Halo 2 is a game that really starts well, but piddles out in the final acts of its single-player campaign.  The story of this game falls into clichs and doesn't really try to surprise the gamer; most of the game is just predictable and offers far less replay value than its predecessor.

The game just goes on, and on, and on without getting much done for its story, and aside from two levels taking place on Earth there aren't many levels that offer much in the ways of entertainment and replay value. Also, the feeling of the game feels very cheap, and light compared to its predecessor, which offered some legitimately intense gaming moments (such as the introduction of the Flood).  This game offers little worth remembering, aside from cool things you do on Xbox Live.  The game's single-player is just weak compared to the original game.  If this was the game we got in 2001 Xbox would have certainly been sunk.

The character designs are a downgrade, I'm afraid to say.  The Marines units have been reduced to what I'd expect soldiers to be wearing in CNN newsreel footage and they do not look like they are from the future in any way.  This is just one of my many complaints about the feel of this game.  The first game you felt like you actually were serving a purpose and providing help (key word being "help") for the human forces.  Everything about this game can be summed up by "Run in.  Shoot stuff. Cut scene. Repeat."  There never is really anything to challenge the gamer, other than whether or not he/she can shoot something enough that it dies, and then they have a clich plot revolving around this concept (Serious, most of the missions you're goal is "You must kill this dude/thing").

Halo 2 does offer some positive things.  The graphics are top notch, really improving upon the engines used in the previous game.  Visually a lot of work obviously went into making this game look good, and visually Halo 2 has little in the way of flaws.  It is probably one of the best games to look at in the original Xbox's inventory.  The main aspect of Halo 2 that makes it worth playing is the online multiplayer, and I do believe Bungie put more effort into this aspect of the game than the actual game's campaign.  However, if you're like me and seldom have access to Xbox Live you're gonna care more for the single-player campaign.

It's a fun game especially for people who enjoy co-op and online multiplayer matches, but for someone looking for a thrilling 1st person experience such as that provided in the original game you'd best steer away from this game or lower your expectations.  That being said this game is 50x better than the rip-off that was Halo 3.
Halo 2 is a game that really starts well, but piddles out in the final acts of its single-player campaign. The story of this game falls into clichs and doesn't really try to surprise the gamer; most of the game is just predictable and offers far less replay value than its predecessor. The game just goes on, and on, and on without getting much done for its story, and aside from two levels taking place on Earth there aren't many levels that offer much in the ways of entertainment and replay value. Also, the feeling of the game feels very cheap, and light compared to its predecessor, which offered some legitimately intense gaming moments (such as the introduction of the Flood). This game offers little worth remembering, aside from cool things you do on Xbox Live. The game's single-player is just weak compared to the original game. If this was the game we got in 2001 Xbox would have certainly been sunk. The character designs are a downgrade, I'm afraid to say. The Marines units have been reduced to what I'd expect soldiers to be wearing in CNN newsreel footage and they do not look like they are from the future in any way. This is just one of my many complaints about the feel of this game. The first game you felt like you actually were serving a purpose and providing help (key word being "help") for the human forces. Everything about this game can be summed up by "Run in. Shoot stuff. Cut scene. Repeat. "  There never is really anything to challenge the gamer, other than whether or not he/she can shoot something enough that it dies, and then they have a clich plot revolving around this concept (Serious, most of the missions you're goal is "You must kill this dude/thing"). Halo 2 does offer some positive things. The graphics are top notch, really improving upon the engines used in the previous game. Visually a lot of work obviously went into making this game look good, and visually Halo 2 has little in the way of flaws. It is probably one of the best games to look at in the original Xbox's inventory. The main aspect of Halo 2 that makes it worth playing is the online multiplayer, and I do believe Bungie put more effort into this aspect of the game than the actual game's campaign. However, if you're like me and seldom have access to Xbox Live you're gonna care more for the single-player campaign. It's a fun game especially for people who enjoy co-op and online multiplayer matches, but for someone looking for a thrilling 1st person experience such as that provided in the original game you'd best steer away from this game or lower your expectations. That being said this game is 50x better than the rip-off that was Halo 3.