Halo 2

(Herald rating: * * * * * )

The original Halo sold millions. It was the flagship title for Microsoft's Xbox on launch and proved once and for all that it was possible to create a quality first-person shooter on the console. Before the release of Halo 2 this month, hype surrounding Bungie's super-sequel had been building steadily all year, yet the developers were tightlipped on most of the game's details.

Following their humiliating defeat at Halo, Covenant forces have regrouped for an attack on Earth. Master Chief returns to lead the Earth's defence forces against the alien alliance.

New vehicles, new aliens and the addition of Earth environments give Halo 2's battle sequences a more emotional edge. This time, our world is at stake and our very existence under threat. There's a decent plot there if gamers choose to pursue it, but I don't want to go into that too much.

As the sequel to the greatest console shooter ever, Halo 2 has evolved, but not too much. It does cover some new ground but does so cautiously, keeping things seamless and not messing too much with the original.

More weapons and vehicles have been added. Alien weaponry is more powerful, with upgrades and additions to their arsenal. The biggest change is that it is now possible to wield two guns at once, firing them simultaneously.

Bungie has tweaked things to allow for dual weapons, but otherwise the intuitive control system of the original remains. Even if you're new to the game, everything quickly becomes second nature, freeing you to concentrate on the important stuff.

Many enjoyed working through Halo co-operatively with a friend. Halo 2 can be played by up to four people at once, and has multiplayer support for up to 16 players on 11 different maps via Xbox Live.

If you were blown away by the first Halo — and let's face it, everyone was — then you should check out this sequel. It's practically flawless and more impressive than ever.

* XBox, $99.95