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Halo 2

Bungie up the ante with the Xbox's most anticipated sequel.

Halo was without doubt the jewel in the crown of Microsoft’s Xbox launch, indeed, without its ground-breaking mixture of story, environments, vehicles, and AI, its difficult to imagine that Microsoft would have even managed half as well as they have done. All in all, it was plain to see why Microsoft were so keen to buy developers Bungie, and snap up this little beauty for themselves.

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  • Publisher:

    Microsoft

    Developer:

    Bungie

    Release Date:

    11 November 2004

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Its no surprise, then, that after the smash-hit sales and critical acclaim of the original, Bungie and Redmond are keen to get a sequel out the door. What we already know is that Halo 2 carries on from where the original left-off, pitting the Master Chief, the deifier of the evil Covenant alien race, once again against his foes, as they march toward Earth. New graphical overhauls are promised, as well as new aliens, and new weaponry – some of which will be derived from the master Chief’s new encounters.

More than double the number of driveable vehicles will feature, too, for both exploration and battle across the new huge landscapes we’re promised. Perhaps most exciting of all, however, is the Xbox Live support built in to Halo 2 – and it is this that will get even the most hardened of gamers salivating at the very thought.

A new and revolutionary graphics engine will make Halo 2, we’re promised, the toast of the industry – ranking alongside Doom 3 for innovation. Using new “real-time per-pixel lighting”, only made possible of late by the power of NVIDIA’s more recent graphics cards, Halo 2 will be almost indistinguishable from pre-rendered graphics. A la Doom 3. This new approach offers the opportunity for much-improved image quality, and greater detail – without the same hardware ‘expense’ as before.

This apparent graphical ‘simplification’, will result in models that despite the outward appearance of being more detailed are actually constructed of fewer polygons than the original! This will improve load-times and other memory issues, as well as benefiting online play where bandwidth is the key issue.

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1. Great game and it might actually convince people of Japan to start buying more XBoxes... Just pray fans, pray...

   Barge Wednesday, 23 October 2002, 16:36:28

2. halo was good but nodoubt halo 2 will be better just cant wait to play it.

   Zhoaib Altaf Thursday, 24 October 2002, 03:21:3

3. Make Halo 2 come out faster have played the game and im reading the prequal to halo and so far all of it has been good. and the things you say about halo 2 sound awsome so make it come out in june when its my birthday

   Andrew Thursday, 24 October 2002, 14:28:51

4. Halo is one ofthe best games ever

   but it needs many more guns and air crafts would make it much better

   matt Saturday, 26 October 2002, 17:53:43

5. this is a promosing review, can't wait to buy it in Englad

   Anonimous Sunday, 27 October 2002, 03:50:36

6. I do like games like Halo but when will console peole get it throught thier heads that the only type of controller you should ever use for this type of game is a frigging mouse and keyboard... they might as well have not bothered releaseing it as far as I'm concerned with out a mouse

   hal9000 Tuesday, 29 October 2002, 04:03:7

7. i like the game but its missing a lot more like more guns and bad pepole and a lot more tanks and banchies you cam fly!

   corey Tuesday, 29 October 2002, 14:43:59

8. I think that halo is the best multi-player game ever made! I can't wait until you guys come out with the second one! You should really think about making jetpacks. Well I got to go Halinate!!

   Jake Afoa Friday, 22 November 2002, 20:24:40

9. WHEn does this game come out???ANd when comes x-boxlive in europa out?

   Nick Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 05:52:58

10. halo 2 will dominate any other xbox game for year 2 (WELL MAYBE)

    shawn Thursday, 28 November 2002, 15:32:50

11. Halo 2 is going to be the best game ever. I can't wait to play the game. The game alone sells out ps2, and Gamecube! lol!!

    Mark Thursday, 28 November 2002, 15:58:15

12. CRAM CRAM CRAM Get as meny options in the damn game as possible the first halo was severly lacking wep / viechles / levles CHARCTER MODLES/ CLasses and a 16 players vs 16 bots battle would e fun the origional halo had such lacking maps they where like fields NO air viechles.... wtf i recently saw a picture of a ATV Designed for halo 2 now your getting the picture... Me and my friends want to see more intricate Cool out door above ground bases and since master chief is oing to earth some broken down city maps would be so fun tom clancy style wtf is with out door levle walls just do a out of bounds re spon like tribes and Battlefield geesh i know the bungie people where rushed but i expect a lot more frome halo 2 me and my friends love the assault option to capture the flag and think it would be cool to make a assault map where you have to assault a base break down the walls and rush into the base grab the flag and get out that would be amazing they have all the right things to make a legendary game just lakeing the OPTIONS yet a gain halo is plagued with another deaadd! line and i hope microsoft does not limit halo 2s PONTENTIAL!

