User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2394 Ratings

User score distribution:
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. 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
  2. Jan 22, 2021
    10
    My favourite game and simply one of the best games of all time!

    Halo 2 is brilliant. Story is awesome and more well written. Game play is still fun to play, after all these years. More fun guns, more fun enemies. And finally the soundtrack ... the soundtrack is something special ... something you will still hear after the game is finished ... the soundtrack is just EXCELLENT! And
    My favourite game and simply one of the best games of all time!

    Halo 2 is brilliant.
    Story is awesome and more well written.
    Game play is still fun to play, after all these years.
    More fun guns, more fun enemies.
    And finally the soundtrack ... the soundtrack is something special ... something you will still hear after the game is finished ... the soundtrack is just EXCELLENT!
    And multiplayer is one big fun thing!

    Masterpiece.
    Expand
  3. Jan 16, 2021
    10
    The game that defined what modern fps are today , a game that paved the way for every single title of fps . Halo is king of all first person shooters .. with out it we would still be playing genres like quake , and doom in 2d .. bungee opened open a whole new world of possibilities for the first person shooter genre . Love it or hate it you can not , nor any body can not deny what it hasThe game that defined what modern fps are today , a game that paved the way for every single title of fps . Halo is king of all first person shooters .. with out it we would still be playing genres like quake , and doom in 2d .. bungee opened open a whole new world of possibilities for the first person shooter genre . Love it or hate it you can not , nor any body can not deny what it has brought to the table and what it has contributed to gaming as whole Greatest fps series ever Expand
  4. Jan 10, 2021
    10
    Amazing sequel from an amazing game, more weapons, more enemie types, more vehicules, great story and a better gameplay with the introduction of dual wielding.
  5. Jan 7, 2021
    10
    Aw Man, how Halo 2 managed to be this good is a mystery, how bungie managed to create a sequel as epic as Halo 2 is so unbelievable, there was so much hype around this game back in 2004 and the amount of pressure that was on bungie was alot. They didn't want to ruin Halo Brand or disappoint the fanbase either but you know what they did? They gave us the best sequel ever made.
  6. Jan 6, 2021
    10
    Halo 2 brought so many new things to the table, say anything you want to say about halo 2, you can't say it didn't felt fresh and with its thought-provoking and deep story, halo 2 proved shooters can be deep and fun at the same time.
  7. Jan 3, 2021
    10
    Halo 2 is a sequel to care about, it pushed the industry forward in many levels, the story-telling simply added so many aspects to the stories a game could tell. The Gameplay and sanbox elements represent the modern shooters.
  8. Jan 3, 2021
    10
    Halo 2 is probably the second most important game in the franchise and one of the most influential games in the industry, the game's multiplayer just pushed the industry forward, it was the first time that a shooter had such an emotional and an amazing story, the sandbox elements where unbelievable for the time.
  9. Dec 29, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 may not be as great as CE, But man, this game is really great, from its story, dialog, character arcs to its action packed gameplay and brilliant sand box elements.
  10. Dec 28, 2020
    9
    Great follow up to a perfect Xbox launch title. The level design feels a lot more restrictive than the first game and it feels a little jarring that it ditched the open world style from the original. The arbiter was also a cool addition to the halo series.
  11. Dec 27, 2020
    9
    Maybe better than the first game. But I did not love it that much. The campaign is great, showing us both sides of the conflict.
  12. Dec 26, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 is probably the greatest original xbox exclusive, it had everything, a perfect and a meaningful story, complex character arcs, a revolutionary online multiplayer... My only problem with this game is the ending.
  13. Dec 26, 2020
    10
    Halo 2's story is just enough for you to buy this game, this game understood how to handle deep character arcs and story-telling, the narration in halo 2 is perfect, the Gameplay lacks some of the novelty of halo ce but it is still so fluid and flexible.
  14. Dec 26, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 Refined CE's formula and gave us a perfect sequel, the game may seem short on coop but when you play on heroic or legendary, it will take twice of your time, because how challenging the Gameplay is. What can i say about the story? Well it's perfect.
  15. Dec 25, 2020
    10
    I finished Halo 2 in one sitting with my brother, it took us 12 hours to finish the game. But after we finished it, we both said "i love it! ". Halo 2 is truly one of the very rare sequels that did so many things better.
  16. Dec 25, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 doesn't have the flawless gameplay of Halo CE but it's story is one of the best in the fps genre.
  17. Dec 25, 2020
    10
    With a greater emphasis on story, bungie proved that they are capable of telling stories that no other shooter can offer.
  18. Dec 25, 2020
    10
    Halo CE and Halo 2, Probably two of the most important and influential games ever made. Halo 2's story and Multiplayer and Halo CE's gameplay and Narrative. While halo 2's gameplay is not as balanced as CE and cannot reach Halo CE on level Design, halo 2's sandbox elements and story just make it a worthwhile sequel. Not to mention the revolutionary online multiplayer it offered back in 2004.
  19. Dec 25, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 is a must play sequel. I remember playing this with my dad and now he's gone, i play it myself.
  20. Dec 25, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 boasted the first person shooter genre to the next level. Between Half-life 2's story and halo 2's i really think halo 2 wins, about the Gameplay halo 2 might be inferior to Halo Combat Evolved but still it felt so innovative amd fresh.
  21. Dec 24, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 is both superior and inferior to Combat Evolved, the level design and gameplay are not as fluid and balanced as CE, but the sandbox elements are way better and some of the best in any Video game ever. But where Halo2 Shines is it's story and online multiplayer. The story-telling in this game still to this day blows me away, and the story itself is among the top 3 best stories everHalo 2 is both superior and inferior to Combat Evolved, the level design and gameplay are not as fluid and balanced as CE, but the sandbox elements are way better and some of the best in any Video game ever. But where Halo2 Shines is it's story and online multiplayer. The story-telling in this game still to this day blows me away, and the story itself is among the top 3 best stories ever in any fps ever. Halo 2's soundtrack has it's own personality and uniqueness and the online multiplayer of this game turned the industry upside-down because how perfect and innovative it was. Expand
  22. Dec 24, 2020
    10
    For me, 2004 is one of the best years for gaming, Half-life 2, halo 2 and... Now halo 2 did not disappoint at all and i still think it did some stuff better than Half-life 2, now don't get me wrong, Half-life 2 is a great game but compared to halo2 it lacks some stuff like revolutionary sandbox elements, the best story told in any fps ever and so on... Both games are great but for me haloFor me, 2004 is one of the best years for gaming, Half-life 2, halo 2 and... Now halo 2 did not disappoint at all and i still think it did some stuff better than Half-life 2, now don't get me wrong, Half-life 2 is a great game but compared to halo2 it lacks some stuff like revolutionary sandbox elements, the best story told in any fps ever and so on... Both games are great but for me halo 2 takes the cake. Expand
  23. Dec 24, 2020
    10
    Halo 2, a sequel that was even more beloved by millions, whether you praise the story or the new sandbox elements added to it, halo 2 is truly a flawless sequel.
  24. Dec 23, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 established online gaming basically, and with it's great narrative and complex character arcs, halo 2 was another great entry in this franchise.
  25. Dec 23, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 came so strong. Easily one of the best shooters and sequels ever made.
  26. Dec 22, 2020
    10
    Sinceramente, este fue el primer shooter que jugué. He jugado el juego unas 8 veces y de verdad nunca me aburro al jugarlo nuevamente. Creo que es el unico shooter que de verdad considero un gran y maginifico juego.
  27. Dec 21, 2020
    10
    Probably the best fps shooter out there...? I mean halo 3 was great but this was something else entirely.
  28. Dec 21, 2020
    10
    this game is not going to waste you time , instead it's going to give you brilliant story and characters combined with a perfect gamplay.
  29. Dec 21, 2020
    9
    An improvement over Halo: CE in nearly every way.

