Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition manual
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The Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition manual was released as part of the Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition.
The manual is written as if it were a report made by the Covenant Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice to the Prophet of Truth, after the Battle of Installation 04. The following article is a transcription of the manual's text.
Sections of the manual[edit]
Safety Information[edit]
This is the safety information that tells you how to play games safely.
Report on the Atrocity at Halo[edit]
This section goes over a report that Thel 'Vadam made about his failure at Installation 04.
To Prophet of Truth Most high and honored Prophet: It is with the greatest shame that I lay myself before the judgment of the Council. I expect and will accept no mercy. My failure in this matter is absolute; I embrace my responsibility and await my punishment. The disgrace and blasphemy at Halo was an abomination caused by my incompetence and failure of judgment. Although the tales and rumors of the Demon have basis in fact, much of this talk is Unggoy superstition and exaggeration. Certainly the Demon, a Human, activated a catastrophic engine- failure sequence on the crashed Human vessel, but it was allowed to do so because of failures in security measures and tactics for which I bear full responsibility. I have no good news to relay, but the Human action was suicidal, either by accident or design. I believe none of them escaped the catastrophe. As ever, Jiralhanae accounts of the conflict are unreliable and their accounts of this Human's abilities and actions are absurd. No Human is capable of the things they gossip and chatter about. I suspect panic and excuse, as well as confusion caused by the spread of the parasite. The Human in question is certainly unusual, although not the creature it has been described as. It stands taller than most, is faster and more aggressive, but still irrevocably a Human animal, worthy of neither fear nor respect. It is merely an exception that proves the rule. As always, Humans remain beneath our contempt. Their failure at Reach compounds their defeat. We sense that their defenses are failing rapidly. I have gathered information on the Human's armor, abilities, and weapons, which follows this report. Perhaps more worrisome is the discovery and subsequent conflict with the parasite on Halo. This monstrosity festered, rotted, and waited on the Holy World, and although we cannot be sure, the Humans may have released it from its shackles. I do not presume to know the unknowable, but I suspect that the Forerunners meant this filth to stay imprisoned forever. The sacred grace of Halo was polluted before it was destroyed. I await my punishment with faith and honor. --Supreme Commander, Fleet of Particular Justice
Updated Intelligence on Human Weapons and Tactics[edit]
A report that tells of the Spartans and their role on Installation 04.
Most high and honored Council, according to records gleaned from the conflict and subsequent victory at ''Reach'' and the disaster at Halo, the Demon, this exceptional Human, is a class of warrior known as a "Spartan." These Spartans were most numerous on ''Reach'' and were more difficult to eradicate than the other Human troops. It appears that the Demon escaped from ''Reach''. These Spartans may be technologically-enhanced. They are certainly well-versed in armed and unarmed combat, and in many ways they fight more like Sangheili than Unggoy. And like the Sangheili, they are able to inspire discipline and tenacity among their weaker ranks. Their primitive weapons and vehicles rely almost exclusively on projectiles and explosive chemicals. As ancient as their technology seems, it has occasionally caught our troops off guard. Casualties caused by unprepared infantry are unacceptable. They should be better educated in Human tactics and technology. A comparison of these devices and our current weaponry follows.
Our Numbers Deployed on the Human World[edit]
This section shows the overview the Covenant did on Unggoy, Sangheili, Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e, Jiralhanae, Kig-yar, and San'Shyuum.
Council: The Human home world is a primitive mix of cluttered angular dwellings, open bodies of water, and some purposeless agricultural areas. It has little logic in layout or structure, and its warrens of slum and rock will make for challengingbattles. Our mission is such that we cannot simply level these structures, and so we shall deploy a wide range of general fighters and specialists to ensure our task is completed with speed, purpose, and accuracy.
Stout and numerous, the Unggoy long have been the lifeblood of our Covenant’s infantry. They will obey any order in the service of their duty and fight well with plasma pistol, turret, or in vehicles. Unggoy will as ever fight well with their comrades the Kig-yar, and obey the directives of the Sangheili.
Slight of build as they are, the Kig-yar remain a valuable fighting force. Excellent shots, and with their shields nearly invulnerable, the Kig-yar offer a great tactical advantage in ground combat. Faster and taller than the Unggoy, they complement each other very well.
The Lekgolo pairs are simply too large to be deployed in many circumstances on this cramped sewer of a world, and so they will be given specialized missions. We will station them at defensive points as we gain territory, and bring them in for heavy destruction. Their fuel rod guns and sheer ability to inspire fear will be invaluable.
