Of course this would be fixed with the launch of Halo 3 on the Xbox 360. The only problem being that, design wise, there isn't much difference in Halo 2 multiplayer vs Halo 1 multiplayer. Multiplayer in Halo 1 was a popular arena game to play locally but Xbox Live took Halo 2 to the next level with online which, combined with the tighter gameplay, rank system that rewarded skill and punished defeat, resulted in one of the best multiplayer experiences of all time and something that in my opinion laid the groundwork for the golden age of Halo. But the level design drags the whole thing down in my opinion with the only saving grace being the impact it's multiplayer had. Granted the actual game play was tightened up and buttoned up to a pretty good level with better handling of weapons and added marksmen weapons creating a more diverse weapon sand box. I cannot stand the Flood portions and when you do get a vehicle it doesn't really help with the hall way issues. In my opinion the Arbiter's second third and fourth levels are emblamatic of everything wrong with bad Halo games, hallways and repetitve battles for days.
But those issues that pauged Halo 1 are still here.
Granted plot, character, and world building improvements helped ease that issue, especially with the marines returning joined by the man, myth, and legend Sergeant Avery Johnson. But the most of the time, even in a vehicle, you're being led in a straight line and told what to shoot. Sadly the issues from Halo CE's second half occur again in Halo 2, with maybe 3 levels out of 12 giving you that freedom from the first half of 1 back. Though I'll always defend the Maw, that final part is too cool to hate.
Also all the side marine character are gone, taking the fun and charm with them. But then the entire second half of the game happens and it falls apart with repeated areas, more corridors than you could shake a starship at, and the Flood forcing you to carry a shotgun and assault rifle at all times and focus on desperate defense all the time. 343 Guilty Spark was a more horror flavored change of pace which worked as you frantically ran down hallways trying to escape an underground facility. But in my opinion the ingredients for Halo's fall started half way through Halo CE as Bungie started getting away from this freedom.
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