HALO 2 REVIEWS

Professor S · 11-07-2004, 03:09 PM

"The greatest Xbox game of all time..."

IGN - 9.8

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Genuinely great games don't come around that often, but in 2004 we're seeing a few truly remarkable achievements come to the forefront. Halo 2 is one of them. While you can minimize the game to its basics -- it's a linear first-person shooter, it doesn't have online cooperative play, some of the cutscenes look awkward -- the level of improvement in every aspect to an already near-perfect game is staggering.
Even though Halo didn't revolutionize the first-person shooter genre, its influences have already taken place -- it's two-weapon, one grenade system has had profound effects, just to name one -- and it's earned its place in the annals of gaming. Halo 2 is similar in form. It's not going to revolutionize the world of first-person shooters, but it stands on the shoulders of other really good FPSs, and it improves the game on every level.

The best parts of Halo 2 are subtle. No one thing stands out and smacks you on the face and says, "LOOK AT THIS!" Instead, the whole product, the entire game, from top to bottom, is remarkably well produced, well paced and planned. Very few games come together and look, sound, and play as smoothly, organically, and as well as this. It's got dozens of exciting, intense gameplay segments, excellent graphics and sound, and though it sounds like a cliché, the game is filled with millions of the little things that accumulate in your subconscious. The end-result is that it's not only addicting, it's not only the most fun you'll have in single-player or multiplayer game on Xbox, the story is deep and smart, and it keeps you interested. Perhaps best of all, the online portion will essentially blow everything else on Xbox Live out of the water. In a way, there are dozens of surprises about Halo 2, and yet there none. It is the best Xbox game this year, and it is the best Xbox game on the system, full stop.

Gamespot - 9.4

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To say that there's a lot to like about Halo 2 would be an understatement. Despite a rather short campaign and a disappointing storyline, Halo 2 is an exceptional shooter that frequently delivers thrilling, memorable, and unique moments in its online, co-op, and single-player modes. Depending on what you most want from the game, you may find that Halo 2 leaves you desperate for another installment in the series--but even if it takes Bungie another several years to produce that game, there's enough first-rate action and lasting value here to keep you happily entertained till that time comes.

Gamespy - 5/5 stars

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After three years of wishing, hoping, and waiting, it's hard to believe that everyone will finally get a chance to play a true masterpiece of a game on the Xbox. The campaign mode introduces a ton of new elements, not only to the game itself, but also to the Halo universe as a whole. As for the multiplayer, you won't find a better Xbox Live experience anywhere, and you can be sure that Halo 2 will be topping the Live charts for years to come. If you want to see a perfect mix of everything that makes games great, from storytelling to graphics and audio, look no further than Halo 2.

1UP.com - 100%

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Halo 2 is not perfect. There are specific minor details you can point to as evidence that the game has flaws -- there are minor graphical and AI glitches, and you can't play co-op online -- but it almost feels unfair to even mention those points in this review, because none of them are significant enough to bring down their own part of the game, much less the game as a whole.
I've played roughly 15 hours of multiplayer battles in the past two days, after having played through a 24 hour single and multiplayer session a few weeks ago. We have Metroid Prime 2 in the office, with Metal Gear Solid 3, Prince of Persia 2 and Half-Life 2 on the way. All those great games, and there's nothing I'd rather do than play more Halo 2.

Acebot44 · 11-07-2004, 03:12 PM

TeamXbox Review

9.9

GameMaster · 11-07-2004, 03:22 PM

IGN's 9.8 rating is the highest it's ever given any game! OMFG!

I might just be buying an Xbox now.

Professor S · 11-07-2004, 03:28 PM

WARNING: That idiot Greg Kasavin over at Gamespot went ahead and spoiled a huge plot twist for me in the video review. He didn't get specific, but it was enough to piss me off... a lot. So if you want the story to be 100% fresh when you play, DO NOT watch the Gamespot video review.

Professor S · 11-07-2004, 03:32 PM

UPDATE:

Added Gamespy's review to the main post.

Bube · 11-07-2004, 03:33 PM

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Originally Posted by GameMaster

IGN's 9.8 rating is the highest it's ever given any game! OMFG.

IGN gave Advance Wars a 9.9, and they have awarded full 10s as well (Pokemon R/B and some Zelda games I think).

But if you're talking XBox, then I wouldn't know anything...

bobcat · 11-07-2004, 03:48 PM

When is it coming out?

I've preordered mine.

Dyne · 11-07-2004, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bube

IGN gave Advance Wars a 9.9, and they have awarded full 10s as well (Pokemon R/B and some Zelda games I think).

But if you're talking XBox, then I wouldn't know anything...

And Metroid Prime got a 9.8 too. Maybe he was just referring to IGNXbox.

Fox 6 · 11-07-2004, 05:22 PM

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Originally Posted by bobcat

When is it coming out?

November 9th. Cant wait........

Professor S · 11-07-2004, 06:03 PM

UPDATE: Added 1UP.com review to main post.

DarkMaster · 11-07-2004, 07:57 PM

Why the hell do GameSpot's reviews ALWAYS have the lowest scores? Are they trying to be different or something?

Bond · 11-07-2004, 08:13 PM

Yes. Haven't you figured it out yet?

DarkMaster · 11-07-2004, 08:24 PM

Well anyway...

US OXM - 9.7
AUS OXM - 10
UK OXM - 10
Gamepro - 10
1up - 10
Gamespy - 10
Gamespot - 9.4
IGN - 9.8
TeamXBOX - 9.9
EGM - 10
XBN - 10
GI - 10
TechTV - 10

Overall - 99.1%

GiMpY-wAnNaBe · 11-07-2004, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkMaster

Well anyway...

US OXM - 9.7
AUS OXM - 10
UK OXM - 10
Gamepro - 10
1up - 10
Gamespy - 10
Gamespot - 9.4
IGN - 9.8
TeamXBOX - 9.9
EGM - 10
XBN - 10
GI - 10
TechTV - 10

Overall - 99.1%

based on the results i'd gather that its quite a good game, yes?

Professor S · 11-07-2004, 11:25 PM

Those scores are insane. I've never seen a game get this kind of response from the gaming mass media.

As for Gamespot, its Greg Kasavin. He's a over critical moron who who tries to pad his receding ego (much like his hair) by making sure he gives the lowest score to highly anticipated games. Now 9.4 is not a bad score by any means, but he made sure his score was at least a few points lower than everyone else's. Its a pattern he has and seems to encourage in those that he works with at Gamespot. For some reason they believe that giving lower scores 99% of the time makes their opinion more valid or makes them a superior gaming site (and its not just Xbox bias either).

His reviews tend to be useless, also. Read the Halo 2 Gamespot review. Its pointless, all critical and the video review even spoils a very important plot twist. Basically his reviews of good games spend the whole time pointing out every miniscule flaw imaginable... and then he gives it a good score with the ending note of "its still a great game!" I don't see how reviews like that are supposed to help me decide whether or not to purchase a game.

Surprisingly, the most helpful and thorough review I've seen so far is from IGN. Its really an excellent review which gives you a good idea of what the game is like WITHOUT SPOILING THE STORY. I also find Gamespots assertion that the story is bad to be suspect as every other site raves about it. I guess I'll have to wait till Tuesday to really find out

In closing: Kasavin sucks, IGN actually had a really good review and I'm about to throw a brick through the window of my local EB to get my game under the cover of darkness.