HALO 2 OXM Review

[Eco-Logic]

It scored a 9.7

[Eco-Logic]

demos
POP WW
DOA U
The Incredibles
Conflict Vietnam
ESPN NFL2K5
Dukes of Hazrds

features on the disk, GR demo, LOTR third age

[Eco-Logic]

The World Exclusive Review of Halo 2: Yes, it's true. Fourteen pages of The Big One. It's the feature you've been waiting to read in a magazine for three years, and we've got it before anyone else. Editor in Chief Rob Smith and I had the unique privilege of doing nothing but play Halo 2 from start to finish in our own little office at Bungie (it was actually The Clubhouse for those of you who watched the Bungie Video Update), and we bent deadlines and sacrificed sleep to do it. We'll certainly start a Halo 2 Q&A thread once you guys start to get your issues, but until then I'll enjoy being the only person outside of Microsoft (along with Rob) to know everything about Halo 2 for another 30 days. =)

-World Exclusive Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Review: Does Ubisoft Montreal do it again? The answer will shock you! It's only in Official Xbox Magazine.

-Xbox 2 Rumor Mole Special!: The facts, the fiction, and the pure speculation!

-Reviews of, uh, pretty much everything! Including: Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna *** Laude, Mortal Kombat: Deception, OutRun 2, Tony Hawk's Underground 2: World Destruction Tour, X-Men Legends, ESPN NBA 2K5, and NBA Live 2005. Plus a ton more...

-A Hero's Guide to Albion: The lead tester at Big Blue Box shares some cool stuff you didn't even know you could do in Fable.

-Another amazing demo disc! A play-it-before-you-can-buy-it playable demo of Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Dead or Alive Ultimate, The Incredibles, Conflict: Vietnam, ESPN NFL 2K5, The Dukes of Hazzard, and a hidden Easter egg demo of a certain Japanese title that isn't coming out here in the U.S. You can probably guess what it is, and I guarantee you guys will be lighting up this forum trying to crack the code to play the game!

-And a bunch more!

[AgtFox]

Can I ask what PoP: WW got?  I always get my mag a few days later than everyone else it seems.

[ingrin]

Can I ask what PoP: WW got?  I always get my mag a few days later than everyone else it seems.

9.6 according to the original poster

[Kevin Grey]

PoP got something like a 9.6 .  An Ubi rep was touting that they were tied with the previous high score OXM had given, which until then had been a 9.6.  

PoP also alleged received a 10/10 from PSM magazine.

[EddieA]

PoP : WW did get a 10/10 from PSM, but with their new design that is apparently supposed to be read only by people whose attention span is shorter than that of a hyperactive rabbit, I'm not sure how much that means.

[Eco-Logic]

PoP : WW did get a 10/10 from PSM, but with their new design that is apparently supposed to be read only by people whose attention span is shorter than that of a hyperactive rabbit, I'm not sure how much that means.

LOL

Man, I can't wait for POP:WW though.

[Devil]

PoP = OUT!!

Hated the first one!

How's the DOA demo?

[AgtFox]

How's the DOA demo?

Pretty with lots of boob bouncing?

[EngineNo9]

Surprisingly, I'm finding myself not that excited for Halo 2.  I think it is the thought of having to play another FPS on a console that makes me almost dread it.  I'm sure it will be totally awesome and stuff, and I'll be getting my preorder in the mail, but I just don't see it holding my interest all that much.

[ElijahPrice]

I am surprised with that 9.6 PoP rating.  Has there been news of any major improvements post-demo because the demo really needed some work?

[Jancelot]

In on PoP: WW, in on Halo 2, eventually in on DOAU.

[Devil]

Pretty with lots of boob bouncing

Double IN!  :wink:

[AgtFox]

Pretty with lots of boob bouncing

Double IN!  :wink:

Seriously, I don't want to know about you and LD's menage a trois with some other guy/girl

[Devil]

Me, Poncho and one of the DOA guys rolling in maple syrup on a snow covered mountain.

[Lockdown]

OK....

Now I need a "vomiting" Emoticon please.


Immediately.


LD

[Lockdown]

Double Post.

Shame on me.

But regarding Halo2...  For all you PC/Console Gamers out there that fall into the category of "I love Halo"...

Do you guys find it easy to adjust to the aiming with the thumbstick of the xbox versus a mouse/keyboard setup?

The reason I ask is, with the exception of Rainbow Six, I consistantly have problems (which eventually leads to taking the game back) with FPS games on a console.

