Halo 2 Reviews [Archive]

Michael Bluth

11-07-2004, 06:32 PM

Should be up within the hour from IGN, GameSpot and TeamXbox (possibly 1UP, GameSpy and others). Update this thread when they roll in, homeboys.

Game Informer = 10/10
Official Xbox Magazine = 9.7/10
Electronic Gaming Monthly = 30/30
Famitsu = 34/40
Famitsu Xbox = 37/40
IGN = 9.8/10
GameSpot = 9.4/10
TeamXbox = 9.9/10
1Up = 10/10
GameSpy = 5/5
XBN = 10/10

Prince

11-07-2004, 06:39 PM

XBN = 10/10

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/DSC00440.jpg

Game Reactor (Magazine) = 10/10
link: (warning, single player media) http://www.gamereactor.dk/texter/?id=58363

6/6 from a Norwegian site (warning, single player screenshot):
http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=253359

I don't know if these count, but...
OXM UK = 10/10, OXM Australia = 10/10

OutlawAdidas

11-07-2004, 06:44 PM

^your right. they don't count.

I expected thoses scores from GI and EGM. Did they even talk about anything cons about the game. It can't be 100% perfect

Michael Bluth

11-07-2004, 07:03 PM

IGN = 9.8/10. Halo 2 got owned. :(

Prince

11-07-2004, 07:09 PM

Damn the IGN servers must be getting hammered with a lot of traffic, none of the pages are loading for me. Great scores anyway.

Michael

11-07-2004, 07:13 PM

9.4 for gamespot...damn...it didn't beat out the original there.

Michael Bluth

11-07-2004, 07:14 PM

Yeah well the review is by Greg K., also known as "Captain Dipshit" to the videogame world.

GameSpy review is up:

Now that it's finally here, there's one final question: was it worth the wait? In a word, yes. In two words, hell yeah!

Michael

11-07-2004, 07:15 PM

Well, every Cuby complained about the paper mario score...that's how stupid that way of thinking is...still though, I can't wait to get this game.

Classic Trogdor

11-07-2004, 07:21 PM

Yeah well the review is by Greg K., also known as "Captain Dipshit" to the videogame world.

GameSpy review is up:

Well, considering Gamespot...9.4 was warranted by what they claimed, and, it was one of the only reviews to consider the fact that the single player aspect only takes 10 hours to complete...that's very, very short for any game genre. I was excited for this game, but wow, 10 hours? I get most of my multiplayer needs from Unreal Tournament 2004, which, I feel is vastly better in that regard. Unfortunately, the single player aspect was Halo 2's wild card, and it seems that they've focused too much on multiplayer this time around.

And I quote Xbox nation in: "It's not perfect," but let's give it a 10/10 anyway.

OutlawAdidas

11-07-2004, 07:25 PM

thats the thing, Halo's singleplayer was very easy to beat and didn't take that much effort. Halo's has been runnin off of multiplayer hype

They also said that the more experienced Halo players that they might as well just jump to the more difficult settings. Thats just sad

Michael Bluth

11-07-2004, 07:27 PM

Sad, in what way? It should be that way for experienced players in any franchise.

Notedog

11-07-2004, 07:27 PM

And this my friends, is why Metal Arms shall be eternally better than halo/2 in every way. Except for AI. Oh and Halo has online.

Classic Trogdor

11-07-2004, 07:29 PM

^your right. they don't count.

I expected thoses scores from GI and EGM. Did they even talk about anything cons about the game. It can't be 100% perfect

That's quite true, and, Xbox Nation definetely agrees with you. Apparently, they're operating on that new Spinal Tap philosophy - can't wait for the amps and reviews that go to 11.

Point is, if the game isn't perfect, it doesn't deserve a 10. Period.

Hylian-Advocate

11-07-2004, 07:30 PM

IGN = 9.8/10. Halo 2 got owned. :(
ARe you joking me....9.8 is a good score!

Dorbin

11-07-2004, 07:34 PM

How can GameSpot give Halo 2 a lower score than Halo 1? I haven't played it, and I guess it's possible, but judging from all the damn improvements...and online play, lol...seems odd.

Michael Bluth

11-07-2004, 07:37 PM

Halo 1 Review = Joe Fielder
Halo 2 Review = Greg Kasavin

OutlawAdidas

11-07-2004, 07:56 PM

so wait a moment........Halo 2 got a 9.8, GTA SA got a 9.9, Killzone got 7.5, sooo one game left.....Metroid Prime 2. A game to defy expectations. Ohhhh I'm just jumpin for joy!!!

