Halo 2

Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios for the Xbox video game console and is forwards-compatible with the Xbox 360. It is the sequel to Halo: Combat Evolved (and the second installment of the Halo game series) and features a newly built graphics engine with the addition of new elements to the game. Halo 2 develops the struggle between the United Nations Space Command, Covenant, and the Flood during the Human-Covenant War in the fall of 2552.

It was also released for PC and it is one of the most popular video games for the Xbox with eight million copies sold.

Halo 2 was very successful in sales. More than 1.5 million copies were sold in the U.S. three weeks before its release through pre-orders. When it launched for the Xbox, it broke sales records as it sold approximately 2.4 million copies in North America in 24 hours. Three weeks after its release, Halo 2 had sold more than 5 million copies.

Campaign
The campaign in Halo 2 does not pick up directly after the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, but rather after the events depicted in the novel Halo: First Strike, taking place in Halo: Combat Evolved with the events explaining Master Chief's return to Earth not featured in any game so far. The story dives deeper into the society of the Covenant, their goals, beliefs, and alliances as well as continuing Master Chief's story to put an end to the Covenant threat on Earth as well as another Halo ring.

The player can play the campaign alone on a single-player mode or on a split-screen co-operative mode. The game follows a linear series of episodes that differ from Halo: Combat Evolved because you will play as both the Master Chief and a new character, a troubled Covenant Elite known as The Arbiter. The player has an adjusted arsenal of weapons, some of which have been altered or removed from Halo: Combat Evolved, and new weapons being introduced. The biggest alteration to game-play is perhaps the ability to dual wield small weapons; this allows for twice the firepower at the expense of being unable to throw grenades or melee without dropping the left weapon. In terms of vehicles, all vehicles from the first game remain except the M12A1 Warthog LAAV(rocket warthog) from the PC version, and the Spirit Dropship. Also a few new vehicles are introduced. In Halo 2, however, the previously indestructible vehicles can now be destroyed and the player is able to "board" an enemy vehicle by climbing on and knocking the driver out, as well as plant grenades on the vehicle. The same can be done by an enemy to the player when driving.

As the Arbiter, the player is not equipped with a flashlight and instead a rechargeable Active Camouflage that lasts for short bursts, giving the player a pre-emptive advantage on unsuspecting enemies.

You can have a variety of allies; if you are the Master Chief, you are accompanied by UNSC Marines and occasionally Marine ODSTs and you battle all Covenant species and in one instance, the Flood. But if you are the Arbiter, you are joined by Grunts, Jackals, Hunters, and other Elites, but you never fight humans; instead, you combat the Heretics, Brutes, Drones, the Flood and occasionally Sentinels.

Campaign consists of 15 levels, of which 13 are playable, tells the story of Halo 2.


 * 1) The Heretic (video)
 * 2) Armory (tutorial)
 * 3) Cairo Station
 * 4) Outskirts
 * 5) Metropolis
 * 6) The Arbiter
 * 7) Oracle
 * 8) Delta Halo
 * 9) Regret
 * 10) Sacred Icon
 * 11) Quarantine Zone
 * 12) Gravemind
 * 13) Uprising
 * 14) High Charity
 * 15) The Great Journey

Plot
It begins with the trial and punishment of the former Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, Commander Thel 'Vadamee, later on to be the future arbiter, who is branded with the Mark of Shame by Tartarus due to his failure to protect the Sacred Ring during the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.

The story then turns to Earth's Orbital Defense Platform Cairo Station, where SPARTAN-117 receives the new MJOLNIR Mark VI armor from the Master Gunnery Sergeant. He then meets Admiral Terrence Hood for an award ceremony held for the dual purposes of awarding meritorious acts and boosting the morale of the surviving human population and noted as a war hero (John-117 has received all medals except for 1). The festivities are soon interrupted by Cortana reporting "15 Covenant Capital Ships holding position just outside the kill zone", signaling the start to the Covenant Siege of Earth. UNSC Marine forces along with SPARTAN-117 protect the station from the invading Covenant Naval infantry but other stations were destroyed by the Covenant. After sending the bomb back to the covenant he landed on a UNSC ship and then they head to the surface of Earth to New Mombasa to fight off the Covenant Army, led by the High Prophet of Regret. After the Covenant invasion force is halted by the UNSC defenses, the Prophet of Regret flees Earth with Keyes and her detachment in pursuit on In Amber Clad. The hasty in-atmosphere jump destroys most of the city of New Mombasa.

