Official HALO 2: Discussion Thread (No Spoilers) - Page 3

Another great time, gents.

Someone must have shot Bukake Bob when they were a team members, but I got a good laugh when someone said, "Sorry Bukake."

I am having a ball with Halo 2 - much better of a game experience than say Doom 3 (just IMO); this game was really made with 16:9 TVs in mind....I do feel a bit claustrophobic on the standard set I have, especially with the dual wield action.

Yeah, dual-wielding certain weapons can take up a lot of screen real estate, even on a big screen. Like an idiot, though, I was avoiding dual-wielding online today because I wasn't sure if it was thought of as just a gimmick or what - that, and I like grenades.

Hope some of you will be back later tonight. I can honestly say I did not expect Halo 2 multiplayer to be this much fun.

I'm 2-0 on Head to head battles, first oine the guy complained I kept using a energy sword so I put it away and straight up shotgunned his ass.

Phoned around and EB said theyd get more copies to exchange ine with tommorow and I can check out otehr EBs and exchane there.

But it's fucking cold here so i'll wait till tommorow, and slapping a plasma grenade on Chud buddies is fun.

We should round up and play a Clan match against some clans.

Day 2: Bungies website no longer accurately lists the number of friends I have playing online, Dang.

Bungie: 0 Friends
Dashboard: 15 friends

I really need to practice my dual wielding...I keep getting owned by people with two SMGs. although a charged energy pistol burst and an smg is friggin aces.


Ninjanaut is better the second time you play...a little easier to get going.

and man do I love that sword.

i am going live in about 30 minutes.

Meet the Booty Baron for some Chewer Killin

The game itself is figging amazing, Campaign mode is the sexiest thing i have ever seen and maybe the most fun. However, in Multiplayer, there is NO skill required, all you need to do is run straight at somebody with two guns and they're fucked, the sniping is nothing like Halo, and why the FUCK does falling not hurt you? And why do you have no health? it's stupid, bungie designed it for nubes, and they succeeded, assholes.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I can run at someone with two guns all day while they take me with a pistol. It's all about aiming and controlled bursts.


If you get good at sniping, you can hit guys with one shot anywhere, anyway. It works wonders against tank and Jeep drivers.


Falling? Endless Pits?

You have health. It's just not blocked out like in Halo 1.



What's your gamer tag so I can put you on my ignore list?

See, you should've stopped right there before you plunged into the abyss and unleashed the wrong.

Right, and I wasn't getting the fuck blasted out of me by the guy with the shotgun/carbine/battle rifle because they could aim. Uh-huh, sure.

Right, because it's not easy anymore. If you tank the headshot, you might have fucked yourself. Sounds far to me.

Because you're a cyborg badass who can fall several thousand feet and live. Getting wounded and being halted in your path don't fit the bill.

To eliminate a useless pickup, that's why.

Speaking of which, what's with the whole bastardization of "newbies" here? "Bungie didn't include health becase it's for stoopid nubes. Grrrrr....my life is ruined....blah blah blah..."

It gets tired after awhile.

In other news, it was great playing against you guys this afternoon. I look forward to being the mute bastard in the party again tomorrow.

One of my favorite little details is the sound a ghost makes right when its core pops and it blows up for good. It's almost like a little guitar riff. Sweet...

Hell yes. I love hearing that twang right beside you and crapping your pants as a thermonuclear ghost shell comes skipping towards you.

And the removal of the health bar was the best thing Bungie ever did. It *totally* changes the focus of multiplayer from defensive to offensive. It means that people with enough skill can theoretically survive an entire match without ever hunting for damn medpacks, and it means that every confrontation is always perfectly balanced. Plus, it just makes everything faster. Such a good idea.

This is a hilarious quote...

Being a fairly new player or "n00bie" to those uber-geeks I enjoy the way the game plays. Not to mention most of the multi-player vets seem pretty happy with the set-up. And as someone who has taken the plunge on Ascension to my murky death I can say.... falling hurts! (it subtracts one kill from my minimal amount damnit)

I also enjoy being able to take a leap from the top of a building and keep running. I am supposed to be an interstellar ass-kicker right? If you want realism check out a WWII or Vietnam game, you aren't wearing a interstellar ass-kicking spacesuit in those...

On the subject of duel-wield I read in a couple of publications yesterday that the key to duel-wield (especially with SMG's) is to alternate your trigger key with a series of quick fires. Thus eliminating the kickback the gun delivers (can you say game physics?)

Oh and the vehicle aspects rocks (well the Wraith is okay...) but damn the Warthog physics are awesome. And sometimes you have a machine gun Hog and sometimes you have a rocket Hog... We had a scenario yesterday in one game with two Hog's barreling down on the other base for a flag run and it was just bad ass looking...

See you all tonight... I'll be the one you just killed (but I have white armor so you can think you killed Slater. Maybe it is time to change colors..)

Oh and a some clan matches would be sweet. I'm not great at Slayer but I have had good luck at CTF..

