Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

[JayBee74]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I played from about 1AM to 4Am this "morning" and one negative is Doc Holiday's criticism about the game-the interface. I'm a meat and potatoes type of guy who likes a nice slayer game with pistols(magnum) only and no shields, but there is no way to set an opti match up for this. The other negative is the fact that there is apparently no "no shield" option(not even on the offline multi player game) which renders a "pistol only" match useless. I'm not crazy about "dual wielding", but if you don't do it in this game your not going to make it. The maps are nice, but I prefer the old "Battle Creek" to any of them. LAG is non existent.

[fishepa]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I thought the "dual wielding" was balanced by not being able to throw grenades or perform a melee attack.

[fishepa]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I thought the "dual wielding" was balanced by not being able to throw grenades or perform a melee attack.

[JayBee74]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

Just played some training game "Capture The Flag". It's hard to manuver those vehicles. I need some practice.

[JayBee74]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

Just played some training game "Capture The Flag". It's hard to manuver those vehicles. I need some practice.

[CM1847]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

The other negative is the fact that there is apparently no "no shield" option(not even on the offline multi player game) which renders a "pistol only" match useless.

That is definitely an option. I believe under Player Options when creating a new gametype, I didn't play any under this setting but Shield was an option with "No Shield, Normal Shield and Extra shield" as the three options(it might have said something besides "Extra Shield", but you get the point).

I HATE the interface for system link (I assume it's the same for online). The ideas are good and probably came from complaints of Halo 1 players, but letting only one controller pick ANYTHING is very annoying. Also there seems to be little rhyme or reason behind which screen you get when it is a split screen game. Haven't gone online yet, but it's bad to hear that you can't pick which game you want to play specifically. I read about that and thought it was just for ranked games, sucks to hear that you really have NO choice over what you get to play.

The gameplay took a litlte bit to get used to (this definitely isn't Halo 1), but it grows on you quickly and plays really well once you get used to it. One of the biggest differences is the emphasis on rapid fire guns in this one compared to Halo 1. The assault rifle was hardly ever used in Halo 1 in multiplayer, but you will definitely have to use the starting assault rifle or the battle rifle quite often in Halo 2. Makes for a little more fast paced action, but also feels sloppy in a way because you will be having way too many fights where you have to stop and reload your automatic gun's clip.

The sword is wicked, but not as unfair as it seems like it would be. From any sort of distance you will usually get killed before you get in range of a sword attack or all the gunfire/smoke will get in your way so bad you won't be able to see the guy you want to swipe at. The best early strategy I found was to have another gun drawn until you get close and pull it out and try a surprise attack.

The multiplayer levels are about 50/50 IMO. The smaller ones (don't have the names down yet, but the snow level and the outside level with brown land and a big dish in the middle specifically) are both really good for the new Territory game. Headlong (a circular city based level) is made for sniping with how many different levels there are to go around. But some, like Waterworks and Collosus just don't stand out at all when you play them. Waterworks in particular is far too big for anything less than a 6 on 6 game, unless you want to bring non-Warthog vechicles into the game, which a lot of people dont' like to do.

The biggest disappointment has to be Zanzibar. It could have been a really great level. The idea of storming from the beach into the base to get the flag is a really good idea, but the bells and whistles they tried to add are actually pretty useless. If you heard anything about the E3 build of the level, they made a big deal about how there was some gate you could open/close which would allow much easier access to the flag. That's a really good idea, if there were a gate which was controlled from the inside of the base that would open up a path that would give the attackers a lot better shot at getting off with the flag, it would have been great. But once you play you will realize the gate is pretty much meaningless. You can either go in the front door which is about a two second run around the corner from the gate, or you can simply walk up a pathway and through a door that is right at this gate. If they are going to have something like that, they should have made it a focus point for the players on both sides. Make sure there's no doors within a good distance of a gate and ensure that the players on both sides will ahve to be concerned with it if they want to win. don't make it a very small novelty that it ended up being. Also, the window coverings you can shoot closed are pretty useless as well, just another thing that got some big hype in E3 but really isn't used at all in the game. I know I'm reading too much into it and thinking about it too much, but with all the hype this level got (it was the only solid thing known about this game for about 3 or 4 months), it really doesn't live up to it's billing as making CTF more stratigic or anything like that. Definitely far from a bad level, actually still one of the better ones IMO, but just a little letdown to me at least.

