@Clumsy - Those four missions are using a different AI spawning mechanism than the other missions requiring a recompile. Recompiling a Halo 2 mission permanently disables Anniversary graphics. 343 never followed up on this issue for some bizarre reason.

In the files section on the NexusMods page you can download the older version which does have anniversary graphics; but AI spawn rates are vanilla. Not a trouble, it is a needlessly complex issue that 343 really should have addressed years ago.

It's weird because I am using the Nexus download, and all the other missions are working except for the four ones you seemed to have difficulty with (Arbiter-Regret), but I see from the screenshots it should work. Sorry to trouble you, I'll see copying the steam files works.

@Clumsy - Yes or copy the maps files from:

Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\976730\3136611124\Maps

to:

\Steam\steamapps\common\Halo The Master Chief Collection\halo2\h2_maps_win64_dx11

The NexusMods version and this version are functionally identical but 343 do not allow anniversary graphics for the Steam Workshop for some strange reason.

Are the anniversary graphics supposed to work on the missions with the Nexus download?

@StuffzCrimson - glad you got it working! It is so annoying 343 still doesn’t allow modders to access to the new graphics in an easy way.

@shadowed Oh ok, I did not realize I also needed to launch the built-in playlist. Makes sense. I kept going to the mod playlist thinking it would go to the new graphics. Thanks!

The download on the NexusMods page is in the files section.

@StuffzCrimson - Once you overwrite the vanilla maps, launch the game with anti-cheat off, and choose the built-in campaign.

Hi I followed the directions to copy the maps and overwrite the original ones but they didnt change the graphics to the new ones. I went to nexus website but theres no file that I see to use or new instructions. Any help?

@EnviousEnby - First time my buddy and I tried it we gave up around halfway mark since it was getting so late at night. I wish you two good luck!

@shadowed Only the boom skull! We're gonna retry it later and save our grenades for that room lol

@EnviousEnby - Any skulls? I played that mission on coop with a buddy and we struggled on legendary. Glad you had a rough time, legendary on the XL mod is for masochists.

Oh god the final part of Cairo Station is pretty much impossible on Legendary. Constant screen shake from the MAC cannon, so many bullets flying through the air that your own bullets and grenades sometimes despawn,and all those elites duel-wielding...

I love it, but even a 2 hours in on this section ALONE, still haven't beat it lol

There were indeed quite a few Elites guarding the bomb.

@TubaDawg - Thanks! The difficulty makes it easier to tell which squad tag it is. I think I can find that one.

@shadowed - It could be on any difficulty, but I play on Normal for now, about 8 - 10 marines spawn from the pelican.

@TubaDawg - Sounds like I need to lower the amount of friendly marines on that section. What difficulty were on?

I encounter a bug while playing "Delta Halo" Mission. After letting the bridge down, armory will drop by with a tank and alot of soldiers. Somehow those soldiers can despawn the tank by overweight it. To NOT let this happen, simply get in the tank and back it up before they can jump onto it.

@Pvt. Parts - Because 343 has yet to release new graphics support for custom compiled maps. If you want to enable new graphics we have to copy custom maps to the maps folder; overwriting the originals. - Back up the originals!

Copy the maps from:
Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\976730\3136611124\Maps
To:
Steam\steamapps\common\Halo The Master Chief Collection\halo2\h2_maps_win64_dx11

Or just download the nexusmods version.

why cant i switch halo 2s graphics to the remastered

@XAV - Thanks for the comment! I vastly prefer the 8 Hunters in coop gameplay. This is designed to be a punishing campaign for Halo veterans to suffer together with; so everything is scaled up beyond realism to the engine's limits.

When fighting 2 hunters in coop, it is far too easy to isolate one and pick it off. With 8 you need to coordinate significantly more.

Hoards of grunts are a plus all-around, but some of these changes don't necessarily make lore sense to my knowledge. Like the hunters, super heavy special force units that they are, being typically deployed in pairs. A horde of them being deployed in outskirts when the story specifies the covenant fleet's limited resources is distractingly inaccurate to me. You could perhaps compensate by making them spongier rather than more numerous? I'd personally like to see the emphasis placed more on cannon fodder, rather than higher ranks whose presence is not designed to scale up in such a way.

nvm i foudn out why

cant switch to halo2a grafs

i like how much this feels like an actual war. Shooting down hoards of grunts with the DMR feels amazing.

