Lotus666
07-08-09, 10:35 AM
Another one from Lord Finisher in 2004...
Well, after about a month, I thrashed this game on the second hardest difficulty (Heroic, and no, I didn't beat it on any other difficulties beforehand).
At any rate, this game is an FPS with simple point and blow up enemy asshole interface.
Newer weapons include the Covenant Carbine, the Particle Beam Rifle, the Brute Shot, the Covenant Energy Sword (well, not really - it was used against you... and often... in Halo 1.), the Fuel Rod Gun (see Covenant Energy Sword), an ACTUAL Assault Rifle (not bad, but the three-round burst sucks), and a number of others.
Newer vehicles include an actually useable Wraith from the Covenant, a Spectre - which is what appears to be the Covenant's version of the Warthog, and then the Shadow - a huge troop transport carrier, and finally, a modified Warthog equiped with a magnetic-accellerator cannon.
Of the enemies you'll face, the newest are the Jiralhanae, also known as the Brutes, the Yanme'e, essentially a flying-troop that seems to have decended from bugs, and you even get a shot to attack and slaughter a Prophet.
You see the story of Halo and Halo 2 through the eyes of both the Spartan and the Arbiter, heroes of humankind and the Covenant respectively.
Anything more would be a spoiler, and I'm not going to say anything more.
Gameplay: 8 out of 10 - nice, but why can't you use two of those Energy Swords at the same time? Seriously, if you can equip and fire two Pistols, two SMGs, two Plasma Pistols, two Plasma Rifles, two Brute Plasma Rifles, and two Needlers at the same time (plus whatever mixes and matches you want), why the hell not a pair of Energy Swords? Make it a LITTLE more interesting flailing about two blades of energy in sheer desperation.
Graphics: 9 out of 10 - Excellent. Although I still think the flood-induced undead should stop looking like some kid went crazy with a bunch of water color paints.
Updates from Previous Game: 5 out of 10 - while I will admit the akimbo style of playing is incredible, the fact that they completely removed the health bar in exchange for nothing but the shield bar just seems absurdly stupid. How the crap are you supposed to know how many hits you can take with your shield down?
Levels: 9 out of 10 - rather than being exorbitantly long and especially BORING like the previous game, sometimes you don't even know that you've gone on to another level until after you just take a break and check your list.
In-Game Story: 9 out of 10 - excellent, but it leaves a few holes in the story which are easily fixed by your own insane imagination.
Ending: 0 out of 10 - OUTRIGHT SUCKS. It left WAY too much, and it was obviously an advertisment for the up-and-coming Halo 3, whenever the hell THAT comes out.
Replayability: 2 out of 10 - Outside of the few psychotic players who keep playing until they utterly annihilate whatever games they play, and those who are retardedly addicted to online play, there's very little to do.
Limited Edition Bonuses: 7 out of 10 - Well, other than the instruction manual that gives you information on weapon and vehicle loadouts as well as the story as it pertains to the Covenant, plus the two free months of XBOX Live, plus the coupon for a Big Gulp, plus a DVD that shows some neat shit as it relates to the game, it isn't all that special.
Overall: 6 out of 10. Not bad... but seriously, it'd be excellent for rentals, but to buy? Screw that until it becomes a "Platinum Hits" game or it at least costs thereabouts.
http://www.unc.edu/~dlthomas/Videogames/halo2.JPG
Well, after about a month, I thrashed this game on the second hardest difficulty (Heroic, and no, I didn't beat it on any other difficulties beforehand).
At any rate, this game is an FPS with simple point and blow up enemy asshole interface.
Newer weapons include the Covenant Carbine, the Particle Beam Rifle, the Brute Shot, the Covenant Energy Sword (well, not really - it was used against you... and often... in Halo 1.), the Fuel Rod Gun (see Covenant Energy Sword), an ACTUAL Assault Rifle (not bad, but the three-round burst sucks), and a number of others.
Newer vehicles include an actually useable Wraith from the Covenant, a Spectre - which is what appears to be the Covenant's version of the Warthog, and then the Shadow - a huge troop transport carrier, and finally, a modified Warthog equiped with a magnetic-accellerator cannon.
Of the enemies you'll face, the newest are the Jiralhanae, also known as the Brutes, the Yanme'e, essentially a flying-troop that seems to have decended from bugs, and you even get a shot to attack and slaughter a Prophet.
You see the story of Halo and Halo 2 through the eyes of both the Spartan and the Arbiter, heroes of humankind and the Covenant respectively.
Anything more would be a spoiler, and I'm not going to say anything more.
Gameplay: 8 out of 10 - nice, but why can't you use two of those Energy Swords at the same time? Seriously, if you can equip and fire two Pistols, two SMGs, two Plasma Pistols, two Plasma Rifles, two Brute Plasma Rifles, and two Needlers at the same time (plus whatever mixes and matches you want), why the hell not a pair of Energy Swords? Make it a LITTLE more interesting flailing about two blades of energy in sheer desperation.
Graphics: 9 out of 10 - Excellent. Although I still think the flood-induced undead should stop looking like some kid went crazy with a bunch of water color paints.
Updates from Previous Game: 5 out of 10 - while I will admit the akimbo style of playing is incredible, the fact that they completely removed the health bar in exchange for nothing but the shield bar just seems absurdly stupid. How the crap are you supposed to know how many hits you can take with your shield down?
Levels: 9 out of 10 - rather than being exorbitantly long and especially BORING like the previous game, sometimes you don't even know that you've gone on to another level until after you just take a break and check your list.
In-Game Story: 9 out of 10 - excellent, but it leaves a few holes in the story which are easily fixed by your own insane imagination.
Ending: 0 out of 10 - OUTRIGHT SUCKS. It left WAY too much, and it was obviously an advertisment for the up-and-coming Halo 3, whenever the hell THAT comes out.
Replayability: 2 out of 10 - Outside of the few psychotic players who keep playing until they utterly annihilate whatever games they play, and those who are retardedly addicted to online play, there's very little to do.
Limited Edition Bonuses: 7 out of 10 - Well, other than the instruction manual that gives you information on weapon and vehicle loadouts as well as the story as it pertains to the Covenant, plus the two free months of XBOX Live, plus the coupon for a Big Gulp, plus a DVD that shows some neat shit as it relates to the game, it isn't all that special.
Overall: 6 out of 10. Not bad... but seriously, it'd be excellent for rentals, but to buy? Screw that until it becomes a "Platinum Hits" game or it at least costs thereabouts.
http://www.unc.edu/~dlthomas/Videogames/halo2.JPG