Halo 2

Halo 2 is a first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios for the Xbox video game console and is backwards-compatible with Xbox 360. It is the sequel to the game Halo: Combat Evolved, and features a newly built graphics engine and the addition of new elements to the game. Like the Marathon series, the game will further develop the struggle between the human race and a religiously zealous and technologically superior foe (The Covenant from the first Halo).

The release date of Halo 2 was November 9, 2004. This is one of the most highly anticipated games on the Xbox. 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 have been 1.5 million preorders for Halo 2 in the United States alone and that this guarantees 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. Currently, the game has sold over seven million copies worldwide.

The official strategy guide is The Official Halo 2 Strategy Guide, published by Piggyback Interactive.

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 Mark VI Armor ( MJOLNIR armor) preparing for battle in a space station. Cortana is also heard and has dialogue with the Chief. It also featured Earth and Covenant CCS-class Battlecruiser in orbit. The battle appears to have the UNSC losing. 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

Limited Collector's Edition
The LCE came with a "Behind the Scenes" DVD, a Halo 2 manual from the Covenant's perspective (written as a report from the Arbiter to the Prophet of Truth), a booklet called Conversations from the Universe, as well as a 7-Eleven Slurpee coupon and an Xbox Live coupon. Both coupons were decorated with Halo imagery.

Trivia

 * Due to the limited time before release, the original last three levels were cut.


 * Bungie has referred to Halo 2 as "...a lot like Halo 1. Only it's Halo 1 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 "Rememberance" at the start up screen, (The un-edited version found on the "Halo 2 Orignal Sound Track Volume 1") just happens to play for exactly 1:17 or "117".

Halo 2: Original Soundtrack
Halo 2: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack for Halo 2. There are 2 volumes, which were released almost two years apart. Volume 1 was released on November 9th, 2004 and Volume 2 was released on April 25th, 2006. All music was created by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori except where noted.

Related Links
Internal
 * Halo 2 Credits
 * Action Figures
 * List of Halo 2 changes
 * I Love Bees
 * List of "Seven" references in Halo
 * Early Halo 2 Script
 * Halo 2 PC

External
 * Bungie's Official Halo 2 Site
 * Halo Easter Eggs- Best Halo Easter Eggs
 * Xbox.com's Official Halo 2 Site
 * Halo.Bungie.Org
 * IGN E3 2004 Preview
 * "Frankie's Bungie Updates"
 * Howstuffworks article on the game AI of Halo 2.
 * HaloWiki.net Another halo wiki, focusing mainly on multiplayer. Extremely in-depth.
 * Halo Planet
 * Documentry A Halo documentry.