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Port or remake? Why not both?
- Campaign Wise -
Keep the gameplay tick at 30hz. Fix texture-pop, make it run like silk on the Xbox One, but other than that don't fix any 'bugs' unless they make it literally unplayable. Add a menu select for the skulls (since we don't have multiple profiles for save games) and/or multiple save game system. Add a few new control schemes to reflect paradigms from other recent games (i.e. CoD's left trigger for sights) and the changes to the controller since the Duke. Add LAN and online co-op and it'll be sweet.
The experience should be something like playing Halo 2 Vista on a modern PC.
To start with, import the content to a modern engine. Whatever 343i are working on for Halo 5 would be preferable. Feel free to make the game run at 60hz to give us a taste of what Halo 5 will feel like. Make sure it has modern niceties like replays and screenshots, scoring, timing, stats, file-shares, save-anywhere. Give it all the skulls of Halo 2 and 3, and feel free to add whatever else they like. But make sure there are easily-selectable 'skull sets' that make sense. e.g. one that is just the Halo 3 skulls for Mythicers would be a good start.
Give it the obligatory graphical overhaul with extra foliage and bump maps and wow-inducing shaders (but PLEASE remember less is sometimes more in a pure aesthetic sense).
From here, the developers would have my personal permission to go 'all out.' Add new areas and encounters, change geometry to add new routes, FIX SNIPER ALLEY.
In regards to skips like the Outskirts rooftops or Delta Halo hills, please don't stop us (NO GOD DAMNED INVISIBLE WALLS) but feel free to do interesting things with it: add new trigger zones so that the level continues to load and flow properly, add new encounters up there, or give us a hard encounter in exchange for skipping some others.
They can even go even wilder if they want: add a mode to use weapon sets from the other games or even just add them (Focus Rifles instead of Beam Rifles for Jackal Snipers would be a good move in my book). Go crazy and add a mode were players can use Sprint or even Armour Abilities. Why not?
If they're feeling really brave, they could try re-designing it so online co-op (4P?) works better. Perhaps that's something 343i has already been working on for Halo 5?
Bonus Points: sword flying mini-game with distance counter.
The experience should be something like playing a stripped-down Halo 5 on the levels of Halo 2.
Having two versions of the same map inside Halo: Reach inside Halo CEA was a terrible idea IMO. It was confusing for players and compromised both versions of the maps. Instead, have a port and a remake.
Bonus points if they can make H2A LAN with H2 on Xbox/360.
Extra bonus points if they include online play with modernised net code. No need for a full playlists and ranks (they were pretty horrible anyway) - even some basic server-browsing would be good enough. Obviously updated to use Xbox One party and chat features etc.
Extra Super Bonus Points: gametype toggles for the more 'controversial' aspects of Halo 2 like Super-bouncing and BXR.
There are no current Halo games playable on Xbox One so there is also no excuse about not wanting to split player bases from current games (Halo 4). If people want to play on Xbox One, right now they are by definition NOT playing Halo.
So if MS are serious about Halo being a competitive spectator title it would be better to keep content from one major release to the next. Even if one game's maps aren't ideal for the next release's gameplay: more maps is more maps.
With that in mind, use an early version of Halo 5's MP engine with the gameplay stripped-back to be close to Halo 2. Include as many remakes as they can that are built with Halo 5 gameplay and features in mind. Obviously this would mean replays, screenshots, stats would be in as well.
Then use H2A as a vehicle to deliver the Halo 5 beta, playing on H2A maps. Then when Halo 5 releases, the H2A maps would be included to boost the map count and have 'classic' playlists on day 1 that connects with H2A owners. Perhaps H2A owners could even buy a discounted digital version of Halo 5 from inside H2A (probably going to be retail resistance on that one but get creative MS marketing!). Of course they'll get Halo 2 style Mark 6 armour unlocked in Halo 5 straight away as well.
Make sure it has all of Halo 2's gametypes (you can't have Turf without Territories) and feel free to throw proper versions of Zombies and SWAT in since this is the game that inspired those gametypes. Include a basic Forge on all the maps and you'll have a library of custom content ready for Halo 5 by the time it comes out.
That's all I've got right now. What is on your Halo 2 Anniversary Wishlist?