How good can HL2 be if it's a year late?

[Dr. Freeman]

I'll put my view this way:

A while ago, before Far Cry was out, there was a poll on a FC fansite. The poll asked something like, "Which next-gen game are you waiting for the most?"...

The poll results were visualised as a bar chart.

All the other game's bars were afraid of the Half Life 2 bar. It was a giant bar.

True story. And that's how I feel about what Half Life 2 will be like.

well Brian it may turn out that way.. but theres no denying.. that is ALOT of pressure.. and thats not even considering HL1... because we all know its only a matter of time before the HL1 vs HL2 comparasions begin.

 

[Rupertvdb]

just wait and seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[Brian Damage]

Heck, yes, that's a lot of pressure. But everything I've heard about the gameplay recently gives me confidence in VALVe's abilities...

 

[jimbones]

Half-life is like a good wine. It ages and you can use the broken bottle as means of drunk fighting..
err..

 

[jimbones]

All the other game's bars were afraid of the Half Life 2 bar. It was a giant bar.

True story. And that's how I feel about what Half Life 2 will be like.

No need to be afraid of HL2, Brian. All is going to be well! :bounce:

 

[Fishlore]

LOL, I love people who have never played a game that hasn't been released, telling everyone how good it will be like it's a set in stone fact. "It will be more optimized...", "Game XYZ can't possibly compete...", "HL2 is going to be way more polished than anything you've ever seen...", "Hl2 will blow D3 away...", "I'll like HL2 no matter what..." etc, etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying in any way shape or form that FarCry will be better, but for god's sake let's stop making generalized comments about something you've never played.

Does anyone want to take bets on how many hours after the game is released it will take for a few select people to start bashing it for not perfectly fulfilling their wildest imagination of what it could have been? I say four hours before that first negative, "we waited all this time for this" post. The problem hopefully won't be the game, but rather all of these wild expectations that have been festering in people's minds. THIS IS ONLY A VIDEO GAME PEOPLE!

 

[Foxtrot]

LOL, I love people who have never played a game that hasn't been released are telling everyone how good it will be like it's a set in stone fact. "It will be more optimized...", "Game XYZ can't possibly compete...", "HL2 is going to be way more polished than anything you've ever seen...", "Hl2 will blow D3 away...", "I'll like HL2 no matter what..." etc, etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying in any way shape or form that FarCry will be better, but for god's sake let's stop making generalized comments about something you've never played.

Does anyone want to take bets on how many hours after the game is released it will take for a few select people to start bashing it for not perfectly fulfilling their wildest imagination of what it could have been? I say four hours before that first negative, "we waited all this time for this" post. The problem hopefully won't be the game, but rather all of these wild expectations that have been festering in people's minds. THIS IS ONLY A VIDEO GAME PEOPLE!

What, you think Valve have just been playing the game for the past year not doing a thing to it? Maybe if you read a bit about games you could find out what they are like before you buy it. And somthing I have never played? hmmm...alright I guess I didn't play Half-Life 2.

 

[Brian Damage]

No need to be afraid of HL2, Brian. All is going to be well! :bounce:

Hooray! Hooray, For The Wrong End Of The Stick!

 

[Mr. Redundant]

well Brian it may turn out that way.. but theres no denying.. that is ALOT of pressure.. and thats not even considering HL1... because we all know its only a matter of time before the HL1 vs HL2 comparasions begin.

100% true

the year delay added to the already incredibly high expectations.. at this point the game not only has one hell of a reputation to live up to but also the added frustration of the delay, people will be expecting a lot more (see the HL1 year delay, and how much better the game was because of that delay)

however this time I dont see a visible difference, only that the game obviously was not finished last year.

and the biggest problem is?..........
WE ARE STILL WAITING.
hell they havent even thrown us a bone in terms of some e32k4 binks.

 

[Fishlore]

What, you think Valve have just been playing the game for the past year not doing a thing to it? Maybe if you read a bit about games you could find out what they are like before you buy it. And somthing I have never played? hmmm...alright I guess I didn't play Doom 3 or Half-Life 2.

I know full well what it *SHOULD* be like by reading the propaganda that comes from developers, the nice things previewers say to get their hands on the game and the smootheness of the illegal stolen build told by the criminals who downloaded it.

Does that mean the execution will be flawless? Does that mean people won't be dissapointed because something they expected, didn't work as they thought? Does that mean a game you don't follow could end up being a better developed game? Does that mean the puzzles, story and maps will be everything everyone expects?

Maybe, maybe not. But drop the fanboy front for a second. Maybe, just maybe it won't be a flawless game. Maybe someone will be dissapointed that the physics, graphics and playstyle have all been used and seen in other games and aren't quite as overwhelming as they were six months ago.

Half Life 2 is just a video game. Let's keep that in perspective. It will be very hard for this game to dissapoint me however. I have zero expectations, don't really care how good or bad the graphics are and I have a life outside of computer games. If it comes out today or next year, I couldn't care less.

 

[Mr-Fusion]

There'll be loads of people who'll hate the game and loads of flaming on this forum.

Hundreds of Johnny-just-registered types will flock to message boards to voice their utter hatred and disdain for the game. You can be sure as shit that'll happen.

As for me, my expectations are firmly in check, it's a first person shooter, you run around and shoot stuff.

 

[Foxtrot]

I know full well what it *SHOULD* be like by reading the propaganda that comes from developers, the nice things previewers say to get their hands on the game and the smootheness of the illegal stolen build told by the criminals who downloaded it.

Does that mean the execution will be flawless? Does that mean people won't be dissapointed because something they expected, didn't work as they thought? Does that mean a game you don't follow could end up being a better developed game? Does that mean the puzzles, story and maps will be everything everyone expects?