The story then turns back to the disgraced Sangheili Commander, Thel 'Vadamee, who is given the chance of redemption by taking up the mantle of Arbiter, along with the imminent mortality of the task. The new Arbiter accepts and becomes the will of the Prophets, seeking to complete the impossible task assigned for redemption from his crimes. Thel 'Vadamee is tasked with the assassination of a Heretic Leader, whom is disillusioned with the Covenant following the events of Installation 04 up to its destruction. Thel 'Vadamee tracks the Heretic Leader throughout the gas mine (battling the Heretics and the Flood) where the Heretics sought refuge. When Thel 'Vadamee is finally able to face the Heretic Leader, 'Refumee asserts his belief that the Prophets have lied about the Great Journey, punctuating this with the entry of a Monitor. Before Thel 'Vadamee could learn more of the claims, the battle resumes, and the Heretic Leader is killed before any meaningful discourse taking place. Tartarus appears to extract him and Guilty Spark, preventing Thel 'Vadamee from learning any information from Spark. He leaves not knowing what caused the Heretics to betray their sacred oaths to the Covenant.

Turning back to the SPARTAN-117's story, Keyes exits slipspace in her ship undetected with the Prophet of Regret unaware that he had been followed. To the surprise of the pursuers, they discover that Regret led them to another Halo Ring. Keyes soon determines that their objective is to Capture the Prophet of Regret and stop the Covenant from firing the Halo Rings, SPARTAN-117 is dropped onto the surface of Installation 05 with ODSTs to remove Regret. In the course of pursuing Regret, SPARTAN-117 discovers with the aid of Cortana that the Prophet intends to personally activate Halo. Keyes decides that the new revelation about Regret's intentions warrants his death, which SPARTAN-117 successfully achieves. But before being able to make his escape, the Covenant and high charity which has just arrived attempt to kill SPARTAN-117 by glassing the area, and he jumps into the lake surrounding Regret's location. Incapacitated from the shock of the Covenant bombardment, SPARTAN-117 is last seen being dragged into the depths of the lake by the tentacles of some creature.

The story now shifts back to Thel 'Vadamee on the Covenant Holy City in orbit around the ring. The Hierarchs had declared Regret's death to be the Elites' failure, and they were removed as the protectors of the the Prophets, who bestow the role to the Brutes, causing more tension between the Brutes and Elites who are already at odds with each other. Despite this Thel 'Vadamee is given a new mission to recover a Sacred Icon from the Library, having not died in his previous mission as all had expected. Making his way through the Quarantine Zone facing scores of flood and sentinels on the surface of Installation 05 seeking the Activation Index, Thel 'Vadamee makes his way into the Library and captures the Index along with Keyes and Johnson after they recovered it from its protective housing. Before he can take possession of the Index, Tartarus again intervenes in Thel 'Vadamee's task. After taking the Index into his own personal possession, Tartarus then reveals that the Hierarchs intended for his death to oust the Elites. His treachery revealed, Tartarus knocks Thel 'Vadamee unconscious down a shaft in the Index chamber to the abyss below.

Beneath the Library, SPARTAN-117 finds himself in the clutches of the Gravemind, the creature that acts as the sentient intelligence of the Flood. Although Thel 'Vadamee had fell from a great height he is saved from plunging to his death by Gravemind's tentacles. It is within the Gravemind's chamber where Thel 'Vadamee and SPARTAN-117 meet. In addition, the Prophet of Regret is infected and assimilated into its mass. Also introduced is 2401 Penitent Tangent, Monitor of Installation 05. Both characters act as exposition to Thel 'Vadamee, as Regret remains steadfast to his faith, and the Monitor is fully aware of its status as a weapon. Thel 'Vadamee is further led to question his faith by both the SPARTAN-117 and the Gravemind itself, as they both try to convince the Elite that the Covenant's belief on the Halos is a lie, revealing that the Halos destroy life, not save it. This information, as well the information of the imminent genocide of the Elites lead Thel 'Vadamee reluctantly joining SPARTAN-117 in the mission to stop the ring from being activated. The Gravemind sends both the SPARTAN-117 and Thel 'Vadamee to different location to help stop the key from reaching its destination. SPARTAN-117 was sent to High Charity to retrieve the Index while Thel 'Vadamee was sent to the area where the Control Room of Installation 05 to halt the Covenant from activating the rings.

