Half Life 2

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Half Life 2
Tweet Topic Started: Dec 8 2008, 04:53 PM (242 Views)
Squiggles	Dec 8 2008, 04:53 PM Post #1
You're a louse. Posts: 2,112 Group: Peach Member #1,802 Joined: July 2, 2006	Half Life 2, by Valve, is the sequel to the highly celebrated Half Life, released in 1999. HL2 has virtually the same featues: weapons, hazard suit, gravity gun; but the graphical update and advancement to the story is what keeps fans coming. You start out on a train to the new City 17; a dystopian future society ruled over by Dr. Breen; a man that managed Earth's surrender to the invading Combine race and was rewarded with authority. The game sees you attempting to resist their grip on the planet, with a very immersive feel of rebellion: there are no armies, you're not part of a squad; it's just you, some scientists and an arsenal of weapons. Refering to the weapons, this is an excellent example of the sheer realism of Half Life 2. Celebrated for its physics engine, it can leave certain areas rather underappreciated. You won't find medkits and ammo lying around randomly, which breaks the feel of a number of games. Instead, you'll find boosts in huts, laboratories, garages and hotspots of Earth's resistance. The world, while linear, is competely seamless. Think Metroid II to get an idea of what I mean. There aren't levels and in a way, the game doesn't really feel like a game. You're a doctor from MIT with glasses and a nerdy goatee; not an armoured psycho brandishing assualt rifles and gravity hammers. The fact that you never speak leaves Gordon Freeman as a real tabula rasa. Making the levels realistic, and the protagonist unexceptional only adds to the immersion that is so celebrated with Half Life 2. I feel rather obligated to mention the Source Engine that Half Life 2 uses. It's an excellent physics engine. You'll notice things like Newton's Laws, centrifugal force and other laws that you'll really appreciate. In fending off a hoard of headcrabs, I chucked a wardrobe and noted how messily it moved in the air; then fired a saw blade and it flew with almost shuiriken-like precision. The differences in physics create new methods of utilising your surroundings. Picture that you're out of ammo apart from your melee weapon. A desperate situation, no? In Half Life, I'm currently down to my crowbar and grav-gun and I'm not that worried! All I need is some stuff for to chuck and I'll manage fine. The AI in HL2 is also pretty intelligent, but appropriately used: Combine soldiers will flee from grenades and find cover whereas headcrabs and other sub-sentient beings will just fly at you at will. Graphics are also very economic. My computer can handle Crysis at a below-average framerate on modest capabilities, whereas on Half Life, the graphics are better and run on a very smooth framerate; they've made all the progress of Crysis but without the horrific computer requirements... Just try not to look at walls too closely. As for the music, well, this is where I refer back to my remark on how it doesn't feel like a game. Music is very scarce and only used in the most dramatic of times, which I'd not want to spoil. Half Life 2's story is contained within the game, with no cutscenes to disrupt the flow. Perhaps I did lie when I said "there are no levels", because there are certainly levels, they're just seamlessly shifted between. Because of the episodic nature of Half Life, the story makes no climaxes dispite having very entertaining, touching, sad and immersive details within the larger story that will eventually unfold. But by far the best feature of Half Life 2 is its almost "pick 'n mix" style of FPS stylings: the first section was a very open world vehicular section but the section after has turned into a very chlaustrophobic horror styling. The game has no defining theme and presents the very best that each theme can offer. A game that keeps its player guessing, and promotes contemplation of the story is a good game in my book. My favourite example is a proposed similarity between Gordon Freeman and the G-Man. Evidence suggesting that the two are connected in some way include similar names (Gordon FreeMAN) and similarities in build and face. There are so many oddities throughout the game, for instance the obsesssion with Physics (the Lambda logo is the sign for radioactive HALF LIFE in a material, Freeman is an homage to a scientist in reality, other games are titled "Blue Shift" or "Opposing Force). The purpose of Half Life 2 story-wise is to set the scene for a series of games that have proven themselves successful and I hope will continue to in the future. Graphics 8 Economic, clever and varied Sound 5 Scarce, yet appropriate and well done Story 9 Immersive, contemplative and promises so much Replay Value 7 The kind of game you want to play over and over, but lack of a level selector makes this difficult Gameplay 10 Accessible, varied, condensed and straightforward. Edited by Squiggles, Dec 8 2008, 04:59 PM.



Yacht	Dec 9 2008, 10:02 AM Post #2
Ang payat ng likod mo Posts: 1,068 Group: Birdo Member #8,581 Joined: March 4, 2008	Interesting read. I agree on most points, except for the PC version there is a level selection screen. And I think the sound does exactly what it needs to, there doesn't need to be low-fi techno playing while I run through sewers.
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sniping_dreamer	Dec 9 2008, 09:10 PM Post #3
NOT BACK Posts: 3,191 Group: Ganondorf Member #8,343 Joined: February 26, 2008	Once you finish the game, I believe there is a level selector. There is music, but when it happens, it's good. I love it when it goes into key moments. Voice acting was great. Oh, and Alyx is hot. To note.
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Firestrife2	Dec 10 2008, 05:41 PM Post #4
God Of Kings Posts: 428 Group: Waluigi Member #6,713 Joined: December 29, 2007	Sounds interesting......never played the first though.



LK	Dec 10 2008, 09:18 PM Post #5
iminspace Posts: 18,081 Group: Active Ancients Member #794 Joined: July 28, 2005 Gender Male Coins 5	Quote: Sound 5 Scarce, yet appropriate and well done What? You criticized one of the best aspects of the game without backing it up in the review.
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sniping_dreamer	Dec 10 2008, 10:16 PM Post #6
NOT BACK Posts: 3,191 Group: Ganondorf Member #8,343 Joined: February 26, 2008	Firestrife2 Dec 10 2008, 05:41 PM Sounds interesting......never played the first though. You really don't need to. All you know is that you live in a society opressed by aliens in another dimension.
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Squiggles	Dec 11 2008, 03:23 PM Post #7
You're a louse. Posts: 2,112 Group: Peach Member #1,802 Joined: July 2, 2006	Link Kid Dec 10 2008, 09:18 PM Quote: Sound 5 Scarce, yet appropriate and well done What? You criticized one of the best aspects of the game without backing it up in the review. Ah, that was a misprint: I meant to say "music" That's fairer to say, right? I mean, it barely ever occured, but it was great when it did.



LK	Dec 11 2008, 09:38 PM Post #8
iminspace Posts: 18,081 Group: Active Ancients Member #794 Joined: July 28, 2005 Gender Male Coins 5	I guess so, but I think sound effects and music should be put into one category.
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