    CRIM Saturday, 30 November 2002, 22:02:8

13. Anybody who thinks halo could be better should be kidding themselves because i think they did an excellent job on halo1 and halo2 looks awesome to.I think the only fault in halo1 was the lack of vehicles i thought there would be alot more.This might be something that would make halo2 even better then the first.Overall i think that you will not find a better game on xbox or ps2 or gamecube.I was instantly hooked when i purchased halo1 and i think it will be the same with halo2.

    halo king Sunday, 1 December 2002, 19:59:53

14. This is goin be one bad game. It will be the best game ever made>

    Fred Monday, 2 December 2002, 16:05:19

16. God bless you Bungie, God bless you

    Chris Da Smoker Tuesday, 12 March 2002, 09:38:51

17. When does it come out?

    Hafeez Tuesday, 3 December 2002, 15:11:30

18. the AR in halo 1 sucked ass

    A PRO Friday, 12 April 2002, 00:42:4

19. Somethings Halo needs that will garanty no game will every match it.

    1. Stimulates in multi-player, this is the coolest thing out there next to halo game play, if you want a good example of it look at Perfect Dark for N64.

    2. Bigger War scenes, I want to walk into a room and see all hell break loss. Guys everywhere riping each other a part.

    3. New guns, lets see some advanced human weapons: Flammer, smart rockets, proxiamy mines (gernade function), silenced weapons, and maybe new vehicles like an exoskeleton suite.

    6. More alien weapons too: Laser cannon, Laser sword.

    7. New equipement. He is humans last hope and he is walking around with a flashlight. Give man some night vision or info-red.

    5. "Warfare" I want to walk out on to a battle feild and there 100's of Humans behide me and 100's of humans in front of me. tanks, planes, everything.

    Ice_man2002@juno.com Wednesday, 4 December 2002, 15:06:0

20. Hi Luke,

    Your Report makes the game (HALO 2) sound kick-ass, moreso than the original which me and eight of my friends play at least 8 hours a week by using a system link cable and two big TV's.

    I will definently buy it as soon as it's out.

    Rob.

    Robert Wednesday, 12 June 2002, 04:41:42

21. Hi,

    I CRAVE MORE HALO 2 INFO OR PICS OR EVEN BOTH, PLEEEAAASE...

    Rob

    Rob Friday, 12 July 2002, 04:07:32

22. i heard that there was a helecopter in halo 2 called an apachi, is this true?

    Rob Friday, 12 July 2002, 04:10:1

23. Does anyone know when it comes out?

    Andrew Saturday, 7 December 2002, 13:19:1

24. That was a good review about Halo 2 and I can't wait till it comes out. I hope there are more weapens such as photon cannons and flame throwers. I am definatly getting it. I hope in the new halo you can choose different characters in multiplayer mode such as a covenant grunt or the flood. goodbye

    Matthew aka halo fan Saturday, 7 December 2002, 15:04:12

25. i think halo 2 will be the hottest game of 2003. also i think people will start buying xboxs to play the game.

    calvin erickson Thursday, 12 September 2002, 05:57:27

26. i think halo 2 is gonna become the most amazing game that has ever come out (till other games come out after it). the graphics are so amazing, and its in real time! i just can wait till it comes out, it will be sick. the first halo made me switch from ps2 to xbox, and its my favorite game ever, so i can wait till halo 2 comes out.

    jordan Monday, 9 December 2002, 16:31:34

27. X-Box is the best console ever. PS2 and Gamecube doesn't know it yet, but they are dead.

    Russel Saturday, 12 October 2002, 10:31:11

28. Halo 2 WILL be the best game for Xbox holidays 2003! I love the first one but with the new graphics engine, damn! I allready reserved my copie if Halo 2! I wish it comes out sooner!

    Ferdinan Saturday, 12 October 2002, 10:52:9

29. Finally a game that can use the power of the X-box to the fullest.

    Mr. Someone Thursday, 12 December 2002, 05:59:11

30. I think that the simplicity of the selection of guns makes the game more fun and the vhichels have to be limited to what they put out there so that you candrive or fly through out the hole level. Mabey you would like a game such as james boned where there are a truck load of guns and you can carry them all at once.

    jimmy tote Friday, 13 December 2002, 05:50:48

32. i saw a preview for halo 2 on a demo disk that i bought and rocks. the graffics are unbelievable! and the gun he has is crazy!

    neely Sunday, 15 December 2002, 14:01:21

33. learn to spell then play it on legendary.

    up yours and in your face Sunday, 15 December 2002, 17:37:29

34. can anyone here freaking spell?

    up yours and in your face Sunday, 15 December 2002, 17:42:49

35. i just got the latest x-box demo and i previewed this game and all i have to say about it is that this game is going to be awsome and probably the number one game when it comes out i mean look at how many fans the game has gotten just from the first one alone, cant wait.

