WrathfulPoppa
11-06-2003, 10:29 AM
Halo 2 Preview
by: Matt Pearce
Disclaimer:
All of the information I have put together has come from either Bungie themselves or other trustworthy previews. I have not scanned message boards or chain mails or anything of this nature for information. However, being that this IS A PREVIEW, all information presented is subject to change. This preview may be printed, copied, and linked to without limitation. If you plan on adding my preview to your website via copy and paste, though, you must contact me, or if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, e-mail them to me at zig@k.st
(note, I am Matt Pearce so its not a violation of my disclaimer to post this here but if you want to link to this preview, don't link to it here, link to it at my site at Halo2.owns.it)
Preview:
Familiarize Yourself:
Halo: Combat Evolved was rightfully named the best FPS (First Person Shooter) on any console or system ever. Bungie, the creators of the original Halo, are now working on the sequel to this incredible game. If you've ever played the original Halo, you know why this has gamers everywhere so excited. The original Halo featured an intriguing and captivating single player story line, coupled with intense multiplayer either on a single Xbox or a network of Xboxes. Halo 2 will feature all of these aspects and will include Xbox Live, Xbox's Internet multiplayer service. With the capability of live voice chat via the Xbox Live Starter Kit's microphone and the ability to host an unlimited number of games with many people in each at the same time, Xbox Live is the best online multiplayer service for any console.
Overview:
But enough about the peripherals, you're here to read about the game. It will feature massive, beautifully detailed environments with bump mapping at every turn (the original Halo' s environments were bump mapped but the 3D models themselves were not, they WILL be in Halo 2). There will also be a number of new weapons and vehicles with the ability to hold a gun in each hand. This amazing feature will allow you to fire each gun separately with each controller trigger respectively. Some of the new weapons include the "Battle Rifle" the SMG, and POSSIBLY a flamethrower! Bungie has said that they will only include the flamethrower if every flammable object in the environment can be set on fire.
Graphics:
One disappointment from the original Halo was the somewhat repetitive levels. They literally had to place arrows on the floors so you wouldn't get lost. Bungie stated that this was due to the fact that Xbox needed Halo as a console launching title so they had to rush the completion of the game. They have said that the levels in Halo 2 will not be like this, they are taking all of the time necessary to finish this game including all of the features they want. This is why they pushed back the release date from the Christmas season of 2003 to (prospectively) March of 2004. One such feature is the dynamic lighting that shifts as objects move. In other words, when master chief hefts his assault rifle up, not only will it leave a real-time shadow on the ground, it will also leave the shadow on his body! Along with per-pixel shading, these dynamic lighting effects will create a stunningly realistic environment. Very few games have even attempted this due to the complexity and the sheer power a system would require to use it. What can I say? Bungie is pulling it off for us. Another feature that the dynamic lighting will help to provide is destructible and movable environments. If you've seen the Halo 2 real time demonstration video then you already know what I'm talking about. Walls being blown to pieces, signs and billboards falling over and exploding, and my personal favorite, physically accurate, explosive vehicles. PS2 and Gamecube, step down.
Artificial Intelligence:
The game's AI has also been given a massive overhaul. Completely scrapping the original Halo's AI structure, Bungie has created an entirely new AI system. Your allied marines will talk to each other, giving them tactical information. The covenant will be much more realistic with their strategy and interaction with their fellow fighters and the environment. If, for example, you were to fire into the midst of a group of covenant and then ran off, they would send out a search party for you. The rest of the group would stay back and prepare for a second attack in whatever ways available. They will also take advantage of lighting and the environment. If for example you are fighting with an Elite, he might hide behind a billboard. If this billboard were destroyed, though, he would immediately seek other cover or begin fighting with you. The covenant will also be equipped with flashlights as you were in the original Halo. They will use these to find you if you are hiding in a dark area (much like real life... coincidence? I think not). Another feature that will help with the game's immersive qualities will be the AI's interaction with the real-time lighting. Didn't it suck when you were in complete darkness and the elite on the other side of the room (that you couldn't see) could see you as bright as day? You didn't stand a chance! Now the AI will modify itself depending on lighting situations. If, for example, you went into a small corridor and shot out the lights (you really can shoot out the lights!), surrounding yourself in darkness, a covenant searching for you would not be able to see you, unless, of course, he whips out his flashlight which will also render real-time lighting effects. The AI has now been revamped to allow for better NPC drivers. Your marines can now hop in the driver's seat while you grab the gunner's spot, shooting down covenant transports (which are destructible this time around) with various stationary weapons. On the subject of the warthog's stationary weapons, I have a few speculations. We already know there is going to be a minigun warthog, but the E3 Real-Time Demonstration video shows another type of warthog. Though it hasn't been stated what kind of weapon it was, I'm going to assume it is either a gauss cannon or some type of plasma weaponry stolen from the covenant arsenal. Another type of warthog that may be introduced into Halo 2 is the rocket warthog. This style of warthog was introduced in the Halo for PC. Bungie hasn't said ANYTHING about releasing this on Halo 2 but coupled with the speculated flamethrower and banshees in multiplayer that were in Halo for PC... I'm assuming all three will be there along with the covenants' fuel rod cannon. Bungie HAS TO include everything that we've loved from the previous games in Halo 2, otherwise the consumers would be disappointed, and they wouldn't want that now would they... Would you Bungie? *Commences evil stare*
Continued below:
by: Matt Pearce
Disclaimer:
All of the information I have put together has come from either Bungie themselves or other trustworthy previews. I have not scanned message boards or chain mails or anything of this nature for information. However, being that this IS A PREVIEW, all information presented is subject to change. This preview may be printed, copied, and linked to without limitation. If you plan on adding my preview to your website via copy and paste, though, you must contact me, or if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, e-mail them to me at zig@k.st
(note, I am Matt Pearce so its not a violation of my disclaimer to post this here but if you want to link to this preview, don't link to it here, link to it at my site at Halo2.owns.it)
Preview:
Familiarize Yourself:
Halo: Combat Evolved was rightfully named the best FPS (First Person Shooter) on any console or system ever. Bungie, the creators of the original Halo, are now working on the sequel to this incredible game. If you've ever played the original Halo, you know why this has gamers everywhere so excited. The original Halo featured an intriguing and captivating single player story line, coupled with intense multiplayer either on a single Xbox or a network of Xboxes. Halo 2 will feature all of these aspects and will include Xbox Live, Xbox's Internet multiplayer service. With the capability of live voice chat via the Xbox Live Starter Kit's microphone and the ability to host an unlimited number of games with many people in each at the same time, Xbox Live is the best online multiplayer service for any console.
