Halo 2
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Revision as of 06:56, 28 January 2019 by Keith (talk | contribs) (→Anti-aliasing causes white lines on geometry)
Developers | |
---|---|
Bungie | |
Pi Studios | |
Windows | Microsoft Game Studios |
Publishers | |
Microsoft Studios | |
Engines | |
Halo Engine | |
Release dates | |
Windows | May 17, 2007 |
Warnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Halo | |
---|---|
Halo: Combat Evolved | 2003 |
Halo 2 | 2007 |
Halo: Spartan (series) | |
Halo Online | 2015* |
Halo 5: Forge | 2016 |
Halo Wars (series) | |
Halo Recruit | 2017 |
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (series) | |
Halo Infinite | 2021 |
Key points
- It is essential to install the latest GFWL client before installing Halo 2. See Install the latest GFWL client.
- Modding tools provided on disc
- All the maps from the Xbox version and its DLC are included except two
- The Halo 2 Live master server went down in 2015 with no indication of its return.[1] See Project Cartographer
- The game is unplayable at frame rates higher than 60 FPS.[2] Use Project Cartographer to limit the frame rate.
General information
- Bungie.net - The developer's site
- Halo Nation - A very detailed wiki for everything Halo related
- Halo.Bungie.org - One of the biggest Halo fan sites around
- Halo Maps - A fan site for downloading mods and maps for Halo 2 Vista
- H2v Hub - Central Hub of the Halo 2 PC community
- H2MT Repository - A massive collection of custom maps, mods, tools, & assets
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail |
- All versions require Games for Windows - LIVE DRM.[Note 1]
Essential improvements
Patches
- The latest patch is 1.01. It is strongly recommended to let the GFWL client auto-update Halo 2. If problems appear, it can be downloaded manually from here.
Skip intro videos
Use Project Cartographer to toggle the intro[citation needed] |
---|
Install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE client
- It is essential to install the latest GFWL client before installing Halo 2, as the version on the disc is broken.
Update Games for Windows - LIVE Redistributable[citation needed] |
---|
|
Project Cartographer
- Project Cartographer is an unofficial multiplayer mod which provides an alternative to the now defunct Games for Windows - LIVE platform for Halo 2 Vista. It allows players to use the Network tab as a server browser and connect via peer-to-peer (P2P) networking. This is a fast and streamlined solution as compared with available LAN gaming solutions, as it retains almost all original Live multiplayer functionality.
- Adds a wide variety of extra features into the game itself.
- Official website
- Features
- Source code
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Halo 2\ |
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Halo 2\Saved Games\ |
Video settings
- Halo 2 in windowed mode can support almost any resolution that matches your desktop.
Input settings
- Aim assist is always enabled for controllers. It can be disabled using Project Cartographer.
Audio settings
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
Italian | ||||
Spanish | Depends on installation disc. | |||
Latin American Spanish | Depends on installation disc. |
Network
- Online features require a Microsoft account (optional for offline play).
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Local play | ||||
LAN play | 16 | Versus A Co-op mod is available though it is in beta. |
||
Online play | 16 | Versus A Co-op mod is available though it is in beta. |
Connection types
Type | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Matchmaking | ||
Peer-to-peer | ||
Dedicated | An unofficial update by the same people who made Project Cartographer is available here. | |
Self-hosting | ||
Direct IP |
Ports
Protocol | Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
---|---|
TCP | 53, 80, 443, 3074 |
UDP | 53, 88, 1000-1006, 3074 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
- Port range
1000-1006
is required by Project Cartographer to host. See Project Cartographer - Specific details can be found here
Issues fixed
- A list of common fixes is available here.
Installation issues
Run startup.exe on the DVD in Vista compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
---|
"One of the installation steps failed" error
- You may receive this error message during installation.
Instructions[citation needed] |
---|
|
"LIVE gaming on Windows failed to initialise" error
- This occurs on Windows 8 and later.
Instructions[citation needed] |
---|
Download and install these files: xliveredist.msi, gfwlclient.msi and wllogin_**.msi |
Sign-in error
Close Xfire before signing in[citation needed] |
---|
Artifacting or flashing on Nvidia cards
Update Nvidia drivers to 337.88 or newer[citation needed] |
---|
Extreme mouse lag/jittering
Use Project Cartographer to limit the frame rate to 60 FPS[citation needed] |
---|
Heavy stuttering
- Native Vsync implementation (enabled by default) is very bad and can cause stuttering even with required 60 FPS.
Force proper Vsync using D3DOverrider or your graphics card control panel[citation needed] |
---|
Game text is garbled or disappears
- When running the game in windowed mode at 2K and 4K resolutions, there are issues with text breaking or disappearing completely.
Fix high resolution issues[3] |
---|
|
Game does not save refresh rate of monitor
- The game will not save your preferred refresh rate (120 Hz, 144 Hz, etc.) when you select it from the video settings. It defaults to 60 Hz each time the game reopens and has to be set again.[4]
Set screen refresh rate and 60 FPS cap[citation needed] |
---|
|
Leaves on trees do not render
- This issue is specific to Nvidia graphics cards.
Use Halo 2 Shader Override[5] |
---|
MSAA causes white lines on geometry
- This issue is specific to Nvidia graphics cards.
Use Halo 2 Shader Override[5] |
---|
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 | |
Shader Model support | 3 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Windows |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Physics | Havok | |
Audio | Dolby Digital | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | |
Multiplayer | Games for Windows - LIVE |
Play without Games for Windows - LIVE
- Games for Windows Live can be disabled as an alternative to using a local profile.
Halo 2 Vista XLiveless[6] |
---|
Command-line arguments
- See command line arguments on how to use the following options.[7]
Parameter | Description |
---|---|
-windowed | Runs the game in windowed mode. |
-novsync | Disables Vsync. May improve the game performance. |
-monitor:X | Allows users to move the game between monitors when running in full screen. Replace X with monitor number (found in Windows Display Settings). |
-nosound | Runs the game without audio. |
Example map
- Example is a map not included in Halo 2 by default, but is present on the Halo 2 install disc and can be obtained by installing and using the Halo 2 map editor. Example is the only multiplayer map to include Fuel Rod Cannons, and includes custom "silenced" SMGs that are quieter than the ones in other maps and have laser pointers. Example is the smallest map in any Halo game and is unusually dense with explosives.
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | Vista | |
Processor (CPU) | 2 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 1 GB | 2 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 7 GB | 10 GB |
Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce 6100 ATI Radeon X700 DirectX 9 compatible | DirectX 10 compatible |
- Halo 2 can be played on Windows XP by following this tutorial (Games for Windows - LIVE features will be disabled).
Notes
- ↑ Games for Windows - LIVE DRM features: Legacy activation, local profile support unknown.
References
- ↑ https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/82841d11296340069f6b8e3ccbfcee11/topics/halo-2-vista-multiplayer-shut-down/73e36f95-08ec-4015-8c15-df0807ef0509/posts
- ↑ Halo 2 High Resolution/Frame Rate Thread | Project Cartographer
- ↑ Project Cartographer Update : v0.5 Changelog | Project Cartographer
- ↑ Game does not save refresh rate of monitor and has to be set upon each game launch · Issue #149 · PermaNulled/cartographer
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Halo 2 PC has two Nvidia specific issues - GeForce Forums
- ↑ http://www.modacity.net/forums/showthread.php?16074-Halo-2-Vista-XLiveless
- ↑ Install | Project Cartographer