 |
I've had Halo 2 for the X-Box for a while now, and while the matchmaking had it's pros and cons, it was acceptable. Halo 2 Vista is a polished version of the original X-Box title. Introducing "Gaming for Windows Live" which is a Windows variant of X-Box Live, gamers are asked to either register a name or use their X-Box Live name via the Microsoft Passport system. (Entering the e-mail address you used when you signed up for X-Box Live) This is forced, you have to do this before entering the game. You can create a local profile but will only be able to do the Single Player campaign and LAN mode. Installation is a breeze, and if you choose, you can play the game while you install. That's about the only nice feature this game truly has though besides Achievements. The gameplay is typical Halo 2. The campaign is exactly like the X-Box version, so it will have a familiar feel in that aspect. Those blessed with a nice gaming rig with find it to be a pleasantly smooth experience. You can take your pick as far as connecting an X-Box 360 controller or using the mouse and keyboard combo. As an equalizer I suppose, the controller has a slight auto-aim, allowing for a more precision shot. There is no auto-aim with mouse and keyboard, however it wouldn't be necessary to implement one, since it's already pretty precise. Multiplayer has it's pros and cons. The gameplay is smooth, and the netcode is nice. Those who played Halo 1 PC used to have to lead their shots to actually hit the character. Halo 2 fixes that and now you can actually aim at the target. The majority of people use dedicated servers, so those used to X-Box lives matchmaking will feel lost and confused. There is no ranking system, just straight continuous game after game on dedicated servers. You can set it to join the next game, if you're worried that you'll join a game that's already lost. Honestly, I do like the game. I really do. However it's only good for achievements and multiplayer. The servers currently are not that populated, but I supposed that will change when Vista becomes the norm and the game drops in price. If you're happy with the X-Box version of the game, you may not want to jump ship quite just yet. Give it some time.Read full review
Great game! Significantly improved from the first one. The only issues I've had with this game thus far is the fact that it only works on Vista. I had to scour the internet for days to finally find a non-torrent download that allowed me to play the game on the XP. And there's no patch at all for Windows 7. Gameplay-wise, it's awesome. The plot is much more in-depth then the first game, and when used properly, the duel-wield mode is very enjoyable. My only complaints about the game it's self mostly invovle personal preference. Like, how the Warthogs are destroyable now. And how the main rifle from the old game is replaced. But again, personal preference. I would highly recomend this game to anyone into first person shooters who either has Vista, or is tech savvy enough to get the proper downloads.Read full review
This game is buggy. Badly buggy. You need to update it before you can play it proper and the update process can be buggy. For example, I got into an update loop that randomly fixed itself when I minimized the game while patching. Also, one needs to be able to go into their control panel graphics settings to force Vsync (and AF for prettiness) or else the game stutters and vertically tears and the mouse sensitivity disappears. After that though, I was all set. It looks prettier than the xbox one and with 60fps vsync everything is silky smooth. Theres even a small community that plays this on LIVE despite the fact that LIVE for the xbox h2 is gone. I ran this with windows 7 64 bit, a phenom II 965, and a geforce 460; which is definitely overkill.
I bought it for the famous title and I played Halo 1 before. The content is quite satisfying with the original idea of free play (you choose your guns and rides and sometime paths) intact and lots of added features like dual weld take allies weapons and more. My complaint is the ridiculusly high hardware requirements, considering it is just a remake of an xbox (P3 level processor) game. I also dislike its vista requirement. Microsoft is just asking for too much. Bottom line, if you have a very fast comp, get it. Otherwise you might spend less just getting an xbox 360 and a used Halo 2 for xbox.
The Good * Some of the best first-person shooter gameplay in the business * Outstanding multiplayer features--tons of fun modes and customization options * Incredible audio--music and sound effects both major highlights * Impressive artificial intelligence * Co-op mode tons of fun. The Bad * Disappointing story * Short campaign * Some unsightly graphical issues * No co-op online. Halo 2, the long-awaited sequel to one of the most widely praised, most influential first-person shooters ever created, has a very tough act to follow. Fortunately, it's built on a foundation that's as strong as they come. The game's success was preordained--publisher Microsoft tallied more than 1.5 million Halo 2 preorders in the weeks leading up to the game's release, which demonstrates just how confident Halo's fans are in the sequel's quality. But how is it, really? The good news is, the sequel to the Xbox's defining action game is an absolutely superb, fully featured game, boasting an excellent presentation, a highly replayable campaign, and the greatest, most complete online multiplayer component in a console shooter yet. A surprisingly disappointing story and a fairly short single-player portion are noticeable shortcomings, but there's just so much breadth of content in Halo 2, and the action itself is so outstanding, that there can be no denying its quality. Overall, it's one of the very best action games available. It's good to see you, Master Chief. There are several reasons why the original Halo ranks up there with a very small number of other first-person shooters as one of the definitive games in the genre. For one thing, Halo succeeded at establishing a cohesive, memorable, and original science-fiction universe. For another, the Master Chief, Halo's cybernetic protagonist, made a great hero. A fearless, enigmatic man, the Chief could succeed where pure flesh-and-blood humans could not, and guiding him to victory against the alien menace known as the Covenant, as well as the parasitic creatures called the Flood, made for a gripping story and an intense and satisfying gameplay experience. Halo's gameplay was amazing in that it seamlessly integrated top-notch first-person shooting with incredibly fun third-person vehicular sequences and outstanding friendly and enemy artificial intelligence. The game's subtle innovations--the tactical consequences of such things as having recharging energy shields, being able to carry only a couple of weapons at a time, the ability to throw powerful grenades in between shots, and the option of dishing out fierce melee attacks--also did a lot to differentiate Halo from other shooters, and proceeded to influence subsequent games. Halo's multiple, well-balanced difficulty settings, two-player cooperative campaign option, and assorted multiplayer modes also ensured that the game had tons of lasting appeal. All these factors contributed to the game's well-deserved success, and they're all back in Halo 2. For the most part, the sequel takes an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to its gameplay--everything that you loved about Halo's action is back in full effect here. At the same time, the handful of new additions in Halo 2 are well thought out and well implemented, enriching the gameplay and making it seem fresh but still familiar. Everything that you maybe didn't love about Halo is pretty much back, too. Overall Rating: 10 out of 10Read full review
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Video Games
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Video Games
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
