Halo follows the tradition of many technological advances of the past. Lotus, for instance, was the first killer app that gave computers a use while Halo was the killer app that made Xbox a competitor in the console market made the Xbox the king of the LAN party market. Now, with Halo 2, Xbox live has taken the next step in shooters. The new addition of the ability to create groups/guilds/clans (whatever you want to name them) to form and hold multi-player group matches worldwide on a console over the internet makes Halo 2 another killer app on the cutting edge of innovation.

I watched the intro movie and caught the subtle puns about my uniform, but also caught the part about the ammo buff on the weapon being tough enough to shoot down Covenant ships and the regeneration charge up speed being faster. The story stars you playing as Master Chief, and the scapegoat, the Covenant Halo ring guardian, from the Halo original at the start. I must have missed the part about the Covenant haven’t been just practicing their “run and yell”, or their “bring a buddy” tactics. They have more of a kick butt and forget the names attitude now. The AI intelligence has increased tremendously and it will even take into account if you are playing co-op with a friend and make it even tougher. It even seems that the AI will hunt you down, as well. There are some nice positive AI improvements to the humans, too. Your teammates track the enemy better and act like a fighting unit which makes playing the game even more enjoyable. An NPC will drive the Warthog, a HumVee like vehicle, and even ride in the passenger seat and shoot at enemies while you man the tail weapon causing mass destruction. Though there are no guarantees that your driver will be in the Petty or Gordon class, you can always boot the driver and let the driver use the tail weapon while you handle the wheel. I have heard the normal level is easier, but going up the scale to legendary is definitely a very intense experience.

When you first star the game, you are on the capital starship Cairo, circling the Earth with a Mark VI gun for protection. Cortana, the female artificial-intelligence, is and still has her old sweetness--plus a little extra. This time around, she only travels in your suit mind every once in a while. I think she found a safer place than a hood ornament for your helmet with intelligence. Then, the meeting is adjourned -- lock and load!

The excitement builds as the wall blasts through and in come the first wave of Covenant. I was thinking back, and maybe it was a senior moment, but these looked like the tough guys from the last Halo and we are just starting! It sure was nice of the developers to provide help in the beginning or I think the war would be over very quickly! We waxed them, but I am sure the casualties were high since they send you pretty much alone for the rest of the mission.

Your first mission is to repel Covenant boarders and find the Covenant bomb; only a Covenant could lose a bomb on someone else’s ship. I played on the normal mode for the first time through, thinking I would be skilled enough to handle it. It takes more than skill now, BRAINS has to fit in their some place. I went in like a man on a mission (you know how that male macho ego can get into the way sometimes) and got to start over quite soon and the voice in back on mind told me that I had better come up with a plan “B”. The second time went much smoother which means that I almost survived. The third time, thankfully, was the charm. The initial encounter provides such a rush that you will find yourself sitting and playing out the rest of the story until your legs go numb. You play for the protection of Earth to start off this series, and then the plot thickens. As for the rest of the story--I don’t think it would be right for me to explain it all….go experience it for maximum pleasure.

The story in Halo 2 is excellent! It is a pleasure to watch the movie cut-scenes between missions and it gets you immersed and ready for the action once the gameplay resumes. The story is a major driving force for the enjoyment of the game as it simply sucks you into the universe. The artwork and AI development has advanced light years since the first Halo; so much so that naming it Halo 2 was the only thing I thought they might have spent a bit more imagination on.

I went on Xbox Live and beat a few opponents there but lucky for me I was the server and set up the game parameters. I got a Scorpion, the largest human tank available, and they got the equivalent of Swiss Army Knives. They were close battles but I pulled off a couple of them. This is the part of Halo 2 that makes this game’s longevity last beyond the normal game life of just the single player campaign.

With the statistic collecting and rankings available at Bungie.com, you can set up your own militia and see how you and your team rank in the world. There is nothing like the online matches in Halo 2. Some of the maps are huge and others very intricate and the play options selection are second to none. There are maps that can be equipped for vehicle fighting, allowing you to have your own Banshee wars or take a Ghost out for a joy-ride drive-by shooting spree. Go ahead and grab the Scorpion Tank and make life miserable for land and air foes. Be good, be quick and know the maps like back of your hand.

In order to maximize your gameplay experience, here are a few tips that you might find useful.