Halo 2 was a system seller on the Xbox; on the PC it's simply a good, but run-of-the-mill shooter. This new Games for Windows branded version of Halo 2 offers pretty much the same gameplay experience as its last-gen console counterpart. The only other differences are primarily cosmetic, with the inclusion of a couple of extra multiplayer maps, use of the new Games for Windows Live gaming service, higher resolution graphics and a much-preferred keyboard and mouse interface.
In Halo 2 you not only renew your role as everyone's favorite Spartan II war-hero, Master Chief, you also spend a considerable portion of the game playing for the other side, as an elite Covenant soldier, called the Arbiter. This role-reversal has its benefits, carrying forward the storyline from a new perspective, but it's also sure to turn off any gamer who wants keep their feet grounded only in the Master Chief's boots.
Like the first game, Halo 2 starts off slow… for all of about 60 seconds. After that, it's all running and gunning with the occasional timeout to watch a short cinematic or wait for your protective shield to recharge after your opponents have used you for dartboard practice. While there are a variety of weapons at your disposal, of both human and alien in nature, ammunition is almost always a precious commodity and no matter what instrument of destruction is your favorite you inevitably end up having to drop it in favor of something that has a fresh battery or ample rounds of ammo. One cool option at your disposal, though, is to dual-wield one-handed weapons –of which there are many, which allows you to alternate your firing hand using the left or right mouse buttons.
Graphically, the game really makes you wonder what's with its Windows Vista only system requirement. It looks like a crisper, brighter version of Halo 2 on the Xbox. F.E.A.R. and Half-Life 2 this is not. Hell, it's not even Call of Duty 2. In fact, the only fathomable reason for this to be a Vista-only title is that its integration with Microsoft's Games for Windows Live service and "tray and play" - the ability to play the game while it actually installs in the background. That seems a huge price to pay in terms of cutting off your potential audience simply to drive forward a new platform. Nobody –I repeat— nobody should upgrade their Windows XP system to Windows Vista purely to play this game. If you are that dedicated to the Halo franchise, you have most likely played it on an Xbox two years ago.
With good, but routine, action and graphical frills that are ho-hum at best, it's up to the story to take this game from enjoyable diversion to a must-play. And, for a while, it does. This is Halo, after all. There's a reason it became the killer-app franchise for the Xbox. But what starts out as a compelling narrative that drives both you and the action forward eventually degenerates into a somewhat confusing mass of twisted loyalties and murky motivations across the cast of characters. The cliffhanger ending, if you somehow haven't heard about it, comes unexpectedly and many will feel like it leaves the game unfinished. Even each chapter of a movie trilogy has its own climax and denouement. This isn't an episode of Heroes that'll pick up next week or in a few months. Asking gamers to hold their anticipation in check for the years that go by between Halo releases isn't just unfair, it's unnecessarily cruel and, for many, it'll be a bitter pill to choke down. That's a shame given that most of the game is a very enjoyable experience.
The multiplayer action can be run through a local network or through the new Games for Windows Live service, the new PC counterpart to Xbox Live. If you already have a ”gold" Xbox Live account, you'll be glad to know that your money grants you the same status on Windows Live, so there's no extra fees. If, however, you're not on Xbox Live, you just got ripped, since you'll need an extra $60 (annually) to get access to Halo 2's online matchmaking services.
You can still create a Games for Windows Live account and get access to basic Live network services, like your friends list, messaging and achievements, but to get to the stuff that actually -you know, matters- you have to pony up. The extra cost is a shame too, because the matchmaking services are incredibly easy to use to get up and running in a multiplayer game. But while at any given time there's plenty of open games to be had, the real question is just how many players there will be once this game has been out for a few months? After all, we are talking about a Vista-only port of an Xbox game that came out years ago, at a time when most Halo junkies are paying far more attention to the upcoming Xbox 360 release of Halo 3.