    The biggest improvement was in the story—it was very interesting. It did a great job of fleshing out and expanding the Halo universe, something I loved. The gameplay was the same great, classic Halo FPS. Don’t fix what ain’t broken. The graphics were good, certainly good enough to do the job, and the cutscenes looked really great.
    An improvement over Halo: CE in nearly every way.

    The biggest improvement was in the story—it was very interesting. It did a great job of fleshing out and expanding the Halo universe, something I loved.

    The gameplay was the same great, classic Halo FPS. Don’t fix what ain’t broken.

    The graphics were good, certainly good enough to do the job, and the cutscenes looked really great. Finally, the music and sound never got in the way (although I didn’t like the bits that sounded like they could have been from a Phil Collins outtake—stay away from acoustic percussion, Halo, and stick to synthesized sounds! It fits the genre better).

    I did take off one point, and it was because the game was too difficult. There were some sections that were overly challenging. But other than that, it’s a game I absolutely recommend.
    Expand
  30. Dec 21, 2020
    10
    Probably the best sequel ever.!? This game is so good, i just couldn't stop playing it, the story and dialog are top-notch.
  31. Dec 18, 2020
    10
    halo 2 is a true fps exprience and i love it for that, it's a great game in every way.
  32. Dec 17, 2020
    10
    O melhor jogo da franquia Halo, a remasterização ficou linda também, o tema musical de Halo em guitarra me deixa arrepiado até hoje...
  33. Dec 14, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 came at the end of the generation, and the game was so advanced in its gameplay and story-telling that the original xbox (the most powerful game console back then) couldn't handle it, they had to cut a part of the game for the console to run it. That's how massive this game was.
  34. Nov 19, 2020
    9
    OVERALL - 91%

    Gameplay - 9/10 Graphics (for time) - 8/10 Story - 9/10 Game Length - 7/10 Characters - 9/10 Level/Area Design - 7/10 Atmosphere - 7/10 Sound Effects - 7/10 Soundtrack - 7/10 Replay Value - 8/10 Improved upon the first Halo technically and massively increased the franchise. I really enjoyed Halo 2 but preferred the story and levels on Halo and preferred the
    OVERALL - 91%

    Gameplay - 9/10
    Graphics (for time) - 8/10
    Story - 9/10
    Game Length - 7/10
    Characters - 9/10
    Level/Area Design - 7/10
    Atmosphere - 7/10
    Sound Effects - 7/10
    Soundtrack - 7/10
    Replay Value - 8/10

    Improved upon the first Halo technically and massively increased the franchise. I really enjoyed Halo 2 but preferred the story and levels on Halo and preferred the multiplayer of Halo 3.
    Expand
  35. Nov 19, 2020
    10
    Amazing Story, amazing mechanics, amazing level design, amazing art design.

