Halo 2 (Xbox One) Review

Back for more ass-kicking action.

 Halo: Combat Evolved proved to be a smash hit for Microsoft and the Xbox, launching the then-new system with a strong start. Like all great successes, a sequel followed up in 2004 with Halo 2. After destroying the Halo ringworld in the first game, Master Chief is back and ready to face a new Covenant threat, this time on Earth. Halo 2 was widely anticipated back in the day, generating tons of hype from ambitious E3 trailers to weird marketing moves such as that "I Love Bees" website. Upon release, it received praise from both fans and critics, with some considering it a superior game compared to its predecessor. It was also the most popular game on the Xbox Live at the time with dozens of hours spent on it. For its tenth anniversary, Halo 2 received an HD remake as part of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One. Admittedly, I haven't played Halo 2 before, so this is my first rodeo with the game, and needless to say I'm excited to find out if it still lives up to its legacy. Without any delays, let's find out!


 Halo 2 picks up shortly picking up after the events of Halo, as the Covenant have launched a full-scale invasion on Earth in retaliation of Halo's destruction. In response, Humanity's UNSC are fighting back against the invasion and need the help of non-other than the Spartan Master Chief to lead the way. New characters include commander Amanda Keyes, daughter of the late Commander Keyes, and the Arbiter, a disgraced Covenant soldier who is tasked with doing the Covenant High Council's biddings. Sergeant Johnson returns after his brief appearance in the first game and steals the show thanks to his no-nonsense and likable personality. I especially grew to like the Arbiter and found him to be a great addition to the series. Overall, I loved the story as it shows us both sides of the conflict and I enjoyed the added backstory to the Covenant, as it made them a far more interesting enemy than just being your typical bad guys. It's just a shame that the game abruptly ends too soon on a cliffhanger when the story was reaching its peak.

The Chief is back in action.

 Halo 2 retains the basic gameplay elements of its predecessor while adding a few improvements of its own. You control either Master Chief or the Arbiter in first-person view as each wield their own respective weapons. Both characters have protective shields guarding them from attacks and a sensor that detects enemy movement. Chief plays the exact same as he did in Halo while the Arbiter is more stealth-oriented. For example, he packs an energy sword that can instantly kill some enemies with one hit and the ability to cloak himself, rendering himself invisible to enemies for a brief period. It offers a perfect opportunity to sneak by tough waves of enemies or get the jump on them from behind, both of which end up being fun choices.

If it ain't broken, make it better.

 Weapons such as the assault rife, needler, shotgun, and more return while making room for new ones. New weapons include the sub-machine gun, which offers a high rate of fire at the cost of high recoil; the battle rifle, a burst-type rifle that packs a scope for accurate shots; and the magnum, a powerful handgun that packs a fast rate of fire, though usually its more on the rare side to find in levels. I found that Halo 2's more exciting weapons were on the Covenant side with the likes of the Energy Sword, a powerful melee weapon that can almost kill every enemy with just one hit, those who played Halo will easily remember it; the Carbine, which is basically the Covenant's version of the battle rifle minus the burst aspect; the Plasma Beam rifle, a punchy sniper with piercing shots though it overheats pretty quickly; the Brute Shot, a grenade launcher that's good against large groups of enemies; and lastly, the Fuel Rod Gun, the Covenant's answer to the rocket launcher, it's super destructive rounds kills both enemies and vehicles with a single shot.

The Arbiter's cloaking ability plus the energy word

makes stealth tons more fun.

 New additions Halo 2 introduced was the ability to dual-wield handguns such as the needler and plasma rifle, in which you simultaneously shoot both weapons. In exchange for accuracy, you'll have some serious firepower to mow down enemy waves. You can mix and match any handgun, with some combinations being better than others. This time around, the game features improved AI partners, meaning that they're better than before. Your buddies are still enthusiastic and tend to fight more aggressively while trying to avoid dying as much as they did back in Halo. However, there are times where I regretted letting them drive as they're just horrible at driving, often bumping into other friendlies. Still, you can improve their chances at survival by giving them some of your good weapons via trading, which is an upside I guess...

 Levels this time have a more urban setting to them. In "Outskirts" and "Metropolis", you'll navigate through the war-torn streets of Earth in wake of the invasion. It's a fresh change of scenery coming from Halo's rather quiet levels. "Cairo Station" is the first level you actually play and where you and other UNSC soldiers fight off a Covenant ambush, I liked its space station look and how it quickly eases you into combat. "Quarantine Zone" was another good level where you're fighting against both the Flood and Sentinels in a chaotic warzone as the Arbiter. In much of the levels you'll be driving  vehicles from both the UNSC and Covenant factions. Warthogs, Scorpions, Banshees, and Ghosts return while the Wraith and Spectre, an armored tank and infantry vehicle serve as new rides to drive around in.

Metropolis is my favorite level due to its memorable

bridge sequence where you're gunning down

 enemy Ghosts and Banshees with the Scorpion.

 Halo 2 was a step up in terms of presentation compared to its predecessor. Unlike the original's janky animations, the game boasted a new game engine that made the game feel far more smooth and fluid. The character models and backgrounds were some of the best to come out of the Xbox and personally, they do hold up decently by today's standards. I really liked the urban setting and decimated look of the landscapes, as it sells you on the whole invasion premise. Still, if you can't get around the aged visuals, you'll be glad to know that the game got the Anniversary treatment. The Halo 2 Anniversary edition is a 1:1 HD remake of the original game featuring brand new textures and models, lighting, as well as new CG cutscenes, which look amazing. That and the remastered soundtrack is exceptional. Easily one of the rare occasions where I prefer the new soundtrack over the original. Tracks such as "Halo Theme Scorpion Mix", "Halo Theme Gungnir Mix", "This Glittering Band", and "Jeopardy". From the original's rock-infused OST "Blow Me Away", "Follow", and "Reclaimer" were all catchy and memorable as well. Steve Downes and Jen Taylor reprise their roles as Master Chief and Cortana, respectively, and deliver some spectacular performances. Keith David and David Scully also delivered some commendable performances as the Arbiter and Johnson, respectively. 

While I prefer the original visuals, there's no denying

that the remake looks absolutely gorgeous.

 Halo 2 cemented Bungie's reputation as one of the industries best developers around, for good reason. Both the story and characters were interesting, I especially enjoyed the added layer of a Covenant story and its twists which kept engaged throughout the game. The new gameplay additions and level designs definitely feel like an improvement over its predecessor, and it was a blast to play. Also, the game is longer in length compared to its predecessor, taking me around 9-10 hours to beat, which is an improvement. The production values are impressive with great visuals, voice performances, and soundtrack on both original and remake releases. All in all, Halo 2 is a fantastic sequel that lives up to the legendary first game while making room for improvements. If you're a newcomer to the series or a veteran looking to bring back some old memories, then checkout the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, seeing as it's the definitive edition of the game.