Halo 2

The first Halo's roots shined through on the first port of the series, and once again the controls are tight and exemplary for use in PC or console style controls.

This is bare-knuckle gaming - big, brash, unpretentious and viscerally entertaining. There's no excessive blood and gore, no gimmicky crime or foul language. This is well-organised, carefully-orchestrated violence supported by some of the best AI you've ever seen, a deep and comprehensive multiplayer mode that creates a game all of its own and a storyline far more creative than your usual terrorist-battling shooter fare.

A great game, also (or even) as a PC incarnation. But for marketing Vista and its DX10 graphics, Halo 2 is looking a couple years too dated. Hopefully Halo 3 will be converted faster. [June 2007]

While the single player may end like a car crash, the multiplayer seems to live forever.

The weapon and level design is about as good as it gets.

What Halo 2 represents -- an integrated online experience, smooth, console-like mechanics and a hassle-free setup procedure -- is a great development for the PC's future as a gaming platform. But all the philosophizing in the world isn't going to change the fact that it's a port of a three-year-old game that we've all played to death, and try as we might, we just can't get excited about that.

Halo 2 on Vista is a solid port that brings the Master Chief’s heroism to more gamers, and that’s indisputably a good thing. If it’s additional content or a new experience you’re looking for, though, this direct translation to Windows Vista will feel like $50 wasted.

Halo 2 on the PC is a lot like Halo 2 on the Xbox, only now with higher resolution graphics, a level editor, and the ability to aim a sniper rifle with a mouse rather than the right analog stick.

For those gamers that are already running Vista on a beefy enough system, have not yet experienced Halo 2 on the Xbox or are just looking for some fun multiplayer action on the PC, this would not be a bad title to add to your collection.

The gameplay and action do get intense but it does not break any new grounds for video game enthusiasts. [*only Single Player considered]

Gamers who have already upgraded to Vista will find that Halo 2's Live service offers some convenient and interesting multiplayer options.

The biggest frustration with Halo 2 lies in Microsoft's decision to make it a Windows Vista exclusive. The game plays well, and its multiplayer component still rings true; so why are hundreds of millions of avid Windows XP gamers left out in the cold?