    MASTERPIECE.
  36. Nov 11, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 came out when the franchise was fresh, innovative, and engaging. The campaign, written by none other than Joseph Staten, was what I believe to be its best aspect. It began immediately after the events of Halo Combat Evolved. Not only will you delve into the life of our beloved Master Cheif once again, but you will also do the same with the Arbiter for the very first time. You get toHalo 2 came out when the franchise was fresh, innovative, and engaging. The campaign, written by none other than Joseph Staten, was what I believe to be its best aspect. It began immediately after the events of Halo Combat Evolved. Not only will you delve into the life of our beloved Master Cheif once again, but you will also do the same with the Arbiter for the very first time. You get to play as the Arbiter for a good chunk of the game and see him go through a magnificent character arch, questioning the authority he was born to follow and eventually seeing through the lies of The Great Journey. All in all, one could see how passionate the Bungie team was in creating this game, and deserves its position as a staple in the history of First-Person-Shooters. Expand
  37. Nov 7, 2020
    10
    Сиквел к первому ЛУЧШЕМУ эксклюзиву от Microsoft! :D
  38. Nov 1, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 is the perfect sequel. It improved everything that CE Offered and gave us the next level of halo games.
  39. MYP
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 is the ultimate sequel. It improved upon everything that Combat Evolved established. More levels, no recycled levels, you could interact with your marines and the AI of Marines was improved, a better Soundtrack, revolutionary story-telling, character arcs, Brilliant Cinematics. Halo 2 is "The Godfather Part II" of games.
  40. Oct 29, 2020
    10
    Sencillo 10/10 su modo de disparo sus mapas sus soundtracks el agregar al inquisidor fuen una excelente idea uy su soundtrack ❤
  41. Oct 17, 2020
    9
    one of my favorite multiplayer shooters to play with friends but the only problem is I don't like it as much as the first and would rather play that.
  42. Oct 15, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 is next to its predecessor one of the greatest FPS games ever released. The graphics are stunning, the game- and gunplay is terrific and the story is comparable to Hollywood blockbuster movies. The little too short campaign has an immense replay value and the multiplayer plays in the top shooter league. Halo 2 has everything but flaws! A must have!
  43. Oct 1, 2020
    10
    Everything I could ask for in a first person shooter. My favourite in the series.
  44. Sep 27, 2020
    9
    This game takes everything great about the first game and makes it that much better. Smoother, more weapon options, and even adds more story and character development. It creates that great alternative perspective, making you empathize with the enemy. If you liked the first game, you have to like this one as well.
  45. Sep 25, 2020
    9
    GREAT GAME WITH A BADASS SLAP CERTIFIED

    Story: 10
    Gameplay: 9
    ost: 9
    Characters: 10
  46. Sep 23, 2020
    10
    Mi halo favorito. Lo mejor: sigue siendo su banda sonora y su gameplay. En mi opinión creo que su desarrollo de personajes mejoró mucho desde su primera entrega.

