Final impressions: Half-life 2.

[lans]

Well, having finsihed HL2, I can say that it's not the best PC game of all time - that honour still belongs to Half-life. However, HL2, is definately the most complete and up-to-date shooter since HL, and the overall variety in it makes it a succesful sequel.

Let's get the bad things out of the way first, HL2 doesn't have a mindblowing story. It does exactly what it predecessor did, give you a constant series of events that constantly involve you throughout the game. This is a tried and tested method, but works efficently. The Artificial intelligence is quite competent, and definately the vehicles and mosters are best. The combine forces aren't overly that great, but on harder settings taking them down can be harder. However, they act very realistically in a comabt situations - and every animation is fluid.

Now let's look at the good stuff about HL2 - frankly, this is the kind of game that I had always wanted to play. The graphics are nothing short of amazing, and the music kicks in the right time for kicking the pace. The lineraity is there, but the overall level design is superior. HL2's atmosphere is unmatched, and few games are able to achieve this.

What HL2 does best are the chase sequences, never before have I seen such superior execution of chasing sequences - Riddick had them, Far cry had them - but HL2 really creates that "feel" in them - that the other two games I have stated lacked.

The dialogue is nice and subtle. The voice acting is definately top notch. The Ravenholm scenes did have a great horror like atmosphere, even if they weren't that scary.

Overall, this is a game that is must recommended. It's not THE best FPS to date, but certainly can be considered as one them. It's a worthy sequel to HL.

Rating: 93%

 

[Tropico]

Replay value?
I dont mean mods.
Will you be playing it often?

 

[lans]

It took me 20 hours to finish on hard.

Straight away went for that.

Also, HL2 has a certain "I love this" and "I hate this" kinda feel to it. You'll be seeing people give it 10/10s and 7/10s. But again, everyone has their own opinion.

I've given you my non-biased and sincere opinion. The game doesn't deserve 10/10, but neither does it deserve a 9/10. It deserves something in between.

 

[craig]

I wasn't one of the 'lucky ones' who had a system capable of playing HL when it was first released (infact I never actually played the game through till 2001 by which time it was pretty out of date) and tbh I have a hard time understanding why HL2 is a fan favourite especially considering that the puzzles are samey and the game looks terrible now, but all in all it was a very good review. I think the technical achivements of HL2 certainly outweigh anything else.

 

[craig]

It took me 20 hours to finish on hard.

one thing that annoyed me. I presumed (since it doesn't ask you at the start) that there was no difficulty setting. Half way through the game I went into the options and realised it was on Easy. Why they put the difficulty where they did is beyond me, but suffice to say I switched it onto hard and the second half of the game was more challenging

 

[destrukt]

i prefer hl2 to hl1, but i still don't think there is much replay value. i mean, driving the buggy and airboat for 30 minutes each isn't too exciting.

 

[Mr Neutron]

I made the mistake of playing on hard the first time. Frankly, i just wanted to make sure I was seeing enemies act their smartest, but I was never terribly surprised by their behavior. Going through normal now, and as far as I can tell, hard just seems to allow the enemies to take more hits and Gordon fewer. Come on, though: seven rockets for a gunship? Three crowbar whacks for a manhack? On normal, I like the enemy damage but think Gordon's too durable. There needed to be something in between.

I think the AI tech was either oversold, or the designers in the final crunch year made the game much more linear, thereby making the kinds of functionality they described at e3 2003 under-represented.

If I could be Valve's task master, I would have them pump out hl3 in 2-3 years using just about all the same tech, but with a heavier emphasis on non-linear gameplay (think STALKER-light: Gordon moves linearly from one non-linear mini-game on to the next). HL2 actually shows the way of how to do that with the way it keeps switching the gameplay. I just missed not being able to make more refined use of skills. I never had to get particularly good at fighting combine, even on hard difficulty, because I always had new toys that just made the job easier.

I might as well nitpick on a few other things.

a) picking-up tossed nades: this needed to be easier. In the heat of battle, you can't hear the response when you pick something up, so I'm constantly picking up a nade then dropping it. The reticule should glow bright when you're holding something.

b) they solved the trespasser deal: when you hold something, the object can collide with things but never restrict your movement, nor does it easily fall out of your hand (or maniuplator grip). It wouldn't look so ridiculous though with things whacking around at light-speed if they made the return-to-position force not push things quite so fast.

