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 | Halo 2 Xbox Bungee  It is quite late in the piece to do a review of 'Halo 2', yet in some ways I believe that extended play testing makes for a sharper and more defined insight into Bungee's sequel to the much-lauded original. It is inevitable that most first person shooters sport features that are almost unavoidable in such games (similar combat systems of targeting and weapon management, level design based around restricting freedom whilst retaining player interest). These common features make it necessary to spend more time with a franchise in order to discover its true personality atop the mass of other FPS games that surface so regularly. 'Halo 2' unsurprisingly sticks to the mould of the original, with incidental improvements that make it a much deeper and immersive experience, yet I was still left with a distinct feeling of missing something. It's possibly a by product of inflated product hype, yet the continual ritual of hunt for ammo and suitable weapons, then look for exit point that triggers next wave of baddies, then watch cinematic cut-scene to progress to new backdrop that inhibits total boredom via the use of varied plot twists, ultimately makes for a limited experience. A cynical viewpoint perhaps, yet that was the only notion that so vividly sprung to mind whilst playing, a close second being the feeling that a franchise such as Halo isn't a million miles away from the tried and tested 'Operation Wolf' style play of being bullied into a game path, and in the cinematic-meantime all the player can do is shoot as much stuff as possible, wishing they could venture off into the cinematic cut scene wilderness. 'Halo 2' however, does have a whole host of very, very good points. How often does a first person shooter have a dynamic and highly polished musical score that does away with awkward loop points and dreary incidental music? Clunky artificial intelligence routines can be the death of an otherwise stellar production and thankfully 'Halo''s A.I has been boosted sufficiently that there are no apparent 'safe' places in the 'Halo' universe. Additional features include the ability to drive enemy vehicles, wielding and using two weapons at once, the adoption of a more dynamic player health system, and weapon sharing in single player mode. The set pieces that break up the run of the mill warfare are quite breathtaking, and are sure to satisfy any G.I Joe-on-steroids cravings that remain from early childhood. Cut scene sequences are complex to the point that the surface detail on characters can't keep up, with bump mapping detail vanishing and appearing at random. However the remainder of the game is pretty neat looking in general, with only one gripe in that it all looks a little too metallic and buffed due to the surface effects that are now so popular with recent Xbox games ('Chronicles Of Riddick' etc). The modern concept of a sequel is basically to make v1.1 of the original, rather than expansion or progression, and 'Halo 2' is no exception to this rule. Not so much a logical progression from, but a welcome revisiting to the Halo universe, 'Halo 2' is a game to be experienced much more than enjoyed.  | |
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