The step up in quality from Halo to Halo 2 is pretty remarkable. What was most striking to me from the outset was the storytelling. Halo 2’s story, albeit nowhere near Oscar worthy, is far more nuanced and engaging than the original's abysmal story. What’s more the cutscenes are stunning. I always looked forward to gawping at their incredible fidelity and excellent visual design at the end of missions. In the story itself, the back and forth between master chief and the arbiter not only gives a more holistic viewpoint of both sides of the war but also helps with the pacing of the game. Missions themselves are varied and for the most part well designed. The range of vehicles, enemies and weapons found throughout only added to the experience. Though some weaker levels and repetitive sequences of fighting wave after wave of enemies did drag it down. Moreover, the game’s ending left a sour taste in my mouth. The final boss was a bullet spongey anti-climax and leaving the game on a cliff-hanger felt criminal. Regardless, Halo 2 does enough for me to recommend it to those who haven’t played it before thanks to its tight gunplay, fantastic pacing and gorgeous cutscenes. Its by no means among the best in the genre by today’s standards, but the fact this has aged so well speaks volumes to the quality of the experience.

2004 Ranked
Ranked Shooter Campaign Recommendations
Halo Ranked