Graphics: Much has been made about the age of this game, but as far as visuals are concerned, old graphics don’t necessarily mean bad graphics. What Halo 2 lacks in texture detail is made up for in complex level architecture and sheer size. The level design gets repetitive near the end, but for the most part, the levels are challenging and fun to play. I appreciated the serious efforts of the programmers to match character lip movements to the spoken dialog, especially that of the Covenant characters. And the game played smoothly at 1600×1200 with all default settings utilized, although I had to back the resolution down a notch to get a steady frame rate during a particularly intense outdoor combat scene.

Interface: Although the menu system is pleasing to the eye, it is also needlessly complex and cumbersome. But once you manage to navigate your way to the keyboard options screen, you get a choice of three pre-programmed control setups, including one designed especially for left-handed gamers and an option to create your own custom arrangement. There’s also an option which allows you to replay previously completed levels, in case you failed to unlock a cherished Windows Live achievement the first time through.

Gameplay: Halo 2 delivers the twitch-based combat action you’d expect from a shooter, while also offering a story depth that’s uncommon in the genre. Switching between characters during the campaign increases immersion and drives the story forward. Also, some of my favorite moments are found in the levels in which you pilot the various vehicles; I was pleasantly surprised to watch as several of my comrades jumped on top of my tank and hitched a ride to the next battle. The game’s console roots are betrayed by the checkpoint-only save system, but almost all of the checkpoints are placed in spots where I would have quick-saved had I had the option, so it’s not a real concern.

But all of this good will is ruined by bugs. As if the big one that I found during the installation process wasn’t bad enough, I encountered a potential show-stopper during a level-ending cut scene that prevented me from loading the next level. A trip to the Halo 2 user forums yielded the remedy, but this sort of thing shouldn’t happen, especially considering the number of times the release date of the game was delayed. Some users have also reported that certain achievements aren’t unlocking when they should, although I didn’t have this problem.

And finally, the end boss battle, although intriguing to watch, is ridiculously easy to win, making the 20-hour journey seem somewhat irrelevant. Players who depend on cheat codes to help them finish boss battles won’t mind, but hardcore fans will be disappointed.

Multiplayer The server browser stands in for a matchmaking system, but I like the idea of being able to choose my own game. The 23 maps deliver a good variety of indoor architecture and outdoor detail. Although there are seven different gameplay modes, the deathmatch and CTF modes seem to be the most popular, with a smattering of King of the Hill matches here and there. What was really remarkable was the lack of players logged in during my play test; there were 50 to 55 servers running, but more than half were empty and the remainder only had a handful of users. As more computers are sold with Vista installed, perhaps this situation will change. Unlike the Vista-only Shadowrun, cross-platform play isn’t supported, but the Halo 2 multiplayer experience is mostly an enjoyable one.

Sound FX: The usual shooter sounds are all here and are effective, including a useful sound that triggers when doors open in Covenant buildings, serving as a warning that someone or something is sneaking up on you. The voice acting is mostly adequate, although any immersion you might feel is ripped out from under you when the goofy, helium-altered voices of the Covenant grunts are heard. But the sheer amount of spoken dialog during the game is impressive; I went through a number of levels of the single-player campaign before hearing dialog repeated.

Intelligence: The enemies are worthy opponents in Halo 2, at least at the Normal skill level. They work together well, and I can’t remember a time during my test when an enemy character that was looking at me didn’t react to me immediately. The multiplayer mode doesn’t offer bot matches, so there are no AI considerations there.

Difficulty: The levels are mostly linear in nature, so there was seldom a time when I didn’t know where I was supposed to go next. While playing as the Arbiter, I came to count on the target reticle to help me decide whom to attack, but combat with the various weapons was easy to manage no matter which race I played. For me, the Normal difficulty was an excellent balance of challenge and shooting gallery.

Overall: Taken as it is, this three-year-old console port is one of the better adaptations I’ve played in awhile. The variety in storytelling, the size and complexity of the levels and the sheer fun of running enemies over with tanks are intoxicating. But for all Halo 2 has going for it, the bugs might keep all but the most persistent players away until they’re fixed. Does this game have to be Vista-only? Of course not; Halo 2 doesn’t support DirectX 10, so Windows XP players could easily have been included (and adding them would certainly fill out the multiplayer servers). But with enough patience and savvy, FPS fans will discover a satisfying and entertaining game buried under all of the problems.