Official HALO 2: Discussion Thread (No Spoilers)

Cool.

All I want is more Halo, I don't need my perception of what a video game is radically altered.

I do have to questions.

1) Is the single player mode really as quick (10 hours) as I have been hearing?

2) How did you feel about the end. I have heard it is a love or hate it kinda thing.

I've played through the single player campaign, and I must say that even though it is rather short, it never gets old and repetitive like the campaign in Halo 1. There is tons of variety on display, and every level has its fair share of incredible action set pieces. In short, there is nothing that even approaches the Library level in the first game.

And as far as the ending? It is abrupt, but it is appropriate for the story. I liked it, even though my first response was certainly a confused one.


I think that the hype that has enveloped the game might cause some people to be dissapointed, just like with any hyped up piece of entertainment. Its too bad, because the game is as close to perfect as any console shooter that I have played.

From the 60 second TV ad:

Bring it on?

I've decided to go to GameStop to pick up my copy at midnight. It's really crazy around here. I was at the store earlier today, and a line had already formed (the first guy got there at 3). Gaming and electronics are huge around me. too. I have a total of 5 EBs or GameStops withing 4 miles of my house. Each place is having a massive event tonight, and I also know Best Buy and Toys R Us is opening, too.

I still can't believe how big video games have gotten.

Have it reserved at the Gamestop literally down the block in our quiet Park Slope neighborhood.. checked around 11 and there were maybe a dozen people there, cool. At midnight my roommate and I decided to go scoop it up. Except now there were at least 75 people. I'm looking forward to playing it, but not that much. Tomorrow. Sleep now.

Just got back from Electronic's Boutique after waiting for 45 minutes. The line went from about 20 to 400 in 5 minutes. Happy I have my (extremely bulky) copy of the Limited Edition hot and ready to go tomorrow after some sleep.

Have fun people.

Got it, number 34 in a line of 200 at our tiny EB Games. Starting it up now...

There were literally 400 people in line at my Gamestop in Dallas tonight. I turned right around, went home and will be back in the morning.

Insane.

So far, it's everything I was hoping for.

Wuv.

What a rush. An absolute blast to play.

Impressive network code. Midnight release and thousands of fanboys are rushing to jump online, XBox Live was rock solid. And 16 player King of the Hill fragfest was practically lag free. Just incredible.

Waited an hour and a half (never doing this for a game again). So my friend and I play a quick game o' slayer. One problem: Vertical split screen. We were too tired/lazy to look for a horizontal option. Hopefully we'll find one tomorrow. Either that or it's mandatory for people with widescreen monitors to play with narrow split screen when only two are in a game.

I also waited in line for an hour and a half, but it was worth it to get a few games in. I fear that the internet connection here is going to kill me though, I fuckin logged the slowest connection every game. Whatever, it's everything we could've wanted so far.

Picked it up last night without any trouble from my local GameRush where I'd had it preordered since June. Was in and out in less than 10 mins. What else to say except it lives up to and exceeded my expectations thus far. The single player campaign is sweet so far....although I'm not far into it.

The LIVE play is absolutely UNPARALLED. This game is THE model for all live games. It feels just like you're playing with some buddies over your house....I played like 5 games on LIVE...all completely LAG FREE. It's just amazing they pulled it off without a hitch....especially on the first night on LIVE which is usually when there are server hic-ups and lag. There was none here.

The stat tracking at Bungie.net is outstanding as well...I've been looking over the maps I played on and it shows me where I died as well as where I killed folks. Those CHUD HALO1 LAN parties at Nick's served me well...as I did pretty well in the games I played last night....top dog in a couple of them..... And the LIVE play feels just as fast and fluid as those LAN parties. GREAT STUFF !!!

Bought it at Target this morning and received the gigantic hintbook with it for free. Won't be using the hintbook but its still nice to have it. When you pay 50 dollars for a game that has 10 to 15 hours of gameplay you want to get all that you can out of it.

So far, this game owns. Time to put the Gamecube back in the closet. Halo 2 has finally arrived.

Did the midnight thing here. After smelling smoke from a thousand nerds trying to be cool, I got my copy and promptly hauled ass home and played co-op with my buddy till 3 in the morning.

Put me firmly in the group of people that won't ever do the wait in line thing for a game.


Ohh, Halo 2 OWNS you.

Just picked it up at a local EB. Walked in, and walked out. So much better than waiting in line last night.

Anyways, I'll be useless for a while now...

