Half-Life vs Half-Life 2

[Evo]

Over on Rock, Paper, Shotgun Alec Meer has written an interesting little piece explaining why he prefers Half-Life to Half-Life 2. It is a very interesting piece, read this little snippet:

Oddly, I find HL a much more convincing journey too. Being trapped underground excuses the linearity, while HL2’s more open topography requires more uncomfortable compromises such as being unable to smash through the thin wooden fences throughout Ravenhom. (For all its spooky atmosphere, Ravenholm was the one element of HL2 I actively disliked. It was shooting for the sort of setpiece-based diversity HL1 does so well, but it felt so ghost train-contrived, especially in the maze-like layout of the level).

Personally I am with Alec, while Half-Life 2 was great from a critical perspective I much preferred the original game to play. Check out what he has to say and tell us what you think about this highly controversial issue.

 

[Kamikazie]

You know what I would like? HL on the HL2 engine.

I just came.

 

[Iron_cube]

The author appears to have played Half-Life Source, instead of HL1, judging from the screenshots. The outdoor areas have new skyboxes which make the areas huge, I think it's flawing his statements.

You know what I would like? HL on the HL2 engine.

I just came.

It's called Black Mesa Source.

 

[highlander]

I liked HL over HL2 :O

 

[Lobster]

Isnt this just a case of not making sequals to great things though, I mean, take Bioshock for instance, its a great game that alot of people have alot of respect for, but they talk about making it into a Trilogy, even though they are destined to never live up to the first.

 

[Kamikazie]

It's called Black Mesa Source.

This is true...

/me goes to steam to play

 

[Evo]

The author appears to have played Half-Life Source, instead of HL1, judging from the screenshots. The outdoor areas have new skyboxes which make the areas huge, I think it's flawing his statements.



It's called Black Mesa Source.

I honestly doubt Alec wouldn't have played the very original game, he is a games journ

 

[Iron_cube]

Yeah, I just found it weird he'd use HLS screens for his article :O

 

[Asknoone]

I pretty much disagree. Half-life 1 is such a chore to play through these days. It's wildly inconsistent with dragged-out, mundane stretches of gameplay and whole chapters that are utterly pointless in the long run.

Half-life 2 has a greater degree of consistency, complexity and depth, and is also much more fun to play through than its forerunner.

 

[delusional]

Half life 2 needed more bosses like the tentacle in half life.

 

[Barnz]

Half-Life, because of many reasons.

 

[Tagaziel]

I pretty much disagree. Half-life 1 is such a chore to play through these days. It's wildly inconsistent with dragged-out, mundane stretches of gameplay and whole chapters that are utterly pointless in the long run.

Half-life 2 has a greater degree of consistency, complexity and depth, and is also much more fun to play through than its forerunner.

Except HL1 gives off a survival vibe, whereas HL2 does not.

In terms of atmosphere, I prefer HL1.

 

[Barnz]

Dark humour, something Half-Life 2 doesn't have.

 

[Tagaziel]

And of course there are the setpieces. HL2 has its Striders, but HL1 has the tentacle beast. The former are an incredible sight, heavy with menace and the defining statement on how the Combine manage to keep Earth in check. But once you fight them, they become just another enemy with so many hitpoints, and even worse the way to take ?em down involves a magic box of infinite rockets. The Tentacle beast though ? that you can?t fight. You can distract the stupid blind thing by lobbing grenades, but you can?t hurt it. Able to kill you in a single strike and fearsomely fast for something so huge, it?s an unforgettable monster.

And this.

 

[Paulaner]

Except HL1 gives off a survival vibe, whereas HL2 does not. In terms of atmosphere, I prefer HL1.

You got it.
HL1 = alone in a tale of mistery
HL2 = guerrilla man (but the first chapter is thrilling)
I love both, but HL1 has more magic and I played it in 2007. OK, it was HLS but I am talking about mood, not graphics.

 

[Mutley]

I pretty much disagree. Half-life 1 is such a chore to play through these days. It's wildly inconsistent with dragged-out, mundane stretches of gameplay and whole chapters that are utterly pointless in the long run.

Half-life 2 has a greater degree of consistency, complexity and depth, and is also much more fun to play through than its forerunner.

Except HL1 gives off a survival vibe, whereas HL2 does not.

In terms of atmosphere, I prefer HL1.

I agree with both of these points, I love both of them.

It has to be said though, that Ep2 was just incredible, it raised the bar IMO.

 

[Moonsoft]

If the guy that wrote that article knew how a game is built he wouldn't be complaining so much about HL2, which is x1000 better than HL1.
About the Ravenholm thing, it would be heaven if we could smash into any door and jump through every possible wall, giving it a more realistic gameplay to it, but making this scenarios take months to complete and to create this atmosphere.
Things like Water Hazard, you run at full speed through scenarios that had some work on it but you barely notice 20% of the details that goes around, yet they still worried about it and took months to complete the whole scenario.
Some people still like HL1 because of only 1 thing, Nostalgia. Makes you remember that first encounter with this new world of zombies and aliens etc. And the good memories makes us want to remember this feeling that we are craving for, and any attempt to replace it (HL2) we don't think is as great.