    Story: 9
    Characters: 9
    Gameplay: 10
    Graphics: 10
    Audio: 10
  47. Sep 17, 2020
    8
    As wonderful as the first game, and even with a far more intriguing story, Halo 2 made a great start of the following Halo series.
  48. Aug 30, 2020
    10
    One of my favorite FPS games of all time. Incredibly polished gameplay, and still plays great years later. Balanced gameplay, excellent multiplayer, and an enthralling story.
  49. Aug 23, 2020
    10
    Masterpiece. Excellent game, honestly ....
    Studio have done an incredible job.
    Graphics 9/10
    Story 10/10
    Characters 10/10
    Gameplay 10/10
  50. Aug 23, 2020
    10
    Es un juegazo clasico me encanta el universo Halo es uno de los mejores fps que e jugado buen trabajo spartans!.
  51. Aug 20, 2020
    8
    Ignore this, i just wrote this in all my reviews to have in somewhere a list of all cottent thats
    i've saw or played in my life. Just that, sorry if you see this and you are looking for something seious.
  52. Aug 18, 2020
    9
    Un juego que toma lo visto en el Halo 1 y lo potencia a más y mejor, con una historia atrapante que crece todo el universo más allá de lo esperado. El juego que sin lugar a dudas asentó todo lo que el 1 abrió y construyo las bases a nivel argumental de toda la saga. Mi calificación: 9.3/10
  53. Aug 1, 2020
    9
    Es un excelente juego pa mi gusto su historia y su multi, tal me gusta que fuese implementado pantalla divida y me metí mucha hora de mi vida y disfrute mucho ese juego y la música de inicio una obra de arte
  54. Jul 27, 2020
    10
    One of the best games all time! Co-op campaign and multiplayer are near perfection
  55. Jul 21, 2020
    9
    As someone who didn't own an original Xbox back when this came out, I didn't understand all the hype about Halo 2. When I finally played it with the updated graphics I now see why everyone was obsessed with this game. The campaign and it's technical aspect was SO much better than the first game it actually made me forget about it at one point. Great story with intense segments, makes thisAs someone who didn't own an original Xbox back when this came out, I didn't understand all the hype about Halo 2. When I finally played it with the updated graphics I now see why everyone was obsessed with this game. The campaign and it's technical aspect was SO much better than the first game it actually made me forget about it at one point. Great story with intense segments, makes this one of my favorite Xbox game. Do I even need to dive into the multiplayer? You and I both know it's freaking great and extremely fun. Long gone are the days when we had this and the original Call of Duty multiplayer. Expand
  56. Jul 19, 2020
    9
    This game is so **** cool, than i don’t even go to say more, just that keep the levels of quality and 343i failed to achieve bungie level of excellence of the OG halo games
  57. Jul 19, 2020
    9
    Halo 2 was a great sequel to halo CE. The campaign featured many new elements and has the best story in the franchise. The inclusion of the arbiter was a great twist and he is a great character. The cliffhanger was perfect for hyping up halo 3 and is so epic. The multiplayer in Halo 2 was also great and innovated by making Xbox live solidified. Just an overall great game.
  58. Jul 19, 2020
    10
    Absolutely outstanding. The that made many Childhoods still holds up. Of course the graphics are dated but you can play it remastered now which brings it one step closer to perfection
  59. Jul 14, 2020
    10
    Perfeito, simplesmente perfeito, que jogo, que franquia! Aguardo ansiosamente pelo Halo Infinite
  60. Jul 4, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 its still awesome game with awesome atmosphere (nut right now only like blockbuster /hero movie )the same awesome gameplay and have awesome multi-player !awesome graphics that will be look awesome in our time too!i think this game have only one minus-they dont add health for master chief and save only shield !i think ot was mistake!Anyway game 10/10 for me!recommend this game!/Halo2Halo 2 its still awesome game with awesome atmosphere (nut right now only like blockbuster /hero movie )the same awesome gameplay and have awesome multi-player !awesome graphics that will be look awesome in our time too!i think this game have only one minus-they dont add health for master chief and save only shield !i think ot was mistake!Anyway game 10/10 for me!recommend this game!/Halo2 -Это тоже потрясающее продолжение истории Master Chief во Вселенной Halo!Игра сногшибательна!очень крутой геймплей и мультиплеер,крутая атмосфера(но уже больше как блокбастер /боевик),крутая графика ,музыка !однозначно стоит в неё поиграть!рекомендую !!! Expand
  61. Jul 4, 2020
    9
    Master chief is back kicking double the amount of ass than before. I liked ALMOST everything about this game. Strongest story in the series, revolutionary multiplayer. The legendary is impossible no-deaths you die from sniper jackals as SOON as you spawn in. But I'm willing to disregard that because of such a good multiplayer and campaign.
  62. Jul 3, 2020
    9
    A great edition to the halo franchise, although there are oversights. Still a great game
  63. Jun 26, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is as great as Halo: CE. The story did not get worse than the Halo: CE story. The story is very good. Some characters are not in the first Halo game. The characters in the game are great and they can be remembered. Expand
  64. Jun 23, 2020
    10
    Halo is a great game, it was much better that I thought it would be, but Halo 2..... IS AMAZING
    For me is the best FPS of all time, it just feels so good to play, is really adictive and hard, really hard.
    Is just perfect, is my favourite Halo game and one of my favorite videogames eveer.
  65. Jun 22, 2020
    10
    Best Halo out of the whole series hands down. The fact that i still play it in 2020 is something that can literally only be said about this one game from that generation.
  66. Jun 19, 2020
    10
    El 2 mejoró muchas cosas,el gameplay como misiones genailes,todas ellas acompañadas de una inmersión increible,incluso contandonos la historia desde la perspectiva del enemigo nos da a entender como todo se va uniendose para llevarnos a lo que seria halo 3
  67. May 31, 2020
    10
    The campaign is great ,it has a good history and an excellent multiplayer,it takes the history to new places.
  68. Apr 20, 2020
    10
    "Halo 2" Is a grand follow up with enough action to beat out the original along with revoloutionary online capabilities.
  69. 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
  70. Mar 21, 2020
    10
    This! This is how you do a sequel! You expand on everything the original did without sacrificing anything in the process.
  71. Jan 17, 2020
    9
    Much has improved since 1, this game was even better! Still had some of the reskin maps of the first game. Going through several sections, just to see its the same old map you've just gone through. But they did much better, they added way more unique maps with this game, than the first one. New maps, new weapons, new characters and great addition to the story! (The story is really theMuch has improved since 1, this game was even better! Still had some of the reskin maps of the first game. Going through several sections, just to see its the same old map you've just gone through. But they did much better, they added way more unique maps with this game, than the first one. New maps, new weapons, new characters and great addition to the story! (The story is really the biggest part of Halo for me, the part that keeps me absorbed into the series.) Expand
  72. Jan 9, 2020
    10
    I don't think that is a perfect game, but this is almost it. One of the best exclusive games from Microsoft.
  73. Dec 16, 2019
    6
    + multiplayer
    + weapons
    +playability
    + art
    - storyline hard to understand
    - Caotich combact experience
  74. Nov 4, 2019
    9
    The campaing was amazing and the soundtrack impeccable. The multi-player is very addicting. The shooting mechanics and the characters are perfect. I have beaten this game so many times.
  75. Sep 16, 2019
    7
    Probably my favorite war shooter multiplayer game, i can't tell you how great the moment i got this game and looking at the graphics
  76. Aug 8, 2019
    10
    This game is amazing, the gameplay is exhilarating, the music is top notch, and the story is as good as reading a book made from pure passion.
  77. Jun 28, 2019
    9
    Stunning shooter. Passing remaster in 2019 a game looks is fresh and is first-class. And to a gameplay of this game of 15 years! On how many idea of Bungie were breakthrough. An ideal example of the sequel on the rayena with Uncharted 2. Addition of Arbiter as igrogy character the excellent course, it shows the game Universe on the other hand. The only thing that causes disappointment, isStunning shooter. Passing remaster in 2019 a game looks is fresh and is first-class. And to a gameplay of this game of 15 years! On how many idea of Bungie were breakthrough. An ideal example of the sequel on the rayena with Uncharted 2. Addition of Arbiter as igrogy character the excellent course, it shows the game Universe on the other hand. The only thing that causes disappointment, is the open torn-off final. What happiness that in Halo: I can begin with The Master Chief Collection at once the 3rd part) Expand