Just called my Gamestop, they have plenty of copies, so I'm gonna pick out some trade-ins and go pick this bastard up.

had it reserved, once midnight hit i was in and out in 40 minutes, although i did show up around 11 to get in the "VIP" line.

Anyway, the campaign mode sucked me in even though I told myself I wouldn't let it. It is a totally different feel as of right now. The level down on earth is a really exciting mix of halo play and this sort of awesome urban combat feel. I was really really digging it. I can't explain it, but it felt very visceral and awesome.

And yes, LIVE was SOLID. It took a minute or two to for live to find a game, but once I did (i was only put in 8 player matches) it was super solid, only one hint of slowdown I believe we were host switching because someone dropped. But it was very smooth. I was impressed. But I suck man...I need to figure out what sensitivity is good for me again...7 is not the same 7 from halo 1 at least thats my feel.

I love this game! Dual wielding is the SHIT. I tried to get online, but I was waiting for like 5 minutes for it to find me a game to join, so I just started the single player mode for now. I'll try the LIVE thing again later today. Can't wait to try it out.

Slater, Evlar, etc...

Sorry I had to bail early last night. My newborn was crying, and I was on duty. I can't wait to play more with you guys, though.

Just got home with my copy.. (had to call off sick and everything)

Gonna fire it up within minutes...

For events like this, part of the fun of making the line is sharing the communal experience among like-minded geeks. I met a few local gamers when I went to Gamestop last night, and exchanged numbers with a guy that regularly runs 16 player Halo parties in his house.

Funny story. I drove by the corner Gamestop at around 11pm while running an errand for my wife, and there were about 20 people waiting outside. I drive home to watch MNF while taking care of the baby, and at 11:55, I kiss my wife goodbye, and swing by to Gamestop to try to snag a copy. I had previously pre-ordered it, but I ended up using that credit for another game. Anyways, I was greeted by a horde of about 200 people. About 70% were in the "fully prepaid" line, while the rest of us were lined up seperately. I thought about driving a few miles down to my local Wal-Mart (which has a FLAWLESS track record with midnight openings), but I decided to support my neighborhood gaming store instead.

After 40+ minutes of chatting with the local gamers, I make it into the store, where I'm told that store policy barred me from getting a copy of the game, since I didn't have it pre-ordered. Aside from my history of buying games there, I explained that I had used the credit on another game. They said they couldn't sell me a copy for the midnight release, but that I could buy it first thing in the morning.

My newly found friends fought in my defense, but to no avail. Hey, at least they tried to help, and warned me that even if I went to Wal-Mart, my chances of finding the game ANYWHERE were slim.

Since my fanboy juices were flowing, I drove over to Wal-Mart and walked the half-mile or so to the electronics section. It was completely, totally empty. I went up to this lady behind the register and stammered,

"Hi, there's this game that came out today, and I was wondering who I can talk to, to see if I can buy it tonight."

The lady gives me a blank, deer-in-the-headlights stare. I then remembered that I live in Hialeah and said, "Si señora, hay un juego de Xbox que salio hoy y queria saber si ustedes lo tenian disponible para poder comprarlo ahora."

Her response: "Álo tu?" That's exactly how she pronounced it since in Spanish, the letter "h" is silent.

She reached down under the counter, where she had a box filled with copies of both versions, and asks me which one I want. I pick the Collectors Edition, and mention that even though it's a couple of dollars more, it's worth it to me. She gave me another weird look and replied, "No, actually they're both the same price, $49.88"

Yup, after wasting my time with the assholes at my local Gamestop, I walked in and out of Walmart with Halo 2, AND I snagged the Collectors Edition for a few bucks less. Hey, I really tried avoiding the Evil Empire, but once again, they really kicked ass last night.

Wow. I have no idea where this storyline is going, but it's incredilby entertaining so far. I wish I could geek out about one particular set piece that's just the coolest thing ever, but I don't want to risk spoiling it.

This game is greatness.

The local EB Games was signing up for a tourney. I've never done such a thing so I signed up. It shall be amusing.

Wow.

Halo 2 sales

Bill Gates, please enjoy the moment, because this is the only thing MS is selling nowadays:

Greatness.

Anyone else getting "cannot load map errors" when trying to get into a muliplayer game? I played all last night and just played three or four games now. All of a sudden, it won't let me on.

I couldn't believe how many people were out at the 12Am release last night. Probably a couple hundred at the Gamestop with me, another hundred or so across the street at Best Buy and Hastings looked to be packed as well. I had a drunk high school kid behind me letting everyone in front of him in line know they could suck his dick, and a 50ish college prof in front of me that thought he was hilarious.

