Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and released in 2004 as a sequel to Halo: Combat Evolved. It continues the story of the Master Chief, a super-soldier fighting against the alien alliance known as the Covenant. The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing players to engage in combat across various maps and game types. The gameplay introduces new mechanics, such as dual-wielding weapons and the ability to use vehicles in battle. Halo 2 is notable for its online multiplayer component, which was a significant advancement for console gaming at the time, helping to popularize online play on the Xbox Live platform.