Prince

11-07-2004, 08:04 PM

EuroGamer = 9/10
1UP = 10/10

X2_revolution

11-07-2004, 08:23 PM

Well, I have been playing it for the past two days thanks to an unnamed source and I can say it is amazing...too bad I had to return it back to him today.

Markopolo356

11-07-2004, 08:32 PM

ARe you joking me....9.8 is a good score!

It got owned because SA got a 9.9. I thought for one reason MP was beter than Halo, because of single player. After listening to the 17 min. Gamespot video review, it sounds like Bungie didnt improve the single player very much :(

Colin TRADEMARKED

11-07-2004, 08:46 PM

THANK GOD FOR HL2!!

If you watch the review..you will see that Halo 2 is just like Halo 1 in many ways..that's why HL2 is going to smash Halo 2 into the ground. Watch it and see for your self.

pac4life

11-07-2004, 09:38 PM

yeah, half life 2 is gonna be awesome. Beter than halo 2 definatly but i cant wait to get halo 2 though. friends gettin HL2 so i can wait for it.

Dorbin

11-07-2004, 10:02 PM

I'm not saying HL2 won't be better than Halo 2 (how could I?), but to say it will "smash it into the ground" seems a bit silly.

Halo 2 single player is better than the first, from what the reviewers have said...and that includes GameSpot's review, you just have to look closely at what Greg K. is saying. He says some textures get repetitve, but he fails to mention how Halo 2 doesn't require the player to backtrack through some of the same levels like Halo 1 did. Also, the addition of new vehicles, weapons and enemies, a slightly enhanced AI, dual-wielding and vehicular jacking functions (and all of these improvements not sacrificing gameplay balance, btw), as well as a harder heroic and greatly more difficult legendary mode (for vets out there), surely make Halo 2 a superior single-player title versus the first, even if you don't take into account improved graphics, sound and more minimal load times.

I'm not a Halo 2 biased Xbox freak or anything (please remember I own and love the GameCube as well), but those are pretty much the facts, sans much personal opinion. Despite what Greg K. may say, take those facts, and then contruct your own opinion about the single-player game.

EDIT: I forgot to mention an improved in-game stat presentation as well as a better menu system...and significantly improved animations to boot.

Sendok

11-07-2004, 11:22 PM

*yeah i guessed the IGN review w/a 9.8*

To me not having online or system link co-op is a shame.

HL2 should be great, but yah know what I want to play H2 more than HL2.

Viper

11-08-2004, 12:11 AM

Halo 2 single player is better than the first, from what the reviewers have said...and that includes GameSpot's review, you just have to look closely at what Greg K. is saying. He says some textures get repetitve, but he fails to mention how Halo 2 doesn't require the player to backtrack through some of the same levels like Halo 1 did. Also, the addition of new vehicles, weapons and enemies, a slightly enhanced AI, dual-wielding and vehicular jacking functions (and all of these improvements not sacrificing gameplay balance, btw), as well as a harder heroic and greatly more difficult legendary mode (for vets out there), surely make Halo 2 a superior single-player title versus the first, even if you don't take into account improved graphics, sound and more minimal load times.
But is it any more "fun" than halo's single player wven with the improvements?

You can make all the improvements in the world but if it doesn't make it any more fun, I imagine it is personally, then the rest is just a moot point.

This month is quite possibly the highest rated month ever. Def good for gamers everywhere especially with a few sleeper hits coming out too.

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 12:17 AM

Dorbin

11-08-2004, 12:31 AM

But is it any more "fun" than halo's single player wven with the improvements?

You can make all the improvements in the world but if it doesn't make it any more fun, I imagine it is personally, then the rest is just a moot point.

This month is quite possibly the highest rated month ever. Def good for gamers everywhere especially with a few sleeper hits coming out too.

Without a doubt, I am in no position to say whether it is more fun or not, and even if I had played it thoroughly, my statements would just be opinion...what is "fun" is completley subjective. My only point was that there are improvements, whether they make the game more fun or not, to Halo 2 over Halo 1...this point was made to someone above who seemed to gather from the GS review that improvements to the single-player campaign in the sequel were non-existent.

Bloodman

11-08-2004, 12:39 AM

halo 2 will be the same as halo 1 except with changes in scene and weapons.

Colin TRADEMARKED

11-08-2004, 12:52 AM

THANK GOD FOR HL2!!