I sure suck with the sword. I make up for it with my God like vehicle jacking abilities. Amazing game, I actually find myself wishing the action would slow a bit on occasion so I could take a look at the scenery more often. The sky and all the shit you can see in the distance is just awesome.

I was a little pissed to find that the guy who said the discs were just stacked on top of each other was right, that was a poor packaging decision.

Man, when you do the city urban Scarab thing, you feel like a frigging GOD.

It's awesome.

I pre-paid mine, but I slept rather than got in line, then I popped into Gamestop at 10:00 AM in the morning, and my HALO 2 was already pre-rung up (apparently they rang up all the pre-paid HALO 2 sales before you got there) so all I had to do was show my ID and in 2 seconds I was handed the Collector's Edition HALO 2 box. In at 10:00, out at 10:01.

Right now, my eyes hurt because I'm afraid to blink.

Is sitting on my desk. Unopened.

I'm keeping it unopened until 5 PM, when I'm letting the boys have it. Its fun because they keep trying to steal it. I sucked at Halo - I think its a console control thing, so I'm interested to see if I'll like it.

Last night my roomie and I had to restart several missions just goofing off and checking out shit. Eye Crack is what Halo 2 is.

I'll be on a lot after 8:30pm EST.. looking for some games..

Wayward 1


Ohh and I'll be on until about 4:00pm EST..

I haven't even touched the single player mission and I am having trouble with the Live because all I want to do is explore... Gotta love it..

So I just stepped out of the office and walked over to EB Electronics at the mall across the street....and the line was out the fucking door! Glad to see, though, that I wasn't the only one wearing a suit. Really amazing to see the mixed bag of people waiting in that line. Believe it or not, there were actually chicks in line (though it would take a few beers IF you know what I mean).

I was going to crack it open first thing Saturday morning and sit with my son all day and just have a Halo 2 fest (sending my daughter and wife out shopping for the day). I don't think I'm going to be able to make it.

So, how did you get in front?

Whatever gets me closer to the door.

The folks at Unfiction translated the Covenant letter from the "Conversations from the Universe" booklet in the LE. Here's the translated text:

I didn't have to wait in line or anything. I pre-ordered my copy from the Best Buy I work at a couple of weeks ago, went in this morning at about 10:30, and had the game in my hands within 5 minutes. We had plenty of copies out on display, too. Must not be a lot of gamers shopping at that BBY.

This game is total crack. I'm already addicted to the online play. CTF was freakin' sweet. It's a total blast. I can't wait to get this clan stuff really going. I'm going to be up real late tonight with this baby. Can't wait to play some of you guys.

The last five hours have been pure, unadulterated joy. Even when I took a break for lunch, the joy continued as I feasted on tacos and mind wandered in bliss in the thought of playing this wonderful game.

I need to kill some of you fuckers tonight.

Live, anybody? I need a break from campaign mode before I beat this fucker in one sitting.

Just got this home. Gonna plug it in now. I'll be on Live later. Gotta go play.

Hey, if any of you gents see "Irish Jedi" on before 8:00PM EST tonight, please be kind. That would either be the wife or my 10 year old daughter playing.

Yes, they've caught the HALO bug as well.

I'm going to try out a friends copy before I commit, so we'll be on Live in about half an hour, hopefully.

Carl just set his wife and kid up to be massacred.

Everyone add my gamertag ("eyeball kid") so I can be a lazy bastard and I don't have to add all of you. Hope to see some of you on there later tonight, after 9:00 central, I imagine. I'll probably run through a few early levels of the campaign in co-op with my wife before hitting Live.

Can't...wait...
Must leave work "sick" in the next hour or so.

Holy geez this game is way too much fun. This has made the $100 I spent on XBL for two years totally worth it. I played online for about an hour and half and there wasn't a single bit of lag at all. This is how online play needs to be done. SCHWEET.

I just love how that line is delievered in that commercial, especially since it's a dual meaning phrase...

Anyone else see this?
http://www.xboxrules.com/newscomments.php?newsid=1068

Supposedly, it does indeed work with Halo2. Watch the movie that's linked on that site (it's Halo 1).

I have very mixed feelings, leaning to the negative, about this. I loathe playing FPS games with the joypad, but this seriously unbalances the playing field on Live.

My connection is so slow that I think it fucks up everyone else's game. Horseshit.