Editing Halo 2: Anniversary

{{Title|''Halo 2 Anniversary''}}

{{Era|RW}}

{{Upcoming}}

{{Game Infobox

|name= ''Halo 2 Anniversary''

|image= [[File:Halo2anniversary.jpg|300px]]

*[[343 Industries]]<ref name="RTX 2014"/>

*[[Wikipedia:Saber Interactive|Saber Interactive]]<ref name="RTX 2014"/>

*[[Certain Affinity]]<ref name="RTX 2014"/>

|platform= [[Xbox One]]

|releasedate= November 11, 2014<ref name="waypoint"/><br>

[[Forge]]<ref name="IGNinterv">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTDVFdQVNw4#t=664 '''YouTube''': ''Halo 2 Anniversary - Cairo Station Campaign Gameplay and...'']</ref><br>

{{Quote|Because [[Halo 5: Guardians|the seeds of our future]] are sown in his past.|[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]}}<ref>'''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection announcement trailer]]'''</ref>

'''''Halo 2 Anniversary''''' is the remastered edition of  ''[[Halo 2]]''. It was released on November 11, 2014 as part of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' for the [[Xbox One]].<ref>'''E3 2014 Microsoft Media Briefing'''</ref><ref name="waypoint">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-the-master-chief-collection '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'']</ref> ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' is the first ''Halo'' game to support [[Halo Channel]], an Xbox One feature that was released alongside the game.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-gb/halo-channel '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo Channel'']</ref>

As with ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', the ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' campaign has been visually remastered by [[Wikipedia:Saber Interactive|Saber Interactive]] along with completely redone audio and the original soundtrack rerecorded by [[Skywalker Sound]].<ref name="PAX">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGn4YXXZyDo '''YouTube''': ''Halo and the Journey of the Master Chief- PAX Prime 2014'']</ref><ref>[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=115637960&postcount=1792 '''NeoGaf''': ''Frank O'Connor on sound'']</ref> Similar to its predecessor, ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' uses a combination of 3D models from several of the prior games (such as ''[[Halo: Reach]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Unggoy|Grunts]]) as well as modified and all-new assets.<ref name="IGNinterv"/> Unlike the other games in the ''Master Chief Collection'' which run at a 1920x1080p resolution, the ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' campaign has a lower resolution of 1328x1080p due to stated technical problems that arose from running the twin graphics and audio engines at 1080p. The game nonetheless has a frame rate of 60 frames per second like the other titles in the collection.<ref>[http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/10/07/the-horse-you-rode-in-on-a-halo-the-master-chief-collection-story-ign-first '''IGN''': ''The Horse You Rode In On (A Halo: The Master Chief Collection Story) – IGN First'']</ref> The remastered cutscenes have been pre-rendered by [[Blur Studio]] as opposed to being in-engine like those in most of the ''Halo'' games.<ref name="waypoint"/>

Like ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', the game allows users to switch between the remastered version and a "Classic Mode" (also referred to as "Legacy" mode);<ref name="PAX"/> both visuals and audio are remastered in the ''Anniversary'' mode but remain original in the Classic Mode. The switch between the two modes is more seamless than in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', being instantaneous as opposed to the screen fading to black in the interim.<ref name="machinima">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDIiFV-Wmw '''YouTube''': ''Every. Halo. Ever. E3 2014'']</ref>

Like ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' and ''[[Halo 4]]'', ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' contains [[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|hidden terminal videos]]; these terminals have been stated to be easier to find than before.<ref name="venturebeat">[http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/10/understanding-halo-the-master-chief-collection-faq-playlists-forge-control-schemes-and-more/ '''Venturebeat''': ''Understanding Halo: The Master Chief Collection (FAQ) — playlists, Forge, control schemes, and more'']</ref> As in ''Halo 4'' the videos are hosted on ''[[Halo Waypoint]]'', not on the disc, and as such require an Internet connection to access. The game also features [[Halo: The Master Chief Collection Skulls|its own set of skulls]].<ref name="waypoint"/> ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' also contains a remastered version of ''[[Another Day at the Beach]]'' (a bonus video originally shipped with the ''[[Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack]]'') animated by Blur Studio.<ref>[http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/10/29/halo-2-trailer-exclusive-comparisons/#more-313500 '''Entertainment Weekly''': ''"Halo 2" shows revamped cinematics in new trailer'']</ref> In addition, two cutscenes were added to the campaign's [[The Heretic|beginning]] and its [[The Great Journey|ending]], linking to the events of ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

The ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' multiplayer has been stated to be based on a post-patch version of ''Halo 2'' as rather than the shipping version.<ref name="bulletin61914">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-6-19-14 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin 6.19.14'']</ref> The game also has an online co-op mode.<ref name="IGNinterv"/> Split-screen multiplayer has be laid out in horizontal view instead of the original vertical orientation.<ref name="bulletin61914"/>

All original multiplayer maps (including the extra ones in the DLC [[map pack]]s and ''[[Halo 2 Vista]]'')<ref>[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=115814609&postcount=185 '''NeoGaf''': ''Frank O'Connor on maps'']</ref> are featured in the classic multiplayer mode.<ref name="waypoint"/>

[[File:Halo MCC Menu Elites.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Various Elite armor permutations available in the ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' multiplayer.]]