 

[Gunner]

a) picking-up tossed nades: this needed to be easier. In the heat of battle, you can't hear the response when you pick something up, so I'm constantly picking up a nade then dropping it. The reticule should glow bright when you're holding something.

Too time consuming to switch to the physgun to pickup & throw, simply shoot the grenade

 

[Mr Neutron]

one thing that annoyed me. I presumed (since it doesn't ask you at the start) that there was no difficulty setting. Half way through the game I went into the options and realised it was on Easy. Why they put the difficulty where they did is beyond me, but suffice to say I switched it onto hard and the second half of the game was more challenging

Didn't the difficulty setting pop-up when you started a new game? Besides, it's the first thing when you hit options: what kind of a gamer are you that doesn't hit options the first moment the main menu comes up? :rolling:

Oh, to add to my thoughts above: why don't they make the medical and energy stations work faster? At no point does the speed of refilling your energy or health from a station come into play, so why wouldn't they speed this up (by about twice, at least). What's fun about sitting and waiting? Yeah, yeah, 'more realistic'.

 

[Mr Neutron]

Too time consuming to switch to the physgun to pickup & throw, simply shoot the grenade

I'm talking about picking it up with your hand. Bet you didn't think of that. :smoking:

One time, I picked up a tiny bit of debree next to the nade. Why do they even allow you to pick up small debree? Seems pointless.

 

[Warbie]

I think it's one of the best shooters for years - but agree that it's no 'Half-Life'

Infact HL2 'feels' nothing like HL at all (except, of course, familiar weapons, names and a few enemies)

I'm having great pleasure travelling through the HL2 gameworld, which is wonderfully realised. The combat is a little basic/easy, and most of the time I haven't a clue what the main motivation is - but everything is so damn polished that it's still a fun experience.

(sooo many questions are unanswered, though. Even the most basic - what people did after Black Messa?, what they've been doing since?, I know i'm travelling here to meet someone but why do we need to meet him?, how come i'm an suddenly an action hero ? - would have let me enjoy the game so much more)

Still, a top game :thumbs:

 

[Inanimate]

I think that if Valve would´ve chosen to make HL2 feel like HL, it would be annoying, since we want/need change.. it wouldnt be fun to run around in there small halls with headcrabs all the time and just blaa blaa blaaa.. HL1 is a very boring game imo.. I didnt feel that as it was new.. story-wise it´s teh shit.. but I got what it´s about now..

I think HL2 was perfect.. they didnt show off too much really..
They saved the return to Xen for the 3rd game.. I think Gordon has something to do with those aliens.. some way..

 

[PadreScout]

I have never beaten HL. Heck, I get like what 20 or 30 minutesinto it, with the lowering platform thing that kinda goes down at an angle ALA Akira. Then the headcraps start falling on ya.. millions of headcrabs. And I die. EVERY TIME! I've beeen tryingto get past that part for years. As in I'll play to that part. Get killed, try a couple more times unsuccessfully get pissed uninstall it, fast forward 6 months or whatever. At this point I'm so sick of the part that comes BEFORE the elevator I cant make myself play it anymore. But I guess it's a good game. Seeing as how I've never progressed past what? 1/20 of its content. Anyway, with no HL basis to influence my decision I'd call HL2 the SECOND best game of all time. A close second behind Space Quest 2( or was it 3? I forget the one where you rescue the stranded game published). WHICH PWNED!! HL2 was beautiful, the story was .. ok, the story sucked. But the polish of the gameplay made up for that fact. And the weapons about sucked. I got REALLY sick of reloading my machine gun ever 2 seconds cause it took 1/2 to 3/4 of a magazine to kill 1 enemy. But it was so polished! That and the levels seemed to get uglier and uglier as the game went along. Until the last uhhh.. Citadel area ( which was REALLY COOL btw). But for some reason it was so compelling. I can't quite put my finger on it. Anyway I enjoyed the hell out of it. Awsome job Valve.

 

[lans]

Keep the discussion coming guys...

