Weapon Selection
Master Chief can only possess two different weapon types in his inventory. While it is possible for him to carry three at once (two dual-wield weapons and a third slung on his back), when you switch back to a single weapon, you always drop one of the extra dual-wielded weapons. Keep that in mind when making your weapon selections. As a rule of thumb, you should always carry one long-range weapon and one that can be dual wielded, for close-quarters combat. Of course, your fighting style may vary.


Zooming In
Some of the weapons you carry have scopes, allowing you to zoom in on your targets for precision shooting. Click the right thumbstick to activate the zoom view. The Sniper Rifle and Particle Beam Rifle have two zoom views: 5x and 10x. Use the 10x zoom to line up deadly headshots and drop your enemies from long-range. One shot, one kill!


Covenant Weapons
If you're trigger-happy and burn through all your ammo frequently, have no fear. Just pick up a Covenant weapon and keep fighting! Walk next to dead Covenant soldiers. If you see the "Hold X to swap for (weapon icon)" text, feel free to arm yourself with Covenant weapons. The Plasma Grenades are a good pickup as well because they are sticky and will cling to creatures and vehicles, if your aim is true.


Weapon Trading
If you're with your fellow Marines and want to make a quick weapons change, try this out. Approach a trooper, and you should see the "Hold X to take ally's (weapon icon)" text appear. You can now trade the weapon in your hand for whatever weapon your friend is holding. This only works if you still have ammo left in your weapon. Also, listen to what your comrades have to say. It helps to lighten the mood a bit.

First-Level Walkthrough

This gameplay walkthrough will take you through the first level of Halo® 2. The information that follows contains SPOILERS and is presented with the presumption that the game is being played on the Difficulty: Normal (default) setting.

(Introductory cinematics play.)

One Size Fits All
Master Chief starts out in the armory. You must calibrate his targeting system (by using the right thumbstick to move the cursor up and down) and touch the red lights, per Master Gun's instructions.

Next, move over to the Shield Test Station. (Look for the blinking red panel with the hand on it). Press and hold the X button to begin the shield recharge test. Once that's complete, Sgt. Maj. Johnson arrives to escort you to an awards ceremony.

Just for fun, you can push around and knock over the small metal carts in the Armory. When you're done playing grab-ass, get on the elevator with Johnson. When it gets to the top, follow Johnson into the tram car.

(Award ceremony and trial cinematics play.)

Game on! It's time to kick ass and take names.

As Master Chief stated at the end of the cut scene, he is not armed. Head down the stairs, and you'll see two weapon lockers on the landing. The red lights across them mean they are locked, so move forward and touch them to unlock them. You'll grab one Battle Rifle and one Submachine Gun (SMG). If you want to dual wield right off the bat (and who wouldn't?) stand in front of the left weapons locker and look for the text that says "Hold Y to dual-wield" followed by a SMG icon.

Home-Field Advantage
Head down the stairs and follow your allies into the Recreation area (noted by the red floor sign). Take up a defensive position and wait for the Covenant boarders to breach the door. Fire at will! If you so desire, you can man the Machine Gun (MG) position. Stand behind it and look for the text that says "Hold X to operate turret." Then, blast away to your heart's content!

Once the boarders have been eliminated, head through the large doors with the rotating red light above it. Follow your allies to the right and take on the next bunch of boarders. Stick to the right and head into the Commons (red floor sign). Head upstairs and enter the door on the left. After you pass through the second door, you can jump behind the MG overlooking the Commons to help your Marines or go straight ahead and blast your way through some more Covenant baddies.

Unless you jumped over the railing and entered the fray head-on, go downstairs and enter the Commons. There will be enemies all over the place, so use cover and fight smart. Once the floor is blue with Covenant blood, head into Hangar A-01 (look for the rotating red light and red floor sign). Then, go to the left and upstairs. This will bring you to the Hangar.

In the Hangar, you'll see a Covenant boarding portal. Mow the bad guys down as they enter the hangar in waves. Once the initial assault has been squashed, a second attack will come through the doors that lead to Hangar A-02. Beat this attack down and proceed into Hangar A-02.

Watch out for the Grunts manning the two Plasma Cannons on the elevated walkways! Hide behind the doorway and use the Battle Rifle to pick off the gunners. Then, enter the Hangar, engage the rest of the boarders, mop them up. Once Hangar A-02 has been cleared, head for the stairs that lead down into MAC Storage (red floor sign).

Take out the baddies at the bottom of the stairs and head down. You're now in parallel hallways leading to the Armory (red floor sign). Use caution, though, because two Elites lurk here. Look for a weapons locker in the narrow area between the two walkways.

Head upstairs into the Armory. You'll arrive just as Master Guns is mortally wounded. Grab his Shotgun, if you want, and carry on. There are multiple weapons lockers in the Armory, in case you want to make any weapon changes. Head through the door and into Commons B-01. Drop the pocket of Covenant guards in here (watch out for the Plasma Cannons) and proceed through the door to Security (look for the rotating red light and red floor sign).

There are some Grunts and a Plasma Cannon to deal with first. Then, go upstairs. You'll pass through double doors and have to battle another small gang of boarders. Go through a pair of double doors into the Tram Station (red floor sign). Fight off the next batch of Covenant attackers and head down to the end of the hallway and into Umbilicals (red floor sign). Don't go into the first Umbilicals hallway, as that leads to a locked door.

Authorized Personnel Only
Jump down into the Storage area (red floor sign) and pick off any remaining Covenant boarders. Follow the right wall around to the Shipping door (look for the rotating red light on the wall). Head through the doors and into the Shipping dock.

Here you will face a swarm of Covenant Drones. They're fast and powerful and use the large open spaces in Shipping to make attack runs and then hide. Use cover to your advantage and pick them off with the Battle Rifle. Your fellow Marines will engage them with gusto as well.

Now, a large moving platform will work its way up to you. A bunch of boarders have hitched a ride, so give them your version of the welcome wagon. Once you've scythed through them, get on the platform and go for a ride. It will slowly work its way down. Enter the airlock and wait for the next door to open.

When it does, you'll be facing some stiff resistance. Elites are mounting a defense here, and they have a Plasma Cannon mounted on a platform that looks right down into the airlock! Use the doorway as cover and pick off the cannon's gunner. Once you've eliminated him, take out the remaining Elites.

Proceed past the large moving mechanism to Firing Control (red floor sign). Be careful not to get crushed in the mechanism or fall off the side. Look for the rotating red light on the wall and enter the doorway to the Firing Control elevator.

Return to Sender
Congratulations are due for reaching Firing Control. The bomb is just on the other side of the room … and you need to defuse it ASAP! Of course, the Covenant boarders aren't just going to give it to you, so be prepared for a tough fight. Once again, you'll be facing a Plasma Cannon and a variety of Grunts and Elites. Eliminate the Covenant with all of your firepower and skill. Can you do it before the bomb detonates?

(Bomb delivery sequence plays)

They'll Regret That, Too
(Marines on the attack cinematics)

You're on your own now, Master Chief. You and the Marines are taking the fight to the Covenant forces who have invaded Earth. Good luck, fight hard, and don't let us down!

By Tom Kristensen