Halo 2

 Xbox
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2394 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,035 out of 2394
  2. Mixed: 192 out of 2394
  3. Negative: 167 out of 2394
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  1. zotune
    Feb 3, 2012
    7
    Halo 2 is a more versatile journey than the first game, and it comes with brand new characters, gameplay elements and weapons that improve upon the original. I encountered some bugs with a frozen image over the display when emulating the Original Xbox version on Xbox 360, but other than that the game performed very well. Although not up to par with the likes of Half-Life 2 technically, itHalo 2 is a more versatile journey than the first game, and it comes with brand new characters, gameplay elements and weapons that improve upon the original. I encountered some bugs with a frozen image over the display when emulating the Original Xbox version on Xbox 360, but other than that the game performed very well. Although not up to par with the likes of Half-Life 2 technically, it is still quite an impressive game in regards to the art design, pacing and music. The story has some interesting elements here and there as well, and the characters are more relatable than ever before. However, the narrative felt a bit stretched out, and went back and forth a lot. The gameplay also lacked something to look forward to after a while, and became very repetitive. And it didn't help that the developers, similarly to the first, rehashed a lot of the level design, in addition to tossing the same enemies at you over and over again. And although I didn't need a walkthrough, I wouldn't mind being given better directions, especially in areas where you are supposed to pass by enemy fire and trying to figure out where to go. Similarly to Halo: Combat Evolved, I didn't appreciate the flying and driving as much either, since the controls are quite clunky and getting through enemy fire alive in this particular type of combat can often be more of a coincidence than determined by skill. Furthermore, the enemy AI is not very impressive, and basically runs towards you or shots at you while waiting from a distance. In the end though, this is arguably one of the richest experiences on the original Xbox, but not a giant leap forward from an already remarkable game.… Expand
  2. HenryN.
    May 20, 2008
    6
    I'm really a fan of the first halo, and this game starts out delivering good gameplay, but after the first few levels the level designs become extremely repetitive (think library). The multiplayer is redeeming but many of the levels don't really feel balanced like halo1. This is a solid shooter but the first halo was superior. i would only check this out if you are a huge fan of I'm really a fan of the first halo, and this game starts out delivering good gameplay, but after the first few levels the level designs become extremely repetitive (think library). The multiplayer is redeeming but many of the levels don't really feel balanced like halo1. This is a solid shooter but the first halo was superior. i would only check this out if you are a huge fan of the series. Just don't go in expecting greatness.… Expand
  3. Bob
    Nov 13, 2004
    5
    At first it was the greatest game ever!!! When i completed it the next day, it wasn't. Everything about it was so great and then when the ending sucked so much, i don't even consider it to be an ending.
  4. JohnnyBliss
    Nov 18, 2004
    5
    [***SPOILERS***] This game is a yawning, teary-eyed disappointment. The music is not near as good as the first. The levels are much longer than needed. Much. The backstory is convoluted and soooo unnecessary. Hopping back and forth between Master Cheif and Arbiter is more irritating than interesting. And what is with such a sparse time spent on Earth? Was it two, maybe three, measley[***SPOILERS***] This game is a yawning, teary-eyed disappointment. The music is not near as good as the first. The levels are much longer than needed. Much. The backstory is convoluted and soooo unnecessary. Hopping back and forth between Master Cheif and Arbiter is more irritating than interesting. And what is with such a sparse time spent on Earth? Was it two, maybe three, measley levels out of the other 12 repetitive (yes, repetitive) levels that we got to feel like we were defending something worthwhile? Our homeland for goodness sake is being invaded by Covenant and (shudder) Flood! Wasn't that supposed to be the big shocker?!? The whole reason for caring about the sequel in the first place?!? So obviously, as we find out in the much too abrupt ending, there will be more Halo to come. I for one hope Bungie will realize that there are many gamers out here shaking our heads in disbelief at this crapulent excuse for a game. How about some innovation next time, Bungie. Oh, and enough with the freakin' Xbox Online! I would rather play with my actual friends that I see on a daily basis than some virtual whosiewhatsit! Give us a break and a decent game worthy of our time. … Expand
  5. steven14329
    Jun 12, 2011