New Blood Gultch(called 'Coagulation") is really nice, the additions seems to work nicely to even the playing field a little for those with sniper guns and those without. And the added complexity of hte bases is nice just to give a few more escape options in CTF. New Battle Creek (called Beaver Creek) is nice, but not worth redoing for the small changes they made. Only played it once, but the only differences I saw were two windows on top of each base and they replaces the ladders to the sniper guns with long ramps. Both are nice additions, but would rather have seen a new level than two pretty small changes to an old favorite.

The amount of options for multiplayer games is staggering. Just about everything you could ask for is there. I don't think any two groups of players will have the same favorite settings with all of these options, very well done. The stat tracking even just for system link is great. YOu can see how many shots you fired(and how many you hit), how many times each player killed you and how many times you killed them, and a lot more (including some medal's just for bragging rights).

Overall I'm really liking it and having a lot of fun so far. The biggest shock is out of the box it doesn't feel like Halo the first time you put it in and play, but after a short time it all sinks in and it plays great.

[CM1847]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

The other negative is the fact that there is apparently no "no shield" option(not even on the offline multi player game) which renders a "pistol only" match useless.

That is definitely an option. I believe under Player Options when creating a new gametype, I didn't play any under this setting but Shield was an option with "No Shield, Normal Shield and Extra shield" as the three options(it might have said something besides "Extra Shield", but you get the point).

I HATE the interface for system link (I assume it's the same for online). The ideas are good and probably came from complaints of Halo 1 players, but letting only one controller pick ANYTHING is very annoying. Also there seems to be little rhyme or reason behind which screen you get when it is a split screen game. Haven't gone online yet, but it's bad to hear that you can't pick which game you want to play specifically. I read about that and thought it was just for ranked games, sucks to hear that you really have NO choice over what you get to play.

The gameplay took a litlte bit to get used to (this definitely isn't Halo 1), but it grows on you quickly and plays really well once you get used to it. One of the biggest differences is the emphasis on rapid fire guns in this one compared to Halo 1. The assault rifle was hardly ever used in Halo 1 in multiplayer, but you will definitely have to use the starting assault rifle or the battle rifle quite often in Halo 2. Makes for a little more fast paced action, but also feels sloppy in a way because you will be having way too many fights where you have to stop and reload your automatic gun's clip.

The sword is wicked, but not as unfair as it seems like it would be. From any sort of distance you will usually get killed before you get in range of a sword attack or all the gunfire/smoke will get in your way so bad you won't be able to see the guy you want to swipe at. The best early strategy I found was to have another gun drawn until you get close and pull it out and try a surprise attack.

The multiplayer levels are about 50/50 IMO. The smaller ones (don't have the names down yet, but the snow level and the outside level with brown land and a big dish in the middle specifically) are both really good for the new Territory game. Headlong (a circular city based level) is made for sniping with how many different levels there are to go around. But some, like Waterworks and Collosus just don't stand out at all when you play them. Waterworks in particular is far too big for anything less than a 6 on 6 game, unless you want to bring non-Warthog vechicles into the game, which a lot of people dont' like to do.