I know warbie what you mean. Some of the later levels had the "boring" ish feel to it, but the events later on before the final levels, really picked up the game and increased my motivation - in fact - even impressed me. The layer of polish which valve has put makes it stands out, even if the action is a bit easy.

I'll admit, I'm a bit spoilt by halo 2's elite A.I., so HL2 was kinda easy for me. But none the less, it's just fun to play. I love the weapon models and sounds in HL2, I guess, more than the A.I.

 

[PadreScout]

All I knowis my favorite thing was catching manhacks in the grav-gun. That was fun. You ould haul them around as a makeshift shield/ antipersonnell weapon. That was really cool. And hitting things iwth paint buckets.

 

[mortiz]

Overall, this is a game that is must recommended. It's not THE best FPS to date, but certainly can be considered as one them. It's a worthy sequel to HL.

Rating: 93%

Is there such a thing is the best fps?

 

[PadreScout]

I wonder what rating Rise of the Triad got. That was a pimp FPS for its day. Hewk itd probly still be fun today if pinche XP would run it.

 

[lans]

Is there such a thing is the best fps?

Yes, the original half-life. (at least on the PC)

 

[operative x]

Hlaf-life 2 is waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better than the original half-life.

 

[Dragoro]

I definitely feel that Half Life 2 is the best game of all time, to this date. Yes, Im sure some of you disagree with me, but its just my oppinion. Please dont flame me for it.

 

[mortiz]

Hlaf-life 2 is waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better than the original half-life.

Certain aspects have been improved vastly such as the Characters, which are amazing in Half-Life 2, the only thing is that I don't think it's as focused as Half-Life was.

 

[Warbie]

Hlaf-life 2 is waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better than the original half-life.

No way ...... it is very good, though

 

[operative x]

Not only characters and graphics though, GAMEPLAY as well, it's far better than half-lifes. Valve as really taken alot of great things from half-life like all the puzzles and "evolved" them, if you will.

 

[lans]

HL2's problem is that in between it get's lost. The starting is mindblowing, visually, asthetically and atmosphereically. Yet, in the middle, when the action kicks in, it get's too arcadey and "not that great". The airboat and vehicles bring in variety, but still it's a downhill, as compared to HL.

Then it picks up, the story seems to latch on in a proper sense of direction, albeit still answering little to no questions. The strider fights are awesome and the citadel scenario is awesome. The whole thing leading to the last level was fantastic. I liked HL2's cliffhanger ending better than Halo 2, I admit. So that impressed me, and overall urged me to give HL2 a very good score. But in the earlier fights, where the metrocops A.I., frankly is pretty crappy, it just becomes a arcade shooter for the sake of it.

 

[Vinnie_NL]

HL2 is the best game I've played, it's not perfect but every game has little flaws. Of course it's better than HL, more variety in levels and gameplay, graphics, physics and the grav gun.

And the puzzles are very complex if you compare them to other games, in Far Cry you only had too kill everyone and get to the right place to advance to the next level and in Doom 3 it besides killing everything you had to find the correct codes and keycards. HL already had some special ones but the ones I've seen in HL2 are better.

 

[The Mullinator]

Just so we know how do you rate the original Half-Life?

So far I think I prefer HL2 more, however I think its mostly because of the atmosphere and idea behind the story. I'm much more of a fan of this "uprising" feel than HL1's escape/horror feel. I don't know why but the idea just appeals to me more. Gameplay-wise all I can say is that so far they have seemed relatively equal, there are some things they certainly could have done better but overall I think I prefer HL2 a little more than HL1.

 

[Narcolepsy]

This is a very good review. I like the way you rationally backed up everything you said, so that I can at least respectfully disagree with you on some points. I still don't see what makes HL1 better - would anyone be in support of a poll engineered to corrolate WHEN you played HL1 compared with how much better you think Half-Life 2 is?

 

[Mr.Wotsit]

I've actually enjoyed and replayed Half Life 2 much more than I ever did the original...

I can't help but feel that the original was slightly over-rated... It was definitely revolutionary but my own personal tastes led me to games like Deus Ex instead.
On the other hand, I just love the pure gameplay of Half Life 2. Put me in a situation with those combine soldiers and some furniture and my gravity gun will be firing until nothing's left moving