Halo 2 Vista slips

By Robert Purchese Published 24 May, 2007

Still on the horizon.

Microsoft has let fly that Halo 2 for Windows Vista will now be available on 8th June.

It had been previously expected as early as 18th May, but the publisher turned a blind eye earlier in the month when retailers forecast a date slip.

Halo 2 Vista is a PC remake of the phenomenally successful Xbox title from 2004. It will feature new maps and an editor to create your own, as well as some graphical spit-shine and other tweaked bits and pieces. Your health bar is no longer visible on-screen, for instance, and your health will now regenerate slowly if you're not being mutilated.

There's also an expanded selection of vehicles to zip around in, and more than 14 human and alien weapons to do the killing with. Multiplayer fiends can enjoy the deathmatch thrills on Live Anywhere, something Microsoft hopes will become as popular as Halo 2 on Xbox Live was, no doubt.

It's bound to be a faithful remake of a great game, but with Halo 3 just around the corner, we can't help but think it's little bit insignificant.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GamesConnoisseur #1 5 years ago

    Achievement Boost for my Gamerscore delayed until 8th June!

  • ostrasized #2 5 years ago

    They're probably finding new ways that people will be able to hack it to play on XP.
    I give it a few weeks...

  • Killerbee #3 5 years ago

    can't help but think it's little bit insignificant

    Agreed. And I note only 5 Eurogamers currently want this game.

    It's puzzling that this is taking them so long to finish though - unless they are radically tarting it up for the PC?

  • AcidSnake #4 5 years ago

    I read a review yesterday that gave it a 6...
    I think it's been done for months and were forced to make it vista exclusive...

  • Skeletor #5 5 years ago

    Let's face it - hardly anybody wants this. There are cheaper and way better alternatives on the PC and by todays standards it's hopelessly outdated. Paying for multiplayer is a big minus also...
    No amount of "tarting it up" will hide those facts. Btw, Geometry Wars on the PC was a big overpriced dissapointment.

  • BadBoyBonner #6 5 years ago

    Isn't it funny that the very thing Vista was heralded as bringing - PC gaming to the fore - is actually almost chocking it to death, and all but irrelevant for anyone wanting a decent frame rate out of their existing system.

    Plus most user's with high spec rigs want the very best frame rates on offer, again something that is totally missing.

    Shakes head - with all the money, time and effort, you would think it would have been a better roll out. I am sure that they [MS] are gutted that Crysis hasn't launched with it.
    Edited by 1 at 24/05/07 @ 10:19

  • BadBoyBonner #7 5 years ago

    Mind you saying that, if memory serves me right (and it does), the original Halo ran like a dog on PC's light years ahead of the Original Xbox Spec without event a hint of a new OS to slow it down! lol

  • sickpuppysoftware #8 5 years ago

    How much are they planning to charge for this 3 year old FPS considering Game seem to be charging around a fiver for the more recent Prey?

    I'm guessing they're not releasing straight to budget.

  • UncleLou #9 5 years ago

    To want this, you need to:

    a) don't own an Xbox
    b) own Vista
    c) like Halo (despite a))
    d) be willing to pay full price for a years old game

    2 out of 4 for me. Not enough.

  • ProtoformX #10 5 years ago

    I can't help but note that right next to this article about Halo 2 is an advert asking you to pre-order Halo 3 at Game. I can't see this selling well. UncleLou's comments sums up my opinion on the matter just right.

  • TwistidChimp #11 5 years ago

    I've said it more than once and I'll say it again. Why on earth are they bothering ? Unless they release it for about 5 pounds. Why would anyone spend 30 quid on a 3 year old fps who's merits were questionable when it was launched. Even in deathmatch its not going to stand up to other titles releasing on the pc at the same time. I mean how can it ?

  • coojam #12 5 years ago

    Actually I must admit, I'm a 360/PC gamer and, as I'd like to play throught the original two Halo's before the release of number 3, this seems like a feasible option, especially with the added incentive of achievements and the fact I've got my PC hooked up to the same TV my 360 is and can use the same controller.

    That makes me an amazingly small niche in the market, but a possibility none-the-less. Of course I could just pick Halo 2 up on Xbox for a fraction of the price, but then I wouldn't be getting achievements would I? Damn my ego...

  • robg #13 5 years ago

    To add to the above comments - since when did your health *not* regenerate in Halo 2 when you weren't being attacked?