Six of ''Halo 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s multiplayer maps have been completely re-imagined<ref name="waypoint"/> in a separate multiplayer engine described as a combination of the multiplayer of the classic ''Halo 2'' and that of the more recent ''Halo'' titles.<ref name="IGNinterv"/> A [[Forge]] mode is featured in the six re-imagined maps.<ref name="venturebeat"/> [[Certain Affinity]] president [[Max Hoberman]], one of the multiplayer design leads on the original ''Halo 2'', helped 343 Industries design and create the remastered multiplayer component.<ref name="SDCC panel">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUGrnvdo8Ok&list=UU7NCg0venpKJg3kuJojKlbQ&index=1 '''YouTube''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection Dev Panel - SDCC 2014'']</ref> Many of the added features in the remastered maps were proposed for the original game but ended up being cut; thus, 343 Industries considers the remastered component a "Director's Cut" of sorts.<ref name="RTX 2014">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1a1FzQ3bdQ '''YouTube''': ''RTX 2014 - 343 Industries panel'']</ref>

The developers' stated goals for the remastered maps were to expand upon the core ''Halo 2'' experience, create the definitive version of each of the remastered maps, and to approach the remastering as more of an upgrade than a remake. Multiple aspects of the sandbox was tweaked to both improve and "modernize" the gameplay, although the goal is to remain faithful to the original experience. Some of these improvements include a boost to player speed, making the [[M6C magnum|magnum]] more powerful and the addition of the [[MA5D assault rifle|assault rifle]] as a mid-range weapon option, something the developers found lacking in the original.<ref name="RTX 2014"/> The [[M7S SMG|silenced SMG]] has also been added along with the newly introduced [[M274 Mongoose#M274-M Gungoose variant|M274-M Gungoose]].<ref name="RTX 2014"/>

As an added feature, players are able to choose their weapon set upon spawning, similar to the [[loadout]] system in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''. According to Max Hoberman, this feature was originally designed for ''Halo 2'' but was ultimately cut. Hoberman hesitated to call the weapon sets "loadouts" and underscored that the system is designed to be more evenly balanced; e.g. [[Lockdown]]'s weapon sets include a choice between the [[M7 SMG|SMG]], [[plasma rifle]] and [[M6C magnum|magnum]]. The human weapon sets equip the player with two [[frag grenade]]s while the Covenant ones have the player spawn with [[plasma grenade]]s.<ref name="ign GTK">[http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/10/24/get-to-know-halo-the-master-chief-collections-lockout-remake-lockdown-ign-first '''IGN.com''': ''Get to Know Halo: The Master Chief Collection's 'Lockout' Remake, 'Lockdown' – IGN First'']</ref>

Like earlier games' multiplayer customization includes [[nameplate]]s, service tags, [[armor permutations]] for both Spartans and Sangheili, and [[emblem]]s. New features to customization include clan tags and in-game avatars.<ref name="Teambeyond.net">[http://teambeyond.net/halo-the-master-chief-collection-customization/ '''Team Beyond.net''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection Customization'']</ref>

Though most of the map geometry — including "skill jumps" — remain intact, the remastered maps contain a number of gameplay tweaks (such as additional cover) along with new "dynamic features", some of which Max Hoberman proposed to be added in the original ''Halo 2''.<ref name="RTX 2014"/> These include the addition of a large energy shield in the center of [[Zenith]], the remake of [[Ascension (level)|Ascension]], which can be triggered by three panels across the map,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt-i0y35bxw/ '''YouTube:''' ''Halo 2 Ascension Anniversary Walkthrough'']</ref> and three stalactites which can be dropped on players on [[Lockdown]], the remake of [[Lockout]]. Most of these new features can be disabled via [[Forge]] for an experience closer to the original game.<ref name="PAX"/>

Other additions to the remastered multiplayer include the name of the segment of the map that the player is currently in being displayed near the [[motion sensor]] as in ''Halo: Reach''. Gametypes such as [[Infection]], [[Race]], [[Ricochet]] and [[Team SWAT]] have been added to the remastered multiplayer.

*[[Zenith]], remake of [[Ascension (level)|Ascension]].