@PapaJohn Game version has not been updated and it works on my end.

How are you trying to play a saved game? The steam version of this mod will not support loading saved checkpoints for now, so I'm curious how you are able to get that to work!

this is crashing now when I load and play a saved game...takes less than 10 seconds to crash... only started today

Oh right, I only tested that mission with anniversary graphics so that might have an effect.

There isn't that much AI in the final room of Cairo which is quite strange. Lowered it by just 4 AI so it might not be enough.

@Test Tube - Strange, I played that a few times on coop without that issue. I’m guessing just removing 2-4 AI in that battle will fix that.

I remember getting that too, at the bomb fight in Cairo station on Heroic. It got so bad even bullets weren't spawning correctly.

@jason_leger481 - Glad to hear! What mission did you encounter that? I can reduce AI count at that section if it is problematic.

great mod as always love playing with more ai to fight, i found there a bit of grenade bug where sometimes when there alot of ai on screen the grenade despawns when throwing it and there no explosion or nothing, i assume its prevent lag and crashes, Id just want to let you know

Lore accurate Halo

it does work for me i love the mod 10/10

@Jake343halo Sorry to hear! What is your CPU and GPU? Not sure what to tell you other than reinstall the game, run DDU in safe mode, reinstall your GPU drivers after, and try again. As something else is probably causing issues.

I can assure you this mod still works with the latest build of Halo MCC.

nothing works :(

@Jake343halo Game has not been updated and the missions load on my end. I would try verifying game files and unsubscribe and resubscribe. For built-in are you launching game with anti-cheat off?

it keeps crashing on mission selection. with Built in it gives a fatal error after loading, with the workshop it just crashes during loading screen.

godspeed friend :D

Glad to help! It is really silly how 343 isn't allowing modding with Halo 2 anniversary graphics unlike Halo 1.

I haven't figured out how increase dead body/debris count yet. Hopefully one day I can figure that out!

ahh that was the one. i didnt select the built in version since had it over workshop installed at first and i was wondering where the XL mod is. got it to work now but is there a way to up the ragdoll count on screen since i noticed that the grunts and elites despawn quite fast if there is too many corpses

Other than the maps 'The Arbiter', 'The Oracle', 'Delta Halo', and 'Regret', the other maps will work for anniversary graphics. Make sure to select the built-in campaign.

You can verify by the maps' file sizes; the tiny ones are still in original format.

The four maps had to be recompiled so they lost anniversary graphics support. You can download 'Halo 2 XL Legacy' to get anniversary graphics on those four maps, but AI duplication will be lost.

i did download the version from nexus and moved \Steam\steamapps\common\Halo The Master Chief Collection\halo2\h2_maps_win64_dx11 yet i still cant toggle it even when all the native maps are replaced

@Fulgrim see my comment below for anniversary graphics. Out of the box Halo 2 cannot do Anniversary graphics unless the maps are moved to your native Halo 2 maps folder.

i cant seem to toggle the anniversary graphics for some reason

wish me luck im playing this solo legandary so yea

@CRAZYGREG0511 I agree. While not a good solution, you can copy the workshop maps:
from
\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\976730\3136611124\Maps
to
\Steam\steamapps\common\Halo The Master Chief Collection\halo2\h2_maps_win64_dx11

and then choose built-in campaign. This will offer anniversary graphics toggle support except for 'The Arbiter', 'The Oracle', 'Delta Halo', and 'Regret' since those maps had to be recompiled.

Really wish Workshop would work with the anniversary stuff.

Thanks a lot Jervalin and TheVengeful'Vadam for helping fix the four maps that did not support AI multiplication with the method I usually use.

This does make the map sizes for 'The Arbiter', 'The Oracle', 'Delta Halo', and 'Regret' larger than before though.

@Jervalin - I am not sure why certain enemy AI are not being duplicated on those maps. But sure, it could be a simple issue to fix.