Triumphant return of the conquering halo.

• Position: Videogames: teenagers & adults - Brief Article

More than two years--and tons of media hype--in the making, Halo 2 finally has arrived in stores, picking up where Halo: Combat Evolved, left off. Master Chief (the player's alter ego) and his marines destroy the aliens' artificial homeworld Halo and rush back to save war-torn Earth from the marauding Covenant armada.

The action is as fast and furious as in the first game. An arsenal of new weaponry, high-tech combat vehicles, plus a few surprises and plot twists help maintain the game's edginess.

Players find themselves battling through new and varied environments with detailed settings, realistic lighting effects, and an enhanced sound system that bring it more to life.

Improved artificial intelligence features have the animated characters that fight alongside you react more quickly and naturally to their circumstances. However, this also gives...