  78. Jun 10, 2019
    9
    Uno de los mejores juegos de la saga. La historia es una de las mejores y el modo multijugador mejora bastante a su predecesor.
  79. May 14, 2019
    8
    Halo 2 like its predecessor innovated not only the franchise but the gaming industry as a whole. Halo 2 made big strides to the Halo franchise that had a long lasting effect(Online multiplayer that set the foundation for matchmaking systems in other Halo games and other games in general, expanding the Halo universe through its story, and having more features than Halo 1). Halo 2 also tookHalo 2 like its predecessor innovated not only the franchise but the gaming industry as a whole. Halo 2 made big strides to the Halo franchise that had a long lasting effect(Online multiplayer that set the foundation for matchmaking systems in other Halo games and other games in general, expanding the Halo universe through its story, and having more features than Halo 1). Halo 2 also took a few missteps that i and other people don't like(More linear missions than before, unfair legendary difficulty, slow pacing during some missions, jackel snipers, OP sword w/ unlimited ammo in multiplayer). As a whole Halo 2 is great, it may have some obvious flaws but you can look past those and enjoy this game Bungie crafted for us. Expand
  80. Apr 3, 2019
    9
    This game has the best campaign cut scenes but however great you make the weapon sandbox, you cant get past the fact that the difficulty settings in this game are unfair and for once i am not saying that because i am trash at the game. I have 2 problems with this game but there are 200 positives starting with the best part of this game the boss battles which i can not spoil but they areThis game has the best campaign cut scenes but however great you make the weapon sandbox, you cant get past the fact that the difficulty settings in this game are unfair and for once i am not saying that because i am trash at the game. I have 2 problems with this game but there are 200 positives starting with the best part of this game the boss battles which i can not spoil but they are better than the warden eternal and 343 guilty spark. Another positive are the flood and to be honest i hated the flood in Halo CE probably because of the library level and rocket launcher flood but in this game they added a lazer which lets you cut off body parts which is so satisfying the flood will become the best enemy to fight. Now the bad stuff which starts with the difficulty and one of many examples of this is there are one shot kill sniper jackels which have such good aim competitive players would have about as much chance as the master chief vs a single grunt. The other problem is a spoiler so i can not say it here. The master chief collection does have this game with improved graphics and a multiplayer so i would recommend playing it on there. The multiplayer of this game is worth buying the game without the campaign and for a halo game you know its good but the multiplayer has got one huge problem as button combos are in the game and are very annoying Expand
  81. Mar 14, 2019
    9
    Design, levels, weapons, gameplay, online multiplayer, campaign. It can't be beaten.
  82. Feb 5, 2019
    10
    "Halo 2" is perhaps the best game on the original Xbox. Released in 2004, it managed to improve upon its excellent predecessor in every way. This game was also the reason to sign up to an Xbox Live membership and join a clan. It's one of the very first console games to flourish online. This second installment certainly lived up to the hype. It featured a great story, terrific gameplay and"Halo 2" is perhaps the best game on the original Xbox. Released in 2004, it managed to improve upon its excellent predecessor in every way. This game was also the reason to sign up to an Xbox Live membership and join a clan. It's one of the very first console games to flourish online. This second installment certainly lived up to the hype. It featured a great story, terrific gameplay and unrivaled multiplayer. I would rate it with a 10 out of 10. Expand
  83. Jan 24, 2019
    9
    "Halo 2" had me rather excited at first glance. While I had felt that the original game "Halo: Combat Evolved" had aged to at least some degree, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, and pretty much a lot of people had been telling me that "Halo 2" was easily the best one in the franchise. And, well, it's a bit too early to judge because I still have a whole three games left to get through, but"Halo 2" had me rather excited at first glance. While I had felt that the original game "Halo: Combat Evolved" had aged to at least some degree, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, and pretty much a lot of people had been telling me that "Halo 2" was easily the best one in the franchise. And, well, it's a bit too early to judge because I still have a whole three games left to get through, but nonetheless, "Halo 2" definitely improves on the first one.
    "Halo 2" retains the fun gameplay and fluid controls of the first game: it still feels as smooth as ever, and though some of the changes are minuscule, getting to finally use the Energy Sword was neat, and let's not forget how game-changing "Halo 2" was for online multiplayer. If nothing else, it definitely revolutionized in that regard. Also, the game's story even has a cool dynamic by allowing you to switch between controlling Master Chief and the Covenant. Having that ability to switch between the two sides definitely made the story more interesting to me, and while some were frustrated by the cliffhanger ending, I think it was rather satisfying. Beyond that, the presentation has been made so much better: the audio is one again wonderful, but the visual design has been made so much better, and having played the "Halo 2 Anniversary" edition on the Xbox One, the facelift definitely makes the game look better. What's more impressive, though, is that the old visuals still look like they haven't aged a day, and they still look rather good. The cutscenes are also cinematic and wonderful to look at, and all in all, the game packs quite a punch.
    Unfortunately, I'm still not finding "Halo" to be a 10 out of 10 experience with this game, and it's not because the campaign is too short, because I thought it was satisfying enough with its length. I think my big issue that's holding the game back is that, while it was revolutionary for its multiplayer and was still fun to play, I have some qualms with the campaign, ranging from the somewhat repetitive level design (it was sometimes even hard to tell I was playing a different mission or in a different level because some of the maps looked so similar) to the fact that, while it's still a joy to play, "Halo 2" doesn't do a whole lot different from the first game. Where the first game revolutionized in its general gameplay, "Halo 2" merely sticks within the formula and makes only minuscule changes, resulting in a game that is still a blast, but not quite boundary-pushing for a sequel.
    Still, though, "Halo 2" is a pretty amazing adventure, and it's certainly a sequel that improves on the previous title nicely. Sure, it's not an entirely new experience like the first one was, but the extra polish ultimately leads to a very well-made FPS title that certainly has earned its distinction as one of the Xbox's best.
    Final rating: 9 out of 10 "Awesome"
    Expand
  84. Jan 4, 2019
    8
    Só não supera o primeiro, como também vai expandindo mais, e mais seu universo assustadoramente incrível, um salto gigante em uma trama que só melhora a cada novo capitulo.
  85. Dec 18, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is it people. The first game showed the world that first person shooters can be done on consoles. Halo 2 together with xbox live showed the world the shape of things to come in terms of multiplayer gaming. Technically the most beautiful game on the Xbox and one of the top games that take advantage of the original hardware they were developed for. The whole idea of "late generation" games that look twice as good on the same hardware. Gameplay improvements as well, with better and faster disc loading, improvements in weapon design and handling (dual yielded weapons). And a great story. ***Spoiler follows*** I will forever remember the moment I was watching the cut-sequence with the Arbiter in the dropship, and only moments later the game gave me control of him, I couldn't believe that for that mission (and several after that one) I was controlling that awesome character and really viewing the story from two completely different points of view. The story did build up quite nicely but did not give the hyper climactic ending I would have expected but the overall experience was top-notch. The AI also appeared incredibly polished and engaging, reacting to my tactics and having character and substance. Best of its generation. Expand
  86. Nov 17, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A sequel to the 97 rated Xbox Exclusive, the game is a brilliant continuation of the Halo game before it. While Halo CE holds an amazing and captivating grasp on the player, Halo 2 releases that grasp and lets the player truly experience the Halo universe. The strong points of Halo 2 are the story, the gameplay, and the music.

