It came in a shiny box

Archiving of calculus knowledge...complete.

WHOA, Halo 2 is so cool! I only got to play about 15 minutes worth of game time because the beginning was mostly cinematics, but I can say it rules! There are heaps of changes from Halo classic. I don't know where to begin with.


Plot emphasis:
OK, Halo 2 is to be THE game for playing on Live, hence it is multiplayer focussed. Well, system link classic was equally multiplayer focussed, and VERY fun. Anyway, there's a more customization of MC (AKA Johnson) for multiplayer, such as primary and secondary colouring of his MJOLNIR MK-VI suit as well as a variety of badges/isignia. There's voice masking too, as with all Live enabled games(I think).

The beginning cinematic shows the Covenant home world, where the fleet commander Elite is facing trial for failing to protect Halo (I don't think the Covenant owned it to start of with) and screwing up overall. For the first time, we get to learn more about the Covenant apart from them screaming "aargh get it off me!" and "over there!". Plus they look a lot cooler in shinier, more detailed armour! You also get to see an elite without his armour, it looks like a worm! I can't say much plotwise, but I'm guessing more information is revealed about the Covenant and such. Well, you do get to learn the proper names of the covenant species/soldiers, but I'd rather call 'em grunts, elites, jackals, brutes, and hunters.


Weapons of Mass BLAU:
OK, everything has changed. The hud has changed a bit, I don't know about the health and shield meter because I wasn't really paying attention, but I think it was absent. Perhaps it was because I was dual wielding SMGs. Hehehe. The guns have changed quite a bit, with everyone's favourite the scoped pistol, GONE!

Battle Rifle- It's no longer the chunky FN-P90 like rifle that pisses out bullets. It now has a scope, 32 bullet clip capacity, and burst fire. Haven't checked out the melee pistol whip because dual wielded SMGs are too stylish. What's the rifle equivalent to pistol whip? Butt smash?

SMG- This li'l fella has a high ROF, and probably high levels of inaccuracy. It might be my imagination but I think there's recoil in Halo 2, unlike classic. Dual wield 2 SMGs and mmmm, nice results! Fire 2 at once for sheer firepower, or consecutively for a prolonged strafing run. Note, you cannot pistol whip nor throw grenades whilst dual wielding- I'd take firepower any day.

Plasma Rifle- This has changed from classic as well. I remember in classic it's ROF sped up as you held the trigger down, and overheated pretty easily. It now pisses out smaller looking plasma bolts, even has a pissier sound, but a lot more. Only gripe is that you still have to throw it away when empty, and it overheats (I think... I was going crazy with the SMG and not firing the plasma rifle as much).

Machine Gun- Sure beats the plasma turret from classic!

Grenades- who needs 'em when you got dual SMGs! Actually, I wouldn't mind dual wielding grenades :P

Other- There's a lot more weapons out there.


So far, my opinion of Halo 2 is pretty good. There were a few clipping problems, just watch the sarge walk(or maybe I was pushing him), but apart from that it's the return to good old fashioned kill the aliens before they kill you and the rest of mankind. I'm guessing that the marines will be more plentiful, since it is set on earth and various defence satellites, and hence will be helping out. This is by no means a review but some initial impressions from the first few minutes of playing. Now if only I knew where mum hid the discs...