How difficult is aiming accurately (assuming an average player coordination/skill level) with the thumbstick with Halo?

LD

[AgtFox]

I think it's pretty easy.  I've seen many a game that doesn't have a loose enough targeting motion.  Halo's is nice and smooth in my opinion, you can get quite good at doing head shots without having trouble aiming.

[happydog]

I have had no problem adjusting between the thumb stick and a mouse/keyboard. But then again I use a trackball at work and a mouse at home, so I am used to adjusting.

On the other hand, my wife can play Halo for hours on end, and she hasn't been successful in playing any other first-person game, console or PC.

[whiteboyskim]

OK....

Now I need a "vomiting" Emoticon please.


Immediately.


LD

 

[Kevin Grey]

I am surprised with that 9.6 PoP rating.  Has there been news of any major improvements post-demo because the demo really needed some work?

An Ubi rep posted on IGN that the demo is very early- it was created back in June for the OXM demo disk and the recently released PC version was created at the same time so its not supposed to very indicative of the polish of the final version.  

Basically any console demo is always going to be very early work due to the lead times necessary for the magazines that publish the demos.  PC devs have the luxary of doing demos much closer to the end of development that better reflect the titles in question since they can just push them out via the net once they're completed.

[Calvin]

Is there any possible way I could NOT be in for Halo2? I am also tempted for POP:WW. Maybe I will finish up SOT with a walkthru and pick it up (you guys dont understand. I think puzzles are the devil. Seriously, satan incarnate. I like the games, but would be just as happy to finish the puzzles with walkthroughs.)

[malichai11]

When/where is this OXM magazine available? My wife checked the supermarket when she was out today and though they had a number of gaming/computer magazines, no OXM.

[AgtFox]

It'll be a few weeks before it hits the newsstand.  Subscribers get it a couple weeks ahead of the newsstand.

[Bullwinkle]

Awesome.

Thanks for the (h)url.

[EngineNo9]

It'll be a few weeks before it hits the newsstand.  Subscribers get it a couple weeks ahead of the newsstand.

When I was a subscriber I constantly got it after the newstands.  That was part of the reason I let my subscription lapse.  The other part being that I'm a forgetful procrastinator.

[Hetz]

I liked Halo, but for some reason Halo 2 just doesn't excite me that much.

Maybe it's cause GTA: SA is coming out soon (I think it looks like a MUCH better game than Halo 2). I don't know, Halo 2 will probabily be good, but I am not going to be first in line for this one...like I was with Halo.

[kathode]

Anyone know what the easter egg demo is?  I can't think of any Japanese Xbox games that aren't coming out here.

[Bullwinkle]

Phantom Dust is one, but I'm not sure if that's the demo or not.

Anyone figure out the code yet?

[Bullwinkle]

Well, it is Phantom Dust.  Here's the code that worked for me:

(hold down both triggers)

A up X Y left right B B down down Y left X right A up down

Haven't tried it yet.  I wanted to share the code first (Awwww).

[Bullwinkle]

Okay, I played it.

Bottom line, supposedly there is an English ready version of the game ready to go.  If it is built in, and someone could tell me how to turn it on, I might love this game.  Without the translation, I'm nearly completely lost.

I get that you have to hit one of the four buttons when you run over a sphere to assign it and then push that button to fire/use that "spell."  I get that the shoulder buttons lock on (though I'm not sure what priority they use yet).  And clicking the right thumb stick jumps.  After that, it's a big huzzawha?

I'm not sure why I'm going after drones in one mission, but not the "enemy."  

I'm not sure why in one mission I only have 1 spell point when I need at least two to use anything.  I have a hunch it has to do with the silver and pink spheres because they look different than the other spheres, but damned if I know what to do with them.

And finally, I'm not sure what the hell anyone is saying.

Sure is pretty, though, in a desolate urban environment kind of way.

[Eco-Logic]

I heard Phantom Dust is oustanding.  Let us know if you figure it out any more.  I don't have the demo disc so I really can't check.

[AgtFox]

Dammit...where's my OXM?!?!?!?!?!

[Devil]

Mine just hangs trying to load Phantom Dust  :cry:

[Purge]

Instructions for Phantom Dust http://xboxphreaker.com/pd/oxmdemohelp.htm

[Purge]

Now I need a "vomiting" Emoticon please.

  = : puke : or just check out http://consolegold.com/forums/posting.php?mode=smilies

[Andrew Mallon]

Majesco just announced that they will publish Phantom Dust in North America.