Our iron heart—the ideal fighter for this mission. My brothers. The Sangheili will be deployed across every rank, from simple soldier to Elite Commander. They thirst for Human blood and vengeance for the atrocity at Halo, and their loyalty is unquestioned. Excellent infantrymen and superb commanders, the Sangheili are proficient with most weapons and vehicle systems.
The newest ally to join the embrace of our flock is a powerful fighter indeed. The Jiralhanae are endowed with prodigious physical strength, and their simian origin makes them ideal for missions in any environment. We shall deploy them against Humans in the same instances as the Sangheili, but we may also give the Jiralhanae some increased security responsibilities in this conflict.
Suited for flight and fighting in this planet’s gravity, the Yanme’e will be a valuable inclusion to our forces. The Humans are unused to fighting aerial infantry. The Yanme’e will use their ability to fly to gain ground and provide accurate cover fire for other troops.
Our guiding light and the directors of our purpose. They are father to the children of our Covenant, and they will lead us to truth and to perfection. The Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret will navigate us through the task that awaits us.
Controller[edit]
This section details how to play the game using an Xbox controller.
Sangheili Battle Suit[edit]
This section details info about the Sangheili armor HUD.
Sangheili armor features an upgraded HUD system tied directly to armor sensors and integrated fully with the suit.
The HUD is capable of cross-referencing temperature readings to track charge depletion status on all Covenant weapons. It also tracks the ammunition status of all Human weapons should they be used.
Sangheili armor can monitor the status of two weapons simultaneously. A left-wielded weapon and ammo display on the left of the HUD; right-hand or single-use weapons display on the far-right portion of the HUD. When a single weapon is wielded, status on your grenade types displays on the left side. Since a Sangheili warrior can keep a third weapon in reserve, this is also indicated on the right side.
Indicates relative whereabouts of allies and hostile combatants. Motion tracker is tuned to detect aggressive or obvious motion and cannot show location of stationary or slow-moving hostiles.
A bar above the motion tracker. Solid purple indicates optimal state.
These display below your reticle to provide valuable information.
Battle Tactics[edit]
This section is all about getting started in the game. You get told how to set up Xbox Live, use the main menu, and how to start Campaign.
Noble Tools of Conquest[edit]
The Covenant weapons part has several sentences about all known Covenant weapons such as the Energy Sword, Plasma Pistol, and Brute Shot.
Most Supreme Council: The Human environment is unique and as such, provides unique challenges to our infantry. We shall therefore deploy specialized weapon sets to cope with this mix of open-field and close-quarters fighting. The following weapons will be supplied to ground-based troops. Some of these weapons you can dual-wield, enabling you to use them simultaneously.
Core Power Output: 100-150 kV : 2-3 dA.
Standard-issue firearm of lesser Unggoy is still a flexible and useful tool, wielded correctly. Charged bursts of plasma decimate shielding, should the user hold trigger closed. Shorter bursts can be fired rapidly and repeatedly. Charge depletes in difficult battlefield situations. Once energy core has completely discharged, weapon is useless.
Rate of Fire: 420-600 rounds per minute.
Favored by Sangheili but available throughout military, Plasma Rifle makes excellent mid-range weapon. Powerful, light, and deadly in capable hands. Fires super-heated plasma bolts in automatic or semi-automatic fashion. Limited power supply is only weakness. Once energy core has completely discharged, weapon is useless.
Ammo Capacity: 30 rounds per magazine.
Although of limited use against artillery or vehicles, a dangerous weapon. Inflicts enormous pain on targets as barbs erupt explosively in flesh. Concentrated grouping of quills kills most Humans quickly. Slight ricochet effect means it should be wielded carefully.
Ammo Capacity: 36 rounds per magazine.
Using very high-speed radioactive ammunition, highly flexible and accurate rifle. Best used at medium distances against Human opponents, features a digital visual enhancer, doubling magnification of chosen targets.
Output Capacity: 18 bursts per charge.
Excellent choice for long-distance execution of targets. Charged-particle weapon fires lethal beam, shot to head guarantees success against shielded or unshielded target. Rifle has digital visual enhancer, with two levels of magnification for mid- to long-distance targeting.
Ammo Capacity: 4 rounds per belt.
Jiralhanae grenade launcher fires powerful ballistic explosives. Can fire these explosives in rapid succession—a string of four before reload required. Very short fuse allows skilled marksmen to deflect grenades off of hard surfaces to reach covered targets.