The biggest disappointment has to be Zanzibar. It could have been a really great level. The idea of storming from the beach into the base to get the flag is a really good idea, but the bells and whistles they tried to add are actually pretty useless. If you heard anything about the E3 build of the level, they made a big deal about how there was some gate you could open/close which would allow much easier access to the flag. That's a really good idea, if there were a gate which was controlled from the inside of the base that would open up a path that would give the attackers a lot better shot at getting off with the flag, it would have been great. But once you play you will realize the gate is pretty much meaningless. You can either go in the front door which is about a two second run around the corner from the gate, or you can simply walk up a pathway and through a door that is right at this gate. If they are going to have something like that, they should have made it a focus point for the players on both sides. Make sure there's no doors within a good distance of a gate and ensure that the players on both sides will ahve to be concerned with it if they want to win. don't make it a very small novelty that it ended up being. Also, the window coverings you can shoot closed are pretty useless as well, just another thing that got some big hype in E3 but really isn't used at all in the game. I know I'm reading too much into it and thinking about it too much, but with all the hype this level got (it was the only solid thing known about this game for about 3 or 4 months), it really doesn't live up to it's billing as making CTF more stratigic or anything like that. Definitely far from a bad level, actually still one of the better ones IMO, but just a little letdown to me at least.

New Blood Gultch(called 'Coagulation") is really nice, the additions seems to work nicely to even the playing field a little for those with sniper guns and those without. And the added complexity of hte bases is nice just to give a few more escape options in CTF. New Battle Creek (called Beaver Creek) is nice, but not worth redoing for the small changes they made. Only played it once, but the only differences I saw were two windows on top of each base and they replaces the ladders to the sniper guns with long ramps. Both are nice additions, but would rather have seen a new level than two pretty small changes to an old favorite.

The amount of options for multiplayer games is staggering. Just about everything you could ask for is there. I don't think any two groups of players will have the same favorite settings with all of these options, very well done. The stat tracking even just for system link is great. YOu can see how many shots you fired(and how many you hit), how many times each player killed you and how many times you killed them, and a lot more (including some medal's just for bragging rights).

Overall I'm really liking it and having a lot of fun so far. The biggest shock is out of the box it doesn't feel like Halo the first time you put it in and play, but after a short time it all sinks in and it plays great.

[Boltman]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I am bearly now getting X-Box live (was waiting just for Halo II, before I purchased it) once I have it setup, I'll look for a few of you on there.

[Boltman]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I am bearly now getting X-Box live (was waiting just for Halo II, before I purchased it) once I have it setup, I'll look for a few of you on there.

[fully23]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

This game runs very smooth. Online is so much fun. My biggest impression so far is that I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open at work. I should have called in sick.

[fully23]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

This game runs very smooth. Online is so much fun. My biggest impression so far is that I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open at work. I should have called in sick.

[greenegt]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I only played through the first level of singleplayer, before heading to bed. The game's pace is quite a bit quicker than Halo 1, so that takes some getting used to. Also, just from viewing the intro movie, the story is going to be much richer than the first game. I'm loving it so far and I can't wait to try Live, this afternoon.

[greenegt]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

I only played through the first level of singleplayer, before heading to bed. The game's pace is quite a bit quicker than Halo 1, so that takes some getting used to. Also, just from viewing the intro movie, the story is going to be much richer than the first game. I'm loving it so far and I can't wait to try Live, this afternoon.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

FF, you need a f'n life. You were killing me! You should play online more often, you were pretty good. Just another FPS for me to suck at.


Yes, this game is a blast online and we only played the deathmatch type game.

lol....Thanks. I Had Xbox live for like 5 months already and last night was the most I most I ever played it. I like Xbox Live, but this game will have me on a lot more. SooMiss I'll go easy next time....lol

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: Official Halo 2 Impressions, I've got it, General Discussion thread

FF, you need a f'n life. You were killing me! You should play online more often, you were pretty good. Just another FPS for me to suck at.


Yes, this game is a blast online and we only played the deathmatch type game.

lol....Thanks. I Had Xbox live for like 5 months already and last night was the most I most I ever played it. I like Xbox Live, but this game will have me on a lot more. SooMiss I'll go easy next time....lol