SPARTAN-117 then enters the middle of a conference of Truth. The Prophet of Truth, after escaping assassination, flees to the Dreadnought. John-117 chases him, killing many covenant on the way. He also witnesses the conflict between the Elites and Brutes. SPARTAN-117 saves a few marines along the way. Meanwhile, the Flood under Gravemind crash into High Charity using In Amber Clad. When John nearly meets Truth he finds Mercy on the ground being infected by the Flood, he tells the Spartan that Truth is going to Earth, to "finish what [the Covenant] started". In his efforts to reach the Forerunner Dreadnought he has to fight his way through the Flood and the Covenant. After boarding the Dreadnought he leaves Cortana behind while he gets on the ship.

Meanwhile, Thel 'Vadamee is teleported near Halo's control room. There, he finds many dead Elites, killed by the Brutes. With the help of a few deployed Elites, he fights his way to meet Rtas 'Vadumee, who is surprised to hear that the Brutes murdered the Councillors. They fight their way to a Scarab, where Sergeant Johnson is held. Johnson takes control of the Scarab and forcefully initiates an uneasy between the humans and the Elites. With the combined efforts of Johnson and 'Vadamee, the Scarab breaches the Control Room doors, and 'Vadamee enters to confront Tartarus. In the Control Room, he hears the truth of the Halos directly from 343 Guilty Spark. Regardless of this disheartening revelation, Tartarus forced Miranda Keyes to activate Halo. Many Zealots and Councilors aid 'Vadamee in his final fight against Tartarus, and manage to kill him. Miranda grabs the index just in time to stop Halo from firing, only putting it on standby status, as said by 343 Guilty Spark. He tells them that all the remaining Halos can now be activated remotely from the Ark.

The Forerunner Dreadnought arrives at Earth with SPARTAN-117 onboard. He alerts Admiral Hood of his presence, and tell him that he is "Finishing this fight".

In a scene after the credits, it appears that High Charity has been completely taken over by the Flood, as thousands of spores are visible throughout the air. The Gravemind speaks of satisfaction of being free of his "empty grave", but turns to Cortana with questions he asks, and she must answer. The screen turns black before any question is heard, signifying a possible, yet unholy "truce" between the Flood Compound and the UNSC construct.

Major Characters
UNSC
 * Master Chief Spartan-117
 * Cortana
 * Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson
 * Lieutenant Commander Miranda Keyes
 * Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood

Covenant
 * The Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee
 * Commander Rtas 'Vadumee
 * Chieftain Tartarus
 * High Prophet of Truth
 * High Prophet of Mercy
 * High Prophet of Regret

The Heretics
 * Heretic Leader Sesa 'Refumee

Forerunner Constructs
 * 04-343 Guilty Spark

Flood
 * Gravemind

Minor Characters
UNSC
 * Fleet Admiral Harper
 * Major Easley
 * Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker
 * Staff Sergeant Marcus Banks
 * Corporal Perez
 * Lance Corporal Jones
 * Private Butkis
 * Private O'Brian
 * Private Parsons
 * Private Walpole
 * Unnamed Lieutenant
 * Unnamed Master Gunnery Sergeant

Covenant
 * Prophet of Disdain
 * Prophet of Objection

Forerunner Construct
 * 05-2401 Penitent Tangent

Weapons
These are the weapons in the game:

United Nations Space Command Standard

 * BR55 Battle Rifle
 * M6C Personal Defense Weapon System (Pistol/Magnum)
 * M7 Caseless Submachine Gun (SMG)
 * M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
 * M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher
 * M68 Gauss Cannon
 * M90A Close Assault Weapon System (Shotgun)
 * M247 General Purpose Machine Gun (Machine Gun Turret)
 * SRS99C-S2 AMB Sniper Rifle

