- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
About the New Mombasa Battle Rifle production problem theory. There's really no reason why they couldn't produce it there. Africa is not necessarily going to be poor in Halo 2. Remember one world government so the economical status of different cities even on different continents should not vary too much. Each city/territory probably just has remnants of it's country's native culture and religions but otherwise is consistent with the rest of the world. So as far as the story line is concerned it could be very possible. Besides keep in mind people it is a game and introducing new weapons cant always line up with the story line for obvious reasons.
Anyway I for one don't think the assault rifle should be in Halo 2 because to be honest I never ever use it. Well, except for flood popcorn guys (by the way if anybody knows the official name for those things, please tell me), to light up a cammo-ed enemy, or to go invisible faster after just picking up cammo. I never ever use it as an offensive weapon either against covenant or multiplayer Spartans and quite frankly I despise players who use it. I consider it disrespectful. Between pistol and assault rifle I always prefer pistol 10 to 1 even at close range. There are a lot of weapons that are better than pistol at close range but between pistol and assault rifle I will always opt for pistol. A lot of newbies automatically think it's better than the pistol just because its bigger. This bigger is better mentality is foolish because it's not about how big the weapon is it's more about your ability to use it and the assault rifle doesn't really have a very large margin of difference in talent. For example with a sniper rifle there is a vast difference in players abilities, also with the pistol and even the rocket launcher requires more talent (at least to use it effectively) than the assault rifle. See with the rocket launcher you have to develop a sense of relativity and be able to compensate for the delay when timing and placing your rockets especially against a vehicle which only comes with experience. However with the assault rifle there is really no difference between a newbie and a seasoned veteran using it.
However I don't believe the pistol or assault rifle will be in Halo 2 merely because of the need to maintain a sense of balance. Another instance in which more is not necessarily better. See I believe that the default weapons in Halo 2 will be the Battle Rifle and an SMG. The only statement in any way claiming that all Halo: Combat Evolved weapons will be in Halo 2 that I know of at least was the UGO Halo 2 preview article that simply stated, "Of course, there are many more [weapons] that have yet to be revealed, but the old standards are sure to be there as well." However in the E3 2004 Weekly Update Special Frankie stated, "And speaking of the battle rifle, people seemed to enjoy its intricacies. When in normal mode, it fires short bursts of fire, but zoomed, it fires single rounds, reminiscent of the pistol." Which leads me to believe that the pistol will not be in Halo 2, but who knows. Bungie has just sort of avoided clarifying either way. If anyone has any other form of proof that all old weapons will be included please post or email me. My email: [email]abijah@webdesignartist.net[/email]
I think you all have grown fond off the assault rifle merely because it epitomizes Halo. When people think Halo they envision a screenshot of a warthog being chased down by a banshee with a marine in the gunner on the actual level Halo. Virtually every screenshot Bungie has ever released with the MC in it has him holding an assault rifle. Even on the cover of the cd case. You never once see him with a pistol. As well as all the cut scenes in the game have him carrying an assault rifle, but regardless even I hate to loose a weapon. I have a soft spot in my heart for all of them, but I believe after a while we will learn to embrace the battle rifle as we did the pistol because I have a feeling it is the weapon that will be there for you through the good times and the bad in the same way that the pistol was so reliable in Halo: Combat Evolved. I don't know about you but if I don't have the pistol as one of my two weapons all the time I felt like I have my pants down or something. I never ever trade it off. Especially in multiplayer. The pistol always accompanies a more specialized weapon. For example pistol with plasma pistol. The plasma pistol to take down shields and the pistol for head shots.
Anyway I am really looking forward to the Battle Rifle. I really think the three shot bursts it deals zoomed out and single slugs at 2x is absolutely genius. Kudos to Bungie on that one. As far as wimpy? No, but I do believe it will be slightly weaker than the pistol of Halo: Combat Evolved. Once again leading to a greater balance. Many people, I for one, believe that the pistol is almost too powerful in the right hands, but that is the beauty of it: its only powerful if you have, “the right hands.” : ) Anyway I am sure I will be happy with the game no matter what they decide because they're Bungie and I'm sure they will make the right decision.