HL2.net review on half-life 2. I think we should do it like this...

[lans]

Since people will accuse this site as "being biased" - I think for hl2.net to do the official review, we should have multiple people review it.

Firstly, the site admins.

Then we need am verdict from a big HL2 fan.

Then we need a verdict from a person who is fan of the genre in genral.

An oldschool fan who likes run and gun shooters

A person who likes tactical shooters

A fan of console FPS.

Together, the score that is gathered, we should find an average and give it as the final verdict. Much more fairer, IMO.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Wildhound]

Here's a review written by me, the night of its release. I finished it at 11pm, then wrote this.

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Hype is a terrible thing. After waiting for so long for this game and hearing so much about it, it was hard not to expect too much, and that I did. It turns out Half-Life 2 is just a game. A superb game, but still just a game. For a while the hype had gotten so strong that it seemed destined to be something more, to break free of its computer game roots and become a way of life, a religion. So let's try to set the hype aside and look at Half-Life 2 as though it appeared from nowhere this morning.

Initially you're greeted by that fantastic menu screen where a living, breathing City 17 seems to stare out at you. A combine metrocop strolls up and down - futuristic, oppressive, yet disturbingly reminiscent of an everyday police officer. Opressed citizens amble by, looking down, lost, hopeless. A breeze blows, telephone wires sway. Already you're there, and you haven't even hit the "New game" button yet.

The game launches with a train sequence that nods towards the original HL in a somewhat respectful manner, but refuses to deliver a similar experience. It's short and uneventful. But the train is not where this game will set the scene - it takes advantage of the station instead.

In the opening five minutes the opressed feeling of City 17 seeps right to your bones. You hate the combine before you even know who and what they are (although whether I even knew this by the end I'm still not sure). They bully citizens, push them, beat them, treat them like muck. You get the distinct impression that they're not only doing it because it's their duty, but because it gives them a twisted thrill. Dr. Breen drones on, as you watch all of this, about how wonderful this place is and how well you're going to be looked after. You already want him dead.

The introductory phase of the game is long, and indeed it's a while before you even pick up a weapon. As boring as this sounds it's actually one of the best bits of the game. It's kept interesting, there's never a moment where something isn't trying to grab your attention. You learn about this place, or at least the people in it. You get a feel for it, but still remain clueless as to what's really going on. The atmosphere is nothing short of incredible.

As you meet up with some old and new friends you'll find yourself laughing at some of the sarcastic wit and friendly jokes, as well as Kleiner's rather interesting pet. You warm to these people immediately and there can be no doubt that Valve's focus on trying to make you feel for the characters is defintely going to pay off.

When you finally get into the action it certainly doesn't dissapoint. Starting out with only your trusty crowbar it's tough to use the physics to your advantage. It's tough to do much of anything really. Except run. But even this is fun, as the levels are so well designed that while you feel like you're picking the easiest route to escape, you're going exactly where Valve want you to. There's no freedom here, but it feels like there is.

As things escalate and you get new weapons and find yourself in increasingly tough situations, you'll find yourself using the environment to your advantage as you think on your feet. You'll regularly want to pat yourself on the back for the sheer genius you've displayed in taking out eight combine with three very well placed bullets.

It doesn't take long, however, for Half-Life 2 to smack you in the head and remind you that this is going to be no picnic. The action is a lot tougher than it was in the original. With more things going on, more options, and more enemies, you'll often find yourself overwhelmed. Fortunately it's precisely the correct degree of overwhelming to make it a fast, furious adrenaline rush, without ever leaving you lost or frustrated.

The A.I proves itself to be fantastic on many occasions. Combine troops will sneak up on you from directions you never expected. Zombies will fling scenery at you in an effort to stop you in your tracks. Hell even the headcrabs are noticably smarter. Never can you predict what a combine soldier is going to do, and rarely do they do anything completely stupid. But when the A.I really comes into its own, is when you eventually come across a strider...

The plot of Half-Life 2 is... still something of a mystery to me. A lot of the questions I had remain unanswered. Either they were left alone, or I missed clues during those frantic firefights and chase scenes. The important part is that you always feel like just a cog in something much, much larger. You're an important man, referred to even as messianic at one point, yet you still get the impression there is a lot happening outside your sphere of comprehension.

The characters that fight with you are real, believable and you will find you actually care about them. And this doesn't just apply to the main characters. Every resistance fighter has their own face, every one wears slightly different clothing. When they die you feel bad, you wonder if there was something more you might have done. This game draws you completely into its world, to the point where you often forget to come up for vital things like food and drink. Or even air.

When it comes to graphics and sound, well, you've got to see and hear it to believe it. Utterly superb. The sound in particular is outstanding, from the crows flying by, to the breeze rushing down alleyways, to the oh so satisfying sound of the metrocops flatlning after taking four bullets in the chest. The guns sound like they're packing a punch. The ricochets and impact sounds are amazing. The voices are... I can't think of another adjective. But you will not be dissapointed.

There are so many things about this game that are fantastic - it would literally take me hours to go into them all. Many of them I wouldn't even risk mentioning for fear of spoiling something. But rest assured this is an outstanding gaming experience with very few flaws. Just try to leave the hype at the start menu, because whatever you were expecting, this will be different. Probably significantly better, perhaps slightly worse, but definitely different.

The only real complaint I have is that part of the middle of the game can seem a bit drawn out. There are times when there is far to much of a gap between significant events. There's is no running through endless corridors, there's always action around the next corner, but sometimes you might find yourself wanting to meet a friendly face or uncover some more of the plot, when it won't be happening for a while. The first third and last third are the best without doubt. It's possible I was just worn out in the middle after playing for so long without even having had breakfast yet.

I enjoyed this game an immense amount and I can't quite believe it's over. I'll be starting it again tomorrow as I begin my wait for Half-Life 3. Can you say cliff-hanger?

 

[f0rked]

It's like you're inside my head :O

 

[Sui]

very nice wildhound, i love the review. the only thing i would add is the fact it just feels like the middle chapter of a trilogy... nothing significant happns, nothing is tied up at the end, and it just creates more questions than it answers.

I completely agree from it being "different"... theres just something i cant put my finger on... like its not really Half life 2, but an immitation. its an amazing game, but it feels different from what you saw in the origonal videos. maybe its better- maybe its worse, i really cant tell- i just felt like a huge part was missing when i completed the game... maybe its because so much was packed into the game, there was never a moment that you weren't doing something unique, every level has an utterly different style of gameplay to the last.

but yes, the first thing i thought about when i completed HL2 was HL3. this is the middle chapter of a trilogy... but its brilliant.

 

[jacen]

so instead of letting 1 biased ppl write it
let it 6 biased ppl write it.

u think that would make it less biased?