    The story is phenomenal due to the expansion of the already in-depth universe established by Halo CE and its books released at the time. It manages to keep the plot interesting, while exploring new perspectives considered controversial by the player. Characters like Johnson are a pleasent re-introduction to the game, while Tartarus, Commander Keyes and The Prophets are refreshing, and help the game expand on character development even further. The missions seen from the angles of Master Chief and The Arbiter are both enjoyable, and they both manage to keep a different atmosphere throughout the story development. The perspective of Master Chief feels empowering, and provides the player with a sense of alarm and heroism throughout the game, while the perspective of The Arbiter gives the player a change in moral compass. The player will disagree with Arbiter's actions until they begin to explore the truth of the Halo ring's functions as the campaign goes on, giving the player a similar feel of power and heroism as the perspective of Master Chief does. This is a unique aspect which was rarely explored before Halo 2's lifetime. The story leaves you feeling either disappointed, or very excited, due to its controversial ending. The ending to some may be seen as a perfect set up to the next game, however others may see it as a lame cop out to entice the player in buying the sequel, Halo 3. While some points of the story do feel irrelevant to the task at hand, they don't feel irrelevant enough for the player to be angry or annoyed about.

    The Music Score, developed and composed by Martin O'Donnell, left me speechless and giddy, like a child at a candy factory. The music fits in well with its visual game cues, and it sets the atmosphere for how the game should be played. When the score 'Peril' began on the mission Delta Halo, I thought the game's ambiance couldn't get any better, however I was severely mistaken when the final mission, 'The Great Journey' cues the finale music mixed with aspects from the OST. It sounds nice, it feels right, not much else to comment on there.

    The gameplay leaves me with a bland taste in my mouth, but the aftertaste somehow gives me a more pleasant experience. Anyone who is playing this as their first Halo game will see the gameplay as a new experience and worthy of praise, however anyone playing from Halo: CE will see that the gameplay didn't innovate much in terms of its core mechanics. The introduction of duel-wield in a halo game was exciting, and still is, and there are points that the duel wield feature makes you feel like a super-soldier killing machine. Couple this with the removal of fall damage, and you can expect an unstoppable killing fest like no other.

    The multiplayer is a hit or miss experience, especially with the hit-area based shooting mechanic, instead of the use of actual projectiles. Going back to halo 2 from a newer title may be a frustrating experience for a lot of players because of this. The pace of multiplayer sometimes feels too slow, which I feel is something that other Halo games never managed to mistake.

    The level and map design is admittedly linear, and on rare occasions, disappointing. Some missions, such as Outskirts, Delta Halo and Regret don't feel linear. Unfortunately this does not make up for the lack of exploration possibilities in the rest of the game. The maps all have the same concept to them, leaving them with a dire need of re-design for good replayability. Overall, this is where Halo 2 loses a lot of its boy scout points.

    The sandbox of weapons and vehicles is bigger than that of Halo CE's, but more is not always better. Some weapons, like the Plasma Pistol and magnum, feel useless on lower difficulties, and only become useful when players are using the 'noob combo' for the legendary runthroughs of the game. Other weapons feel too powerful, with the large lunge distance supplied by the energy sword and the spamming capabilities of the fuel-rod cannon. These weapons can create an imbalance in multiplayer (or too easy of a gunfight in the campaign). The vehicles don't have as nice of a feel as the CE vehicles, and they either feel too responsive or not responsive enough. There is no in between.

