Halo 2 Multiplayer Modes Playtested, Recounted

Thanks to The Next Level for its two-part hands-on impressions of Halo 2's multiplayer modes, as shown at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles last week, including many videos of the action, and discussing "the changes to the heads up display", also noting gleefully: "Is carrying two guns worth sacrificing your ability to throw grenades? In a word: Hell Yeah!", before finally concluding of the Xbox title, due out this November: "It was by far the most fun and intense playing experience I had with any game at this year's E3."

Comments

XBox controller for PC

[protektor]

Interesting note that I read about one of the E3 annoucements is that supposedly Microsoft is going to be releasing a version of the XBox controller for the PC. So it should mean that you can play Halo and Halo 2 more like what they are on the XBox if you so choose.

Re:XBox controller for PC

[incubusnb]

i know where all the keys are, i type 90WPM, but during a hectic firefight its much easier to find a button on a Controller than it is to find one on a Keyboard.

i can't remember how many times i've lost a deathmatch because i hit "T" or "E" instead of "R" to reload, i've never had that problem on a Controller

if you really want to see an inovative Controller design, you should check out this Trackball Controller and help get it made by emailing Microsoft with the design

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Dual Shock 2 is overrated

[Anonymous Coward]

Wrong.

The Controller S is currently the most functional and best controller out there for all consoles. I am not flaming or being a fanboy... I own all 3 consoles and here is what I say:

1. The Dual Shock feels cheap, skinny, and the stick placement is uncomfortable. Dpad still sucks since the PS1 days with its 4 individual directions.

2. The Gamecube controller was made for 1st party platformers and nothing else. The buttons are not of equal size on the face and the controller feels the most childlike.

3. Even though the old Xbox controller was replaced by the Controller S over 2 years ago, it was a bad design. But that was the past and MS fixed it with the S. As a result, the Controller S is very comfortable, the right weight, and serves its purpose. I love the controller and how it doesnt tire your hands or thumbs with its properly placed analog thumbsticks.

So there you go. Don't blindly mock the Controller S for the Xbox because of your PS2 fetish.

Re:One Word: Hype

[nathanh]

We tried it out and decided it was, at best, inoffensive. The controls were fine, the graphics were fine, the multiplayer was fine... but it was nothing new, nothing special.

Amen. I was incredibly disappointed with Halo. The graphics were OK, though not spectacular. But I'd been led to believe it was the second coming of Christ, as far as games went. The hype around Halo had gone to unprecedented heights. Because it was an Xbox exclusive (I refuse to have a Windows PC just for games) I was almost tempted to buy an Xbox. I'm glad I didn't.

When I finally got my eager hands on Halo I found a FPS with no story, repetitive levels, and predictable "surprises". I played it for a few hours before turning it off. This wasn't a Quake. This wasn't an Unreal. This wasn't a Deus Ex, or Half-Life. Halo is/was an above-average FPS but it really isn't/wasn't all that special.

The hype-machine around Halo was bigger than the game. The game was certainly good. I'd have given it an 8/10. But from the way it was hyped I'd have expected 10/10. If anything, the hype worked against it because I expected more and was disappointed. I prefer to go in expecting very little and being pleasantly surprised (eg, Oni).

PS: yes, yes, Oni wasn't as good as Halo.

Re:In Defense: Halo as FPS democracy

[Reapy]

The other thing to consider is that everything just fit together so well in halo. I played it well after it had come out, so it really didn't look all that good. But something about the music, sound effects, weapons, level design, and monsters flying through the air screaming really hooked me. My first fps was wolf 3d so i've been around the block in terms of control scemes. I got used to halo's no problem with the controler and it works good enough for me.

Halo is just a well put together game all around. When you start playing it, everything just comes together, and you cant put it down. I tried to figure it out, here I am, playing this fps game, with no new concepts and so so graphics, yet, I can't put it down.

That's just called a good game. I know it's startling to admit it, but a good game doesn't need to inovate, it just has to put everything together so it's fun to play.