If you watch the review..you will see that Halo 2 is just like Halo 1 in many ways..that's why HL2 is going to smash Halo 2 into the ground. Watch it and see for your self.

oh yeah, that was quoted from some random HL2 fanboy at halflife2.net

He was happy that Halo 2 was a fraction less than perfect. I think it made his life seem more.....secure.

goku2057

11-08-2004, 01:08 AM

Lets face it. MP 2 is probably the only game with major improvments done to the A.I and environment .....actually everything in MP 2 was redone from scratch, so the "if its broken dno't fix it" phrase doesn't apply to it

WRONG.

Halo 2's enimy AI, and Marine AI were significantly boosted. They also made several weapons less powerful, (IE: The Pistol) and increased the reload time of the Rocket Launcher by a little, to make it less destructive.

Also, the levels were made sure not to be as repetitive as the first and Viper, the first Halo's single player was still damn fun, even if it was repetitive.

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 01:14 AM

WRONG.

Halo 2's enimy AI, and Marine AI were significantly boosted. They also made several weapons less powerful, (IE: The Pistol) and increased the reload time of the Rocket Launcher by a little, to make it less destructive.

Also, the levels were made sure not to be as repetitive as the first and Viper, the first Halo's single player was still damn fun, even if it was repetitive.

thanx for making me laugh. whoopie, is that all. They reduced the power and increased the reload time. Oh and now the A.I. is much more improved....bullshit. The enemies in Halo 1 were a piece of shit. So they are improvin a piece of shit to a load of shit. Oh. The hunters were repetitive and so was everything else.

Now MP 2 is a different story. Bosses are much difficult, much bigger, adapt, change styles. Not just an increase but an entire revision was done. They didn't have to reduce of delay anything in Prime 2. They did increase though. Halo 2's single player 10 hours or less. MP2 single player= 30 hours

goku2057

11-08-2004, 01:17 AM

I won't argue your points on single player, as you always seem to fanboy your weak retorts up, so instead i'll move to multiplayer, in which Halo 2 OWNS MP2 on so many different levels.

First, they took the already PERFECT Halo multiplayer and added Xbox Live support.

Enough said.

Prince

11-08-2004, 01:24 AM

Oh and now the A.I. is much more improved....bullshit. The enemies in Halo 1 were a piece of shit. So they are improvin a piece of shit to a load of shit. Oh. The hunters were repetitive and so was everything else.

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/worstpost.gif

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 01:30 AM

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/worstpost.gif

Thanks for the seizure

Deno22

11-08-2004, 01:32 AM

Xer0

11-08-2004, 01:34 AM

thanx for making me laugh. whoopie, is that all. They reduced the power and increased the reload time. Oh and now the A.I. is much more improved....bullshit. The enemies in Halo 1 were a piece of shit. So they are improvin a piece of shit to a load of shit. Oh. The hunters were repetitive and so was everything else.

Now MP 2 is a different story. Bosses are much difficult, much bigger, adapt, change styles. Not just an increase but an entire revision was done. They didn't have to reduce of delay anything in Prime 2. They did increase though. Halo 2's single player 10 hours or less. MP2 single player= 30 hours

Dude, Halo's AI was amazing. Where you one of those ten year olds that got their asses kicked on easy or something, is that why you hate it so much? And as for much improved, it probably isn't as Halo's was already good enough. And as for the rest of your argument, have you even played it? Seriously, you are comenting like you know that MP2's stuff will be COMPLETELY different then MP's stuff and you just can't say that. Play the game first and actually sit down and take the time to compare them instead of acting like a stupid fanboy.

Dorbin

11-08-2004, 01:36 AM

^ Yea, Halo's single player was supposed to be twice as long apparently, according to Bungie, and it turnes out that it seems it is not. You'll have to wait on MP2 to say definitively if it is 30 hours or not.

Viper

11-08-2004, 01:41 AM

GleefulFarewell

11-08-2004, 01:41 AM

Thanks for the seizure

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hylian-Advocate

11-08-2004, 01:51 AM

Easy chart.....

Single player:
Metroid Prime 2

Multiplayer:
Halo 2

The difference is that Bungie didn't really up the single player as much as they said they would and yet Retro completely added multiplayer to MP2.

MP2 has undergone the biggest change. Does that mean it's better? No, just means that if Halo 2 scored a point or two above Halo one then we can anticipate MP2 to score a good bit more than MP so scores should be equal.

