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Amazon.com's Price: $19.99 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Amazon Maximum Age: 20 years
Amazon Minimum Age: 204 months
Binding: Video Game
Brand: Microsoft
EAN: 0805529792234
ESRB Age Rating: Mature
Label: Microsoft
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Model: XBMSFT 805529792234
Platform: Xbox
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: November 09, 2004
Sales Rank: 303
Studio: Microsoft
Features:- Master Chief can now wield two weapons at once, board Covenant vehicles and steal Covenant weapons like the incredible double energy sword
- Lead an all-new unit of super-soldiers, the ODST -- tougher, badder and deadlier versions of your old comrades
- New enemies, allies and surprises around every corner - intense combat action with enhanced AI and real-time lighting
- Immense single-player action with maassive landscapes and huge cities to explore and defend - destructible and interactive environments
- Take the action online with your Xbox Live and switch sides, to become a Covenant Elite!
Accessories:
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Halo 2 continues the story of Master Chief, the heroic super-soldier who defied the invading alien Covenant and survived. The Covenant leaders within Halo are angry at this unheard of event. To save face, they launch an invasion of our planet. Earth's defenses are breached, and we're all in danger -- unless Master Chief can lead a small military squad to victory against Covenant forces, in all-out guerilla warfare!
Amazon.com:
Halo 2 is one of those rare video games that garnishes attention from regular folk who wouldn't know which direction to point a game controller. With more than 1.5 million pre-orders and a massive release party in Times Square, the game enjoys the sort of buzz, and sales, generally reserved for boy wizards. But does it merit the hype?
Opening Scene
Halo 2 opens with a cut scene in the Covenant Holy City of High Charity. Much has happened since Master Chief (that's you) created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do for his failures. This first cut scene is long, but the lush graphics, orchestral sound, and polished voice talent for both this and other cut scenes as well as the game itself put most animated television shows to shame.
Much has happened since Master Chief created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do.
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In the end, though, Halo 2 is unabashedly a first-person shooter. It has a Mature rating and is not meant for kids. Gameplay is constant and intense. No sooner is one bunch of aliens taken care of than another descends. The controls are identical to the first game so those familiar with it will be up and blasting in no time. And the sound and graphics have been beefed up so that Halo 2 is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful console games available.
Opening Fire
Most of the weapons from the first game return, although strangely the MA5B Assault Rifle (the default weapon in the first game) is not available. There is a single melee weapon known as the Covenant Sword, but the controls for it are the same as that for all the shooter weapons, making it difficult to direct. Also, for a new twist, you can hold two of the smaller guns at the same time and shoot double-fisted.
As for vehicles, the old favorites are back and joined by a few new, mostly Covenant wheeled monsters. Some improvements have been made to the AI so that the nonplayer characters can drive without running into too many obstacles while you man the turret. This improved AI also has enemies ducking for cover, and the banter from both the Marines and the bad guys has undergone massive improvements so that it no longer sounds quite so repetitive.
On Your Own
The most significant change in the single-player game is with Master Chief's much-touted defensive suit. At the beginning of the game, he is told that the suit has been upgraded, but it's really undergone a severe downgrade. In Halo 2, the player has only one lifeline. Unlike in the first game, there is basically no defensive shield on the suit, making gameplay tougher. It can often take multiple--sometimes a maddening number--attempts to make it through thorny parts of the game.
Or with a Friend
Finally, no review of a Halo game is complete without mentioning multiplayer. One of the main reasons to buy Halo 2 is the ability to play through Xbox Live, a feature not included in the first game, which was among the original releases for the Xbox. Multiplayer for Halo 2 uses all of the same weapons and vehicles as in the single-player game, and the types of games available in Halo (King of the Hill, Slayer, Capture the Flag) return with a host of new maps. Multiplayer Halo 2 offers customizable profiles, control layout, and screens as well as a voice proximity feature, where you can talk with other players via an Xbox Communicator so that those closer to you sound louder than those farther away. Players can also create both permanent clans and temporary parties in the Xbox Live world. Undoubtedly, this multiplayer feature alone ensures that Halo 2 will remain a top-selling game for years to come. --David Morel
Pros: - Lush graphics and orchestral sound
- Constant, thumping shoot-'em-up action
- Multiplayer available through Xbox live
Cons: - Suit downgrade makes single-player often overly difficult
- Get ready for some bleary-eyed mornings
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Grandson loves Halo 2
I have no idea how to play this game, but my grandson does and he loves it.
Rating:  - just average
played the first halo. it had some great moments. mind you, it wasn't perfect. game was too dark, some maps were reused, & too much backtracking. i dont understand why bungie couldn't have included a map so i'd know where i was going. also, the library chapter was plain repetitive tedium. halo 2 was basically the same, probably even worse. i mean, playing as the arbiter sucked. basically too much hype. but the multiplayer is where halo shines. solo campaigns are just ok.
Rating: - Deep Single Player, Awesome Multi-Player, Near Perfect Game
Halo 2
One of the greatest selling games of all time and the best selling X-Box game is Halo 2. If you have not heard of this game yet, you need to come out from under that rock. Almost everyone loved the original game. The sequel had a huge name to live up to, and I feel they did an amazing job on Halo 2. The Multi-Player gameplay will have you playing for an extremely long time. Single player features a unique, deep story to play through. Halo 2 takes everything that was good in the original ... Read More
Rating: - A continuing classic
Halo 2 is probably the best in the series. Many may argue that Halo 3's many new maps, high definition graphics, and new vehicles weapons and modes make it the best, I rest with Halo 2.
First of all, the campaign is much better than Halo and slightly better than that of Halo 3. The game also is at a perfect sci-fi state without being too ridiculous. Halo 3 gets a little out of hand and ends up being just too ambiguous.
Once past the Halo 2 ending (which leaves you really curious and a great ... Read More
Rating:  - trash
This game is absolute trash. In fact the whole Halo series is trash. The whole idea of an inter-galactic warrior batteling space creatures is a dumb idea. I played all of the games in the series and after 10 minutes with each of them I wanted to gauge my eyes out. Wht don't you go out and buy a real game like Saints Row, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, or any other game that isn't this.If you even think about buying this you might as well throw your money into a fire and watch it as it slowly burns.
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson, Poetry Connection. All Rights Reserved.
Amazon Minimum Age: 204 months
Binding: Video Game
Brand: Microsoft
EAN: 0805529792234
ESRB Age Rating: Mature
Label: Microsoft
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Model: XBMSFT 805529792234
Platform: Xbox
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: November 09, 2004
Sales Rank: 303
Studio: Microsoft