Halo2

[Tom Salter]

Has anyone noticed that power-sliding the warthog does nothing though? No change in handling whatsoever.

[anephric]

Peeps have commented that it makes cornering easier, but it seems to do very little imho.

You do "drift" a little.

[dataDave]

Got to say that playing on live is pretty good - for a console. Not gonna wank over it too much as it's been nothing compared to playing Quake online back in '97 when I was a PC n00b.

I'm signed in as TheSilverHornet (greg the ho funding dude's account) add him to your friends list everyone.

My logo is a purple + gray nintendo style cube. >< thought the Triforce might already be a little overused - which I've noticed it is.

Perfect Dark" is forever.

[Alf-Life]

Actually, when I said it's the "Perfect Dark" of sequels... perhaps MGS 2 is more apt... it has the dual-protagonist thing, goes on and on towards the end, and the ending is... poor.

[anephric]

There's no stoopid Elvis alien tho.

[Concept]

Im not trying to defend this game, but they aint being dicks at all. Fighting against marines would have killed any submersion you get within the single player campaign.
Spoiler edit by charlesr

You get to do this briefly in a later level near the end (I certainly did). Which is something I applaud Bungie for.

[Mr Ono]

I'm not disappointed with the online aspect of Halo 2 because, tbh, I never really deep down expected it to be any more than a shadow of what the PC can achieve in the genre.

I was hoping for a revelation, for it to live up to all the hype, but did I really expect a 16 player (more often 8 player) online game played with mechanics first played on the PC 5 years ago to match the plethora of PC FPS battles? No.

Playing a fair few games on LIVE last night was just sluggish and shallow. Going back for a quick blast on Counter-strike: Source straight after reinforces this. The tactical aspect and the skill (not to mention the graphics) of CSS just piss on Halo 2's online modes. Call of Duty, Tribes Vengeance, Battlefied 1942, even the PC iteration of SW: Battlefront are all superior IMHO.


Halo 2 online is online gaming for newbies. I'm happy that it's bringing new people to the genre and to online gaming, but if you've tasted the real thing on PC, you'll soon realise that Panda Pop doesn't really taste as good..

[Concept]

Reading through this thread here, a large proportion of the reaction has been scathing - As though any disappointment is a great injustice by Bungie. I can't understand it to be honest. Bar brief pop-up (almost entirely related to the cutscenes) and level of detail changes, I think the game is wonderfully produced.

It does things differently from Halo that's all, yet (delibrately for me) echoes and continues some of what went before as well to strike up a balance.

[PeteJ]

I'm not disappointed with the online aspect of Halo 2 because, tbh, I never really deep down expected it to be any more than a shadow of what the PC can achieve in the genre.

I was hoping for a revelation, for it to live up to all the hype, but did I really expect a 16 player (more often 8 player) online game played with mechanics first played on the PC 5 years ago to match the plethora of PC FPS battles? No.

Playing a fair few games on LIVE last night was just sluggish and shallow. Going back for a quick blast on Counter-strike: Source straight after reinforces this. The tactical aspect and the skill (not to mention the graphics) of CSS just piss on Halo 2's online modes. Call of Duty, Tribes Vengeance, Battlefied 1942, even the PC iteration of SW: Battlefront are all superior IMHO.


Halo 2 online is online gaming for newbies. I'm happy that it's bringing new people to the genre and to online gaming, but if you've tasted the real thing on PC, you'll soon realise that Panda Pop doesn't really taste as good..

Sorry, what the hell are you on about? How can you possibly say Halo 2 online is online gaming for newbies when a) it has only been out for one day (next to Counter Strike's 3 years, or whatever) and b) you are clearly wrong! The difference between a good Halo player and a bad Halo player is huge, just like in Counter Strike and almost every other online title.

I've played Half Life online more than you can possibly imagine, and so far Halo 2 is proving to be far more friendly, engaging and enjoyable than just about anything else I've seen.

A lot of comments on here are reactionary and unfair on Halo 2.

[Prof Frink]

Playing the single player mode again on heroic and its much better than normal. I like how you can go through the levels differently each time you play using ghosts or warthogs or being the gunner instead of driving it make the games replayability much better. Wish I played on heroic from the begining. Also enjoyed multi-player last night with some of you.

[Moodmon]

Well, I've completed it on normal, so here's my two pence.

I don't like the graphics. I didn't notice any pop up (because my eyesight is useless, probably) but I just don't like the weird bump mapping thingy look. I preferred the clean looks of the original. I also preferred the way you could tell where the enemies where. Normally they stood out, here it can get a bit murky and hard to see.

Some of the set pieces are excellent, though I thought perhaps there was too much emphasis on vehicles (you get into a tank quite early). Nicking them from an enemy is always funny mind

I wasn't really too fussed about the plot, as long as it got me excited. It didn't. Fair enough, it did seem to go somewhere, but it didn't finish it. Kingdom Hearts syndrome: Insert Sequel Here

Spoiler Stuff here...

Also a bit of a shame that it went MGS2 style. Literally. As soon as I heard about optic camo, I thought "Stealth?" and went on a rampage. I also thought the brutes were too tough. it was just a question of killing them. Plus the flood was the worst part of the original Halo, why include them again. Still, got to laugh at Little Shop Of Horrors plant thing

I wasn't happy with some of the design decisions either. Nippy enemies don't work on a console FPS, the pad isn't quick enough to handle them. Narrow pathways, with charging enemies on them mean it is too easy to fall off.

For me, the SP was alright. Doubtless I've forgotten to mention something, but hey ho. Haven't had a really good go at Live mind, which by all accounts should be fantastic.

[Ginger Tosser]

Well, had a quick go on the first level. At the moment its a case of WTF, i'm finding it very dark. Still only my first go i'll have another go later.

[Mr Ono]

Sorry, what the hell are you on about? How can you possibly say Halo 2 online is online gaming for newbies when a) it has only been out for one day (next to Counter Strike's 3 years, or whatever) and b) you are clearly wrong! The difference between a good Halo player and a bad Halo player is huge, just like in Counter Strike and almost every other online title.

I've played Half Life online more than you can possibly imagine, and so far Halo 2 is proving to be far more friendly, engaging and enjoyable than just about anything else I've seen.

A lot of comments on here are reactionary and unfair on Halo 2.

Halo 2 is a lite version of PC online gaming. Yeah sure the interface is well done (lobby, voice) but the actual gaming side is decidely shallow. More engaging and enjoyable? I don't think so but then, that's the opinion of a veteren PC online gamer.

[Hodge]

If anyone hasn`t tried party mode yet online i highly recommend you give it ago. If you get 4 of you in a party and try out team skirmish it excellent fun. Me, silvergun x and bignige played all sorts early on from CTF, Classic CTF,oddball, territories and assault and the matches were pretty close most times. Online gaming has once again found a new set standard .

[Silvergun X]

If anyone hasn`t tried party mode yet online i highly recommend you give it ago. If you get 4 of you in a party and try out team skirmish it excellent fun. Me, silvergun x and bignige played all sorts early on from CTF, Classic CTF,oddball, territories and assault and the matches were pretty close most times. Online gaming has once again found a new set standard .

Agreed. Grabbing a party of 4 or 5 members, and doing Team Skirmish or Big Team Battle matchmaking, is the most fun i've ever had in an FPS. PC or Console.

Ever.