April 15th marks four years since the Original Xbox Live service was shut down by Microsoft. For some of us, it signaled the end to an amazing time in our gaming lives. Below are some of the Beyond staff’s favorites memories and experiences through the years of Halo 2.

Trey “CMPuLs3” Darnell



I think my favorite thing about Halo 2 was the immense amount of things to do. I can specifically remember going through different phases in Halo 2, and I think that is what really kept the game fresh for me after all those years. It’s so crazy to think now that the only game that I ever owned on the original Xbox was Halo 2, and even when the Xbox 360 came out, I continued playing it; Halo 2 was the next-gen experience for me. From having clan matches, making machinimas, to making montages.

I had some experiences, not only with the game, but with the people that I played the game with, that I would not trade for the world. I forged lifelong friendships on a $50 game, and if I could go back in time & change anything from those days playing Halo 2, the only thing I would do is play the game more.

Joe “Saucey” Bentley



LANing with friends from school was the best, every one in my high school was obsessed with Halo 2 at the time. It was awesome. Playing Team Hardcore and raging when we got cheated in the playlist, but getting that sweet revenge when you beat modders was truly hilarious. There was also so much creativity through gametypes like:

Tower of Power

Zombies on Foundation

Super-Bouncing out of the maps

MLG Customs

1v1 Sit Out

Cat and Mouse

Troy

AND SO MANY MORE!

Attending my first MLG event (MLG Chicago 2007) for Halo 2 and just looking around in shock and getting nerd chills. Seeing all the players, Pros and fans in once place. It was amazing.

Ray “CyReN” Smith



Halo 2 was a very special game for me, it brought me into the Halo community and helped me make online friends through the years because of Xbox Live, MLG and local LANs. One of my fondest memories was going to my first LAN tournament in Michigan towards the heyday of Halo 2. The tournament featured local legends like Walshy, Victory X, Mackeo, Pac, Slim, Raype and so many more. It was also the first time I got to meet Cursed Lemon, which started a lifelong friendship.

I’ll always cherish the memories made through the years of Halo 2, It was a very special time for Halo fans and me.

Frank “FrankTheShow” Bowen



I just remember my original gangster duo, T Bone0430, and our stupid little catch phrases and smack talk we’d usher out while playing. My favorite part of Halo 2 was the proximity chat and being able to talk pregame and in game. I think it added to the entire competitive atmosphere and served as a constant reminder that you were playing against other people.

One of the most interesting things today is the decrease of mic use in online games, and sure, it’s probably got something to do with an increase in profanity and general asshattery, but still. It’s something I miss.

Logan “Snipetality” Dodson



I always enjoyed getting outside of the maps in Campaign. Especially “Delta Halo” when you could drive the Warthog on top of the mountains and through the giant lakes. My friends and I would play it and go on an adventure to get to the top of the highest mountain. There were a bunch of other maps we’d do this on too (that included multiplayer maps).

I also remember playing on that snowy multiplayer map Containment and zooming into the Halo ring in the sky and seeing the easter egg of the face of one of (I think) Bungie’s staff members.

Lastly, flipping the tank over on the side of the mountains on Coagulation (Blood Gulch) and getting one guy to drive a Warthog on top of the flipped tank, then flipping the tank over and watching the Warthog fly across the map. Good times.

Steve “Proto” Markowski



I first got Xbox Live set up in the summer of 07 – basically the “last season” of Halo 2 and the last summer before Halo 3. I had never really done any kind of online gaming before this, but I had been playing Halo since the CE days so I was really excited to finally see how I would match up against other people and just experience something completely new to me within the Halo world. I never could have expected that my entire summer would be Halo 2, Halo 2, and well more Halo 2.

I had never played any game like it, and I never had that much fun with a game. From playing with my cousin who helped me set up Xbox Live in the first place to playing with friends from school who had been playing for a few years before, it was so much more than I expected.

I remember late nights staying up playing BTB with friends, or going into the Team Slayer playlist and trying to rank up night after night – still to this day everything about Halo 2 was the most fun I’ve ever had playing a video game. Halo 2 is what got me into the competitive gaming scene – and it was just the start of the wild and crazy ride that would get me involved with #eSports that still continues to this day. I owe a lot to Halo 2 – and the memories I have from playing it will live on with me for a long time to come.

If you feel like taking a trip down memory lane again, make sure to check out our extensive Halo 2 Video Megathread along with our Halo 2 VoD section.

Do you have a favorite memory from Halo 2 or want to share an experience you had with Halo 2? Feel free to share it now on our forums!