- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Interesting poll, I hope it doesn't turn into a flame-fest. But here's some semi-informed speculation on the subjects:
-I seriously doubt there will be bots. Though Bungie has said that there will be game modes that will help out those without Live. Assaut mode with regular AI? hmmmm......
-Offline Stat Tracking is one of the greatest features on games like Perfect Dark for the N64. That would be awesome, I have three Halo characters on my box that are just mine, I'd love to see how I fare with each of them, what I tend to use with them, and basically build one into a badass, stat-wise.
-They are going for 2 player coop and I would probably put some money on them trying for four, but I'm not going to hold my breath on it. Boy would I love that though...
-Coop Campaign over XBox Live is an absolute must in my mind. If they don't have it I will be completely heartbroken. Coop is my favorite way to play Halo, but I can't get anybody to ever play with me. I have plenty of friends on XBox Live that would play that with me though. Plus it would be completely innovative. Rainbow Six 3 tried with the missions, but that game is sub-par in every direction, if you ask me.
-No custom soundtrack....MARTY IS A GENIUS! There is no reason what-so-ever to include custom tracks. Halo is a masterpiece, and partly so because of its music and sound. Halo 2 will not fall short of perfection, and sound buffs like me know it's because of Marty and the rest of the sound team holdin' up their end. Most games you lose the graphics you lose the game, Halo 1 and 2, you still have incredible sound and music.
-Easier and shorter than Halo????? They've already said that the levels in Halo 2 are going to dwarf even AOTCR. I am, though, worried about too much emphasis being put on vehicles. Though I love them, I'd rather sneak around a corner and take out an elite and all his squad with a plasma grenade than barrel through the country side in a warthog letting my marine blast all the enemies. Silent Cartographer had the perfect balance of vehicle, outside/inside battling, and foot travel in it.
-32 may happen with 8 boxes, all depends on the packet sizes. Fingers crossed.
-Frames Per Second will be excellent, look for almost no lag. Packet sizes, again, will be much smaller. If you've played Halo on XBC then you know there is slow down and fps drops, but the packet sizes are not made for internet travel, they're made for LAN. This time around, it is completely tweaked to XBox Live. I have no doubt that your Live experience in Halo 2 will absolutely change the way you play on Live.