Halo 2: Anniversary

"Because the seeds of our future are sown in his past."

- Arbiter Thel 'Vadam

Halo 2 Anniversary is an upcoming remastered edition of Halo 2. It will be released on November 11, 2014 as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection for the Xbox One. Halo 2 Anniversary will be the first Halo game to support the upcoming Halo Channel, an Xbox One feature that releases alongside the game.

Campaign
Like Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the game will allow users to switch between the remastered version and a "Classic Mode"; both visuals and audio will be remastered in the Anniversary mode but will remain original in the Classic Mode. The switch between the two modes is more seamless than in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, being instantaneous as opposed to the screen fading to black in the interim. However, the toggle will not work in cutscenes, which will be played in the mode active when the cutscene starts. This is because the remastered cutscenes are pre-rendered by Blur Studios as opposed to being in-engine like those in most of the Halo games. Similar to its predecessor, Halo 2 Anniversary will use a combination of 3D models from several of the prior games (such as Halo: Reach ' s Grunts) as well as modified and all-new assets. Music and sound effects will likewise be redone, with the soundtrack rerecorded by Skywalker Sound.

Like Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo 4, Halo 2 Anniversary will contain hidden terminal videos; these terminals have been stated to be easier to find than before. As in Halo 4 the videos are hosted on Halo Waypoint, not on the disc, and as such require an Internet connection to access. The game will also feature new skulls.

Multiplayer
The Halo 2 Anniversary multiplayer has been stated to be based on a post-patch version of Halo 2 as rather than the shipping version. The game will also have an online co-op mode. Split-screen multiplayer will be laid out in horizontal view instead of the original vertical orientation.

All original multiplayer maps (including the extra ones in the DLC map packs and Halo 2 Vista) are featured in the classic multiplayer mode, while six of the maps have been completely re-imagined in a separate multiplayer engine described as a combination of the multiplayer of the classic Halo 2 and that of the more recent Halo titles. A Forge mode will be featured, albeit only in the six re-imagined maps.

Remastered multiplayer
In the remastered multiplayer component, the name of the segment of the map that the player is currently in is displayed near the motion sensor as in Halo: Reach. Gametypes such as Infection, Race, Ricochet and Team SWAT have been added to the remastered multiplayer. The assault rifle and silenced SMG have also been added along with the newly introduced M274-M Gungoose. Zenith, the remake Ascension, will feature a large energy shield in the center of the map, triggered by any of three switches around the map's outskirts - one of several new features created for the six remastered maps.

Certain Affinity's Max Hoberman, one of the multiplayer design leads on the original Halo 2, helped 343 Industries design and create the remastered multiplayer component.


 * Remastered maps
 * Coagulation Anniversary
 * Lockdown, remake of Lockout.
 * Shrine, remake of Sanctuary.
 * Zanzibar Anniversary
 * Zenith, remake of Ascension.

Audio
The soundtrack in Halo 2 Anniversary has been completely re-orchestrated by Skywalker Sound, with several new tracks exclusive to the remake. The sound effects from the original Halo 2 have also been adapted and improved. Steve Vai was hired to re-record guitar for the remastered soundtrack. Each weapon's sound effects have been changed to make every weapon seem more intimidating and similar to the weapons sound effects in Halo 4. An official Halo 2 Anniversary Soundtrack will be released alongside The Master Chief Collection on November 11, 2014.