Q
What kind of game is Halo 2?
A
Halo 2 is a story-driven action game featuring multiple weapons, vehicles and scenarios - as well as a robust multiplayer component.
Q
What systems is Halo 2 for Windows Vista available for?
A
As the name suggests, Halo 2 Vista will be brought to PCs with Windows Vista only. Of course you can always purchase Halo 2 for your Xbox or Xbox 360. There are currently no plans to bring Halo 2 to Mac, PlayStation 9 or the Commodore 64.
Q
Will Halo 2 Vista players be able to play against Halo 2 Xbox players?
A
No, Halo 2 Vista players will only be able to against other Vista owners.
Q
Does Halo 2 Vista support the Xbox 360 Controller?
A
Yes, the Xbox 360 controller will be fully supported by Halo 2 Vista.
Q
What are the minimum system requirements for Halo 2 Vista?
A
The Halo 2 Vista team is still hard at work fine-tuning the game so at this time we cannot give details on the minimum system requirements, but we'll let you know as soon as the picture becomes clearer.
Q
Does Halo 2 Vista support user-created content?
A
Yes, there will be a comprehensive package released to facilitate the generation of user-created content for Halo 2 Vista.
Q
Can I play my favorite Halo levels, like Blood Gulch, in Halo 2 Vista?
A
Not exactly. Bungie does not like to reuse old content, so we built four levels in homage to older Halo favorites. These are Coagulation (an aged, excavated version of Blood Gulch), Beaver Creek (a modified version of Battle Creek ), Warlock (a version of Wizard which has since been overrun by tropical growth) and Elongation (which answers the frequently asked question - what if Longest were a shipping room on a space station?). All should prove both familiar and surprising to fans of older maps. Another image map is Foundation, loosely based on an old Marathon map.
Q
What is the plot of Halo 2?
A
We won't discuss the full story here, since we'd prefer players enjoy the surprises while discovering them in-game, but so far we can confirm that the Covenant forces will attack Earth, and Master Chief will take the battle to the Covenant. As with the first Halo, there will be a few new twists that you definitely won't expect. To find out what they are, play Campaign mode and make sure to watch the cinematic cutscenes.
Q
What's new in Halo 2?
A
Lots. For example, Halo 2 will offer new vehicles, destructible environments, new weapons, online play, improved AI and more.
There are a lot of surprises you'll have to discover for yourself by playing the game, but you can read the rest of this FAQ for more details about new features.
Q
Are flying vehicles available in multiplayer games?
A
Players may control the Banshee, a Covenant air assault vehicle. In Campaign mode it can loop the loop, barrel roll and fire plasma mortars. In multiplayer, for reasons of fairness and balance, the mortar is disabled.
Q
What multiplayer game types will be offered in Halo 2?
A
Most of Halo's multiplayer modes have returned including Oddball, Slayer, CTF, etc.. In addition to these classics, we have some new modes, including Assault and Territories.
Q
Will there be multiplayer bots?
A
No. If you want to practice, you can do it against real people. You can however explore any multiplayer level you wish simply by starting an "empty" LAN match.
Q
Which characters will be returning in Halo 2?
A
Naturally the Chief will take center stage again in his efforts to save mankind from the Covenant threat. And what would MC do without his favorite AI construct Cortana?
Rumor has it that Sergeant Johnson may have miraculously survived his encounter on Halo too...
Q
What about the Music in Halo 2?
A
The same team responsible for Halo's award winning music and sound design outdid themselves for Halo 2. A soundtrack should be available from Sumthing Music as you read this. it features the orchestral pieces from Halo 2 as well as contributions from bands including Hoobastank and Breaking Benjamin.
Q
What new weapons are available in Halo 2?
A
Lots. The Battle Rifle is an evolved version of the original assault rifle and features increased accuracy, a scope, and a three-burst rate of fire. The SMG (Sub Machine Gun) is a rapid-fire pistol that trades a high volume of bullets for decreased accuracy. The Covenant Carbine is an energy based rifle weapon. A Particle Beam rifle provides the Covenant sniper equivalent. Also, as you now know, players will be able to wield the almightly Covenant energy sword.
Of course these are others, but some of them are revealed as part of the plot.
Q
What are the new Covenant races?
A
The Brute has been described as a cross between a gorilla and a rhino and is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. The Prophets have been referred to as "giant space popes" and they provide the political, religious and spiritual leadership in the Covenant. Drones are insect-like flying creatures with multiple skill sets. Returning Covenant creatures including Grunts and Elites, will be seen in new guises too.