Overview:
But enough about the peripherals, you're here to read about the game. It will feature massive, beautifully detailed environments with bump mapping at every turn (the original Halo' s environments were bump mapped but the 3D models themselves were not, they WILL be in Halo 2). There will also be a number of new weapons and vehicles with the ability to hold a gun in each hand. This amazing feature will allow you to fire each gun separately with each controller trigger respectively. Some of the new weapons include the "Battle Rifle" the SMG, and POSSIBLY a flamethrower! Bungie has said that they will only include the flamethrower if every flammable object in the environment can be set on fire.
Graphics:
One disappointment from the original Halo was the somewhat repetitive levels. They literally had to place arrows on the floors so you wouldn't get lost. Bungie stated that this was due to the fact that Xbox needed Halo as a console launching title so they had to rush the completion of the game. They have said that the levels in Halo 2 will not be like this, they are taking all of the time necessary to finish this game including all of the features they want. This is why they pushed back the release date from the Christmas season of 2003 to (prospectively) March of 2004. One such feature is the dynamic lighting that shifts as objects move. In other words, when master chief hefts his assault rifle up, not only will it leave a real-time shadow on the ground, it will also leave the shadow on his body! Along with per-pixel shading, these dynamic lighting effects will create a stunningly realistic environment. Very few games have even attempted this due to the complexity and the sheer power a system would require to use it. What can I say? Bungie is pulling it off for us. Another feature that the dynamic lighting will help to provide is destructible and movable environments. If you've seen the Halo 2 real time demonstration video then you already know what I'm talking about. Walls being blown to pieces, signs and billboards falling over and exploding, and my personal favorite, physically accurate, explosive vehicles. PS2 and Gamecube, step down.
Artificial Intelligence:
The game's AI has also been given a massive overhaul. Completely scrapping the original Halo's AI structure, Bungie has created an entirely new AI system. Your allied marines will talk to each other, giving them tactical information. The covenant will be much more realistic with their strategy and interaction with their fellow fighters and the environment. If, for example, you were to fire into the midst of a group of covenant and then ran off, they would send out a search party for you. The rest of the group would stay back and prepare for a second attack in whatever ways available. They will also take advantage of lighting and the environment. If for example you are fighting with an Elite, he might hide behind a billboard. If this billboard were destroyed, though, he would immediately seek other cover or begin fighting with you. The covenant will also be equipped with flashlights as you were in the original Halo. They will use these to find you if you are hiding in a dark area (much like real life... coincidence? I think not). Another feature that will help with the game's immersive qualities will be the AI's interaction with the real-time lighting. Didn't it suck when you were in complete darkness and the elite on the other side of the room (that you couldn't see) could see you as bright as day? You didn't stand a chance! Now the AI will modify itself depending on lighting situations. If, for example, you went into a small corridor and shot out the lights (you really can shoot out the lights!), surrounding yourself in darkness, a covenant searching for you would not be able to see you, unless, of course, he whips out his flashlight which will also render real-time lighting effects. The AI has now been revamped to allow for better NPC drivers. Your marines can now hop in the driver's seat while you grab the gunner's spot, shooting down covenant transports (which are destructible this time around) with various stationary weapons. On the subject of the warthog's stationary weapons, I have a few speculations. We already know there is going to be a minigun warthog, but the E3 Real-Time Demonstration video shows another type of warthog. Though it hasn't been stated what kind of weapon it was, I'm going to assume it is either a gauss cannon or some type of plasma weaponry stolen from the covenant arsenal. Another type of warthog that may be introduced into Halo 2 is the rocket warthog. This style of warthog was introduced in the Halo for PC. Bungie hasn't said ANYTHING about releasing this on Halo 2 but coupled with the speculated flamethrower and banshees in multiplayer that were in Halo for PC... I'm assuming all three will be there along with the covenants' fuel rod cannon. Bungie HAS TO include everything that we've loved from the previous games in Halo 2, otherwise the consumers would be disappointed, and they wouldn't want that now would they... Would you Bungie? *Commences evil stare*
Continued below: