- 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.
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.
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.
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.
I could tell you that your opinion is valid, and that you make some great points, but you don't. With the exception of the tracking, your "points" don't even affect the way the game is played. You entitled this thread "A few MAJOR changes recommended." How is a reloading animation major? Or how about the way the sword looks? That's about as "major" as it gets if you ask me. Sarcasm aside, give me a break. That kind of thing is completely based on an artists preference and vision. There is no way that you should see the demo as a "disaster" just because a Bungie artist thinks differently than you do.
And to address your only valid criticism; have you read any of the hands-on reports? People have played this game, so they can actually comment on this feature, while you have not played it, instantly damn it, "Homing rockets are stupid. Please take them out immediately." Ridiculous. If you would have read any of the said reports, you would have learned that people love this game, and they've only played one level for a limited amount of time. So before you go talking about the worst features ever, maybe you should take a step back and release that some things are different in execution than they sound.
You are entitled to your opinion, but so am I. And I say yours sucks. You should re-think your position and focus on less superficial elements of a game you've never even touched. And don't comment on how a feature should be taken out, unless you've played it and deemed it unworthy of the game. And above all, use the resources around, and see that all your points are moot to those that have played the game.