Standard

 * Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword (Energy Sword)
 * Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)
 * Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle (Plasma Rifle)
 * Type 26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun (Shade)
 * Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (Needler)
 * Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (Fuel Rod Gun)
 * Type-50 Sniper Rifle System (Beam Rifle)
 * Type-51 Carbine (Covenant Carbine)
 * Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon (Plasma Cannon)
 * Scarab Gun (Only found in the level Metropolis and Outskirts)

Jiralhanae

 * Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer (Gravity Hammer/Fist of Rukt)
 * Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle (Jiralhanae) (Brute Plasma Rifle)
 * Type-25 Grenade Launcher (Brute Shot)

Forerunner Weapons

 * Sentinel Beam

Usable

 * M12 Warthog LRV
 * M12G1 Warthog LAAV
 * M808B Scorpion MBT
 * D77-TC Pelican Dropship(Through a glitch in Metropolis)

Non Usable

 * D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship
 * Albatross Heavy Dropship
 * C709 Longsword Interceptor
 * UNSC Frigate
 * (FFG-142)
 * Orbital Defense Platform
 * ODA-142 Cairo
 * ODA-143 Malta
 * ODA-144 Athens
 * ODA-144 Athens

Usable

 * Type-?? "Spectre" Infantry Support Vehicle
 * Type-25 "Wraith" Assault Gun Carraige
 * Type-26 "Banshee" Ground Support Aircraft (also a Heretic Banshee)
 * Type-32 "Ghost" Rapid Assault Vehicle

Non Usable

 * Assault Carrier
 * CCS-class Battlecruiser
 * High Charity
 * Seraph-class Starfighter
 * Type-?? "Shadow" Troop Carrier
 * Type-47 "Scarab" Ultra Heavy Assault Platform
 * Type-52 "Phantom" Troop Carrier

Halo 2 Multiplayer
Unlike its predecessor, Halo 2 allows players to compete with each other over the Xbox Live online service, in addition to the originals support for split-screen and System Link multi-player. Halo 2's Xbox Live mode offers a unique approach to online gaming that is intended to alleviate some of the problems that have plagued online first-person shooters in the past. Traditionally, one player sets his or her computer or console up as a game server (or host), specifying the game type and map and configuring other settings. The game software then uses a service like Xbox Live or GameSpy to advertise the game to the world at large; other players choose which game to join based upon criteria such as the map and game options each host is offering as well as the ping times they are able to receive.

In Halo 2, Xbox Live players do not choose to host games, and they do not get to specify individual maps and options to search for. Instead, players sign up for "playlists" that are geared to different styles of play. For example, the "Rumble Pit" playlist offers a variety of "free-for-all" game types, primarily Slayer or variations there of; "Team Skirmish" offers a number of 4-on-4 team games, which are primarily objective-based games like Capture the Flag; "Big Team Battle Skirmish" is similar to Team Skirmish but allows teams of up to 8 players. Other playlists allow various things such as matches between different clans. The Xbox Live servers create games automatically from the pool of players that have signed up for each playlist, choosing a game type and map automatically and selecting one player to serve as the game's host. Players can create small "parties" with their friends and enter games together as teammates or, in Rumble Pit, adversaries. They can also play custom gametypes like regular multi-player. Unranked gametypes allow people on the same Xbox console without an Xbox Live account to play with them as "guests". If the Xbox console hosting the game drops out, the Xbox Live service automatically selects a new host from among the remaining players so the game can continue. Note: It appears that the host has some advantages over other players during the game due to lag (giving him the ability to move/react faster than the other players, and for certain glitches to work), resulting in a form of cheating called bridging in which somebody uses their PC to get host.

Since launching in November 2004, the service has been very popular with gamers. While some players resent the loss of individual control inherent in Halo 2 ' s approach to online gaming, others feel it provides a significantly improved gaming experience compared to more traditional online first-person shooters. Bungie's servers match players up by skill level, which tends to eliminate the kind of severely imbalanced games that less-skilled players often consider unfair and not enjoyable. The automatic host selection process also eliminates the ability of the host to exert outsize control over the parameters of the game.

Halo 2 players with Microsoft Passport accounts can log on to bungie.net and obtain extremely detailed statistics on their performance, including level maps for several hundred of the player's most recent games that indicate graphically where and when the player scored a kill or was killed him- or herself.

