Shooting Gallery - Part II

Halo 2

Release date: November 9, 2004 (Xbox)
Genre: First-person Shooter
Developer: Bungie Studios

The original Halo described itself as "Combat Evolved." And although it didn't redefine the rules of war, it certainly redefined a genre.

Halo 2 could just as easily have been called "Multiplayer Evolved." Its multiplayer modes and networking options were second-to-none when it arrived in homes in late 2004; it's still a blast to play in 2009.

The one-player campaign mode in Halo 2 is shorter and more episodic than that in its predecessor, but to call it an afterthought would be wrong. Although brief (somewhere between 10 and 15 hours), the campaign in Halo 2 is nothing short of brilliant, with inspired level design, incredible production values and top-flight mechanics.

Players once again play as Spartan 117, a genetically enhanced super-soldier known by his rank: Master Chief. The Master Chief is a key cog in the military forces of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC). The principal enemy of the UNSC is the Covenant, a confederation of highly religious alien species who have declared war on humanity.

Halo 2 goes a long way in revealing much more about the Covenant hierarchy, history, technology and social structure as well as UNSC protocals and defense strategies. If players read a prologue of the Halo mythology in Halo 1, they read a dissertation in Halo 2.

The most remarkable aspect of the Halo 2 campaign, and something which separates it from its predecessor, is the ability to play as a member of the Covenant in several missions. Players control a disgraced Elite, chosen by the Prophets to assume the role of the Arbiter, a generational hero of the Covenant. Playing as the enemy is an exhilirating experience, something that makes Halo 2 very special indeed.

It is in the multiplayer arena that Halo 2 makes the biggest splash, however. Players can join parties made up of gamers from all over the globe and participate in games of Deathmatch, King of the Hill, Capture the Flag, etc. Members of the same team can communicate with each other via a microphone headset - be wary, though, enemy forces can actually pick up rival communications if their character is within earshot. Small details like those make the multiplayer experience like nothing seen before on consoles.

Score: 97/100