Heretic 2

Thanks for the response. I actually have been playing Halo 2 on Heroic, as Normal was waaaaay too easy. Though I do enjoy multiplayer, the campaign mode is what I was most looking forward to playing. I loved the story of the first (despite a few borrowed concepts), but this story is turning out to be pretty weird. It feels like Bungie has fallen into the Wachowski Matrix sequels syndrome (Prophecy! Spiritual Undertones!) and after a few levels last night, I definately feel like Bungie picked up a few too many map ideas from "Brute Force". The huge but claustrophibic environments are, while gorgeous, disappointing in that there's an obstacle everywhere-- limiting you to a somewhat linear gameplay experience.

But, looks like it's just me. I still haven't finished the game, so I'm holding out for things to make sense and tie together. As per the whole "Earth will never be the same" Chief fighting off the invasion, so far that's a load of crap. Multiplayer, however, from what I've played, is pretty sweet.

I noticed Nick (and a few others) had trouble with the Vertical split screen on HD. Any way to avoid that and get back to horizontal without switching from 4:3 in your XBOX?

Because I'm in that one weird pocket of town that doesn't get broadband, I have been playing single player mostly exclusively, and I really like the story this time.

Is there anyway to set the split screen in coop mode to be side by side rather than bottom/top? I looked all over but couldn't find anyway to do it.

Maybe somebody's asked already but what's on the limited edition of Halo 2? Is it worth buying in that edition?

Well, my local Walmart has this version for the same price...maybe just the morons at my location, but for the normal five extra bucks you get a second (making of) disc, as well as a Covenant styled book that apparently is not in the 'standard' version. Hell, the badass case was worth the $5 to me.

Ok, just finished Halo (didn't see the end coming - which is not a good thing) and I did enjoy the hell out of it, but I have one major question....where the heck was the incredible city level as seen in the Sept issue of the OXBOX Mag (disk 22)...in that, you saw tons of injured Marine trying to stop the Covenant in this awsome city type leve that had almost a freeway feel to it...as good as Halo 2 was, I kept waiting for that level, and when it did not come, I have to say, I am kinda pissed (but more puzzled)...did they cut that out? If so, why?


That demo had me on the edge of my seat in a way I did not quite get with the actual product.

I've wondered the same thing. What was that E3 Game demo all about? The whole thing about the Covenant invading Earth and stuff was a total ruse. Am really digging the last levels, but that juke has me a little chapped.

Slater, got a message from you late last night (and Darth Chocula the other night), sorry I haven't been able to jump into CHUD games yet, I haven't been able to stay on for too long and don't want to ditch early. I do hope to get my ass handed to me by youse guys soon. I've somehow managed to reach level 3, but I'm pretty sure you can get to 3 just by, say, not eating the controller.

I was watching through the dvd that came with the collector's edition and apparently that was just a demo to show off some of the new gameplay and ideas. It wasn't a build of an actual level from the game and seemed to be for E3 purposes only. It was met with much joy but Bungie was somewhat dismayed at the end of it all because they realized how far they still need to go to get the ACTUAL game done... maybe that's some reason for some of the delays. A lot of the stuff from the demo made it to the game, but the context is different. The story has a different focus.

So am I the only slobbering fanboy who bought the soundtrack as well?

It's pretty great. I'm listening to the Mjolner mix of the main theme as I type this, and I feel like grabbing something sharp and bumrushing my coworkers until my reticle turns red.

I didn't buy the soundtrack, but I'm very impressed with the in-game music, I must say.

And wipe off your chin already.

Y' know, there's a joke in there about certain trades legal only in Nevada, but I'm too busy/lazy to find it.

I'm digging the music as well, but I've yet to snag the disc.

The real question Slater, is how much of a fanboy are you? Are you listening to your CD while reading the strategy guide?

Fresh off the AP: Master Chief" entered the record books close behind the former Commander-in-Chief this week, as book publisher Random House said first-day sales of the strategy guide for video game "Halo 2" were its biggest since the launch of Bill Clinton's book "My Life."

"The Official Halo 2 Guide" sold 270,000 copies on Tuesday, the same day the game launched with retail sales of more than $125 million, or more than 2 million units.

For the rest of the story: Click here

That's because the stores were pimping that shit out. I think I got pitched to at least 15 times before I finally got my copy of Halo 2.

Strategy guides are for pussies.

That "Art of Halo 2" book looked mighty sweet, though....

In theory the "Art of Halo 2" book could break records if see you see how many SE were sold compared to regular versions. Anyone seen those figures? While I know the regular sold more, I'm curious as to how many people coughed up the extra $5.00 for a shiny metal case (I know of one - I say while looking in the mirror..LOL)

I really enjoyed the music while playing the game so I'm thinking of stopping in to try and buy the soundtrack later today on my way to my fiances place, and I'm enough of a geek about it to rip the soundtrack to my Xbox and use it in other games... say, Burnout 3, or even Outlaw Golf 2. In fact, I'm looking forward to it.

Got Halo 2 and XBOX Live for my birthday this weekend. Look forward to starting it up tomorrow when I get back to school. Look out Live, here I come!