Standard Maps

 * Lockout
 * Ascension
 * Midship
 * Ivory Tower
 * Beaver Creek
 * Burial Mounds
 * Colossus
 * Zanzibar
 * Coagulation
 * Headlong
 * Waterworks
 * Foundation

Bonus Map Pack
Bonus Map Pack is a downloadable content package for Halo 2. It was released on April 25, 2005 as a free download sponsored by Mountain Dew. The maps included in this Map Pack are:
 * Containment
 * Warlock

Killtacular Pack
Killtacular Pack is a downloadable content package for Halo 2. It was released on April 25, 2005 for $4.99 and was made permanently free on June 28, 2005. The maps included in this Map Pack are:
 * Sanctuary
 * Turf

Maptacular Pack
Maptacular Pack is a downloadable content package for Halo 2. It was released on July 5, 2005 for $11.99 and was made permanently free on August 30, 2005. The maps included in this Map Pack are:
 * Backwash
 * Elongation
 * Gemini
 * Relic
 * Terminal

Blastacular Pack
Blastacular Pack is a downloadable content package for Halo 2. It was released on April 17, 2007 for $4.00 and re-released as an updated package on May 7, 2007 (still for $4.00), as several glitches discovered in the included content had been fixed. Blastacular Pack was made permanently free on July 7, 2007 (Bungie Day). The maps included in this Map Pack are:
 * Desolation
 * Tombstone

Halo 2 Vista Special Map Edition
Exclusive to Halo 2 Vista are 2 new maps which are:
 * District
 * Uplift
 * Example

Player Damage system
The damage system in Halo 2 is much different from what it was in Halo: Combat Evolved. The player has a regenerating shield and regenerating health.


 * Energy Shields: The Shield in Halo 2 is slightly weaker than it was in Halo: Combat Evolved, but recharges at a higher rate. It slowly decreases in power as it sustains damage. After it takes damage, it starts to recharge 2-5 seconds after the last time damage was sustained. It will stop during recharge if the player is hurt during that period. The power is displayed above the motion tracker in the bottom-left of the screen.
 * Health: In Halo 2, once the shields run out, the player also has a buffer of health. Unlike Halo: Combat Evolved, the health in Halo 2 regenerates after the shield. The amount of health left is not visible to the player. Bungie's explanation for this new system is the addition of a Biofoam dispenser in the armor (so health regenerates after time).

Powerups
There are two types of normal powerups available in Halo 2:


 * Overshield: An enhanced, non-regenerating shield which adds an additional two layers to your shield (red, then green). The Overshield functions on top of the regular shield - when it is active, the normal shield does not take damage. However, the Overshield will gradually reduce in power until it is gone, at which point the player's normal shields will be vulnerable to damage. Unlike Halo: Combat Evolved, the Overshield powerup is not available in the single player campaign.
 * Active Camouflage: A powerup that makes the player almost completely invisible for a period of time, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced if the player is hit by weapons fire, if he or she fires a weapon or throws a grenade, or in some cases if he or she switches weapons. In campaign mode, active camouflage is only available in levels in which you play as the Arbiter. (note: on multi player, if the Overshield technology and the Active Camouflage are used in conjunction the Active Camouflage is not sophisticated enough to hide the enhanced over shields)

Halo 2: Original Soundtrack
There are two volumes of the Halo 2 soundtrack, one released alongside the game, and the other released in Early 2006. You can usually find them at any retail store that sells music or games, or Ebay.

I Love Bees
During the summer of 2004, the website ilovebees.com was used as a publicity site for Halo 2, with the site being pointed to by adverts for the game during movie trailers. Ostensibly a beekeeper's personal site, the server appeared to have been taken over by an unstable A.I. whose thoughts are scattered on the site.

Trailers
In 2002, Bungie released the first glimpse of Halo 2 in a pre-rendered CG trailer. The trailer featured the Master Chief in his new MJOLNIR Mark VI Armor preparing for battle in a space station. Cortana is also heard and has dialogue with the Chief. It also featured Earth and s in orbit. The UNSC seem to be losing in the battle. The events of this trailer were featured in the final version of Halo 2. Some of the events and dialogue of this trailer was changed to fit the finished storyline of the game. Most of this now appears in the Halo 2 level Cairo Station.


