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For my part, I'd like to point out the following things from both games:

The original Halo has a far better level and map layout than it's successor (at least in my mind). This is present in the beginning levels of campaign play and blindingly obvious in the multi-player area. Also, most of the missions in Halo make you care more for your objective than in Halo 2. Cortana's sometimes idiotic quips (upon entering what is obviously an underground base of some kind she said, "this cave is a not a natural formation". Vets of the game will understand) actually make you care about certain objectives (including keeping Marines safe). Especially when she says, "they're all dead. You failed them all" in a depressed tone.

Maybe it is due to the fact that I played Halo 2 in a language other than mine (I live in Mexico, so I've played it in both French and Spanish... Don't ask), but I don't seem to sympathize that much with the Marines. Some of the multi-player maps in Halo 2 are good, but most are small and labrynthine. I was ecstatic to find that they repeated one of Halo's original multi-player maps in Halo 2 under the name, "Coagulation". If you look back to the original, you'll see the exact same map (with minor changes) under the name of "Blood Gulch". I wish they had repeated more of the multi-player maps such as the wintery level in the original Halo (I can't remember it's name right now... Anyone care to remind me?). The addition of dual weapons was more frustrating than anything since you cannot throw grenades while dual-toting the various weapons in Halo 2. Both the Assault Rifle and the Magnum Pistol were brought down in the sequel (in my mind). The Assault Rifle now only fires three-round bursts which, while powerful, aren't that great in close-range firefights (I was playing in Legendary... Others may have had different results). The Pistol lost it's scope and it's power was reduced significantly. I mean, this puny pistol was like the "Noisy Cricket" of Halo! You could easily take out a Covenant Elite at long range or close proximity with it. Though the Pistol is still a powerful sidearm in Halo 2, it is still just a sidearm.

Now for the pros of Halo 2. The graphics were significantly bettered for the sequel, and the story was a little better. The cutscenes explained a little more about Master Chief, the Covenant and the Spartan projects. There was also a little bit of humour injected into the series where Master Chief and the Sergeant are "competing" for Cortana. This is evident in two scenes that I know of: one of the beginning scenes in which the Master Chief is going to be condecorated for his actions in Halo, where Cortana pops up and says, "you look nice", and both the Sergeant and Master Chief answer simultaneously "thanks". They then look at one another with menace in their eyes.

The other bit where rivalry is evident is in the "Grinding Treads" scene. Those who've played Halo 2 will know what I'm talking about.

So I guess I could say that while I prefer Halo for gameplay, I prefer Halo 2 for story. Which is better after all? My personal opinion is that Halo is better than Halo 2. Feel free to challenge that opinion.

Yeah, I forgot to mention the new vehicles and hijacking. Both were definitely a plus for Halo 2. I also share your feeling of... Disappointment, for lack of a better word; and for this feeling I blame the media! Were it not for them, Halo 2 would not have had such a massive hype to live up to. Amongst some of the things that I heard through magazines, the internet and G4-TechTV was the non-existent ability to "run". How many of us have been frustrated with the Master Chief's inability to run as we would want him to? When crossing through enemy fire, he seems to move at an absolute crawl, partly because of the fact that plasma weapons slow you down. Another rumour that did not show fruition was that you would be able to lean up against corners and rubble, lean out, take down an enemy, and zip back in again. Where did all these features go, I ask myself as the Master Chief charges an Elite in a sloth-like manner. Halo 2 was a disappointment because of the massive dollops of hype slammed onto it, just as Halo was partly such a success because there was barely any hype on it (I remember hearing about it only once or twice before it came out and everyone collectively went "whoa").

Dissapointed how?

it might have been the hype. but the levels didn't feel as satisfying as Halo 1, and i was hoping for something that would make my heart do a double back-flip from excitement/terror. Gameplay seemed hollow. Maybe beacause i had set my expectations to high........... question

Indignant_Judgement280:
It's not an argument, it's a discussion. By the way, the creators of Halo and Halo 2 in part is Bungie. Hell, I don't know every team member's name. Bite me too.

Rance Oakleaf/Darf-Flamed-Angel:
Yes, I think that was what I was trying to say when I said that I cared about the levels in Halo more than the ones in Halo 2. The levels in Halo 2 seemed very... Constrictive. Kind of... Claustrophobic. I especially like the second level in Halo when you've just jumped off of the Pillar of Autumn. It just goes so well with the video that comes before it. Example below:

"The Master Chief holds onto the overbar in the small escape pod, surrounded by terrified marines. The pilot announces their 'descent' onto the Halo artifact. A marine turns to the Master Chief: 'We're going to be alright, right sir? I don't want to die.' The Master Chief says nothing but claps a hand on the marine's shoulder. When you land on Halo, you look around and see that all the marines are dead... Including the one you kind of... Promised life to."

Y'see what I mean? I don't know. I guess I felt that Halo had more emotion than Halo 2. A better sense of desperation, if you will. Like, you went through the game like, "look at this. How are we, the humans supposed to overcome the mighty Covenant?" but you kept blasting the bastards anyway. This sense of tense afferation to life is also extremely keen in Legendary mode. Like, "whew! Hey, I took out a red Elite! Oh s**t..." As two more come up a ramp unseen. Whack! Your lifeless body falls the ground.

For me... Halo is great because it's first game was completely original and it just totally rocked people's PCs and Xboxs... Then Halo 2 was released. Now, with better graphics and totally new sequel features... It has the pros of dual wielding, taking vehicles from your enemies, better graphics, etc... All awesome things that the game could use. The only thing is that sometimes they feel like totally different games, and they took away the zoom ability on the pistol, which Ialways used to snipe people when I had no other weapon or was at medium range... I'll give Halo 2 my vote, but I just wish Bungie would have considered some things... I can't wait for Halo 3 and Halo Wars...