- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Megalith
It's just my opinion, but the 2004 presentation of HALO 2 was a disaster. However, it isn't your fault, Bungie. It's only logical to show multiplayer since you did show what was to be expected in Campaign mode in last year's phenomenal display at E3. But didn't you notice how the crowd hesitated before clapping at the end of the showing? That's right. People were dissapointed. You see, there was actually nothing shown. Where is sprinting? Where is the new HUD that Frankie was talking about? Where is the ATV? Come on now. Unfortunately, there were also glaring problems that I could not ignore.
Nothing was shown? Bungie showed us heaps... but not everything - like they're supposed to.
1. The reload animation for the Battle Rifle is extremely ugly. What happened to the original reload animation showcased in the E3 2003 demo. It was far superior. Also, seeing MC hold the Battle Rifle in his hand makes me want to puke. I believe it is due to the bump-mapping affecting the sense of depth, but his arm basically looks like a stiff ass log while holding it. He is simply holding it wrong, and would never hold the weapon that way unless it was very close to his body. The arm should be angled, and you should only see part of his wrist and his hand, like the E3 2003 demo.
Personally I don't think this was that bad... In the words of an IGN writer "They could totally ruin the graphics and I'd still play this game"...
2. Homing rockets are stupid. Please take them out immediately. What I recommend is taking away the homing capability for the SPNKr, and granting the function solely to the Warthog-mounted Rocket Launcher or Stationary RL. This balances it out some more, so we don't have every moron on Earth abusing the function and shooting off rockets without any skill required. Believe me, keeping a reticle on a target does not require any skill. See, there is a certain satisfaction with having to judge exactly how far and when to shoot a rocket to blow your opponent sky-high in the original, and I hope a similar expertise is required in the sequel.
I thought the new rockets looked good, and I doubt Bungie will make it anything other than balenced...
3. Plasma Sword looks horrible. Sorry, this is the truth. Can anyone please tell me what happened to the effects from the E3 2003 demo? The swords look absolutely fantastic in that presentation, with the glowing plasma effect, making them very alive. In HALO 2 MP, they look like a piece of crap you would buy from Toys 'R Us. They just look flat and uninspired. Also, why would the PS be ignited on the ground? Can we get some sense in here? When you pick it up from the ground, it should just be the handle, and when you do, it should ignite, just like they do in the 2003 demo.
That's all.
Flat and uninspired? did you not see the electricity sparking up between the blades? did you not see the blades pulsing with colour?
Why would the PS be ignited on the ground? simple... so you can see it. Oh, and because it hasn't been turned off...
I think you've watched too much of the 2003 E3 demo and expect that to be the game you'll see a year and a half later... Bungie are great game developers - and it would take a monumental effort to screw Halo 2 up now...