In the days where six kids in a focus test can determine whether a video game character has a goatee and pierced nipples, the big green hunk of metal and tubing that is Halo's Master Chief is a bit of an anomaly. You see, the Chief doesn't depend on do-dads to get the job done, and he won't be caught dead in a spandex jumpsuit emblazoned with rhinestones. Chief takes substance over style, and so does Halo 2 with melt-your-face-off gameplay that will leave you breathless.

Master Chief is Really a…

Master Chief thought he had finished off the covenant when he blew the space-bound ring known as halo into shards. He returns to Earth a hero where he's fluffed and pinned. For the covenant commander held directly responsible for halo's destruction, things aren't so posh. He's spared a torturous death in favor of a religious journey of martyrdom. And oh yeah, the covenant have discovered Earth's location, and they're not happy.

Grudges aside, the story is by no means the crux of Halo 2, but it's certainly more prominent and satisfying than the narrative found in the first. The game's setting changes constantly with plenty of twists and turns along the way. However, few questions are answered and many more are created. A bit more resolution would be appreciated. The story also ends somewhat abruptly with a massive cliffhanger -- proving what everyone already knew was inevitable.

Combat Re-Evolved

The fundamentals of warfare are still in place. You have a limited number of weapons you can carry, grenades are mapped to the left trigger, a regenerating energy shield keeps you alive, and taking out an enemy with the butt of your gun is still one of the most rewarding things in all of video games.

Where you used to be able to carry just two weapons, you can now carry three. Well, sort of. You can dual wield the smaller weapons (a gun in each hand), and it's fun to just mix and match to find the best results for each enemy type. This comes at the expense of one of the more popular yet simple ideas from the first game. While you're carrying two guns at once you cannot throw grenades. In fact, you'll likely find yourself firing off harmless rounds into the clouds with the gun in your left hand until you get used to it. The tradeoff is a fair one. Dual wielding kicks both the intensity and strategy up a notch, and it's not overly difficult to dispatch the weapon in your left hand to lob a sticky grenade, anyway.

Another important addition is the ability to jack vehicles at any time. If the enemy gets too close you can rip, punch, or straight up drop-kick them out of the cockpit and take over. Considering how powerful the vehicles can be, it can completely turn the tide of a battle. It makes some parts of the game seem like Grand Theft Auto crossed with a giraffe on roller skates strapped with a bomb.

Presidential Campaign

The grandiose campaign mode spans a dozen hours of eye-blistering, synapse-searing bliss. It's entirely hectic and can be emotionally draining. When played on the harder difficulty levels, it's worthy of obsession. The only hitch is that many battles turn into strike-and-hide exercises where you take a few shots and then sneak away to let your shield recharge.

Like most great games, Halo 2 gives you choices. Many times you'll stumble upon full-scale throw-downs between the flood (yes, they're back) and the covenant. You can sit back and watch the spectacle of the two factions wiping each other out, join the fray for the adrenaline rush, or be a punk and sneak by while they're preoccupied with blowing each other to bits. It's entirely up to you. With intelligent allies in the field, choosing which weapons to arm them with adds yet another scoop of strategy to this digital banana split.

Even more interesting is how these epic skirmishes happen completely independent of your location. If you're there to see them, great. If not, maybe next time. With only a slight hitch when new portions of the game load, there's little to suck you out of Halo 2's world.

Fun Multi-Plied

As if the campaign isn't enough, Halo 2 includes the best console multiplayer component ever. This game is going to douse Xbox Live in gasoline and toss it a match. All the new stuff from the campaign is carried over into the multiplayer experience, including jacking vehicles, and dual wielding. There are 11 maps and seven game types to choose from, and enough customization of each type to supply just about anyone with something to latch onto. With 16 players busting each other's chops at a time and all the clan support you can handle, this game will still be played five years from now. Toss in speedy four-player split-screen, the ability to play through the campaign with a friend (but not online), and system link support and this game is going to be setting up camp in your Xbox's disc tray.

Bait and Twitch?

Some will undoubtedly say that the graphics have come up a bit short. It certainly looks better than Halo, but it takes a little time before you truly begin noticing many of the improvements. The most obvious upgrade is to the speed of the game. It simply never slows down no matter how many alien body parts are blown into the heavens. The only issue is a strange texturing glitch that causes entire walls to appear and portions of characters to flicker. Make no mistake; the digital magicians have pulled off some impressive tricks. Just not David-Copperfield-dating-Claudia-Schiffer impressive.

One Ring to Rule them All

What we love most about the Halo series is that it decimates the stereotype that a great game must have a character that's been brainstormed to death. Master Chief is just some dude in a space suit that spits out corny one-liners. It's funny how a great game like Halo 2 can make that seem all right. Placing attention to detail on the things that matter most is what Halo 2 is all about, and there's no other game of this quality with this much value. If you're a huge fan of the first game, you may not have to buy another game for your Xbox.