    To finish, Halo 2 is a must-play experience and a brilliant Halo game, but it might leave some people expecting more as they play, which provides a large pool of disappointment and alien blood.
    Expand
  87. Sep 14, 2018
    10
    This is a worthwhile sequel for the previous game, Halo: CE. The game is published by Microsoft and developed by the same people who made the first game. BUNGIE. Boy, oh, boy! I never played this game when I was a kid, I played this game for the first time in 2014 in MCC. And Jesus, this game is still one of the best FPS's to this day! The amazing story that developed the lore of HaloThis is a worthwhile sequel for the previous game, Halo: CE. The game is published by Microsoft and developed by the same people who made the first game. BUNGIE. Boy, oh, boy! I never played this game when I was a kid, I played this game for the first time in 2014 in MCC. And Jesus, this game is still one of the best FPS's to this day! The amazing story that developed the lore of Halo universe, added dual-wielding, hijacking and weapon swapping with allies. NOT TO MENTION THE MULTIPLAYER! OH MY GOD THE MULTIPLAYER! New weapons such as Battle Rifle, Beam Rifle, Energy Sword and SMG's became one of the most iconic weapons of the series. Jesus Christ, don't even get me started on the actual Campaign. 15 levels, 13 of which are playable consist of Master Chief levels and new Arbiter levels where you play as.... AN ELITE! HOLY MOLY! This game let you discover the side of the covenant and make it a completely new and diverse experience. Amazing characters, memorable dialogue, incredible events, and that cliffhanger ending that made me want more! 10/10. Without a shadow of a doubt. Expand
  88. 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
  89. Sep 3, 2018
    9
    Halo 2 in my opinion is probably not as good as Halo: Combat Evolved, but it is pretty darn close. If perhaps the difficulty for the game was maybe tweaked a little bit and such, then it would probably be just as good as Halo 1. But while the game is more difficult than Halo 1, it is still a fun experience. And it's no wonder how Master Chief is still an icon in video games today!
  90. Jul 7, 2018
    8
    Halo 2 is a major improvement from Halo: CE in a lot of ways, yet it is a step backwards in a number of ways. The graphics have improved, but at the cost of smaller and more linear levels. The weapon balancing is better, yet some weapons and features feel redundant. The multiplayer was amazing and still is for local play, but very few of the multiplayer maps properly utilize the gamesHalo 2 is a major improvement from Halo: CE in a lot of ways, yet it is a step backwards in a number of ways. The graphics have improved, but at the cost of smaller and more linear levels. The weapon balancing is better, yet some weapons and features feel redundant. The multiplayer was amazing and still is for local play, but very few of the multiplayer maps properly utilize the games vehicles. The story of Halo 2 has a higher focus on character development and world building yet it suffers from middle chapter syndrome. As a result Halo 2 stands with Halo 5 as one of the only two Halo games that really can't be enjoyed on its own. Halo 2 is still a major part of local competitive multiplayer scene, which is evidential of the impact this game has had on the multiplayer shooter through out the years. Expand
  91. Jun 28, 2018
    8
    Aside from the graphics, which are pretty dated by today's standards but were incredible for the time, Halo 2 is a FANTASTIC game! The story is one of my favorite Halo stories, and although it is hard on higher difficulties, if you are playing on easy or normal, pretty much anyone can play it and enjoy. I played the original Xbox version on a 360 via backwards compatibility, but if theAside from the graphics, which are pretty dated by today's standards but were incredible for the time, Halo 2 is a FANTASTIC game! The story is one of my favorite Halo stories, and although it is hard on higher difficulties, if you are playing on easy or normal, pretty much anyone can play it and enjoy. I played the original Xbox version on a 360 via backwards compatibility, but if the graphics are a problem, there is always the remastered version included with Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One. All the enemies are fun to fight, although personally, I thought the Brutes were more annoying than Jackal snipers. The Flood are in this game, but on the lower difficulties they are not THAT bad, and to me are pretty fun. The characters are all pretty likeable (Sergeant Johnson is my favorite), and it is cool that you do not just play as Master Chief, but also the Arbiter, a Covenant Elite. Both characters' storylines do intersect towards the end. The new weapons are also very fun. Although the assault rifle was removed, new weapons such as the battle rifle, the energy sword, the Carbine, the beam rifle, and the SMGs. Dual wielding of smaller weapons is a thing now, and it allows you to play around with cool weapon combos. The story is incredible, with many more characters and locations introduced, and it is probably my favorite Halo story. The new enemies are the Brutes and they are pretty cool, albeit frustrating at times. The biggest downfall is the cliffhanger ending, which will probably convince you to buy the equally awesome Halo 3. It has so much more of everything that was great about Halo: Combat Evolved. I could not recommend Halo 2 more. Expand
  92. Jun 8, 2018
    10
    O melhor Halo.
    Ótima jogabilidade
    História fantástica
    Gráficos lindos pra época
    Multiplayer excelente
    Trilha sonora memorável

    Recomendo a todos comprarem a Master Chief Collection e jogá-lo
  93. May 15, 2018
    8
    The ending was annoying, and playing as the Covenant was not as engaging as I was hoping, but it's still a great game. The combat and visuals are improved, but overall I didn't like it as much as CE.
  94. Apr 28, 2018
    9
    An incredible epic follow up sequel to the first original game! Halo 2 provides almost the same things from the first game but bigger, better, and with more weapons and vehicles! Halo 2 also has the unique game play of playing the story from two different unique characters point of view. The battles are fun and intense and this game does a good job at immersing you into the awesomeAn incredible epic follow up sequel to the first original game! Halo 2 provides almost the same things from the first game but bigger, better, and with more weapons and vehicles! Halo 2 also has the unique game play of playing the story from two different unique characters point of view. The battles are fun and intense and this game does a good job at immersing you into the awesome cinematic journey Halo takes you on! Despite the game having some what of an anti-climatic ending, Halo 2 is still must play sequel that worth the time and adventure. Expand
  95. Feb 15, 2018
    10
    My favourite Halo game ever, And the MCC version is amazing for single player still.
  96. Feb 12, 2018
    10
    В игре просто божественный саундтрек, все остальное тоже на уровне.
  97. Jan 20, 2018
    9
    The next installation in the Halo Series, it is great like its big brother combat evolved