    D-Bone Sunday, 15 December 2002, 21:06:35

36. This applies to basically all the people who have posted about this article: You must spend too much time playing computer games and not enough time learning at school, becuase you all seem incapable of using punctuation and spelling correctly. Go to school.

    wooger Monday, 16 December 2002, 23:56:20

37. Halo was great and I am sure as hell looking forward to Halo 2. Improved graphics, sound and gameplay. Can't wait.

    Sl@sH3r Tuesday, 17 December 2002, 09:39:41

38. Instead of roaming the comments pages for SPELLING errors, please only post things that respond to the original post. This is a place for reviewing or previewing games. If you are not here to do that and only for making derrogatory comments pplease go to a different site, or make your own.

    Jon G Tuesday, 17 December 2002, 09:59:15

39. i think it will be the best game people will ever play

    jobe Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 08:09:43

40. ya know, i have been playing this game with all my friends since the day it came out. i tought the only way the game could be improved was with a stat keeper wtih ur guy, better weopons, and new levels. i still hope that that is a good idea, but the looks for halo 2 are looking up

    Zman andy Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 09:12:35

41. My friends call me ''god'' of halo, but i would prpbably get my ass kicked by a nerd guy who does NOTHING but play halo and eat. When Halo2 comes out, I will try to solo it on legendary as I did on Halo(Truth and Reconciliation), well Ibored in school right now..hmmm well i agree there should be a 4 ppl co-op and 16 avaliable bots for Multiplayer, as far as the character thing..i wouldnt mind being the sword-guy.

    Chris Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 12:23:4

42. wow chris! same here. hust sitting in skool. umm, what do u mean by the sword guy?? i thing the game shoud be themed like the time splitters 2. if u r in a certain leval, u should get appreitte clothing and wepons. but my main concern is "who is the best ouf of all ur frinds?" this could be solved by haveing a stat tracker. that would be the best thing i think they could put on there.

    zman andy Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 13:22:22

43. When does halo 2 come out

    TIM Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 13:47:17

44. Halo 2 will hit the stores July 25th 2003 in US

    Bungie Co. Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 18:03:33

45. When the hell is this game gonna come out, it's been like forever.

    Ben D Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 20:41:58

46. I heard that Halo2 might be released on july somtin 2003.

    If anyone has liked Morrowind, Fable is going to be 300 times better!!! out.

    Shane Friday, 20 December 2002, 22:39:42

48. i hope that halo 2 is huge and is better than the first. I hope it comes out soon. I really enjoyed the first halo soooooooo much that it has got to be my favorite all time game. Please send out halo 2 really soon

    farcus Thursday, 26 December 2002, 21:07:43

49. I got an X-Box with a copy of Halo 1 for Christmas 2002, and i have never stopped playing since. It is so damned good, and the AI and the graphics make it literally stunning (i thought that the cinematic at the start was taken from a movie.) Now that i have read the preview, i am eagerly anticipating the release of Halo 2, but i think bungie should not feel rushed to finish the game. I would rather wait until Christmas 2003 than have a half-finished, rushed game by June. Oh, and i also reckon that there should be an arena-type mode, because i am the only person who plays Halo in our House, and it would be great to play "Slayer" or "Capture the Falg" with some Bots!!

    Nigel Lloyd Friday, 27 December 2002, 03:24:0

50. Halo is the best game ever made it was game of the year it got a 9.5 rating and halo 2 will get an even higher score and blow any new mario game away for all time.

    Bob Friday, 27 December 2002, 14:08:11

51. I think Halo is good as it is. I don't think this 4 player co-op is possible. Well it is, but the levels would have to be shorter with a fewer amount of effects and enemies and that really wouldn't be that fun. As for the AI bots in multiplayer that would be a good idea but it would be too hard to configure because there would be up to 15 AI bots roaming around and they all have to do there different things. Well in N64 there was a game called the worlds not enough that had up to 3 AI bots playing simutaniously and the reason why Halo can't do that is because it has vehicles and bigger levels. The only way to play a big game is system link or if you have HIGH SPEED INTERNET( CABLE, DSL) THEN YOU COULD GO TO WWW.GAMESPYARCADE.COM or you could go to WWW.HALOCOMBATEVOLVED.COM and click on Halo Online and it will tell you how to hook your Xbox to the internet to play Halo. I have done it and it is very simple and very fun. I will usually be online playing on gamespy arcade and if any of you ever get to play online try to find a nick name called (HOH)Naminator(G) which is my nickname and challenge me but I warn you I am the best I know and I haven't been beat on the internet or at my house with my friends for about a year now.

    Thanks

    Eric E. Saturday, 28 December 2002, 19:36:43

52. Yeah there are going to be new enemies and they are called brutes and a new covenant enemy called the prophets and if you want to see a picture of them go to www.madtime.com and it will show everything that you want to know about Halo 2 and it will show the new warthogs and the new covenant vehicle that seats people.

    Eric E. Sunday, 29 December 2002, 10:53:41

53. I thank halo is the best game ever

    I cant what tell halo to comes out

    I hope one of the weapons is a flame thower.

    tyler martin Monday, 30 December 2002, 14:18:43

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