    Also, @coojam - why are you buying a fps on a PC to play it without mouse/keyboard? You must be utterly insane :)

  • Iora #14 5 years ago

    Just in time to compete with Crysis no doubt..........no wait. Just like Halo on the PC it will look fugly!

  • Talha #15 5 years ago

    Without a significant graphical overhaul, this game is a complete waste of time.

  • Haloboy #16 5 years ago

    "Isn't it funny that the very thing Vista was heralded as bringing - PC gaming to the fore - is actually almost chocking it to death."

    Aye, Games for Windows/Vista was heralded as Microsoft actually starting to give a crap about PC gaming once more, and look how it's turned out. Microsoft are officially pillocks due to how they have handled themseves of late and deserve massive damage because of it. Big massive damage even. ;)

  • Iora #17 5 years ago

    The last Halo played awful on the PC as well. Im not just talking about performance, just in general it didnt port well.

    Halo on the xbox was awesome halo2 not so much, halo3 meh
    Halo on the PC sheee-ite Halo2 likely the same and by the time halo3 is released on the PC we will all be flying hovercars and playing Half-Life12 etc.etc.

  • justsomeone #18 5 years ago

    it's not so insignificant for those of us with good PCs who'd rather cut their arms off than play an FPS on a console using a joypad. fook that. i'd rather play GTA4 with the sega mega sea bass fishing controller.

    tho, err, having said that, i still won't be buying it for the PC - halo sucks.

  • JediMasterMalik #19 5 years ago

    How can MS be screwing up Vista so badly? Halo 2, Shadow Run, Live Gold...

  • BadBoyBonner #20 5 years ago

    How embarrassed will MS be when it doesn't even top the charts on release and scurries away after only a week or so. Now if they had of released this using the assets from Halo 3 - think people would have taken notice. As it is (I know much of the models and textures have been redone) already played it again on the 360 at 720p (well 1360x768) and twice is enough for anyone to put up with the wholly underwhelming ending.

  • James173 #21 5 years ago

    This offends my intelligence. There is just no way in hell that I would ever get this... List of FPS games that are better, more replayable, and probably cheaper than Halo 2:

    Half Life 1
    Half Life 2
    Deus Ex
    Quake 1 & 2 (seriously)
    Prey, as mentioned above
    EDIT: Plus many others ;)

    In fact, I dare say you could get all of those if you looked reasonably hard for less than a £30/35 Halo 2.
    Edited by 1 at 24/05/07 @ 11:37

  • Haloboy #22 5 years ago

    You forgot to mention Far Cry!!!

  • Hugundo #23 5 years ago

    Everything's on the bloody horizon.

  • Whizzo #24 5 years ago

    MS should have bundled Halo2 with Vista itself, it's not going to sell as a full price game.

  • Skeletor #25 5 years ago

    @Whizzo
    Exactly

  • FooAtari #26 5 years ago

    With games like Half-Life 2 who would want this. I quite liked Halo, but Halo 2 was totaly arse IMO. Playing as the Arbiter was the worst design move they could have made. The single player was really weak.

    You could pick an Xbox and H2 for not much more than the cost of the PC game alone.

  • davisorle #27 5 years ago

    @UncleLou
    a) don't own an Xbox
    b) own Vista
    c) like Halo (despite a))
    d) be willing to pay full price for a years old game

    I know a bunch of them around here and I know the "most" of them will buy it for those reasons. I might buy it as well. Ill just lend it first and see if the improvments are worth it. Why making such a big deal? If someone is to buy it why the rest getting nervous about it? o.O

  • davisorle #28 5 years ago

    BTW dont you know why the delay? I'd do the same thing as MS.ofc there's been a Halo 3 Beta out isn't that right? MOst of us have been playing. So if Halo 2 was out dont you think instead of the Beta we would be checking out Halo 2 on Vista and how it is online? Think about it for a second and tell me. Isn't it better for MS and Bungie to release the game 2 days after people start feeling bumped without a Halo to play? I think I would.

  • L0cky #29 5 years ago

    'Without a significant graphical overhaul, this game is a complete waste of time.'

    That didn't stop them making Halo 3.



    /me ducks and runs

  • L0cky #30 5 years ago

    @davisorle: Are you on crack, or is your post a brilliant epitomisation of sarcasm?

  • James173 #31 5 years ago

    I'm with L0cky... Halo 3 is also a legitimate target.