    6
    Slightly better graphics and some online... almost the same game as Halo 1. I don't need more vehicles, and dual wielding on weapons I'm not going to use... I prefer the first game over this hyped fps.
  6. grandpajoe6191
    Dec 31, 2011
    5
    So, I had the chance to play the multiplayer of "Halo 2" thanks to a lock-in from our church. All I can say is.....STICK TO REACH, MY ****
  7. ApocalypseBrown
    Jun 9, 2007
    7
    After years of hype finally people can see this game is massively over-rated. The single player is shite. No bones about saying it either. Terrible in fact, with only the humor keeping you interested. Multi player is where it's at. I think in future this game should only be an multi player title. Single player score: 4. Multi player score: 10. Average 7.
  8. DickSavage
    Jan 23, 2010
    5
    I despise halo for all of is bribed reviews and garbage game play. But the story of the Arbiter is actually epic. He is sent on suicide missions and they still cant kill him. This one is the best of the series, which isn't saying much. The 5 I give it is 5 points higher than what i gave the other two.
  9. AdamL.
    Nov 29, 2005
    7
    Online is awsome, but the 1 player lacks intrest, as well as the maps. belive me, if you don't have live, don't get it
  10. FtzPronoMatser
    Jul 29, 2005
    7
    This game is fun for some time, but not to special. The enemies are not very diverse and I have to push a lot of buttons. Maybe it goes better with an extra hand. My thumbs hurt also. The multiplayer is ok and configurable enough. Coagulation Ctf is very fun. I don't like the alien weapons very much, but you can take them out. They should've put an communicator with the game, so This game is fun for some time, but not to special. The enemies are not very diverse and I have to push a lot of buttons. Maybe it goes better with an extra hand. My thumbs hurt also. The multiplayer is ok and configurable enough. Coagulation Ctf is very fun. I don't like the alien weapons very much, but you can take them out. They should've put an communicator with the game, so everybody has one and can talk. Please more models and alien weapons that are less silly. Warthog and tank are nice. But I still rather play another world on the amiga. On the xbox I like the last Splinter cell and Ninja gaiden best. Maybe Ninja Gaiden is the best game on xbox, but mileage may vary.… Expand
  11. DK
    Dec 20, 2006
    5
    Such a disappointment. They changed so much of what made Halo such a great game... WHY!? The developers themselves are disappointed with Halo 2. Hopefully they redeem themselves with Halo 3.
  12. Haloloser
    Oct 7, 2006
    7
    The reason this game got a seven is because its single player is so bad the mulltipler is great the best ever but the single is just so bad that I would give this game a 7, multiplayer 10, single 5, and thats being generous.
  13. OliverC.
    Jul 13, 2007
    5
    Did the reviewers come up with their reviews for this game before it even came out? This game was a shameful sequel. The only welcome feature is the vehicle hijack. Despite how good it sounds, dual wielding is not a good feature, especially in multiplayer. It makes encounters really uneven. All this game does is make you want to go back to the original, and take out that pistol and blast Did the reviewers come up with their reviews for this game before it even came out? This game was a shameful sequel. The only welcome feature is the vehicle hijack. Despite how good it sounds, dual wielding is not a good feature, especially in multiplayer. It makes encounters really uneven. All this game does is make you want to go back to the original, and take out that pistol and blast away. I wont even talk about the single player.… Expand
  14. BitBurn
    Nov 9, 2004
    7
    A little repetitive. Some improvement graphically. Solid multiplayer support. But overall it's pretty good.
  15. Itsy
    Oct 9, 2006
    7
    Halo 1 was a blast, Halo 2 finished in a blink of an eye, I luv playin co-op campaign mode, it was a thrill in halo 1 but in Halo 2 it finished in a blink of an eye, plus u were used 2 it b4, da same aliens, nuthin new apart from 2 guns ability, also dey left out sum great halo 1 weapons!
  16. BillD.
    Mar 28, 2006
    6
    I'm going to rate this the same way I rated Halo (6 this time though because at least it has Live capabilities). Overrated and actually just straight up boring. Good AI is the only saving grace because multiplayer is nowhere near as fun as everyone says. Play a PC shooter instead.
  17. SamF.
    Apr 25, 2006
    7
