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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."
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.
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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.
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.