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campaign sucks.
Far cry owns halo.
===Multiplayer===
{{main|List of multiplayer gametypes in Halo 2}}
[[Image:Halo2 multi 4 1094806526.jpg|thumb|right|[[Xbox Live]] automatically matches players based on criteria such as skill and [[ping]].]]
[[Image:Halo2 multi 2 1094806396.jpg|thumb|right|''Halo 2'' multiplayer screenshot from press kit, featuring the map Zanzibar]]
There are varying modes, several of which have returned from the original ''Halo'' game. A typical classic free for all or team deathmatch game known as Slayer, a team based Capture The Flag game, a game which you plant a bomb in your enemies base to score called Assault, a more esoteric free-for-all (FFA) or team game of keep away called Oddball, a game extrapolated from a child's game of "tag" called Juggernaut, King of the Hill, where players race to control a specified area of the map, and finally, Territories, which bears some resemblance to King of the Hill, but with multiple hills. All of these modes can be twisted and changed in thousands of unpredictable ways, resulting in incredibly varied multiplayer gameplay. Of the preset variations present in the original game, only Race is missing.
Unlike its predecessor, ''Halo 2'' allows players to compete with each other via the [[Xbox Live]] online service, in addition to the original's support for split-screen and System Link multiplayer. ''Halo 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Xbox Live mode offers a unique and, some would say, innovative approach to online gaming that is intended to alleviate some of the problems that have plagued online first-person shooters in the past. Traditionally, one player sets his or her computer or console up as a game [[server]] (or [[host]]), specifying the game type and [[Level (computer and video games)|map]] and configuring other settings. The game software then uses a service like Xbox Live or [[GameSpy]] to advertise the game to the world at large; other players choose which game to join based upon criteria such as the map and game options each host is offering as well as the [[ping]] times they are able to receive.
In ''Halo 2'', Xbox Live players do not choose to host public games, and they do not get to specify individual maps and options to search for. Instead, players select "playlists" that are geared to different ''styles'' of play. For example, the "Rumble Pit" playlist offers a variety of "every man for himself" game types, primarily Slayer or variations thereof; "Team Skirmish" offers a number of 4-on-4 team games, which are primarily objective-based games like [[Capture the Flag]]; "Big Team Battle" is similar to Team Skirmish but allows teams of up to 8 players. Other playlists allow head-to-head play and matches between different [[Clan (computer gaming)|clans]]. The Xbox Live servers create games automatically from the pool of players that have chosen each playlist, choosing a game type and map automatically and selecting one player to serve as the game's host.
Players can create small "parties" with their friends and enter games together as teammates in Team based games. Parties can also play in "Rumble Training" games, which is an unranked version of "Rumble Pit" If the Xbox console hosting the game drops out, the Xbox Live service automatically selects a new host from among the remaining players so the game can continue. Players may still choose to set up games for their own party to their own specification, and invite others into that game from their Friends and Clan lists, however these games are not made publicly available.
Since launching in [[November 2004]], the service has been very popular with video gamers. While some players resent the loss of individual control inherent in ''Halo 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s approach to online gaming, others feel it provides a significantly improved gaming experience compared to more traditional online first-person shooters. Bungie's servers match players up by skill level, which tends to eliminate the kind of severely imbalanced games that less-skilled players often consider unfair and unenjoyable. The automatic host selection process also eliminates the ability of the host to exert outsized control over the parameters of the game.
[[Bungie.net]] records every single statistic that is displayed on-screen in the end-of-game "Post Game Carnage Report." Anyone can visit Bungie.net and look at any Xbox Live player's stats. If a player logs in with a [[Microsoft]] Passport, they can also access the "Gameviewer". This presents an image of the level that was played from the player's choice various angles, superimposed with a summary of the crucial game events. For example: for each kill, the attacker and target's locations and the attacker's weapon are displayed, and the paths taken by flags in Capture the Flag games are shown. Bungie keeps these stats for several hundred games per player at a time, then games begin to be purged to save space, and they are used as evidence when banning cheats (see "Xbox Live Updates", below).
Regular players have expressed concerns regarding the game balance of ''Halo 2''. Many players feel that game strategies are too dependent upon controlling the "power weapons" in each map such as the Rocket Launcher, Sniper Rifle, and Energy Sword, which leads to the overshadowing of the other weapons in the game. Should a team acquire these weapons, it becomes more difficult for their opponents to score kills or attain objectives. Much game time may be consumed attempting to seize the weapons in question from the opposition to shift the balance of power; in some cases it may not even be possible to do so. This primarily affects team games and one-on-one games; in free for alls, a player with a "power weapon" will become a priority target for the other players, meaning that the weapon will change hands frequently. Another common criticism is the dominance of dual-wielding weapons over single-wielding combined with grenades, although attempts have been made to address these issues with the April 18th automatic update (see "[[Halo 2#Xbox Live updates|Xbox Live updates]]").
====Multiplayer maps====
{{main|List of multiplayer maps in Halo 2}}
:''See also: [[Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack]]''.
===Damage system===
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