Halo 2 Anticipation Thread: Hype Vs. Reality

[Fuddle]

i've actually started to want this now, after seeing that multiplayer video.
i couldnt care less about the single player...i havent even bothered to finish the first game yet.
but that video looks so much fun.
the only problem is, i know i'm going to get totally destroyed online.

[matt@gamestyle]

*please don't spam articles on your site ... we don't do it on your forums*

[Uli]

still no official info on tech specs and coop-game modes!!! this is terrifying me!

i hope that 16:9 and xbox live coop-mode will make it - at least ...

[Uli]

i've actually started to want this now, after seeing that multiplayer video.
i couldnt care less about the single player...i havent even bothered to finish the first game yet.
but that video looks so much fun.
the only problem is, i know i'm going to get totally destroyed online.

haven't even finished halo's campaign mode once? your are not worthy of a sequel! ;-)

for me it's exactly the other way around. i don't care much for the multiplayer modes - they look fun but ultimately it's all too much dying too fast! also, i don't see any real difference to multiplayer game modes like rainbow six's team deathmatch.

[NeilMcRae]

I've been playing Halo through again and this time I've been noticing some of the detail that bungie put into this game. Even though I've played it before I've been sucked into the story and I can't wait until the next section to find out whats going on. The Scorpian tank is an excellent tool and the AI and sounds arond the other characters is excellent. The visuals are lovely even though the buildings etc are actually quite bland. It is clear that stuff was cut to make the Xbox release date some sections are incredibly repetitive but the story makes up for that. On comparing it with Doom 3 I think they are actually quite equal games [gameplay wise although Doom 3 was a remake of Doom and don't for get that] but Doom3 could have been far superior if it had a more riveting story like Halo with perhaps a couple of more chars helping the story along. The PDA story telling in Doom3 could easily have been expanded to a character like Cortana or something.

Neil.

[Adam Stone]

I too am playing Halo at the moment Mr Neil Sir, however the different between you and I is that this is actually my first proper play through. Before now I?ve only ever played it briefly at a friends house ? though have experienced the Multiplayer at the Ntsc-uk meets.

Now that I?ve finally bought it upon myself to get an Xbox in anticipation of Fable there was no question that I had to hunt out Halo. Hunt it out I did and ive been playing it extensively over the last few days. I?m loving it. Im on the apparantly 'worst level' now - "Library"

The graphics can be quite bland and... a little on the rough side. However saying that the environments? wow. The sense of scale is extraordinary. Close-up textures are very nice and there are loads of little details which impress? but.. meh? saying all this is irrelevant. You all already know

What you don?t know though is just how much im looking forward to seeing how they crank things up in Halo 2. I downloaded a 50+ meg mov this morning (as well as several others over the past few weeks) and.. well? it looks like they have somehow managed to crank things up to unbelievably. It all looks very nice indeed and so full of life. One thing I love about Halo 1 is how the Marines display so much life and personality, it looks like this will be taken even further in Halo 2 ? yay.

Graphics aside though, it plays like a dream. Stealth, action, and strategy are all blended together seamlessly - its addictive, fun and compelling. I take my hat of to Bungie for creating such a griping game and I hang my head in shame for taking so long to appreciate their outstanding work...

Personal Note: Things will be different for Halo 2. I have my Special Edition version pre-ordered and I hope to join you all at its release of experiencing this no doubt stunning sequel - rather then being one of the last pour souls... i shall be at the front of the queue this time!

Oh, here is the 9minute long gameplay mov I downloaded this morning. Looks incredible. Im not sure if its been posted already though? but? definitely worth a look

57.6meg - Right Click and Save Me!

Kind regards
Adam

[November Tango]

From the Rico's House of Halo preview:

Intimate Melee - If you want to punch someone in the back of the head in Halo 2 you're going to have to get a little closer. The range has been shortened immensely for melee attacks requiring the player to be toe to toe if he wants to get a few jabs in.

