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. 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
  2. Uper
    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. Robert88
    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. ChipsAreGood
    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. RocketManDD75
    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. BikerNotes863
    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. Tte93
    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. EnYadir43
    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. DancerofBorel
    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. wiredspore44
    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. Aldo_Glz
    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. Hayaow93
    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. Hydroman220
    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. Poorman3
    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. GrownT839
    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. RuthlessMan82
    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. Hyron
    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. Padro
    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. Hire
    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. RumCritic
    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. Goronox
    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. Haekan
    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. LastCritic2
    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. PlagueMan
    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. Trevorman
    Dec 23, 2020
    10
    Halo 2 came so strong. Easily one of the best shooters and sequels ever made.
  26. Montes6384
    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. Humbleman200
    Dec 21, 2020
    10
    Probably the best fps shooter out there...? I mean halo 3 was great but this was something else entirely.
  28. AnimalK
    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. Skurttish
    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. Carmina45
    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.
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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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