 * Halo 2 Announcement Trailer
 * Halo 2 Cinematic Trailer

E3 2003
right|200px In 2003 at E3, Bungie released footage of a playable in-game demo of the Halo 2 campaign. The demo featured the battle on Earth in the city of New Mombasa. Master Chief, Cortana, Sergeant Johnson, Corporal Perez, Major Easley, and Sergeant Banks were all seen/heard in the demo. The demo showed off new features like Dual-Wielding (the Master Chief could actually keep both his dual-wielded weapons when he switched to his secondary sidearm; this was changed for the final product), Vehicle Damage, and Boarding. Three new vehicles shown were the Gauss Warthog, Shadow, and the Covenant Phantom, which at the time had only one plasma turret on its underside instead of three. Returning vehicles featured the Ghost, Pelican, Covenant Cruiser, and Longsword Fighters. New weapons the Battle Rifle, SMG, and Brute Shot were also shown, although the final Brute Shot design for Halo 2 was vastly different than what was shown in this trailer. New enemies such as the brutes were shown in this demo, but as a secondary warrior race by the side of the elites. The events of this demo were featured in the final version of Halo 2. Some of the events and dialog of this demo was changed to fit the finished storyline of the game, such as the AAA Gun becoming a Scarab. Most of this now appears in the Halo 2 level; Metropolis.

E3 2004
In 2004 at E3, Bungie released footage of a playable in game demo of the Halo 2 multi player. The demo featured the multiplayer map Zanzibar and displayed playable character models the Spartan model and the Elite model. It also showed off some of the weaponry of the game and some special features. The Battle Rifle, SMG, Needler, Rocket Launcher, and Energy Sword were displayed. The Gauss Warthog and the Ghost also made an appearance. Some features included the lock-on feature of the Rocket Launcher, the Dual-Wielding ability, Explosive Barrels, Ghost's boosting, vehicle boarding, Warthogs horn and Gauss Cannon and Sword Lunging. Afterwards, fans were allowed to try out the demo.

Halo 2 Versions
Halo 2 shipped in two versions:

Halo 2 Regular Edition ($49.99 at launch, now $15.00)


 * Standard Xbox game case with Halo 2 box art.
 * Halo 2 for Xbox (also for Xbox 360)
 * Halo 2 game manual from the Humans' perspective.
 * Pamphlet advertising Halo 2: The Official Guide and Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume 1.
 * 2 month Xbox Live trial card.
 * Limited edition Elite manual.

Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition ($54.99 at launch, now discontinued)


 * Sleek metal case with outer plastic slipcover.
 * Halo 2 for Xbox. (also for Xbox 360)
 * Halo 2 game manual from the Covenant's perspective (written as a report from the Arbiter to the Prophet of Truth)
 * "Making of Halo 2" DVD with other features including game design, deleted scenes, concept art, deleted content and more.
 * Pamphlet advertising Halo 2: The Official Guide and Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume 1.
 * Booklet called Conversations from the Universe.
 * 7-Eleven Slurpee coupon (advertising the three Limited Edition Halo 2 Slurpee cups).
 * 2 month Xbox Live trial card specially printed with Halo 2 imagery.

Reception
Halo 2 sold 5 million copies, making it the second-best selling Xbox game, with approximately 19% of all Xbox owners possessing a copy of Halo 2. The game also had the most successful opening night of any game up until Halo 3, and, later, Grand Theft Auto 4. The game had a generally amazing reception, gaining a 9.7 out of 10 from OXM, a 9.8 out of 10 from IGN, a 10 out of 10 from Game Informer, a 9 out of 10 from Play Magazine, and a 5 out of 5 from X-Play. It gained more Game of The Year awards in 2004 than any other game that year. X-Play, in late 2006, included it as #3 in their top 4 greatest shooters of all time. #4 was Resistance, #2 Half-Life 2, and #1 was Gears of War. In early 2007, it made #8 on their top 10 Games of All Time countdown. The game had an average meta-score of 95 out of 100, making it the 3rd most critically acclaimed Xbox game, right behind Halo: Combat Evolved and the Grand Theft Auto Triple Pack. The games multiplayer was held to be one of the best of all time, staying consistently number 1 the most played Xbox Live title from November of 2004 up until November of 2006, when Gears of War released.

