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Second Opinion -- Single Player
It feels like this holiday season is more hectic then rewarding. Rarely does it occur that there are two to three titles coming out that I have to pick up at once. But seven?! It tears a gamer apart to choose between that one particular game they've been looking forward to for months, when they've they have several other choice titles sitting back at the store. Ultimately, it's just a lot to take indulge within one season.
Halo 2 is the remedy for all that fuss. It makes you forget about all the things you could be playing, and makes you focus more on its own brilliance. Was Bungie too secretive about the single player campaign? Were there too many advertisements parading its arrival? And is it really the best game ever, or does it have its flaws? Maybe so, but while all the fuss may have created slight disappointment or disarray for the fans, it doesn't truly hinder the game. Halo 2 is a great achievement.
Now that I'm done playing The Riddler, it should be said that calling Halo 2 a great FPS is a massive understatement. Halo 2's campaign mode begins not too far off from where the first one ended. Yes, the Chief is back, as well as the Sarge and Cortana (who I might add, looking mighty hot in the sequel) with an opening scene of the three short of being thanked and rewarded for their courageous acts on Halo. The party seems to be going underway until like in all blockbuster films, the bad guys from Mars crash the party, and its time for our protagonist to get to work.
The first thing you'll notice about Halo 2 is the level of detail. Personally, I thought the original Halo installment looked fantastic, but after several seconds of watching the opening segment, I knew that I'd never return to the first game again. It's almost difficult to believe all the sequences are running off the in-game engine, but it's true.
However, a slight problem tends to occur when textures are involved and have to load. This occasionally can be seen when you're moving the Chief down an alley or corridor, only to turn around and find the textures are still in the process of loading. The cinematics also have a few flaws of their own, ultimately taking a second or two to properly load all the required elements on-screen. You'll even find the Master Chief unable to elude these problems as I've seen cases where he simply looks like a giant green blob with a visor until the normal-mapping kicks in. Although it's a very minor quibble, it's something of a turn-off to see a game so gorgeous encounter hiccups somewhat frequently.
The great thing about Halo 2's Campaign mode is how constant the adventure feels. Not once was I able to tell what level I was in, and/or if it was over. Real stories don't have intermissions, which is what makes the game feel so original and true. The troops that accompany Chief this time around seem a lot smarter, and more worthwhile listening to. I cracked up several times during the Campaign with the comments of some of my troops, from the trash talking Latina gunner on my Warthog to the suave Brit teaching Covenant troops a lesson in proper etiquette. The whole experience just feels right. I should also point out that fans of the vehicles in the first installment need not worry. You get more than enough Banshee and Ghost riding as well as a couple "new" rides that make their vivid introduction. The same could be said about the weapons, which in Halo 2 now give Chief the possibility to mix and match with dual wielding. Needler and SMG? Sure. Double Plasma Rifles? The sky's the limit, it's your choice. Sure, it's not the freshest idea for first-person shooters, but it's still gratifying to see that it made a big improvement to the gameplay.
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