Halo 2 Instruction Manual
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The Halo 2 Instruction Manual is a guide to Halo 2 that comes in the basic package.
Sections of the Manual
Safety Information
This is the safety information that tells you how to play games safely.
Secret Transmission + Master Chief Section
The first part is a transmission from Cortana that is essentially an overview of the story of Halo: Combat Evolved.
To: Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI)
From: Cortana, UNSC Pillar of Autumn shipboard AI
Re: SPARTAN-117 and the Destruction of Halo
Sir. As the rich data-bursts attached in this transmission make clear, we have been to hell and back. I’ll be brief.
After Reach fell, I followed Cole protocol, and slipped the Pillar of Autumn. Using astronomical symbols SPARTAN 117 captured from a Covenant vessel, I chose an exit-vector that would place us in an uncharted system near a late-life gas giant planet (new classification, “Threshold”). To my considerable surprise, in orbit around the planet was an artificial ring construct, 10,000 kilometers in diameter.
Initially, I feared the ring was a Covenant installation. It was not. But the enemy had tracked us and was lying in wait around the ring. Rather than risk capture, Captain Keyes ordered my upload into SPARTAN 117’s neural network. While we abandoned ship, the Captain managed to land the Autumn on the ring, saving the lives of many of the crew.
When we realized that Halo could destroy all life, SPARTAN-117 and I decided our only choice was to destroy Halo—stop 343 Guilty Spark from completing his assigned task, and deny the Covenant a weapon of unthinkable power. We used the Pillar of Autumn’s fusion reactors to start a chain reaction that utterly destroyed the ring. I’m sorry to report that Captain Keyes was lost to the Flood.
With respect to our ongoing fight against the Covenant, our time on Halo was well spent. I have gathered a wealth of new information for our database of Covenant weapons, technology, tactics, and society. Additionally, SPARTAN-117’s proficient use of arms, and the destruction of the ring, resulted in a significant loss of enemy personnel and materiel.
That being said, I fear that the Covenant will not take kindly to our obliteration of their holy relic. Having thus struck the hornets’ nest, we are now heading home with all speed.
<construct coordinates and schematics encrypted/enclosed#####>
The Covenant referred to the ring as “Halo.” It seems a prophecy about Halo’s existence is central to our enemy’s religion, and its discovery was cause for much celebratory chatter on the Covenant battle-network.
During our initial operations on the surface of Halo, we encountered an alien artificial intelligence, designation “343 Guilty Spark.” This AI claimed its primary purpose was tactical containment of a virulent, parasitic life form called “The Flood.”
<information on Flood parasite morph/biology encrypted/enclosed#####>
Through a connection to Halo’s deep data cores, I ascertained that the ring was built by an ancient race of beings (referred to by the Covenant as “The Forerunners”) as a weapon of last resort against the Flood. A sizable population of Flood was in stasis on the ring, and the Covenant, either by accident or design, released the parasite. Not their most brilliant maneuver.
<information on Forerunner artifacts, structures, symbols encrypted/enclosed#####>
343 Guilty Spark convinced SPARTAN 117 to activate Halo’s primary weapon system and eliminate the Flood. The AI neglected to tell him however, that because the Flood consumes any suitable sentient host, Halo would make no distinction between the Flood and other life forms. In short: if Halo fired, it would destroy every thinking being in the galaxy. Human, Covenant, everything.
<known casualties, incurred losses, unaccounted records encrypted/enclosed#####>
Re: SPARTAN-117 – MASTER CHIEF
Spartan 117, the Master Chief, is a member of the SPARTAN-II project. He is a genetically, biologically, and technically enhanced fighting unit, standing seven feet tall and weighing half a ton in his armor. His reflexes are unmatched, his strength and endurance quite unlike any other human and his tenacity molded by a lifetime of conscripted military training. The Master Chief is proficient in all current ballistic weapons and tactics, incursion, and unarmed combat, and has extensive experience with Covenant military tech.
Breakdown of Known Covenant Species
This section shows intel the UNSC has on Unggoy, Sangheili, Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e, Jiralhanae, Kig-yar, and San'Shyuum.
