Living up to the 'Halo' hype

There has been a cardinal rule within gaming that has stood since 2001 -- if you own a Microsoft Xbox and have a pulse, you also own "Halo." \nThe first-person shooter masterpiece released by Bungie with the original launch of the Xbox has stood as the quintessential game to own in the Microsoft lineup, and its sales have shown that, with the game ranking in the top 10 in sales figures for the last three years -- an eternity in video games. \nThe original "Halo" brought a complete package of graphics, playability and plot not seen in the first-person shooter genre since venerable PC titles such as "Half Life." It also established the console as a legitimate platform for the FPS.\nAs high as the first "Halo" set the bar, its sequel sets it that much higher. Everything from the graphics and sound to the game's AI has been improved. If there was ever a reason to buy a high-end sound system, this is it, as the sound is so detailed, individual snowflakes actually refract sound within the game. \nOf course "Halo 2" also includes more weapons, vehicles and enemies, along with returning favorites such as the Warthog and Scorpion. In the end, the game hits you like an Elite's light sword (a weapon you can actually use this time around), and this rendition of the Master Chief's quest never fails to impress. \nMinor changes have been made including the use of dual-wielding guns -- a feature that has been poorly carried out in other titles, but is well done within this game because the technique has both pluses and minuses. Another feature carried out beautifully in the game is multiplayer, with extremely customizable players and multiplayer favorites such as Capture the Flag, Deathmatch or "Slayer," among other game options. The games are easy to set up between multiple systems and extremely entertaining with a large group of people.\nThe only flaws in the game are extremely minor gripes about the graphical textures popping in (which is actually due to the Xbox's architecture and nothing to due with the game's programming) and the fact that all of the female characters seem to be voiced by the same person. \nAll told, the game will leave you in awe of both its immaculate storyline and addictive gameplay. Frankly, an A+ is far too low of a grade for a masterpiece of this caliber, but it'll have to do.