Comparing Halo 2 and Halo 3

Despite Halo 3's release in September 2007, Halo 2 is still widely played. Why, you may ask? The answers: Better controls, clans and Team SWAT.

When I first started playing Halo 3 on Xbox Live it took me awhile to get used to the different controls. Yes, it is only two buttons, but those two buttons make a big difference. If you're trying to enter a vehicle to get away from the adamant shooter, pressing X, like in Halo 2, won't get you anywhere. You might even pop out a shield and as the shooter kills you, he can use it for his own protection.

Here are some tips on getting used to Halo 3 controls:

- Stop playing Halo 2! - This is a must! I know Halo 3 can get frustrating and you want to take it out on the noobs in Halo 2 but trust me. Once you stop playing Halo 2, the urge to press that X button to enter a vehicle will soon pass.

- Pay attention to your screen. - If you know your running up to a vehicle, think about what button you should be pressing. When you come up close to the vehicle you will see on the left hand side of the screen a little note on what button to press to enter the vehicle.

When I play Halo 2 people constantly ask me, "Have they added clans in Halo 3 yet?" I've never been a big fan of clans myself, but for others it is a big deal. Know worldwide clans such as KSI are constantly holding clan meetings and practicing for tournaments. Unfortunately Halo 3 does not have the option to create clans. Will they add it in the future? The possibility is great, but don't get your hopes high.

Here are some tips to replace unsupported clan options in Halo 3:

- Sign up with Bungie.net - Bungie.net allows you to set up, join, and manage clan's right from your computer. Sign up is free and is a lot easier to use since you can type on a keyboard and not from a controller.

- Set times for practice and meetings online - A lot of clans have their own message boards that you can sign up for. This allows you to leave a message for all your clan members, letting them know when the next practice game will be.

Last but not least, the number one reason why I myself prefer Halo 2 over Halo 3 is due to Team SWAT. We all complained as to why SWAT went from ranked to unranked. Now, in Halo 3, they took it out completely! This was a huge disappointment for us SWAT fans. So, will they bring back Team SWAT for Halo 3? Again, the possibility is great but don't hold your breath for it. The fan base for Team SWAT is large and in many Halo forums you will see a lot of people begging for it to be brought back.

Here are some tips to replace Team SWAT for Halo 3:

- Set up custom games - Create a custom game that acts as a Team SWAT game. You don't have to play with the same people over and over again either. Go into matchmaking; at the end of the game ask everyone if they would like to play a custom Team SWAT game. Start sending out friend requests and invite them to play. Playing several games with the same people can get old, fast, so be sure to mix it up a bit and change the players around often.

- Go back to good old Halo 2 - If custom games aren't for you, or no one wants to play with you, go back to Halo 2. Work on those SWAT headshots so when and if Halo 3 does release Team SWAT, you will own them all!

If you liked this article and want to play SWAT, send me your gamer tag!