It lacks what I had really hoped for in terms of story and dramatic consistency, but it does move the entire franchise forward in big ways.

I do love bees

When I first found out about this (from the theatrical trailer), I didn't quite know what to make of it. It was obviously sanctioned by MS in one form or another, but it wasn't clear just how it tied into the game. Then the messages came, then the axons, then the WAV files--all building to an elaborate undertaking of intricate storytelling, reality-bending events and viral marketing. Looking back, I only wish that some part, ANY part, had made it into the game itself. There's absolutely no mention of any of the events that are documented on the I Love Bees site and that saddens me.

The end

When I played through Halo, I remembered just how intrigued I was by the events that unfolded before me. A strange place, a deadly enemy, another deadly enemy, and an even deadlier climax. It just built layer upon layer, faster and harder, until everything was destroyed (on Halo 04, that is). Without giving anything away, Halo 2 fails on just about every level in comparison. The story takes such huge leaps in locations, characters, and plot devices that the storyline becomes fragmented. In discussing various points throughout the game, I found it hard to remember just what happened when and where and to whom it happened. That's not the sign of a cohesive story arc. To top it all off, after all the work, all the toil, what's left to show for it? Well, I don't know... It's a cliffhanger ending in the worst way.

I'm Live!

The addition of Live capabilities just blows the roof off the first game. I think Bungie understood just how much people enjoyed playing together and tailored the Live experience to suit their fans the best they could. That and the online stat tracking are phenomenal leaps in just how far the whole online gaming envelope can be pushed.

Fine lit

I actually think I'm looking forward to the next Halo novel more than the next game. It became clear to me while playing through the first game just how much had been culled from popular sci-fi films. It was glaringly obvious, but this was a game, and part of the fun is just playing through it--something films lack altogether. But something that impressed me more was the rest of the story, before and after the events of the game, that was explored in the novels. They're easy reads--not at all complicated, but geeky enough that anyone who loved the game could easily take to and enjoy. Again, none of these events were mentioned or acknowledged in Halo 2, which is almost insulting. It's like saying, "If you loved the first game enough to buy and read the books and explore this universe, so what."

Overall, I'm still happy though. I think Halo 2 is an impressive title. It lacks what I had really hoped for in terms of story and dramatic consistency, but it does move the entire franchise forward in big ways. In some ways, the game makes up for its shortcoming with some new graphical tricks up its sleeve and the crazy multiplayer capabilities. If you like the first game so-so (and/or don't have Live), don't buy this game--you won't be satisfied. Rent it. If you loved the first game, definitely add this to your list. You'll get just enough story to keep you interested and go wild when you get online.