    After waiting 2 years for this game to come out on the PC, I finally bought an XBOX and Halo2 . The game itself is not bad, it's gameplay is exactly like halo with the ability to Jack vehicles and duel wield weapons which are both pluses. Where the game fails is the story and the constant switching from Master chief to the covenant. Bungie could have made an easy nice story After waiting 2 years for this game to come out on the PC, I finally bought an XBOX and Halo2 . The game itself is not bad, it's gameplay is exactly like halo with the ability to Jack vehicles and duel wield weapons which are both pluses. Where the game fails is the story and the constant switching from Master chief to the covenant. Bungie could have made an easy nice story concerning Master Chief coming back to earth getting medals and having covenant attack earth after tracking him from halos destruction The game would focus on Fighting the covenant on the streets back on earth. With covenant taking hostages etc... and threatening cities with destruction. [***SPOILERS***] Instead you get a lame story that really makes no sense telling of the covenant problems back on another halo. I personally did not like the energy sword but the rest of the weapons were ok. As for graphics, some rooms are dark...took dark. it seems the complaints of the glowing rooms in halo made Bungie go too much the other way. In the sound area...there are really no complaints, Explosions and musics are great. So in the end this game is a shiny coated HALO With a few extras and a mixed up confusing story line.… Expand
  18. GarryH.
    May 11, 2006
    6
    Halo is just a cheap ripoff of half life the flood are just like the zombies and the game play trys to imitate half life but fails misarably. and halo 2 is just a quick rehash of halo 1 with litereally no additions.
  19. AamirM.
    Jun 12, 2006
    7
    halo is an alright dunno why the hell its really popular even if its boring for the first half hour of playing because all you do is shoot shoot shoot and thats it. if you like half life 2 then dont play this.
  20. BoBBoBBy
    Aug 7, 2006
    5
    Once again as in Halo one the campaign mode SUCKS! But no other multiplayer game is better than Halo, not doubt!
  21. TheGamer
    Nov 9, 2004
    5
    Extremely overrated. This game dose not come close enough to all the hype. If this game completely sucked all the die hard fans would still give it a 10.
  22. ChrisK.
    May 31, 2006
    7
    Halo 2 action is nothing more than just like the original Halo. Constantly fighting and poorly told stories, but that's not what all the good ratings come in. Players who enjoy a good bashing will like this game. The feel for the weapons are amazing and that's pretty much it. Getting a sticky grenade onto your opponent from fifty feet away is a pretty damn good feeling. The Halo 2 action is nothing more than just like the original Halo. Constantly fighting and poorly told stories, but that's not what all the good ratings come in. Players who enjoy a good bashing will like this game. The feel for the weapons are amazing and that's pretty much it. Getting a sticky grenade onto your opponent from fifty feet away is a pretty damn good feeling. The reason for all those good ratings you see, aren't because the players overrate the game. It is because they enjoy it and Halo is quite fun. I do recommend this game to anyone who is not up to date and spoiled by next-generation graphics and visual effects.… Expand
  23. MikeW.
    Nov 11, 2004
    7
    This is by far the most overhyped game ever. First of all I wasn't a huge fan of the first game, it was bogged down by weak multiplayer, mediocre campaign mode, and an overall lack of style. It was a game that had so much potential but in the end fell flat on its face. Halo 2 is better, but only in little tiny technical ways. Graphics, sound, and enemy A.I. But the game has this if This is by far the most overhyped game ever. First of all I wasn't a huge fan of the first game, it was bogged down by weak multiplayer, mediocre campaign mode, and an overall lack of style. It was a game that had so much potential but in the end fell flat on its face. Halo 2 is better, but only in little tiny technical ways. Graphics, sound, and enemy A.I. But the game has this if it ain't broke don't fix it mentality to it. Only problem is it just blatantly overlooks problems from the first game. Though it isn't a complete waste, it has good enough core gameplay to make it worth buy. But if you want a mind blowing gaming experience go someplace else.… Expand
  24. williamwiggles
    Nov 13, 2010
    7
    Worst Halo. Multiplayer is OK, but it has the worst campaign, and a weird place balance. For the real Halo's, check out Halo: Combat Evolved, or Halo Reach. For something different, try out MW2 or Black Ops.
  25. TheChiefOfCOD
    Dec 22, 2010
    6
    I think Halo 2 lost some of its score when they deactivated Xbox Original Live. The campaign still delivers, its epic but sometimes there are those "Where do i go?!?!" moments. Graphics are really good for Xbox, and the voice recording is good too. I think that they still could of worked on the graphics.
  26. spadenx
    Jan 13, 2012
    6
    A disapointing sequel. I didnt like the new look that the game had and it didnt really fit well with me. The story was a little too similar to the first game. It was interesting playing on the covenant side and it was easily the best part of the campaign. Multiplayer was fun but besides an updated look, It didnt really have much different from the first game's multiplayer.