Reaction
Generally, the game was positively received. Multiplayer especially was noted in being the best on Xbox Live at the time. Game Informer, along with numerous other publications, rated it lower than Halo: Combat Evolved, citing enhanced multiplayer and more repetitive gameplay. Halo 2 received multiple awards, including Best Console game of the month.

Most critics noted that Halo 2 stuck with the formula that made its predecessor successful, and was alternatively praised and faulted for this decision. Edge noted in its review, “It's fitting that we're able to steal a line from the script to sum everything up. No spoilers here, just an epitaph, from the moment Cortana turns to Master Chief and says this: 'It’s not an original plan. But we know it’ll work.'" According to Xbox.com, the game has received more than 38 individual awards. The game's campaign mode has received some criticism for being too short, in addition to some dissatisfaction with the abrupt, cliffhanger ending that sets up the sequel, Halo 3. GameSpot noted that the story switching between the Covenant and Human factions made the plot more intricate, but also distracted the player from Earth's survival and the main point of the game. There is also some criticism of the game's on-the-fly streaming and level of detail adjustment, which can sometimes result in textures loading erroneously and "popping in" when the camera changes in cutscenes. Bungie has stated that this issue has been fixed for Halo 3 and the Windows Vista port.

In an interview with Edge magazine in January 2007, Jamie Greisemer, one of Halo ' s design leads, said that the main reason for Halo 2 ' s shortcomings was a lack of "polish" period near the end of the development cycle. Staff member Frank O’Connor admitted the cliffhanger ending was abrupt, noting “we drove off Thelma & Louise style". Nonetheless, in the interview Greisemer promised that they would make Halo 3 a more than worthy successor.

Statistics
Halo 2 was released November 9, 2004. The game was one of the most highly anticipated games on the Xbox. It sold more than the original. On the morning of October 14, a leak of the French version of the game was posted on the Internet, and circulated widely. Microsoft, the parent company of Bungie, tried to contain the spread, and pledged to bring legal action against anyone who spread the leaked version.

Regardless, Microsoft later touted that there were 1.5 million pre-orders for Halo 2 in the United States alone and that this guaranteed it to have the largest first-day revenue of any game or movie ever. The game sold 2.4 million copies and earned up to $125 million US in its first 24 hours on store shelves. As of March 2006, the game has sold over eight million copies worldwide.

Themes
Halo 2 greatly expanded the plot introduced in Halo: Combat Evolved, and many themes and parallels to the real world can be drawn.

Dealing with the consequences of society and government within the Covenant world, Halo 2 shows that technology alone cannot win wars. Covenant society is deeply troubled with a corrupt government of Prophets who know more than they tell and order an act of genocide against their long-loyal Elites. While the Covenant is far more technologically advanced than humans, their society is divided and races do not get along. The humans are shown as more united and exhibit more teamwork while attempting to stop the Covenant, despite being outnumbered and out-gunned. Playing as the Arbiter, the player only fights other Covenant, making it apparent that their forces are not all focused on the humans and their civil war and disorganization makes them a weaker force, despite greater firepower. The Flood is mostly a primitive race but is still able to infiltrate High Charity and Cortana is still able to hack into their system because the Covenant never created a solid foundation and underestimated their enemies. The game shows that the power of determination is more powerful than that of technology. This is evident in both Master Chief's plot line as well as the Arbiter's, who manages to survive because he constantly focuses on his objective. He tells Tartarus that the Index is his only goal when he asks if he would seek revenge against the Master Chief.

The game also has element of a monomyth, a common structure in many stories of adventure. Halo 2 begins with Master Chief being awoken and called for combat while the Arbiter is spared and is given the choice to become a martyr. The Arbiter is put through a series of trials which he is expected to fail; when he doesn't, he realizes that the Prophets have turned against him and learns where his true alliances lie, becoming a central role in the Covenant Civil War. These events fit into the description of the first half of a typical monomyth.

The elements of sacrifice and honor are both present. Cortana has sacrificed her safety to remain in the clutches of Gravemind, while The Arbiter accepts a suicide mission in order to regain the honor he lost when he failed to stop the destruction of Installation 04.

Halo 2 is the only Halo game to...

