Halo 2 is the 2004 sequel to the popular video game Halo: Combat Evolved for the Xbox console developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Games Studios. A PC version of the game enhanced specifically for Windows Vista was later released, which was used to remaster the first four seasons of The Blood Gulch Chronicles.
Due to the impact created by Red vs. Blue and many similar machinima, a number of features were introduced in Halo 2 specifically for the sake of filming machinima, along with new features that would become standard for future titles. Red vs. Blue used the Xbox version in Seasons 3 and 4 before switching to the PC version for Out of Mind onward.
On its tenth anniversary, the game received an enhanced remake for Xbox One, Halo 2 Anniversary, as part of the Master Chief Collection.
New Features
- The "alert carry" was introduced. Although the previous feature that raised a character's head when the weapon was lowered was removed, in its place was the ability to activate the alert carry at the touch of a button, which shifted the character from an aiming pose to an "at ease" pose by lowering the weapon, creating a more sophisticated idle pose. The character can still move freely in this pose.
- An expanded character customization system was introduced. Characters could now be composed of more than one armor color, allowing for one "main" color and one "sub" color.
- Two weapons could now be used simultaneously.
- Vehicles could now be damaged or destroyed, and could be boarded by characters of differing colors.
- The Elite character model was introduced alongside the improved Spartan character model.
- Although not a standard feature, an exploit to allow a character to drop their weapon was discovered, allowing Rooster Teeth to expand the aspect ratio. The eventual switch to the PC version of the game allowed the ingame HUD to be completely removed and the aspect ratio switched to Widescreen.
Red vs. Blue Seasons using Halo 2
- Red vs. Blue: Season 3
- Red vs. Blue: Season 4
- Red vs. Blue: Out of Mind
- Red vs. Blue: Season 5
- Red vs. Blue: Recovery One
- Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 9, Chapter 11)
- Red vs. Blue: Relocated (Part 4)
- Red vs. Blue: Recreation (Episode 4)
- Red vs. Blue: Season 10 (Episode 12)
- Red vs. Blue: Season 12 (Episode 8)
- Red vs. Blue: Season 14 (Episode 12, Episode 16, Episode 18, Episode 19)
- Red vs. Blue: The Shisno Paradox (Episode 4)
- Red vs. Blue: Singularity (Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8)
- PSAs (Various)
- Special Episodes (Various)
Trivia
- When Rooster Teeth first adopted the use of Halo 2 during Season 3 of Red vs. Blue, the characters initially appeared using a two-colored setup. The characters had their original colors set as their primary color, with their secondary color set to red or blue, setting red or blue colored accents along their helmet, wrists and thighs. This concept only lasted for one episode before being discarded in the next one, and was not replicated for the reshot remastering of Season 3.
- In addition to colors, Rooster Teeth also initially portrayed the Reds and Blues wearing their team's flag icons, a red cobra and blue hawk, on their shoulders and back as part of Halo 2’s online multiplayer system. After filming with them for a number of episodes, it was discovered the emblems could be removed by filming in a certain network setup, which lead to the removal of the team emblems from all future recordings until Season 14, where the emblems returned, because they are automatic in the PC version.
- For unknown reasons, in Make Your Time, Simmons' team emblem was colored gray instead of maroon.
- Also in Season 14, Donut's emblem is sapphire, like in The Chorus Trilogy , both in reference to his sapphire armor detail in The Recollection and Season 10.