My first contact with HL was Episode 2. It was the best game I ever played and I rushed to finish the other 2, and HL2 seemed endless compares to EP2, it was one hell of an experience. And after HL2 EP1 EP2, I craved for more so I turned to HL1 for more fun. And what do I see...square looking guys walking around, no one would ever recognize Barney. Endless monotonous corridors that seemed very unrealistic, I don't think that even Black Mesa existed in real life it wouldn't take that much space. And the walls all looked the same, and there's barely any character interaction (quality ones at least) and I just couldn't finish the game of how boring it was. The only part I died was in the tentacle monster thing, which was the only thing that really was good in the game, but I didn't like the idea that it couldn't be killed, I wasted all my grenades with it and it's immortal, that's not fun. I see no reason for HL1 being better than HL2, that's ridiculous.

 

[Kamikazie]

I agree with both of these points, I love both of them.

It has to be said though, that Ep2 was just incredible, it raised the bar IMO.

If you were going to agree with Samon's post, you'd be contradicting your sig.

 

[Iron_cube]

Ep3 better have entire chapters where you are alone, HL1 made me hate friendly NPCs.

 

[morgs]

I pretty much disagree. Half-life 1 is such a chore to play through these days. It's wildly inconsistent with dragged-out, mundane stretches of gameplay and whole chapters that are utterly pointless in the long run.

Half-life 2 has a greater degree of consistency, complexity and depth, and is also much more fun to play through than its forerunner.

This is exactly what I was thinking

'On a rail' for instance, just went on for too long and it just got tedious. HL2 manages to change your environment/situation before you get sick of it.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

I prefered HL2 even though I do understand most of the points the author claims. It just seemed to have a better story and had much less pointless missions like 'on a rail'.

 

[eAi]

I much prefer HL2 to HL1, but I agree regarding Ravenholm. That kind of thing has never really been my thing, equally I dislike underground sequences. Maybe I'm afraid of the dark, or maybe that's the intention - after all, they're meant to scare you.

HL1 lacked the compelling story and characters of HL2. It had hints of a story, sure, but not much...

I think it's rose tinted glasses that make people think HL1 was better, but I guess it also depends what kind of games you like.

 

[Tagaziel]

I replayed HL1 earlier this year.

Guess what? It still captivates me, just like it did on my first playthrough.

 

[Druckles]

I often can't be bothered starting Half-Life 2 again because I remember some parts as being as Samon described Half-Life. It still captivates me, though.

 

[BirdMan]

HL1 left room for imagination.

HL2 has too much details, nothing left for imagination.

When there is less details in a story, game or anything, your imagination fills the hole, like in a book where there are no images.

Hl1 was like a book, you had to create your own atmosphere. The devs put it up for you, but it's up to you to feel what you want to feel. you had to put yourself into the character, you had to find the people you like, and the people you don't like, I had an illusion of CHOICE (even if I didn't really have except for working for the GMAN or declining the offer)

Hl2 was more like a movie, you are the protagonist but It seemed that you only followed a line without any choice.

I could take the exemple of the first Rainbow Six games. Where you only had a briefing, character names/story and the mission. No talking during mission or holywood cinematics. I felt sad when Ding Chavez died on me in the 5th mission.I had the chance to create my own story with the guy, a brotherhood between my team. I had a choice to like or dislike a character. Give me the tools, the context, and I shall make my choices with the story. That's the point of games, otherwise they are just interactive movies.

That's the main thing with GTA IV also, the fact that you decide if you like someone or not. The developpers give you the context, but in the end, you decide what happens to the story.

In Hl2 I felt that whatever I did, I was only activating triggers after triggers.

In the end, I think that the only thing I care for is to have the illusion of being free in a game. Doing what I want with what I can... Not doing something because that's the only thing to do.

 

[The Monkey]

I tried playing through HL1 recently, and I gotta admit it was a real bore. I could only play for 30 minutes.

 

[Mutley]

If you were going to agree with Samon's post, you'd be contradicting your sig.

Kinda, I think HL2, with its episodes (Ep2) and rapidly growing mod/community support is starting to become what HL1 was back in the day and surpassing it.

It's hard to explain, I think I'm in love. :naughty:

 

[bigdeezy23]

I prefered HL2 even though I do understand most of the points the author claims. It just seemed to have a better story and had much less pointless missions like 'on a rail'.

i felt like the HL2 hovercraft mission (or hoverboat jet thing) was exactly that. long and tedious.

