20 years later, Halo 2's biggest criticisms are now its biggest strengths

The hello The franchise seems to be turning a new leaf, with 343 Industries recently rebranded to Halo Studios and recent news that the developer is working on several Unreal Engine 5 projects. Many fans are cautiously optimistic helloA new direction. But in moments like these, developers and fans alike need to remember the franchise's roots, its successes, its failures, and how it has evolved over the past few decades. And since it's the game's 20th birthday, it's a good time to remember Halo 2.

Issued on November 9, 2004, Halo 2 The original Xbox was a truly monumental release that greatly influenced Microsoft's future in the gaming space. Halo 2's multiplayer was a huge success and laid the groundwork for online gaming on consoles, while its blockbuster campaign set a new standard for cinematic, story-driven experiences. But it wasn't all roses. Halo 2 There were many criticisms at the time of its release, although 20 years later, many of those criticisms have turned into strengths.

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Every Halo character whose story is still open

Halo is going in a new direction with the studio but many characters in the universe still have unfinished stories that need to be finished.

20 years later, Halo 2 is considered one of the best entries in the franchise

Halo 2's dual story is fondly remembered

At the time of its 2004 release, Halo 2The campaign was met with some major criticism from fans. That was the biggest criticism at the time Halo 2's dual story structure, where players control the Master Chief for about half the game, and the Arbiter for the other half. Arbiter didn't really feature at all Halo 2's pre-release marketing, her appearance in the final product received a similar response Metal Gear Solid 2's Raiden reveals, many fans expressed their disappointment that they weren't playing as the main character of the franchise for the entire duration of the sequel.

But with time, Arbiter became one helloof the most popular characters, and their missions Halo 2 Very fond memories after 20 years. One of the greatest strengths of Halo 2 Having the Arbiter as a second playable character meant that fans were able to get a much better insight into the Covenant, its structure and its motivations, all of which go a long way to fleshing out. helloThe rich sci-fi universe.

Halo 2's short length makes it extremely replayable

More minor criticism Halo 2 It had a slightly shorter length after its release. Although it is only an hour or two shorter than that Halo: Combat EvolvedAnd its runtime largely depends on the difficulty settings, Halo 2Its pacing feels much faster as the missions are a bit shorter than its predecessor. This rapid pace had many fans realizing that their adventure had only just begun when the credits rolled.

But again, 20 years later, Halo 2Acceleration is positive. In a market that is currently flooded with 50+ hour RPGs and multiplayer titles that can be played indefinitely, an 8-9 hour campaign is a welcome breath of fresh air.

Halo 2's cliffhanger doesn't sting nearly as much

Of course, the most notorious criticism Halo 2 At the time of its release it had a sudden cliffhanger. As Master Chief boards Truth's ship, the camera cuts to Admiral Hood, who asks the super-soldier if he's there. The chief replies with the now infamous “Sir, ending this fight” and the camera fades to black.

20 years ago, this ending felt incredibly rushed and disappointing, and many fans felt that the game had forced a satisfying conclusion out of them at the last moment. Thankfully, two decades later, Halo 2Cliffhanger endings aren't really a problem anymore, with players able to finish the fight immediately. Hello 3.

After the destruction of Halo, mankind experiences a short-lived victory. Eager for revenge, the Covenant launch a surprise attack on Earth, but they find themselves ill-equipped to defeat the UNSC's home fleet and are forced to flee into slipspace. As Master Chief pursues his overzealous enemies, he discovers another halo ring, uncovering long-buried secrets, including an unlikely ally that will dramatically change the course of the human-coven struggle forever.

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