I don't like this. Halo is the first FPS I've played where melee was a useful and practical part of a player's arsenal. This was primarily due to every weapon being a possibly lethal melee weapon. But it was also due in part to the large threat radius of melee attacks. They were still difficult to pull off against a moving opponent, but not impossible. Decreasing the range of the melee attacks seems like an unecessary nerf.

Perhaps the range will be dependent on each individual weapon. This would be more acceptable.

My biggest fear with Halo 2 is that it will suffer from Myth 2 syndrome. Myth 2 always seemed inferior to its predecessor. This was in spite of vastly improved multiplayer, an improved interface, and more unit types. Something became lost amongst all the improvements, changes, and 'refinements.' The core balance and fun of the game was displaced. I never enjoyed Myth 2 nearly as much as Myth: TFL, even though it was a "better game."

[Uli]

I don't like this. Halo is the first FPS I've played where melee was a useful and practical part of a player's arsenal. This was primarily due to every weapon being a possibly lethal melee weapon. But it was also due in part to the large threat radius of melee attacks. They were still difficult to pull off against a moving opponent, but not impossible. Decreasing the range of the melee attacks seems like an unecessary nerf.

Perhaps the range will be dependent on each individual weapon. This would be more acceptable.

yes, this is a shame if it turns out to be true! melee cobat is extremly useful and effective in Halo. i don't see a real reason to decrease this effectiveness - in campaign mode at least.

also, i try to prepare myself for some slight disappointments regarding Halo 2. as i alredy pointed out there's still no official word regarding the coop-campaign game modes. so let's cross our fingers and hope it's all in the game!

[Len]

Hmm I can understand why they've decreased the range of the melee combat in the mp and it works, as it does makes you need to get up close and personal if you want to get a smack with a rifle etc in. I think it's more a qu of balance for the maps myself.

But we have no idea whether this has been tweaked in the sp as no-one's had the luxury of playing it yet. We shall see suppose...

[007]

Am I the only one really not looking forward to the multiplayer anymore?

There's a 18 minute video online of a multiplayer game, and it looks ****e. No skill whatsoever, just who can run into the middle of a firefight the quickest. I muchos prefer tactical multiplayer shooting games, not ones where you just go in with the trigger down. No skill at all.

[Tom Salter]

No skill at all.

Have you not played Quake 3? The amount of skill to get good at that game is incredible - I'm still learning 3/4 years after first starting in MP...

[geldra]

Is the change in melee range not due to the combo thingy that has been implemented? Clicking twice (or maybe three times) links melee attacks now doesnt it?Maybe?

[Len]

Am I the only one really not looking forward to the multiplayer anymore?

There's a 18 minute video online of a multiplayer game, and it looks ****e. No skill whatsoever, just who can run into the middle of a firefight the quickest. I muchos prefer tactical multiplayer shooting games, not ones where you just go in with the trigger down. No skill at all.

It definitely doesn't play like that, there's plenty of skill involved.

I agree though regards the sp, I can't wait to boot it up and play through the campaign, so looking fwd to it. I was gripped by the first one so things can only get bigger and better...

[PeteJ]

The difference between a skilled Halo player and an unskilled Halo player is massive - there is plenty of depth. Three shots with the pistol; dead.

Regarding the melee attack, I don't think this'll be an issue. I imagine that they've made it harder to pull off, but more powerful. One change that does worry me however is the removal of the health bar, being replaced by a slightly tougher shield. Not too convinced about the duel weapons either, they seem to dominate slightly too much (though duel weapons v duel weapons should sort that one out).

And I wish Bungie would let us see another damn map! I know the ins and outs of that multiplayer map already!

[Tom Salter]

One change that does worry me however is the removal of the health bar, being replaced by a slightly tougher shield

I'm trying to read as little as possible about Halo 2 - so I've previously missed that point.

The first energy bar / shield idea was a fantastic gimmick. I can't believe they're getting rid :S