcomings. As the first grand battle scene unfolds, it is painfully obvious this game is still far ahead of the pack in many regards. Expectations aside, ""Halo 2"" is well worth the wait.