    It was an ok    A disapointing sequel. I didnt like the new look that the game had and it didnt really fit well with me. The story was a little too similar to the first game. It was interesting playing on the covenant side and it was easily the best part of the campaign. Multiplayer was fun but besides an updated look, It didnt really have much different from the first game's multiplayer.

    It was an ok game but very disapointing.    … Expand
  27. memus
    Jan 25, 2021
    5
    Meh. Quite a letdown after CE.

    Pros: + I played Anniversary edition. And it has two great advantages: the cutscenes are great and the level actually look better in the remaster (in CE I preferred the original mode) + The opening level is great. Both visually and gameplay wise. + The soundtrack is epic. As in any Halo game, I assume. Cons: - An awful encounter design. There are    Meh. Quite a letdown after CE.

    Pros:
    + I played Anniversary edition. And it has two great advantages: the cutscenes are great and the level actually look better in the remaster (in CE I preferred the original mode)
    + The opening level is great. Both visually and gameplay wise.
    + The soundtrack is epic. As in any Halo game, I assume.

    Cons:
    - An awful encounter design. There are too many enemies in small spaces. So in the second half of the game I preferred to run away instead of fighting enemies. And that's not a great review for a shooter game.
    - I didn't like Arbiter mission. They don't make the plot that much better (it's very similar to CE). But he's weaker then Master Chief and his stealth is lame.    … Expand
  28. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    7
    Halo is an iconic series that I want to play them all and I will play them all. I played the first one a couple months ago, now I just played 2 and I plan on playing Halo 3 next month. I don’t want to burn out and play all of them back to back but I do want to play Halo 2, 3, ODST, 4 and 5 this year so I need to get busy.

    In case you don’t know what the Halo series is, it’s a    Halo is an iconic series that I want to play them all and I will play them all. I played the first one a couple months ago, now I just played 2 and I plan on playing Halo 3 next month. I don’t want to burn out and play all of them back to back but I do want to play Halo 2, 3, ODST, 4 and 5 this year so I need to get busy.

    In case you don’t know what the Halo series is, it’s a First-Person Shooter. The multiplayer is very popular but I have no interest in that, I care about the campaign which is very well done. I can confidently say that the Halo series is one of the best shooters that I have ever played.

    The First Halo didn’t have an overly interesting story but the 2nd one, they definitely took the time to come up with an interesting story to go along with the game. I played this on the Master Cheif Collection and it’s seems like a good port but I didn’t play the original so I don’t know.    … Expand
  29. Broyax
    Apr 11, 2017
    6
    Globalement une suite très honnête, (un peu) plus belle mais plus spectaculaire... mais sans réelles nouveautés non plus. Contrairement au premier, les niveaux sont assez variés et plus équilibrés. Le doublage VF est bon et l'ambiance inimitable et "curieuse" est toujours là (sans oublier la musique). Jouabilité Halo fidèle à elle-même certes maniable mais victime de ses choix discutablesGlobalement une suite très honnête, (un peu) plus belle mais plus spectaculaire... mais sans réelles nouveautés non plus. Contrairement au premier, les niveaux sont assez variés et plus équilibrés. Le doublage VF est bon et l'ambiance inimitable et "curieuse" est toujours là (sans oublier la musique). Jouabilité Halo fidèle à elle-même certes maniable mais victime de ses choix discutables (deux armes seulement, vie qui remonte toute seule). L'histoire réserve quelques surprises... pas toujours les bienvenues et la fin apparaît quelque peu bâclée.… Expand
  30. frederik1478
    Mar 27, 2020
    7
    It has it's good moment but there is just too much bad levels you can really feel that they didn't have enough time
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox Game of 2004
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2004
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
95

Universal acclaim - based on 91 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 91
  3. Negative: 0 out of 91
  1. Xbox Nation Magazine
    100
    Microsoft and Bungie have created a gigantic bell that sounds like thunder and reverberates with a fury worthy of a gale-force hurricane. It's not perfect, but get in front of it, and wonderful things - wonderful destructive things - are bound to happen. [Dec 2004, p.72]
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  2. GMR Magazine
    100
    The digital surround sound is phenomenal (and the voice-acting peerless), and players with a good A/V system will enjoy hearing enemies approach from all sides due to the sharp positional sound.
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  3. Gamestyle
    100
    One of Halo 2 Online's best features - if not the best - is the statistics tracking system. [Online review]
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