 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Halo 2
- Windows, Xbox
- Price: $49.99
- Genre: First Person Shooter
Common Sense Media says
A bloody, action-packed, sci-fi shooter sequel.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this game is not for kids -- hence the PAUSE rating and recommended age of 16 years and older. It's a moderately challenging first-person shooter game with lots of blood, gore, and scariness. You will use guns, swords, grenades, and other weapons to inflict death. Some torture is shown and you can also hijack cars. Online play will likely expose players to foul language.
What's it about?
Picking up shortly after the events in Halo, HALO 2 finds the Master Chief attending a medal ceremony onboard a spaceship hovering above Earth. The evil Covenant begins an attack on the ship and planet, which calls Master Chief back into action down on the surface to dispose of crafty aliens. Notable new features in Halo 2 include online play for up to 16 gamers via Xbox Live (service sold separately); a split-screen mode for up to four players on the same television; a system link mode for those who want to connect multiple Xbox units in the same room; and, of course, an updated arsenal of weapons with which to dispatch the enemy.
Is it any good?
The original Halo was one of those rare games that excelled in every department, from the gameplay and story to the graphics and orchestrated music soundtrack. And now its sequel takes things further. The game's sci-fi story and impressive cut-scene sequences are some of the best in a video game to date. Stunningly surreal landscapes, an outstanding soundtrack, multiple game types, and the ease with which gamers can launch a multiplayer match all contribute to the thrilling experience.
Halo 2 proves you can improve on excellence. It's an outstanding solo adventure and multiplayer game that gets almost everything right.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about why this game has become one of the most popular action game franchises of this generation. Is the sci-fi story better than other games? Does the level of violence make a game like this more immersive than its competitors? Is blood necessary in a 3-D shooter or is falling down enough to confirm the enemy is dead? Does the swearing that you might hear while playing online detract from the multiplayer experience or add to it?
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Decent gameplay, but mature
Admittedly addicting, the game is still violent, and some scenes in the first-player scenarios can be tense/frightening. The online gaming can be fun, but that can also become one of the more offensive aspects of gameplay as players talk to each other; Frequent cussing and harrassment is somewhat common even though they have a system in place to report abuse. I think Mature is an appropriate rating for this game.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 24, 2011
AGE
EPIC! Just somewhat hard.
My friend and I played it on his xbox and it was EPIC! Just somewhat hard and I had to ask for help for him a lot. That is why I gave it four stars.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
A great game.
Saying halo 2 has so-so graphics is like saying the sky is red. it simply isn't true, and is immiedietly obvious to anyone who looks at it. I don't think this game deserves an Off 17+. yes, there is violence, but none of it is very realistic, and there isn't any dismemberment. most of the blood is either purple or green. i wouldn't recommend it for anyone below 12, but most kids above 13 are smart enough to know that it's just a game.
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Teen, 13 years old
March 16, 2012
AGE
Cool, but it doesn't need the language
The game is a cool sci-fi shooting game. But it soooooo doesn't require any of the bad language. I try to limit the time I play on the game because I don't think the game should be an every day game.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 10 years old
May 29, 2011
AGE
Near-by teens
For mature tweens
What other families should know:
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Kid, 10 years old
January 3, 2011
AGE
Four Words...
BEST HALO GAME EVER!
What other families should know:
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Parent of 10 year old
June 23, 2010
AGE
This is a fun game, and fun to play with your child
This is a very, very fun game. It is great to play co-op with your kid, or even just let them kill you! It is a great stress reliever and is a great opportunity to teach your child some combat tactics as well. I would highly recommend this. Even the blood on the ground looks very cartoony.
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Parent of 7 and 10 year old
June 6, 2010
AGE
Best Game Ever
Halo 2 is by far the best game I have ever had the pleasure to play. The graphics are incredible, the music is impeccable, and it's just an overall great video game. When ESRB rated this game M, I was outraged. I mean, you're shooting aliens here, and there's little to no blood. (plus, it's whacked colors, like green and pink) The only time there is ANY human blood at all is if you shoot your partner, which even the youngest of children understand is morally wrong, and they'd never do it. (At least, my little ones don't) When the ESRB said it's scary, I just laughed out loud. The aliens are well-done, but I don't really think they're going to make you pee your pants or anything. There is absolutely no gore at all in this, despite what the ESRB says. There is a bit of blood, but like I said, it's mild and discolored. The language is extremely mild; I only heard about 5 d*mns and maybe 1 crap in the whole thing. It could at least of been rated T, but I don't think it even amounts to that. I think this is along the lines of E-10+ more than anything. CSM believes that the message is bad because we're attacking aliens. What the heck are they talking about?! Aliens are invading us, and we're simply defending ourselves! My two sons, Trent and Jacob, simply enjoy this game. I don't blame them, as I'm an epic halo fan myself. So buy the game, share it with your children. (If they're mature for their age) I don't think you'll regret, and neither will they.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 13, 2011
AGE
Epic game!!!
While there is some blood in this game, Common Sense blew it WAY out of proportion. The only time there is a lot of blood in HALO is in extreme circumstances. In campaign, despite there being more blood, most of it is alien, and colored fluorescent blue, green, or orange. In multiplayer, there is more human blood, but less overall. The gameplay is fun and easy to get the hang of, and the main protagonists are honorable people with good motives. If a child is mature for their age, then they should be able to play it. However, the violence may be a little much for younger kids.
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Teen, 16 years old
October 24, 2011
AGE
Great game, pretty violent and gory though.
Great game. Basically the same as the first as far as violence, blood, and gore. There is killing of aliens, and when they die, green, or purple blood spurts out. There is also a parasitic, zombie-like form called the Flood that you fight. Those are really gory. Mild to moderate language sprinkled throughout. May be frightening to children under 10.
Players use automatic rifles, high caliber pistols, semi-auto rifles, SMGs, plasma-based guns, grenades, turrets, rockets, and energy swords.
PS: the "What Parents need to know" thing at the top says "torture". I played the whole game several times, last time just a month or two ago, and I didnt see any torture.
Verdict: good for 14 and up. maybe for 11 and up. Definitely not for kids under 11.
What other families should know:
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| Platforms: | Windows, Xbox |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developer: | Microsoft |
| Release date: | January 4, 2005 |
| Price: | $49.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for (Windows, Xbox) |
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