This was sorta how I was thinking......which would mean that MP2 quite possibly could get a 9.9... ...considering the first got a 9.8... so unless something is totally screwed up with the game, (which hopefully isn't the case) the slight imporovments in MP2 should either get the same score of a 9.8.... and possibly a 9.9. Agree???

goku2057

11-08-2004, 01:53 AM

Easy chart.....

Single player:
Metroid Prime 2

Multiplayer:
Halo 2

The difference is that Bungie didn't really up the single player as much as they said they would and yet Retro completely added multiplayer to MP2.

MP2 has undergone the biggest change. Does that mean it's better? No, just means that if Halo 2 scored a point or two above Halo one then we can anticipate MP2 to score a good bit more than MP so scores should be equal.

ACtually, in EGM, Halo 2 scored perfect 10's, which is the same as Halo, and MP@ didn't get the same perfect 10's that the original got.

Just food for thought.

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 02:01 AM

how do u know MP2 single player=30 hours if no reviews have been made on it?

ok, i forgot where it said 30 hours long. So I'll just drop that

ch33f

11-08-2004, 02:17 AM

Dude, Halo's AI was amazing. Where you one of those ten year olds that got their asses kicked on easy or something, is that why you hate it so much?

AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAH Hiding behind objects isn't amazing, no enemy in halo actually used its surroundings to give it a better advantage in a fight, they were stupid. And what was even stupider was how the little guys ran away from you, "WOW THIS IS FUCKING AMAZING!!! HOW DO THEY DO IT!??!?!?!?!?!" play a real game before you make comments on such things.

IGN's review is about 90% the author sucking Halo 2's dick, Gamespot's review is actually professional.

disrupter006

11-08-2004, 02:21 AM

10 hour single player isnt good, but is there coop and are their different difficulties (ie legendary)? If so, then that would lengthen the experience.

Prince

11-08-2004, 02:21 AM

^ Yea, Halo's single player was supposed to be twice as long apparently, according to Bungie, and it turnes out that it seems it is not.

Bungie has never said that (as far as I know). Here is an interview from late last year (X03) from Pete Parsons of Bungie, where he says it will be about the same length as the original:

"BO: How long will Halo 2 be?
PP: It should be like Halo, maybe a little longer."
http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/botranslation.092403.html

The only thing that they said is that the levels are much bigger (which is probably what you heard). And it's true, the levels are a lot larger as there is more of a focus on vehicles this time around. But just because the levels are larger doesn't mean the game is too much longer.

Xer0

11-08-2004, 02:35 AM

AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAH Hiding behind objects isn't amazing, no enemy in halo actually used its surroundings to give it a better advantage in a fight, they were stupid. And what was even stupider was how the little guys ran away from you, "WOW THIS IS FUCKING AMAZING!!! HOW DO THEY DO IT!??!?!?!?!?!" play a real game before you make comments on such things.

IGN's review is about 90% the author sucking Halo 2's dick, Gamespot's review is actually professional.

So you are going to sit here and tell me that Halo's AI is not good? Ummm, lets see, i have had fights with just ONE unit and it almost beat me on Legendary, that is what i expect on the hardest difficulty in a game, to get my ass kicked and that happens if they AI is really really good. And you mean to sit here and tell me that Halo is not a real game?

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 02:37 AM

increase difficulty wow. I expect the AI to be superb no matter wat the difficulty is

Xer0

11-08-2004, 02:43 AM

^and that makes sense because? Having a game that is insanely hard and only insanely hard is stupid as it would turn off a lot of gamers and that would reduce profit which not a lot of people want. However, having a game that is at the same time insanely hard and something good for beginners is ideal as everyone can get what they want out of it

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 02:52 AM

no, having a game where normally, the AI reacts realistically. It shouldn't be that you have to up the difficulty to Legendary just to obtain a challenge. You should be able to breeze through a game in 15 hours. It must be longer. Having hard is nice, having it extrememly hard is for the people who love the game and want a challenge.

Xer0

11-08-2004, 03:03 AM

I see your point, however what if originally easy was a challenge for you? Eventually you will get better and it will seem like childs play, so then you advance to the next one as you see fit based on your skill. However, if you have another game that just starts on a pretty hard difficulty and eventually you get better then what? You are going to get bored and stop playing it as there is no challenge. Sure, the single player of Halo should be longer, but at least the multiplayer is good i guess.

ch33f

11-08-2004, 03:03 AM

So you are going to sit here and tell me that Halo's AI is not good? Ummm, lets see, i have had fights with just ONE unit and it almost beat me on Legendary, that is what i expect on the hardest difficulty in a game, to get my ass kicked and that happens if they AI is really really good. And you mean to sit here and tell me that Halo is not a real game?