Covenant society is highly segmented, consisting of a confederation of races. While an overall socio-political review is important for understanding the nuances of Covenant society, including the role of Prophets, the key for combating our enemy is to review the Covenant fighting classes which are comprised of Grunts, Jackals, Hunters, Elites, Brutes, Drones, and Prophets.
The basic infantry unit of the Covenant, Grunts are dangerous in groups but present little threat individually. Short, stocky, and relatively slow, they will often panic when faced with superior forces. However, if they are being led by an Elite, they will stand and fight.
Excellent shots, the Jackals seem to be higher in status—if not necessarily rank—than the Grunts. They often will be found in defensive positions, fighting from behind their distinctive energy shields. A well-used shield makes a Jackal a difficult target, but the notch they use to return fire provides a weak spot that can be exploited.
Hunters are incredibly dangerous foes, deployed more like equipment than soldiers. They are brought in for demolition or heavy defense, and always work in pairs. These massive creatures appear to be composed of multiple organisms that exist within the Hunter armor, creating a bipedal hive creature. Nearimpenetrable armor and a devastating hand-held fuel rod weapon make Hunter pairs very problematic.
The Elites are the core of the Covenant military. Excellent soldiers, brilliant tacticians, and disciplined, aggressive fighters, they are the primary strength of the Covenant force. Faster, stronger, and tougher than Humans, they fight in relatively small numbers but often lead squads of Grunts. Armor color seems to indicate rank, and we believe Elites are promoted based on numbers of casualties they inflict.
Not as readily understood as Elites, Brutes fight together in a pack and are physically stronger. Brutes demonstrate similar battlefield abilities to Elites, and their numbers have demonstrably increased since the conflict began. They carry a ballistic explosive weapon with an attached bayonet device
Like the Brutes, Drones appear to be new additions to Covenant fighting forces and are being deployed en masse. Apparently insectoid in origin, in addition to maintaining Covenant spaceships, they have a limited ability to fly and are excellent shots. Highly intelligent, their mastery of antigravity flight assistance has given them an almost insurmountable strategic advantage in combat.
Little intel is available on these creatures. We know that they are administrative or religious in nature and have little to do with actual battlefield circumstances. None has ever been killed or captured, and they appear to be few in number.
Controller
This section details how to play the game using an Xbox controller.
MJOLNIR Mark VI Battle Suit HUD
This section details info about the Mark VI HUD.
The Mjolnir Mark VI armor features an upgraded HUD system tied directly to armor sensors and integrated fully with the neural interface. The HUD tracks ammunition status on all UNSC weapons and now cross-references temperature readings to track charge-depletion of Covenant weapons, should they be used.
Mjolnir Mark VI armor can monitor the status of two weapons simultaneously. A left-wielded weapon and ammo display on the left of the HUD, while 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 SPARTAN-117 can keep a weapon in reserve, it is indicated on the right side.
Indicates relative whereabouts of allies and hostile combatants. Located on the lower-left portion of the HUD, it is tuned to detect aggressive or obvious motion and cannot show the location of stationary or slow-moving hostiles.
A bar above the motion tracker. Solid blue indicates an optimal state.
These display below your reticle to provide valuable information.
Battle Tactics
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.
Current UNSC Weapons
The section about UNSC weaponry covers the basics about all Human weapons from the M6C Magnum to the M41 LAAG.
Since you all will be required to use non-specialist equipment in these difficult circumstances, we are issuing you a refresher on the current available UNSC arsenal. If you have not used any of these weapons in the field or in practice, you would do well to familiarize yourself with them before entering a combat zone. Some of these weapons you can dual-wield. enabling you to fire them simultaneously. To dual-wield, press and hold Y to pick up the secondary weapon. Use the Left and Right triggers to fire.
Ammo Capacity: 12 rounds per magazine.
Standard UNSC sidearm. Recoil-operated magazine-fed handgun, firing a magazine of six 12.7mm semi-armor piercing rounds. Fired accurately in semi-automatic mode, can be powerful anti-personnel weapon. This stripped-down “C” variant does not feature a scope.
