Halo 2 Member Review for the Xbox

It is hard to review a game that gets both critical and reader acclaim. Sometimes, while you know the game really good, it is not all that it it's cracked up to be.

That is the problem I have with Halo 2. Yes, it is an e xcellent game, and yes, it features great play control, one of the best multi-player experiences ever, and great graphics. But, the minor parts of the game overall make it less satisfying offline over online.

Graphics- Despite some tech errors and framerate problems in the cutscenes, the graphics were revamped and look awesome. Solid throughout the game, even when there are about thousands of explosions on screen at once.

Final Score- A

Play Control- Literally the same controls from the first game. The only true additive is the dual weilding of weapons and they made the pistol less useful. Overall not much else, unless you up the difficulty to Legendary, beat that, then search for the skulls, like I did. Only problem was the singleplayer game is really not as good as the origonals. Sure, playing as the Arbiter, and focusing on the Aliens seems like a logical step, we learn more about their culture and why they do things, but the main problem is that you miss Master Chief and the humans after a while. Plus the ending was to....cliff-hangerish, which turned off a lot of people.

Final Score- B+

Sound- It is hard not to like the voice acting, the sound effects or the overall booms and bings of the explosions. Plus the music score is really nice!

Final Score- A-

Satisfaction- Here is where I have some trouble. The game was great, a top notch blockbuster with strong graphics, sound, and gameplay, but the single player game was not fun at all. True, it is better than most, if all, FPS games out there today, with great A.I. and tons of weapons and enemies to shoot. The problem though is it was linear, repetitive, and the story was not as engaging as it was in the first game. Where the gameplay picks up is the multi-player. No matter who you are or what system you prefer, you know that the multiplayer is the true reason Halo 2 is so popular. It is far from game of the year, and it is definitly not one of the greastest games of all time, but it is one of the most fun games ever made, hands down, based on the multiplayer. So if you have an X-Box, buy it, and make sure you have a few friends with X-boxes or at least some time on their hands to play this game.

Final Score- B+

Overall Score- B+