Personally I walked away from HL2 having had fun, but disappointed that the monsters and missions were not that diverse or fun compared to how I look back on HL1. In HL2, the mission variety was a little lacking for what was possible (too many Alamo-type missions), and the story was STILL too minimal for my taste. HL2 still had a lot of time where you were alone, like when you go out in the sandtraps.

Like I said I have a lot of fun with HL2, but for its time, HL1 was more fun and impressive. I still haven't played HL2 a second time in its entirety, but I've played HL1 maybe 3 or four times since I first got it.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

This is true...

/me goes to steam to play

Are you admitting to something?

But to be fair I prefered HL1 over HL2, but I'm pairing up HL1 and Ep2 because Valve made a nice boss fight at the end of each, and Ep2 seems to go someways to explaining more about what you did in HL1. Atmosphere was equally impressive in HL1 and Ep2.

Hoping to see three-way fights emerge fully in the next installment.

 

[Sandspider]

I like both.

HL1 will always have a place in my heart and at the time of release made me spend a good portion of my student loan on the fabled Voodoo2 12mb graphics card!!!

But in HL2 i feel like i'm on more of a journey rather than an escape.

If i had to choose i'd have to say HL2.. for may reasons including EP1 and EP2 ... and EP3 soon

 

[Fiberawptic]

Wow, we had this argument not too long ago, and now its back again... in the news section!

Ok, you have to look at Half Life 2 for what it is.. Its a sequal to game that really stood on top of every other game for everything it did... I honestly think most people blindly say "Hl1 is better than 2" because it goes with the whole notion of "the original is always the best and sequals are 2nd rate". What upsets me is this in absolutely no way applies to half life. If you were valve, and you just released one of the best games ever made, and then you have to make a sequal, what would you do? Considering the circumstances valve pulled through, and not only gave us 'a decent sequal' but they gave us whats considered one of the greatest games of all time, up there with its predecessor. How many games/movies can you really say for the same thing??? Godfather? thats about it, but even then, i dont think it equivelates to how amazing the half life sequal is with its original..

I thought that 'review' was quite flawed and seemed pretty ignorant to a lot of things... I think this is a 'meh' thread, because it sounds like biasm to promote the whole 'hl1>hl2' thing... For christ sakes, this site is called half life 2... not that it really matters.... but lets show some love for HL2 as well, no?

 

[nurizeko]

HL2 to be honest.

 

[Absinthe]

HL1 did some parts better, HL2 did others better.

I've played through both recently. They're both fine. Shut up, people.

 

[Fiberawptic]

HL1 did some parts better, HL2 did others better.

I've played through both recently. They're both fine [MOTHA FCKIN BEST]. Shut up, people.

Best post ever... they both kick ass, why does it have to be one or the other with you people??? Like you, i played HL2 2 weeks ago, and HL1 like a week ago and they both are incredible experiences unlike any other games. Lets stop seperating them, they are brothers for christ sake, lets put em together, and then, its the best thing in the universe!!! :cheers:

 

[m00b]

For all its spooky atmosphere, Ravenholm was the one element of HL2 I actively disliked.

I understand that some will prefer HL1 or HL2.
But, how can anyone bash Ravenholm?? It's a freaking masterpiece. I remember telling a friend it was better than sex... So stfu stupid reviewer...

 

[okidoki]

It's very hard to compare the two. They don't have much in common considering that one's a sequel to the other. They take place on opposite sides of the world fighting different enemies using radically different game engines. HL2 had a more epic story, but it seems whimsically grandiose compared to HL1's gripping, claustrophic narrative. However, HL1 had more weapons and enemies which weren't incredibly original and it lacked the fine-tuned gameplay and pacing of HL2. I refuse to pick one over the other.

 

[Paulaner]

Lets stop seperating them, they are brothers for christ sake, lets put em together, and then, its the best thing in the universe!!! :cheers:

Agreed, but you know that the real purpose of this thread is to celebrate them both, right? You keep talking of someone over and over again only when you are in love

 

[phoinix]

I like both HL1 and HL2 although I first played HL2. HL2 is a different game from HL1, I dont mind a game changing direction. If HL2 was similar to HL1, then HL2 would be 2nd rate, not because HL1 wasnt a great game, but because HL2 wouldnt be original.

I found that what HL2 was missing the most, were the bosses. I loved the tentacle beast in HL1. Blast Pit will remain in my memory because of the endless metallic banging that gave me the creeps, even though I couldnt see the monster and because of the big adrenaline boost I got every time I entered the blast pit trying to outrun the tentacles.

In my experience from all the games I've played I've come to understand one thing:

Being chased from an invincible monster is a lot of fun.

 

[Kula Meenur]

You know what I would like? HL on the HL2 engine.

I just came.

Me too :upstare:

 

[Warbie]

HL all the way. Better drive, atmosphere, sense of immersion, and all round better experience - especially for its time.