Halo Review and ALL features

[Crash]

Negative Impressions

You didn't think I'd be all positive did you? There are some things about the game that I didn't quite care for.

1) While the game is not repetitive at all (at least not to the degree of the first game) you do find yourself in similar scenarios. The battles are quite scripted, meaning you'll get in one spot and be held their until you've killed off two or three waves of various enemies. This isn't really repetitive but it can be annoying.

2) The open-ended game play can be problematic to some degree. There were several similar looking spots in the game, or simply just large areas where there was no indication what to do next. I had to wait for Cortana to say something and an arrow appear to my next objective. This frustrated some of the pacing, but was rare and only in two or three of the levels for small periods of time.

3) The Flood were back and I can't say I liked it. They're tougher this time around and more annoying. I just don't care for them so perhaps its a personal opinion, but they really don't entertain me during a fight. Their AI isn't particularly exciting, but they can drive vehicles and man turrets.

4) The music is great save for one spot where they actually play Breaking Benjamin's song without vocals. Its salvagable because there are no lyrics, had there been this would have been a serious flaw. I like guitars and heavy music, but I don't like contemporary new metal riffs and I don't think it fits well with Halo's amazing aural qualities.

5) I wanted more ODST action to. There was only one small section where the fabled "Helljumpers" were incorporated and despite their smart ass comments, they were infinitely more effective then the standard issue, now reckless, Marines (yeah, apparently improved ally AI means completely irresponsible but can drive).

6) One thing which isn't really an issue, but it did bother me is that the Covenant speak human languages. This wasn't in the first game. The Grunts squealed in English because of a communication system described in Halo: The Fall Of Reach, but the other Covenant had no communication. This was destroyed apparently in Halo: The Flood despite not being in the game, and although I realize I have to suspend my disbelief for obvious reasons at the very last levels (in other words there is a definite need for communication between humans and Covenant), its still a tad ugly to me.

7) One final negative element is actually the size of the level. The developer did a good job of planting as many vehicles in certain locations as possible. The size of the levels is so huge that if you don't get a vehicle you'll be on foot for quite a while, walking (not shooting) from one point to the next. This again halts proper pacing and is quite detrimental to the enjoyment of the large levels. Fortunately, there are many vehicles and with boarding as a gameplay element it does save the game quite a bit.

Positive Impressions

1) The multiplayer is flawless first and foremost. I've played all sorts of multiplayer shooters on all platforms and none come close to this in terms of sincere gameplay. I have also played on XBC as previously discussed here and I had no lag problems despite it being system link and being tunnelled from my Xbox to another's. Live will no doubt be perfect if this is true, void of any real lag issues that are inherent in most online games.

2) The weapons and vehicles are great in their own regards and I don't feel as though I would add or take away from them, the fun they illicit is unparalleled on the Xbox.

3) The campaign story is far better than I expected and for the most part it was solid and open-ended unlike the first game's extremely precise and narrow-minded approach. The characters, both good and bad are alive and real as well as sincere. They are real beings, very convincing with their own personalities and vices and it is accurately displayed in in-game dialogue as well as the cut scenes.

4) The music was powerful, and save for the one aforementioned negative quality it was brilliant. In the level called "The Arbiter" while flying some Banshees around the facility the screaming guitars really set the pace for the action, its quite exhilirating. I especially enjoyed the use of guitars during the theme as the theme is played in several variations throughout the game when something notable is discovered or revealed. Quite cool since Halo's main motif is about discovery, both the Covenant's of Forerunner artifacts and the accidental discovery of the original construct in the first game.

5) One of the amazing elements of the campaigns are just the missions. At one point you're attacking a Scarab from a bridge and in another scene your escorting one with a Banshee. The sheer amount of warfare that goes on over land, sea, in mountains and temples, even returning to the familiary chambers of the Library (trust me its not that bad), there's a ton of treking to do and a lot of vehicles and paths to take. It adds to this beautiful tapestry of survival and warefare. It takes the best elements of the original game and gives it speed and grace like nothing I've ever seen,

6) I was at first thrown off with some obvious "boss matches" to end a level, specifically the final level, but realistically it did work well within the context of the story and I enjoyed the fights, particularly in cooperative mode.

Overall this is honestly the best game I've played in a long time. My favorite game used to be Mario Kart for the SNES and then Link To The Past for the same, but Halo 2 has literally ripped that to shreds. Despite any downfalls this game is a shining joy ride of fun and excitement from start to stop, with an unbelievable story that will continue well into the next game and a multiplayer system which is unrivaled in my opinion. I wouldn't have your hopes soar because obviously its going to be a different experience for every player, but I can't see disappointment as an option. My friend described the game today in one word: Whirlwind. I think its fitting and precise. Its something that will be discussed and played many years from now, Bungie has made a legend in my opinion.