Maybe, maybe not. But drop the fanboy front for a second. Maybe, just maybe it won't be a flawless game. Maybe someone will be dissapointed that the physics, graphics and playstyle have all been used and seen in other games and aren't quite as overwhelming as they were six months ago.

Half Life 2 is just a video game. Let's keep that in perspective. It will be very hard for this game to dissapoint me however. I have zero expectations, don't really care how good or bad the graphics are and I have a life outside of computer games. If it comes out today or next year, I couldn't care less.

Of course it won't be flawless, no game is, but it will be damn near flawless. All the major parts of the game will be just because the amount of work they put into it.

 

[TIIMMYY]

HALF-LIFE 2's graphics arnt dated. They are better than the ones in most games out right now.

 

[Fishlore]

Of course it won't be flawless, no game is, but it will be damn near flawless. All the major parts of the game will be just because the amount of work they put into it.

There you go again, making statements you can't possibly back up or prove. Of course no game is bug free. I didn't intend to imply that. Time spent doesn't equate to a quality product in any way shape or form.

I'm sorry to keep replying to you Foxtrot. I'm not looking to argue with you nor am I trying to single you out. I also don't want to give the impression I'm against this game. That is not true. I loved the original and I hope that they can come through again. I'm fully behind this game, but won't fool myself into thinking that it will implement everything I expect exactly how I expect it.

I just think that keeping a realistic perspective will be good for everyone. I also can't stand when people state opinions as facts.

 

[Foxtrot]

There you go again, making statements you can't possibly back up or prove. Of course no game is bug free. I didn't intend to imply that. Time spent doesn't equate to a quality product in any way shape or form.

I'm sorry to keep replying to you Foxtrot. I'm not looking to argue with you nor am I trying to single you out. I also don't want to give the impression I'm against this game. That is not true. I loved the original and I hope that they can come through again. I'm fully behind this game, but won't fool myself into thinking that it will implement everything I expect exactly how I expect it.

I just think that keeping a realistic perspective will be good for everyone. I also can't stand when people state opinions as facts.

That makes sense, of course it won't have everything you want just the way you want it. But it will be very well done(atleast it better be from all the play testing and time they put into it) and there should be almost no bugs.

 

[FoB_Ed]

I love people who have never played a game that hasn't been released

Actually, I have played half-life 2, so STFU

 

[CombineHarvester]

How good can HL2 be if it is a year late?

Well, my biggest nightmare is HL2 being exactly like Unreal 2, a sickly,bloated, self-important offspring that no-one wants to play with.

Hence I am not too fussed by the delay given it will allow developers the time to ensure that this does not happen.

 

[Mr. Redundant]

Actually, I have played half-life 2, so STFU

hate to be the one who points out the obvious but, then obviously he wasnt talking to you.

and if your talking about the HL2 leak, then you havent played HL2.. you played an illegal hacked together pos with Hl2's name and some of it's content in it.

if you went to Valve and playtested HL2, technically you have.. but can you judge a game from a couple min/piece of the game?

the game is not released.

 

[genocide604]

:monkee: mr. monkey doesnt like these topics... mr. monkey wants blood..

 

[RoguePsi]

*yawn* Well, in my humble opinion, I think Half-life 2 should naturally be a lot better given the delay. However, the delay cant be compared to that of HL1. That delay was because they weren't pleased with the game where as this delay is more due to it not being finished (and partly from the code theft). I'm sure their experience from HL1 has helped them focus on what they really want from HL2 and now that they have taken their time to get it right, I am confident HL2 will be a great game. It won't be perfect but it will reach levels that other games can only dream of.

 

[SMT]

There you go again, making statements you can't possibly back up or prove. Of course no game is bug free. I didn't intend to imply that. Time spent doesn't equate to a quality product in any way shape or form.

I'm sorry to keep replying to you Foxtrot. I'm not looking to argue with you nor am I trying to single you out. I also don't want to give the impression I'm against this game. That is not true. I loved the original and I hope that they can come through again. I'm fully behind this game, but won't fool myself into thinking that it will implement everything I expect exactly how I expect it.

I just think that keeping a realistic perspective will be good for everyone. I also can't stand when people state opinions as facts.

Who are you, the optimism police? Crikey.

 

[Fishlore]

Who are you, the optimism police? Crikey.

LOL that was funny.

I don't mean to come off so pessimistic, because I truley believe this game will be great. But there is a difference between saying "I think this game will be great." and "HL2 is more polished than game XYZ which also hasn't been released."

That's just a simplistic example. But it seems like some people *know* this will be the best game ever when simply it's to early to say that.

Actually, I have played half-life 2, so STFU

LOL that was funny too. Ignorant fanboys can get feisty when someone says something they don't agree with. Actually you haven't played HL2. Maybe you contributed to software theft and downloaded the stolen build. Maybe you played a test level at Valve. Regardless you haven't played HL2. When do the kids go back to school again?

 

[Esquire]

answering to the thread title:

HL2 can be very good if it's released a year late.

 

[Styloid]

We certainly do not know how HL2 will play but we have seen/heard bits about it and I have to say that it is much more ambitious than any other FPS I can think of. Just think of the amazing scenes that can be done in HL2 and not in any other game; imagine fighting guards in the combine citadel: you hang in those wire-suspended, physically simulated 'pod-like-thing', you shoot out at smart, challenging AI chasing you (and when you jump up and down, the whole wire shakes and bad guys can fall off), the size of the interior is massive with neat effects like smoke, fire, dust, debris flying around, you might even have lifelike AI teammates on your side, etc.
It certainly beats the old-fashioned corridor shooter (no matter how big you make the corridor).