Meh. Decent shooter, decent storyline. yep. It's worth getting, but it's not like it's the best game ever.
Turns out it was only worth about 5£ from the beginning.
Storyline: The game takes place shortly after the first one, so short in fact, that you pretty much just came back to a battlestation defending earth. The thing you'll realise is that the story is split between both Master chief and the commander of the covenant fleet, but you'll find out the rest for yourself, but i'll just add that the covenant is awfully much more fun to play. After same basic tutorial like last time, you're on your way. Shortly the battlestation will be attacked by covenants, and you'll have to defend it. *Suprise* After this the story is completely FPS basic, besides for a few twists here and there.
6/10
Gameplay: Again, it's by the book, with the addition of the ability to dual-wield certain guns, but the guns you can dual are generally completely useless, much so, that you only need a battlerifle and plasma pistol to finish the game fairly easy on legendary (with the excepetion for the occasional rocketlauncher and grenade). This makes the game feels somewhat one-sided. It wouldn't hurt with balanced weapons, Bungie, if you're listening. Another thing that is just plain annoying is the fact that MC jumps like..well..he jumps so high there's really no methaphore for it. This also makes the game feel unrealistic...well..as far as that term can go in a sci-fi Fps.
Your marine buddies will be regarded much as in the first game. Cannonfodder. The only real use they have is to absorb plasma meant for you. Their A.I? Goofy at best. the enemy however is pretty good, it uses cover, flanks and dodges, but the fact that they occasionally freeze, or start jumping over a obstacle back and forth makes them feel a little unpolished.
Other than that, there's not much to say. Vech's control a little flimsy, but it's nice that Bungie made all of them destroyable.
7/10
Graphics: It's a litle strange. Cutscenes look pretty horrible, while the game itself look remarkably good, cutscenes often have a bad habit to loading the graphics slowly, making it just look plain wierd. But the game don't look much different from the first game, and much of the same graphical bugs are still there. Another annyoing is that enemies die strangely, they fall in strange directions, and sometimes cuts trough walls, strange since the original didn't have this problem, atleast not like this.
Character models look failry similar, but MC has gotten a re-hash, and looks tougher than ever. You'll recognise your old friends and foes, just with a slightly shinier armor plate. A thing i remember was that Bungie promised destructable enviroments. Not much to say there, besides a few scripted explosions. Tsk.
7/10
Sound: Pretty much exactly the same as the first game, except for a few new effects and voices. The musical score is still epic, and gives the game a good feel to it. Most of the voice acting is solid, but the guy who voices MC really needs a few classes. Seldom have i heard a stiffer actor than this guy. tsk.. Covenant still gibbers nonsensical words, and stranger..english? How is it that a completely alien race know english? 8/10
Value: Once you've done it, you've done it. Not much to say. But here's where mutliplayer comes in. Sadly, this game is PLAUGED with idiots, illiterates, and little kids. Multiplayer can be great, but only if you play with people you know. Stay away from the open games for the love of god.
7/10
Overall..you propably will enjoy this game, but there's really nothing to come back for. It's short, has a few annoying flaws that stands out, but it's still very much worth the price you can get it for today, but you'll propably be satisfied with just renting it. One thumb up from the Foodthing.