    Graphics=9.5, AMAZING FOR THE TIME, So good Music=10, STILL EPIC LIKE CE Story=10, Just like CE, EPIC Story and amazing Replayability/Length=9, Worth it so good Gameplay=8, Very good, BUT **** HIGH CHARITY ON LEGENDARY IS SOOOOOOO **** HARD, very hard on legendary but fun, especially the
    The next installation in the Halo Series, it is great like its big brother combat evolved

    Graphics=9.5, AMAZING FOR THE TIME, So good
    Music=10, STILL EPIC LIKE CE
    Story=10, Just like CE, EPIC Story and amazing
    Replayability/Length=9, Worth it so good
    Gameplay=8, Very good, BUT **** HIGH CHARITY ON LEGENDARY IS SOOOOOOO **** HARD, very hard on legendary but fun, especially the multiplayer

    This leads to a grand total of .......

    93!

    Very fun and worth the experience, do it and you wont regret it
    Expand
  98. Oct 19, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. TL;DR at the bottom for those with little time to spare :)

    Halo 2 is a weird game for me to talk about. Probably my least favourite out of the Bungie Halo games, it still has a lot going for it, even if it's disappointments are greater than that of the last game.
    I'd like to set off covering the one thing I never covered on the previous review that I feel needs to be talked about. Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori I'd kiss you if I didn't live 3000+ miles away. The soundtracks to ALL of the Bungie Halo games is incredible but the stand out ensemble of songs across all the Halo games has to be Halo 2. Be it the sombre but heroic 'The Last Spartan' or the insanely good 'Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix', the emotional 'Unforgotten' or Breaking Benjamin's utterly badass 'Blow Me Away' Halo 2's soundtrack is the soundtrack you'd want playing when you go save the human race from mass extinction, and this game really does make you feel like a badass whilst doing it. The people over at Bungie must've been watching one too many an action movie because they added a few new mechanics that would make you feel like king of the battlefield.
    Introducing: Dual Wielding and Vehicle Hi-jacking. These two new, revolutionary features will make you feel like the star of Die Hard IN SPACE. Running around wielding two SMG's and kicking people out of Ghost's and then running them over with said Ghosts feels better than anything from any game prior. In addition to these two criminally fun features comes a whole host of new weapons and vehicles for you to get your virtual hands on. 14 weapons, almost double that of the original games arsenal (and a heavily nerfed Magnum....a little too nerfed) and an additional 2 vehicles have been added to the roster bringing the total up to 6. Another feature added was more in-depth customisation. Whilst Halo CE featured the ability to change your armour colour, Halo 2 boasts the ability to change armour primary and secondary colours, edit emblems and even change race to an Elite! Something else I didn't cover in Halo CE mainly because I'm unfamiliar with Halo CE's multiplayer was its maps. The majority of Halo CE's maps were basic and symmetrical, however Halo 2 features more interesting, well designed maps as well as the return of the ever-famous Blood Gulch. This made it easier for people like the lovely folks over at Rooster Teeth to make more convincing settings for their hit machinima series Red vs. Blue. The final heavy hitter in terms of multiplayer was of course the ground-breaking implementation of XBox Live. Halo 2 proved to be one of the most popular online games ever made and still had an active online community AFTER the release of Halo 3 on the next generation consoles. Some die-hard fans even managed to keep Halo 2 matchmaking alive after the servers were shut off for a short amount of time. This die-hard dedication is what led other developers such as those behind the Call of Duty games to take heavy inspiration from Halo's matchmaking system and implement very similar systems into their own games. The multiplayer is arguably the best part of Halo 2 due too all of these boundary breaking features, however the story, whilst having it's issues, still manages to impress in some areas. Halo 2's story was built solely to make you fell like a hero. You'd survived lost and often times alone on an alien ring. You're now back on Earth (for the first few missions anyways) and saving humanity. There are many a moment where you feel like the most badass soldier since DOOM. Punching a Prophet in the face, taking down a scarab and my favourite feature, being the f***ing Arbiter! Taking control of everyone's favourite Elite is satisfying as all hell. Cutting flood into pieces with your energy sword alongside your covenant troops. It's all insanely fun. The story arc of the Brutes usurping the Elites was also a very good set up for Halo 3 and the Elite rebellion; and Tartarus, the best 'main villain' in a Halo game to date was always fun to hate.

    However, Halo 2's campaign is also where the weaker points begin to show. Halo 2 was infamously unfinished. It's E3 demos showed off features that simply weren't there, and it's ending will go down in history as one of the most rage inducing endings of all time, ending on that cliff-hanger that nearly had many a person throwing down their controller in rage. Halo 2 is also plagued with rendering issues. Textures take several seconds to load in rather than right away and in soame cases (at least in my experience) not at all. However, as I wasn't familiar with Halo 2 on its release, I didn't experience the disappointment and so that is where my problems with the game end.

    TL;DR
    Stunning Soundtrack
    Amazing Multiplayer that makes you feel like a badass
    Good maps
    Additional armour customization is welcome
    Fun but disappointing put together campaign
    Texture glitches
    Magnum now doesn't even have the capacity to kill a fly...

    Final Score: 8/10
    Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2004
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2004
Metascore
95

Universal acclaim - based on 91 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 91
  2. Negative: 0 out of 91
  1. 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]
  2. 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.
  3. 100
    One of Halo 2 Online's best features - if not the best - is the statistics tracking system. [Online review]