I was playing some split screen multiplayer with my fiances' brother over the weekend and the biggest rush I've had yet is taking him out while dual wielding magnums, John Woo style, left right left right BLAM BLAM BLAM! I've always hada thing for pistols in FPS games ever since Goldeneye for the N64. Scope or no scope, I love the magnums and squeezing off a single round with every press of the trigger.

This game is SO much better on Heroic difficulty. The difference is insane.

On Normal, I bumrushed the scarab and blasted my way through its innards in about ninety seconds. Cool, but nothing memorable. On Heroic, the battle was something right out of Starship Troopers. Sprinting along the walkway parralel to the Scarab, firing rockets as fast as I could load them, dodging enough plasma bolts to turn the sky green, making a last-second lunge out into space to catch the tail end of the Scarab...I wish this game had instant replay. And I wish I had played on this difficulty mode to start with.

For people bitching about repetative and simplistic battles, bump the difficulty up a notch. It completely changes the game.

Let me ask this (and since I typed that, I think I will.... LOL) Anyway, I haven't touched the single player campaign yet and I am about to on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (attempting to pull an all-nighter and beat the game in one sitting). My younger brother and I beat the first Halo together on co-op and he has been dying to get his hands on Halo 2 (but since he is a poor college student and can't "afford" an XBOX - but I understand, in college you need beer money, plus when I was in college we had Tecmo Bowl tournaments -Tecmo Bo Rules! - so it wasn't as expensive and now I am bitter 30 year old divorcee - damn thought filter, I thought I turned that thing on..) I told him I'd wait to play it with him, but not past next week (I must play it sometime). Plus I've been staying away from spoilers so I can soak in as much as possible.

Okay all that to get to my original question.... If playing it for the first time (and it will be co-op) should I go Normal or Heroic? I am thinking Heroic because I really don't want to blow right through the game, I want to become engulfed in all things Halo..

Depends on your skill levels. Did you guys play the original Halo's co-op on Normal or Heroic?

If you're an expereienced Halo player, Normal probably won't give you much trouble on single player, and it would be a breeze on co-op. If you want to blow through the game in a day, do Normal. If you want the best gaming experience and you can handle the chaos, go straight to Heroic.

I'm leaning towards Heroic (I beat the first one on both Normal (co-op) and Heroic (alone) but after that new games caught my intrest and I never really went back (and never got to enjoy and LAN battles.. so sad!)

Well, you can always start on Heroic and then drop the difficulty if you and your brother run into trouble.

But the game's a lot more fun on Heroic. I'd start there.

Slater, have you read the article on ign about the difference between the difficulty settings? It's a pretty decent short article talking about how each successive increase in difficulty is substanially better. Just wait until you start playing on Legendary. Here's the article

Heroic is definitely preferable over Normal, but if you are planning on beating the game in one night you may not be able to do it in one night especially if you haven't played through it yet. My roommate and I have been playing co-op on Heroic and it's been taking a long time. We keep getting lost and not knowing what you are supposed to do. I'd suggest following Slater's advice. Beat the first level on Heroic then you can go to Normal if you feel the need.

Yeah, I tried Legendary and promptly got schooled. It'll be awesome once I have the maps memorized a little better, but it's just too painful at the moment. Nothing like getting murdered by the very first wave of enemies, huh?

I spent most of my time in the original playing on Heroic, just because it was the best balance between challenge and fun. I've got a feeling the sequel will be the same way.

I look forward to finally playing this on Christmas.

What if I was a bitch who did fine with Easy but gets routinely crushed on Normal difficulty by the time "Truth and Reconciliation" rolls around? Will Normal on HALO 2 be okay for me?

Normal is a little tougher this time around, but it's nothing daunting. For chrissakes, don't play it on Easy.

Fuck that. Go straight to Heroic and then Legendary. It will get you prepared for an eventual ass kicking online.

I was getting creamed on normal so I had to drop to easy. I'll probably just attempt the last level on Normal or Heroic to unlock Foundation.

Yes, I do suck. I've cheated my way on God mode through every PC FPS I've ever played. I'm more interested in enjoying the journey and the story than in spending hours replaying the same level due to my lack of skill.

I enjoy online play far more than single play in general though. I've never beaten Half-life, for example.

Did you get hung up at any part on heroic? Only asking to see where my skill level is at compared with the multi-player people. I'm about halfway through the second to last level, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't tough getting there. I actually needed the stealth camo on a few parts, as opposed to normal where I usually forgot I even had it.

Oh yeah. Extremely tough, I thought. (As opposed to Normal, where I only died once or twice.) But unlike Legendary mode, Heroic at least felt *fair.* Like Ninja Gaiden, if I got killed it was because I fucked up, not because of random difficulty spikes. I like that.

Legendary mode is just annoying. Heroic is the only way to play.

Legendary would be a beautiful thing if not for the snipers. I don't mind dying in the same place ten times in a row because I haven't yet worked out a solid strategy, but those... fucking... one-hit... jackals...