{{Main|Forge#Halo 2 Anniversary|l1=Halo 2 Anniversary Forge}}

Forge is set to return in ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' with many more improvements and additional features. New features include simple scripting objects (such as switches which can be used to trigger various actions) and mirrored versions of objects. Additionally, the budget can now either be limited on the amount of objects placed in a map, or how well the map will run with the amount of objects placed. Three Skybox-only maps have been added to allow players to build and create with little restrictions.<ref name="gameinformerH2A">[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/halo_master_chief_collection/b/xboxone/archive/2014/08/30/343-details-halo-2-s-many-changes-and-additions.aspx '''GameInformer''': ''343 Details Halo 2’s Many Changes And Additions'']</ref>

*[[Awash]]<ref>[http://www.ign.com/videos/2014/10/28/halo-2-anniversary-forge-demo-halo-the-master-chief-collection-ign-first  '''IGN''' - ''See Forge in Halo 2 Anniversary'']</ref>

*[[Nebula]]<ref name="thisisxboxaccount">[http://youtu.be/qzH38JjApMg?t=52s '''YouTube''' - ''Halo 2 Anniversary Forge Selection'']</ref>

*[[Skyward]]<ref name="thisisxboxaccount"/>

 

While Saber Interactive produced the cutscenes in-engine in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', digital animation company [[Blur Studio]] (who previously worked on the ''[[Halo Wars]]'' cinematics) was contracted to create pre-rendered CGI cinematics for ''Halo 2 Anniversary''. This was a considerable undertaking, as the game's cutscenes contain a total of 58 minutes of footage. However, since the template for the cinematics' structure and composition already existed in the form of the original ''Halo 2'' cutscenes, it was easier for Blur to focus on issues like visual fidelity than in a typical project in which they are forced to work with little to no such source material.<ref name="RTL">'''[[Remaking The Legend]]'''</ref>

The character animations were created through [[Wikipedia:Motion capture|motion capture]] technology; the new models for certain characters, such as [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Johnson]], are also modeled after their motion capture actors. The action scenes, which involve a great deal of movement on part of the characters, proved a challenge for the actors, particularly because the facial and bodily performances were captured separately. In one scene (the closing of ''[[Quarantine Zone (level)|Quarantine Zone]]''), for example, {{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1364280/ Damion Poitier]}}, the motion capture actor for Sgt. Johnson and the Arbiter, is fighting "himself".<ref name="RTL"/>

The soundtrack in ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' is in surround sound and has been completely re-orchestrated by [[Skywalker Sound]], with several new tracks exclusive to the remake.<ref name="PAX"/> [[Steve Vai]], who worked on the original ''Halo 2'' original soundtrack, was hired to re-record his original guitar tracks for the remastered soundtrack. Two new tracks by [[Wikipedia:Periphery (band)|Misha Mansoor]] replaces the exclusive songs by Breaking Benjamin and Incubus in the Anniversary mode; the original tracks are retained in Classic mode.<ref name="PAX"/> An official ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]'' was released alongside ''The Master Chief Collection'' on November 11, 2014.<ref name="gameinformerH2A"/><ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/13/listen-to-the-halo-2-anniversary-soundtrack-right-now '''IGN.com''': ''Listen to the Halo 2 Anniversary Soundtrack Right Now - IGN First'']</ref> The soundtrack is available as a double CD, digital download, and a limited edition vinyl record.<ref name="PAX"/>

Every sound effect from the original ''[[Halo 2]]'' has been redone, including weapons, vehicles and ambient sounds. The Anniversary mode also features an overhauled audio engine, with new reflection and level of distance systems to more realistically model the sound effects' interaction with the environment, accounting for level geometry and distance in the propagation of weapon sounds. Each weapon's sound effects have been changed to make every weapon seem more intimidating.<ref name="PAX"/> The audio team disseminated the original sounds in detail and attempted to find specific identifying characteristics of them to emulate in the new ones. Similar to the weapon sound effects in ''[[Halo 4]]'', source material for the new sounds was recorded with actual weapons fire. The developers picked weapons they felt had distinctive firing reports, including the [[Wikipedia:Thompson submachine gun|Thompson submachine gun]], the [[Wikipedia:Heckler & Koch MP5|Heckler & Koch MP5]] and the [[Wikipedia:M1 Garand|M1 Garand]]. New source material for the [[energy sword]]'s sound effects—which the audio team wanted to sound more powerful than originally—was created by recording the sizzling and crackling sounds created by placing ball bearings on dry ice.<ref name="RTL"/>

The toggle between the original and the remastered audio are tied to the graphics switch and cannot be changed independently.<ref name="PAX"/>

File:H2A-RefumeeRises.jpg|[[Sesa 'Refumee]]

File:H2A - 343 Guilty Spark.jpg|[[343 Guilty Spark]]

File:H2A - MonitorGravemind.jpg|[[2401 Penitent Tangent]]

File:H2A - Master Chief and antimatter charge.png|John-117 drags an [[antimatter charge]] across ''[[Cairo Station]]''

File:H2A-Comparison.jpg|Comparison between screenshots taken on classic and remastered [[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]

File:H2A-MasterChief-Screen04.jpg|John-117 facing down a [[Unggoy|Grunt]] on Cairo Station

File:H2A - John117 with BR.png|The Master Chief wielding a [[BR55 battle rifle]]

File:TanODST.jpg|ODSTs make landfall in the ruins on [[Installation 05]] from remastered ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]''

 

{{Halo Games}}

[[Category:Halo 2 Anniversary| ]]