New in Halo 2 is the ability to board enemy vehicles that are near the player and traveling at low speeds. The player can carry a total of eight grenades (four human grenades, four Covenant) to dislodge and disrupt enemies. Human weapons are less effective at penetrating shields and require reloading, but cannot overheat due to prolonged fire. However, these weapons can overheat if fired continuously for prolonged periods. For example, most Covenant weapons eschew disposable ammo clips for a contained battery, which cannot be replaced if depleted. The player can carry two weapons at a time (or three if dual-wielding one weapon remains holstered), with each weapon having advantages and disadvantages in different combat situations. Certain weapons can be dual-wielded, allowing the player to trade accuracy, the use of grenades and melee attacks for raw firepower.
The player's health bar is not visible, but players are instead equipped with a damage-absorbing shield that regenerates when not taking fire. Players use a combination of human and alien weaponry and vehicles to progress through the game's levels. Halo 2 is a shooter game, with players predominantly experiencing gameplay from a first-person perspective.