 * ...allow the player to pilot the Spectre.
 * ...use the Major Sentinel Beam.
 * ...allow the player to dual-wield the Needler.
 * ...have the Brute Plasma Rifle.
 * ...allow the player to fight Enforcers.
 * ...let the player see orbital MAC guns.
 * ...let the player use the Scarab Gun.
 * ...allow you to see the weapon you used in gameplay on cutscenes (sometimes heavy weapons are not shown)
 * ...not have any sorts of power-ups in campaign (not counting skulls).
 * ...have two-part levels and two-part cutscenes.
 * ...allow you to use Active Camouflage as the Arbiter.
 * ...have Grunts, Hunters and Jackals as allies.
 * ...show an Elite without armor.
 * ...have a Shadow.
 * ...not include the Assault Rifle.
 * ...not encounter 343 Guilty Spark or Sentinels while playing as the Master Chief.
 * ...take place on a Halo ring other than Installation 04.
 * ...not have a Fuel Rod Gun in multiplayer.
 * ...have a Brute wield a Shotgun.
 * ...have a lock-on feature on the Rocket Launcher.
 * ...let you fight and kill a Prophet in-game.
 * ...take place on a Human Orbital Platform.
 * ...to include the Prophet of Mercy.

Halo 2 is the last Halo game to...

 * ...have campaign levels that take place in space.
 * ...have Elites as enemies.
 * ...run on the PC.
 * ...see Grunts with active camo.
 * ...say that 4 kills is a Killtacular.
 * ...have the Team Training and the H2 Challenge playlist.
 * ...allow the player to have four of each grenades at a time.
 * ...say "headshot" after you shoot another player in the head.
 * ...let you use the M19 SAM Rocket Launcher
 * ...give a Banshee to you in Campaign

Miscellaneous

 * The "vine" that Miranda Keyes uses to make it to the index is actually one of the Gravemind's tentacles. It is speculated by some players that the Gravemind was planning on letting Miranda get the index, and then making her fall into his pit, which would lead her and the index to his "lair".  There, the index would be, theoretically, unobtainable by the Covenant, which would keep him and the rest of the Flood safe on the ring.
 * Originally, there were to be several kinds of Warthogs including an Arctic model, a transport vehicle and a small ATV (Known as the Mongoose in Halo 3) would make an appearance. These were all cut from the final version of the game. However, in Halo: Custom Edition, fans created the arctic and transport warthogs, as well as the civilian warthog featured in the multi-player map Headlong. A rocket-launcher enabled Warthog was included in Halo PC and the ATV and variations of the Warthog appear in Halo 3.
 * Bungie has referred to Halo 2 as "...a lot like Halo: Combat Evolved. Only it's Halo: Combat Evolved on fire, going 120 miles per hour in a hospital zone, being chased by helicopters and ninjas. And the ninjas are all on fire too." This phrase inspired various references, in the game and throughout the community, to burning ninjas.
 * A song, known as "Remembrance" at the start up screen, (The unedited version found on the “Halo 2 Original Sound Track Volume 1") just happens to play for exactly 1:17 (John's serial number) or 77 seconds.
 * There are 21,090 lines of dialog, most of them randomly triggered during combat.
 * Originally, at the end of Cairo Station there wasn't going to be a bomb, but another level taking place on the Covenant carrier where you would fight a Drinol. At the end of the level when you destroy it, you get to free fall onto the In Amber Clad, and can look around when falling. This level was deleted..
 * Halo 2's legendary difficulty is said to be one of the the hardest difficulty levels out of the Halo franchise.
 * When you attempt to load up Halo 2 on the Xbox 360 it will not let you connect to XBL unless you have "Allow Xbox Originals live" Option set to yes in the parental controls.
 * On the first level of Halo 2, there is a Battle-Ready Marine with injuries
 * On the first level as Spartan-117; when you're in the armory when you aren't holding a gun, if you look down at your shadow, he is holding an SMG.
 * If you subtract the first two levels where you don't do anything, then the levels you play with Thel 'Vadamee, all is left are 7 levels you play as Master Chief, a possible 7 reference
 * When the Brute Chieftain Tartarus brands The Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee with the Mark of Shame, the brand doesn't make contact with Thel 'Vadamee's skin. It also appears that the brand is central to Thel 'Vadamee's chest, yet the Mark of Shame is on his left 'Breast'.

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