Ammo Capacity: 36 rounds per magazine.
Battle Rifle fires 9.5mm rounds from 36-round magazine. Mounted with a 2X optical scope
for targeting. Fires in short, automatic bursts of three rounds. Very accurate, relatively high rate of fire makes it a useful all-around infantry
weapon.
Ammo Capacity: 60 rounds per magazine.
“Bullet hose” fires sustained burst of 5mm fire from 60-round magazine. SMGs, while not accurate over long distances, can provide withering fire at close quarters. Tends to “walk” upwards as compounding momentum from recoil takes hold. Therefore, careful moderation of aim required to maintain accuracy.
Ammo Capacity: 4 rounds per magazine
Gas-operated, magazine-fed weapon utilizes a smart-linked scope with two levels of magnification (5X and 10X). Firing 14.5mm armor-piercing, fin-stabilized, discarding-sabot rounds makes it very powerful. Sheer size and limited magazine capacity dictate strategic use. Devastating from a secured position, has clearly limited use as close-range weapon.
Ammo Capacity: 2 102mm shaped-charged rockets.
Most commonly used light anti-vehicle weapon in UNSC arsenal. Man-portable, shoulder-fired, with single 2X level of magnification. Fires 102mm shaped-charge, high explosive tracking rockets. Reticle indicator denotes when launcher has achieved lock on target.
Ammo Capacity: 12 8-gauge shotgun shells.
Powerful, loud, pump-action, magazine-fed, firing 8-gauge magnum (3.5”) rounds with strong recoil. Devastating at close range and in confined quarters, should be used with caution. Ineffective damage ratios at long range mean it should be used appropriately.
Radius: 15-30 feet.
Basic explosive device has changed little thanks to excellent design and flexibility. Well-thrown grenade will kill or stun most opponents. Fuse activates half a second after striking surface or object to avoid accidental detonation. Also allows combatants to “bounce” grenade into difficult to reach targets.
Ammo Capacity: Unlimited.
3-barreled, electric-powered, link-less drum-fed, vehicle mounted light anti-aircraft gun. Standard armament on Warthog. Fires 450-550 rounds per minute. Excellent armor penetration capability.
Ammo Capacity: Unlimited.
Asynchronous linear-induction motor producesbipolar magnetic field to fire 25mm projectile
at hyper-sonic velocity. Excellent armorpenetration capability, but not as effective against multiple infantry.
Covenant Weapons
The Covenant weapons part has several sentences about all known Covenant weapons such as the Energy Sword, Plasma Pistol, and Brute Shot.
UNSC Vehicles
The section about UNSC vehicles covers both the M12 Warthog LRV and the M12G1 Warthog LAAV "Gauss Warthog" as well as the Scorpion Tank.
Covenant Vehicles
The Covenant vehicle section contains information on the Ghost, the Spectre, the Wraith, and the Banshee.
Controls
It also shows controls, movement and how to move the character around from place to place. Another thing is the button to switch weapons with allies or fallen ones and to enter vehicles as well. Also you can change the button layout from Default to either South Paw, Boxer, Green Thumb and Legendary.
Options
It shows the options you can choose from, such as Look Sensitivity. It also tells you what the in-game icons mean, such as low ammo, no ammo sign, low flash light battery, low plasma battery, and no grenades.This can be selected during gameplay or through the main menu.
Halo 2 Limited Collectors' Edition
The Halo 2 Limited Collectors' Edition features an instruction manual that differs from the one that comes with the normal edition, as it is presented in the Covenant point of view. Comments on Covenant and UNSC weapons differ, too, as does the layout and color scheme. The Limited Collectors' Edition also ships with the Conversations from the Universe booklet.
Related links
Internal
- Halo 2: Special Collector's Edition manual
- Halo 3 Instruction Manual
- Planetary Operations Manual
- Field Operations Guide FM 90-10-140
- MIL-FBS-295937(1)B Field Manual
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary manual
External
Download the PDF versions from Xbox.com:
- Human version
- Covenant version
- Esoteric version (Conversations from the Universe)
