HALO II ROCKS!

At last! I have completed Halo 2.

To its credit, Halo 2 is a spectacular achievement. It combines the best of first person shooters with a talented cast of voices. The script itself is worthy of a film. The dialogue is never cheesy and the plot is captivating. Did I mention the score contains some of the best music out in 2004?

The game graphics are brilliant in clarity, especially in S-Video mode, and the game is smooth with minimal loading times. The plot revolves around a mysterious object floating in space, Halo, which has captivated the interest of an alien oligarchy. There are hierarchies of power within the alien world and the ruling elites are religious zealots who want to activate the Halo. They send many brave worriers to do so. The humans, on the other hand, have discovered the destructive potential of Halo and want to, as in the prequel, destroy it. To say the least, aliens and humans clash in spectacular battle sequences where the player utilizes all sorts of weapons and battle tanks. (Think Starship Troopers with heavier artillery, darker environments, and smarter aliens.)

Before the game possibilities are exhausted, the player is thrown a curve ball. The leader of the alien warrior clan is banished, and ends up venturing on his own under your guidance. The game ends in a cliffhanger that is intended to spawn at least one more sequel and with a truce between the humans and some of the cooler aliens.

This game is a must have for anyone who plays video games. It accomplishes what so many others have failed to do; overwhelm the player with emotion and grand adventure. And if you don’t have an X-Box by now, than you need to make the investment and buy one just to play this title and its prequel. I know I did.