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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Halo 2
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 32 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 85 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie Software
Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action
Players: 16
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: May 22, 2007
Summary
The saga continues with Halo 2 the international award-winning sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved. In this sequel, the battle comes to Earth, and Master Chief, a genetically enhanced super soldier, is the only thing standing between the relentless alien Covenant and the destruction of all humankind. Exciting Single-Player Gameplay: Experience first hand the epic struggle between Master Chief and the Covenant armada. Brandish dual-wield weapons Covenant arms and pilot human and non-human vehicles and aircraft to battle intelligent AI alien enemies. Halo 2 for Windows Vista taps into the power of Live Anywhere, a service similar to Xbox Live, to deliver online matchmaking for PC gamers. The service enables Windows Vista gamers all over the globe to connect via their PCs and play on an innovative and competitive online forum. New Multiplayer Map Editor: The game also features the all-new new Map Editor, guaranteeing additional new, fan-generated content in the future. The Halo 2 community can now tap their endless creative potential to develop an unlimited number of user-created multiplayer levels. Complete Community Freedom: Halo 2 for Windows Vista offers gamers the freedom to host their own dedicated servers for maximum multiplayer action. [Microsoft]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Halo Pimps at Sea
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameFAQs
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
GameZone
Even two years later the game is easily one of the most exciting experiences in the gaming world. The online play upgrades and new fancy look will please even the staunchiest of PC elite players.
Read Full Review >GamerNode
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.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
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.
Read Full Review >Pelit (Finland)
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]
GamingTrend
While the single player may end like a car crash, the multiplayer seems to live forever.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
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.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
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.
Read Full Review >Worth Playing
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.
Read Full Review >ActionTrip
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.
Read Full Review >IGN
Gamers who have already upgraded to Vista will find that Halo 2's Live service offers some convenient and interesting multiplayer options.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
The gameplay and action do get intense but it does not break any new grounds for video game enthusiasts. [*only Single Player considered]
Read Full Review >GamePro
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?
Read Full Review >Computer Games Online RO
And even though I played Halo 2 on the Xbox, I personally didn’t wait three years just for the map editor and dedicated server or to be charged for wanting to host an in-game server or talk to my friends via voice chat. Sorry Microsoft, but this time you really screwed up.
Read Full Review >GameTrailers
Halo’s track record has been impeccable up to this point, but its first outing on the PC comes off as little more than a ploy to get users to upgrade to Vista.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Considering people were claiming Halo 3 wasn’t stretching the limits of graphical prowess on the Xbox 360 in the recent beta test, it’s doubtful that a barely upgraded Halo 2 is going to wow anyone.
Read Full Review >GamingExcellence
Halo 2 is Vista only. It doesn’t offer any new features, gameplay, graphics, or audio. It took three years to arrive. But it is still Halo 2 and does rock to play with friends.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Halo 2 for Vista is a solid game that probably won't appeal to anyone who's played any recent high-profile PC shooters.
Read Full Review >GameDaily
Although the game received a significant facelift with high-resolution textures to provide a sharper look, the graphical progression of more recent shooters leaves this improved Halo 2 feeling like a 2004 game.
Read Full Review >Gamers' Temple
I expected more of Halo 2 on Vista, and I suspect that you’ll feel the same way too.
Read Full Review >GameShark
Ultimately, if you've had your fill of Halo 2 on the Xbox then there's not a lot to lure you to buy the game again for the PC.
Read Full Review >PC Gamer
Halo 2 for the PC is too little, too late. [July 2007, p.66]
PC Gamer UK
Halo 2, you see, isn't truly awful, it's just achingly, repulsively mediocre, with a galumphing, clumsy story, poorly orchestrated action and bad music. It lacks bombast to the point where the nuclear destruction of a city on Earth doesn't seem all that dramatic. [June 2006, p.80]
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
It wasn't as good as the original when we got it on Xbox; on PC it's just too little, too late. [Aug 2007, p.81]
PC Format
Christ on a bike, though, it's ugly. I mean like school bus traffic accident ugly. [June 2007, p.52]
PC Zone UK
The Halo 2 Vista experience is as forgettable as it is tardy and somewhat deptressing. [July 2007, p.72]
GameSpy
The long delay, outdated graphics, crazy system requirements and the clunky Games for Windows LIVE system are show-stopping obstacles to what should have been a great port of a great game more than a year ago.
Read Full Review >VideoGamer
With a 360 controller plugged into your PC Halo 2 for Vista is a decent, if rather dated FPS. For a game that is spearheading Microsoft's new operating system though, it's just not good enough.
Read Full Review >Game Almighty
Though Microsoft's Games for Windows Live is an interesting system, they shouldn't have used a poor port of Halo 2 to demonstrate it, and instead focused on creating a great new title for the PC.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 5.0 (out of 10) based on 85 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mr. Orange gave it a6:
An FPS that does not withstand the test of time.
Philip H. gave it a6:
Not much better or worse than the first one. Better graphics (except for all the glitches) but worse story and gameplay. Mostly a waste of time. This should have killed the developement of the Halo franchise.
Sam F. gave it an8:
Not really sure why so many people are giving so many bad reviews. The PC Version graphics were crisp and enjoyed the new gameplay which included jacking vehicles and exchanging weapons. The storyline and you playing the covenant at first Was a turn off but was interested in their side of the story. Not perfect controls but added enough to make it a great sequel.
Phil K. gave it a0:
Commercial product made for forcing us to buy Vista, the game play is bad, gfx are hugly........ CSS is better.
Pete gave it a4:
Horrible.....not nearly as good as the original and probably should have stayed on the shelf...yuck.
Ian I. gave it an8:
Graphics are much crisper than the xbox version (which used horrible streaming) and the online play (and new achievemnet system) is much smoother faster and just generaly better. The single player is still one of the worst of any game ever made. The graphics and textures on the level design looks exceptionaly dated next to the much more detailed modles of the MC and the in game arcitecture is rather uninspiring. This is a very solid title held back by microsofts decision to make it vista only and to wait over 5 years to port to PC. This would have been a good title if only so much time hadn't passed that the game started to look and feel dated. Gameplay elements are very solid, quite possibly better than the original. To the user that stated he was getting lag and the user who was getting crashes, I had no such problems, but then again I have a brand new top of the line mechine.
dog day gave it a3:
Sluggish controls causing lag in movement ruined it for me.