How long it takes to kill an enemy that still moves around the same has nothing to do with AI, it just has increased health so it takes longer to kill. Halo is a good game, but it is the most over-rated game of all time.

10 Hours isn't long enough for a SP campaign if you have no intention of playing online, Even if you play through it again at different difficulties that isn't the same as having a good campaign that you can't finish in one sitting.

Xer0

11-08-2004, 03:09 AM

How long it takes to kill an enemy that still moves around the same has nothing to do with AI, it just has increased health so it takes longer to kill. Halo is a good game, but it is the most over-rated game of all time.

I will agree with you, Halo is somewhat overratted, but thats what happens when it is the only game worth playing on a system for so long i guess. Anyway, yes, they have more life but they do react differently to you. They move around more often, whack more often and run and hide more often as well as duck, roll and what not depending on what you do. That fight with that elite was not hard because it had more life, i could just as easily taken him out if he had more life yet reacted the same, it was because he was ducking, whacking, rolling, going crazy on me.

Prince

11-08-2004, 03:23 AM

The AI does act realistically on normal difficulty in Halo. They take cover behind objects, they stick together in groups, they dodge/roll out of the way of grenades, etc.

On the harder difficulties they have more health, better aim, hide while their shields recharge, they flank you/surround you, rush you, move around a lot more (which makes it harder to shoot them), they use grenades a lot more often, and they use different techniques as well. For example if you throw a plasma grenade (the blue sticky ones) on an elite, he'll rush you kamikaze-style to try and blow you up as well (that does not happen on the easy difficulty). Enemies from easy/normal modes (grunts) are also replaced with tougher ones (such as cloaked Elites with the plasma sword) while playing legendary.

The AI in Halo was universally praised and for good reason.

Michael Bluth

11-08-2004, 03:32 AM

Yeah, what the fuck are you guys talking about? I was playing some single-player Halo this afternoon and I was amazed how well the AI still stacks up to today's games.

ch33f

11-08-2004, 04:03 AM

From what I remmebr is was nothing special on the hard mode, sure they flank you and such but any decent FPS has AI like that..

Hylian-Advocate

11-08-2004, 04:31 AM

ACtually, in EGM, Halo 2 scored perfect 10's, which is the same as Halo, and MP@ didn't get the same perfect 10's that the original got.

Just food for thought.

Well the same can be said for GameSpots review.....Halo got a 9.7 but Halo 2 got a 9.4..... So Viper and I were trying to say that in terms of IGNs reviewing.....MP2 should technically get higher (or atleast the same) if all is well interms of the game being improved as it is rumored.... get what were talking about??

Sandman

11-08-2004, 04:47 AM

Nintendo fanboys are so fucking annoying. What the hell does this thread have to do with MP2?

SuperLuigiBros

11-08-2004, 04:53 AM

And this my friends, is why Metal Arms shall be eternally better than halo/2 in every way. Except for AI. Oh and Halo has online.
metal arms pwns

Hylian-Advocate

11-08-2004, 04:59 AM

Nintendo fanboys are so fucking annoying. What the hell does this thread have to do with MP2?

I dont know how many times I have tried to tell people this.....I am not a Nintendo Fanboy......I happen to like their games alot....and I happened to like Metroid Prime....

We were simply stating that because IGN gave Halo 2 a 9.8 that there is a possibility that MP2 could get a 9.8 or even 9.9

So its valid because this thread is about Halo 2 reviews and we were trying to make comparisons.

OutlawAdidas

11-08-2004, 05:10 AM

Nintendo fanboys are so fucking annoying. What the hell does this thread have to do with MP2?

Nintendo fanboys + Nintendo website.............do you see the connection?

Sandman

11-08-2004, 05:14 AM

Of course I see the connection, but that does not make my post any less valid.

goku2057

11-08-2004, 03:12 PM

Outlaw Adidas is THE biggest Nintendo fanboy, EVAH!

orcus116

11-08-2004, 08:19 PM

Yeah seriously this thread isn't even ABOUT MP2, so just stick to the topic at hand.

nolifeking

11-08-2004, 08:25 PM

The only score on that that is right is the 9.4 from gamestop. Its a great game, but it doesnt deserve a perfect 10, or even a 9.9. And trust me, I know, I have already beat this game and I have been playing the muiltiplayer for the past month.