As for the others... you'll just have to play and see.
Q
Are the Halo 2 environments interactive?
A
Yes! This time around, the worlds of Halo 2 feature destructible objects to add to the realism and strategy. Windows, columns and walls will shatter into pieces when they take damage. Enemy soldiers will be able to recognize these objects and strategically destroy them to make you an easier target. In addition, MC can blast through walls or seek shadows when stealth makes more sense than confrontation.
Q
Is the Artificial Intelligence improved over Halo?
A
Absolutely. The enemies in Halo were no slouches but this time around expect your opponents to be more cunning and tactical in their attempts to annihilate you. Covenant forces will use the environment to their advantage and make your job that much more difficult. You'll see the Covies scurrying under ledges, leaping over obstacles, and climbing up structures. They'll fluidly move with animal-like grace while talking and coordinating amongst their squads. It will take all of your wits and skill to overcome your adversaries this time around.
The Human forces are also smarter this time around. They'll work better as a team and drive vehicles with skill. The Marines also know how to take cover or point out an enemy sniper for an ally to take down.There are many subtle and dramatic instances of improved AI throughout the game.
Q
How has Master Chief changed?
A
Chief is using all new armor (Mjolnir Mark VI armor, to be precise) this time around, and the main difference apart from the visuals is its rapidly recharging energy shielding.
Q
Are there any hidden goodies in Halo 2?
A
Yes. As a matter of fact, there are. Go find 'em.
Q
How come Sergeant Johnson is still alive? He was on Halo when it blew up.
A
That's classified.
Q
I've completed Halo 2. Will there be a Halo 3?
A
Yep, Bungie has announced that its next game will be Halo 3.
Q
What is this "Party System" you speak of?
A
We realized pretty quickly that System Link LAN parties were pretty freakin' popular. We also realized that one of the reasons was that it's fun to play in a group with people you know and like, so we invented the "Party System" for Halo 2. Basically, you can create or join a party of up to 16 players, who can then stick together all night as one solid unit.
A party leader will decide on the rules, maps and weapons, or simply ove the party into an online game against other players (or parties). Any player can leave at any time, and should the party leader quit, those duties are simply transfered to another player.
This means that no matter what happens, the cohesive group of players can stick together all night, enjoy as many games as they like, switch maps and change things around, without the hassles associated with searching for friends or games. It's like a System Link LAN party, on Live.
Q
How does dual wielding work on Halo 2 Vista?
A
Virtually the same way it does on the Xbox. To dual wield, you simply approach a second weapon that is lying on the ground. You'll see the standard "press E to swap weapons" message appear in your HUD. However, if it's a one handed weapon, you will also see "Press and hold '' to dual wield". If you do that, you will pick up the gun in your left hand. Left click first the left weapon, right click fires the weapon in your right hand. You can't melee attack or throw grenades while dual wielding. You can stop dual wielding at any time by pressing melee attack (discards extra weapon and punches simultaneously) or by tapping 'T' to toss your secondary weapon. Of course, the keyboard layout is fully customizable and you can change any of the settings to your heart's content, or just use the controller.
Q
What's the energy sword like?
A
The energy sword, as you know from Halo 1, is one mean son-of-a--blam!-. It's a melee weapon that's great for up close and personal fighting. You can execute a series of strikes by hitting the melee attack button or a powerful uppercut by pulling the trigger. However, the energy sword is devastating when the lock on ability is used. When you close within range of an opponent, your reticule will turn red. If you pull the trigger you will lunge in for an instant one hit kill! It works vertically as well as laterally. Master it, and you'll become unstoppable.
Q
Boarding. Tell me about it. Now.
A
Boarding is accomplished by pressing the E button when a vehicle is close (and slow) enough. Vehicle boarding varies from vehicle to vehicle. The Ghost is the simplest, since pressing X ejects the current occupant and replaces him with you. The same thing is actually possible (but riskier) with a flying Banshee. All vehicles can be boarded, but some require finesse. The Wraith for example, can only be boarded after pummeling or grenading its occupant. And boarding a Warthog can be a two stage process, first ejecting the occupant and then fighting for control of the vehicle.
Q
Can I still use my old control schemes?
A
Although there are one or two minor differences, most of the control options from Halo have returned for Halo 2, including Boxer, Southpaw, Greenthumb and the like. The cool thing about Halo 2 however, is that you can change your controls while playing the game, simply by choosing "settings" from the pause menu.