Halo 2 Hands-On

So, we finally got our hands on the controls of an Xbox with Halo 2 inside it – and what can we say, except that we may have played one of the best multi-player games we've ever seen.

I know what you're thinking. Halo multi-player was brilliant, everything about it worked, and you enjoyed every second you spent destroying your friends.

Now imagine the same game, only it looks just a little bit better and plays a whole lot better. There are better weapons, the ability to hold two guns at one time, and vehicles with bigger and better guns.

But I´m getting ahead of myself…

Microsoft invited a group of Australian journalists recently to their headquarters to allow us to get our gaming hands on the multi-player portion of Halo 2. I´ve never seen a group of grown men so excited apart from at one of those club places where women dance … you know, with poles, not that I´ve ever been to one of course. I just heard that they existed.

So on arrival at the Xbox room, hidden deep in the depths of Gates' headquarters we stormed in and headed straight for the 16-player Halo 2 that was set-up … and then all hell broke loose.

Blue versus Red in a manic game of capture the flag. I started off with the sub-machine gun and within seconds had found a second one. Two guns John Woo-style in Halo on Multiplayer. It felt good. It felt right. Then the enemy felt my rounds eating into their energy shield and soon their health. One down in a matter of seconds. I scanned around and saw a couple of blue enemies quite a distance away so I decided to take them out with two well placed frags … nope. Two guns. No grenade throwing. It makes sense but you don´t realise how vulnerable you feel without that ability.

So, I ran towards them and opened up with all guns blazing. The controller rattled until both clips were empty. A quick re-load and I was on the hunt for blood, alas it was not to be as some idiot, I mean fellow games journalist, mowed me down in a Ghost on boost mode. Yup, you can now make the Ghost go twice as fast, but at the loss of shooting ability. The Banshee also has this ability now..

The waiting to re-spawn was torture. Total torture. It was the longest twelve seconds of my life. Around the room I could hear the cackle of maniacal laughter as fifteen others blew the living daylights out of one another and I knew that I was with like-minded people.

Re-spawn. A quick look around and there is the battle rifle. Master Chief´s new UNSC weapon. I ran over and quickly picked it up. Locked and loaded I ran forward, spotted some enemy and clicked zoom, then opened fire on the poor unsuspecting fools – ripping their energy to shreds. A red sprinted across my view and I eased off the trigger. I was hungry for more as my enemies had hidden.

I discovered that the rocket launcher – a favourite of multi-player games – now has a lock-on mechanism when you enter x2 mode giving you that extra edge in blowing your enemy to bits.

Having played around with the Marines selection I decided to try my hand at some of the Covenant weapons.

The Energy Sword. Sweet Lord what a weapon! You remember in Halo when you were on Legendary and you saw an Elite bearing down on you his energy sword raised and the only thing doing through your mind was "pull the trigger and don´t let go"? Well, now you can wield this weapon of mass-ive destruction. Pick it up, run around, find an enemy and then cleave him with this glowing blade of death. It´s brilliant, just brilliant.

Did I mention that the Needler now fires faster? No, I didn´t? Really?  Well I should have. Did I mention that you can have two of them? No? I must be losing it! You can!! Two needlers means a whole heap of death. Honestly, it´s an amazing feeling pumping out round after round of opponent-seeking shards of pain at high-speed.

The plasma pistol and the plasma rifle can also be dual-wielded. You´re imagining it right now aren´t you? You can just see yourself in just under six weeks running about with two weapons. Let me tell you that it may seem like an eternity away but once it lands in your machine you will be the happiest gamer on the planet. Oh, and there is a Covenant carbine too with a zoom function and fast rate of fire. It´s kinda like the assault rifle but it´s a nifty little weapon.

One last thing before I leave you to your imagination and loathing of myself for playing it before you. The Warthog now comes with a chain gun or a rocket launcher and has a new e-brake function allowing drivers to perform tight turns to avoid sticky situations.

Halo 2 can't come quick enough to a gaming store near you…but when it arrives just take the rest of the month off. I am.