Review: Halo 2 game

It shouldn't be too colossal a leap to convert an Xbox game so it works on a Windows PC, but it has taken three years for Halo 2 to do just that.

It is the latest game in a genre that has seen more than a few genuinely groundbreaking titles in those three years – from Far Cry to Half Life 2, the first-person shooter market is awash with quality. And sadly, such a period is a long time in gaming, and that makes Halo 2 feel rather underwhelming.

First things first, it has to be noted that this game will only work on Microsoft’s new operating system Vista. That’s right, Windows XP won’t cope with Halo 2; the game needs the new deal just to run. That's a real shame, as many people will have opted not to upgrade to Vista until it becomes more stable and compatible. Technological gripes aside, the Vista issue is not the only flaw.

But before we get to those, we should mention the positives. The narrative continues the 'Lord of the Rings in space' theme, with the nefarious alien forces collaborating to destroy everyone that prefers good to evil, and in this respect, it scores highly.

The single-player mode starts with plenty of oomph, and it continues with points to recommend. There are some excellent set-pieces and cool vehicles, the controls are great, and it introduces a second playable character. However – churlish hat now fixed firmly on – we still felt a little short-changed as it progressed.

Halo 2 can be a little pedestrian, repetitive, and just not all that thrilling. Visually it’s got the classic Halo look, but that’s somewhat anachronistic given the advances made by the aforementioned titles. There are a few glitches, not enough to completely ruin the gameplay but enough to find yourself wondering why more wasn’t done to improve matters in the long development time. It also needs a pretty heavy duty machine to run.

Many people will be drawn to the thrilling chance to play online against Xbox players in the multiplayer mode, and this is definitely a nice touch. But even this has its problems, since unless you opt for the extra Gold mode, you’ll find some modes restricted. The addition of an editor, allowing players to create their own maps to play on, makes up for this, to a point. And while this isn’t a revolutionary feature in PC gaming, it’s definitely a point of merit and one that may draw back former players.

So while it’s not the most disappointing sequel you’ll ever play, it also feels like Halo 2 has been quickly converted and tossed onto the PC market to keep the bucks rolling in until Halo 3 arrives. But even this will only be initially coming out on the Xbox 360 console, so don't hold your breath waiting for the PC edition to turn up.

Vista compatible: Yes