Most of us can't wait for Halo 2... the multiplayer looks awesome and all that stuff. But what is missing or wrong with it as far as you can tell based on previews and interviews and such?

I just found out the pistol will be returning, but that it won't have the scope on it. Then why even bring it back at all? Morans.

Some ppl found the pistol to be a bit...overpowerful. I definitely loved using the pistol especially because of its scope but whenever my friends played multi-player team slayer, it would turn into a pistol-fest with the rockets mixed in

I always thought it was weird that it had a scope, personally. I mean, it is nice to have, but a scope on a pistol? Seemed odd for the type of play that is going on.

Probably because the standard rifle now has a scope on it. Don't judge a game by it's previews. Seriously.

The functionality that the pistol had in Halo 1 has been replaced by a different weapon in Halo 2 (supposedly the battle rifle). According to Bungie, they felt the pistol was overpowered in Halo 1 and so they made the changes for balancing reasons. I loved the pistol in the original game but since Bungie has played a lot more games of Halo 2 than I have, I'll have to trust their judgement on the balancing issues.

Other than that, all the old weapons and powerups (including active camoflage) seem to be returning. Plus, you've got the new weapons like the Brute Shot, Covenant Particle Beam Rifle, Covenant Energy Sword, Human SMG, Human Battle Rifle and the Covenant Carbine. All the old vehicles will also return and be joined by several new ones like the Covenant Tank and several variants of the Warthog. Based on every hands-on report I've read, I have a hard time believing you'll be disappointed with Halo 2.

Because a scoping pistol with 'one shot kill' sniping capabilities is an oxymoron...

That is great that the pistol no longer has a scope, it was rediculously overpowered before.

No disappointment here! C'mon pistol with a scope too? The rifle will have the scope.

Morans, indeed!

Maybe he's from Boston...

Because here we say MorON!

They said there were going to be ninjas in this game.

I played this game and there's no ninja's, what gives? Thats a disappointment.

The pistol was definitely overpowered. It was extremely irritating that you could blow a whole machine-gun clip on an Elite and not even take out its shields, but that seven or eight plugs with a pistol took it down.

Indeed, I was so irritated by the skewed weapon balance that I actually stopped playing it. Fortunately, I picked it up again later and played all the way through it, which turned out to be an excellent decision. It's now one of my favorite games of all time.

- David Stein

Sometimes Otterese does not translate well.

Hmm - guess it's just me then - I really liked the overpowered pistol. oh well... nevermind

Just as a side note, "Moran" in Korean means "Flower". It's a very common name for Korean girls, and in fact it's Margaret Cho's Korean name. Funny eh?

I liked how Halo had only a few weapons. Although the Pistol was almost as powerful as the sniper rifle.

I hear the game will let you marry other dudes. That makes me sick, so I will not buy!

I like the pistol too. I could hit people all the way across 'Hang 'em High, and halfway across 'Blood Gulch.' With this weapon, who needs the P.O.S. Assault Rifle?

I heard they were going to add a switch to master chief's crotch that allows you to speak spanish.

Siiiiiiiiiiii

Like Donnie & Marie Osmand?

One of the offsets to the removing of the scope on the pistol was to enhance the power of the needler. I thought that was a cool weapon but rarely used it since it had little impact. It would be neat if the needler could shoot around corners as well.

Another objectionable change. "Master Chief" is now known as "Master Chef":



(actual in-game screenshot, not pre-rendered!)

Yes, the pistol is powerful, but why would it make the game unbalanced and unfair? The better and more accurate player will win - not because the pistol is so great. Also, I happen to believe that a shotgun and a machine gun w/ easy melee is way more effective than a pistol in close range and the sniper rifle is much more effective in far distances. The game is extremely balanced. The pistol is the best mid range weapon, but is a poor long range and short range weapon. (Maybe the programmers got their asses beat by pistol weilding halo freaks too many times.)

^^ depends on your foe's weapon. Yes it is a poor long range weapon, but with a battle going on between two other players, on the other side of the map, one or two lucky shots, and bam! You have stolen a fill or two since they took each other's power down. Pretty effective in that regard.

As for short range, it can't top the shotgun for sure, but if your enemy has an assualt rifle(or any alien weapon) in your face, pistol should win every time.