People like this game??? Really??? Because all I see is a busted up piece of shit with an uninteresting story, a broken and inconsistent checkpoint system, and a frustratingly directionless structure. I’ve already heard the ending is shit, so I don’t even remotely feel the need to finish it. Maybe Halo 3 is good, maybe it isn’t, I honestly don’t care, I just kinda hate this series tbh.

I’m honestly convinced that the only people who like this game are people who just happened to have an XBOX as kids.

A step up from the first in all the best ways. The enemy variety feels fleshed out with the introduction of the Brutes. Every different faction feels unique in their fighting style, the Covenant focus on ranged battle while still being able to pack a punch up close, the Flood being very hands on with melee attacks that hit hard and fast, and the Brutes being a mix of both. The variety in playstyle also proves to be superior here. The advent of duel-wielding brings so many new possible routes for gameplay. Mixing the different styles of gunplay leads to tons of new ways to take down enemies and it's also balanced by the loss of grenades. The Energy Sword also makes melee a viable option in combat. Everything here just feels like an EVOLVED version of everything in CE. That goes for the story too. I didn't know what was happening, and I had to read up on it later, but someone who's dedicated to the story would find tons of enjoyment in it. My biggest gripe is that the level design felt very samey throughout the whole game. Big open space or narrow corridor, that's really it. That is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme and the game remains great overall.

Halo 2 is what a sequel should do and expand upon the first game. We not only new types of enemies and weapons and different locations but also we get to play as the Arbiter. We get to play as the enemy! In the main campaign! Arbiter is an interesting character who goes through an arc about rebeling against the covenant and freeing his people. Along the way he has the ship commander Rtas by his side.
The villain, prophet of truth, is a manipulating bastard who is so cunning. Basically a religious antagonist who will throw a species under the bus just to gain control of the covenant. By his side is the brute general Tartarus, whose a dick to the elite race, and super satisfying to kill. Even if he was just as brainwashed by the prophets.
Overall the story of Halo 2 is great. I have even talked about the humans or the main character master chief! But yeah Halo 2 is great. Now it's time to finish the fight.