Half Life 2

[EagleFan]

I figured that we might as well get a Half Life 2 thread going in this section. Many out ther pick it up yet?


So far:

Positives:
Very impressive physics engine that actually adds to the game play. This isn't just like the buzz word that you hear around many games wherre it actually means nothing to the game.

I like the vehicles, they add a nice touch. I love the first vihicle, the swamp buggy (or whatever they call it). That's just a blast to fly through the rivers on.

The acting is well done, most of the lines are delivered believably and not just mailed in like many games.

The animation of the characters is quite impressive. Very lifelike movements. To the point that you can actually read their lips when they are speaking more or less. They also show emotions well with their facial expressions and body language.

Good story line, only about half way through but I like it so far.

Very nice mix of game play so far. One minute you are frantically scurring away from a situation where you are seriously out-gunned and your only option is to get to safety. The next minute you are in a full scale gun battle where the odds are a little better in your favor. Yet the next minute there is a puzzle needing to be solved. The puzzles are more of logical puzzles that also use the physics engine to be believable (need to get up a level but he board keeps teetering, find a few cinder blocks to weigh down one end).

The Gravity Gun. That weapon is one of the best weapons in any game. Nothing like projecting a saw blade through an approaching group of 'zombies'.

These are just what stand out to me, many other peolpe will have other things to love about this game.



Negatives:

Steam, that part is just plain annoying. But that has nothing to do with actual game play.

High system requirements might be a drawback for some. I don't have a top of the line model by any streatch and have not had any problems though.

The level load times. That loading break can get a little annoying, the same as with the original.




Overall I would come very close to what many sites are saying. This is easily, in my opinion, one of the greatest games ever.



Not sure which is worse, the head crabs or those damn razor bots (or whatever they are technically called). That damn head crab screech still makes me jump when in a 'hold your breath' situation.

[TargetPractice6]

Not sure if you've seen this thread.

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/for...ad.php?t=31967

[EagleFan]

Yeah, I did but I wanted to get one going in this part of the forum, since it's the games portion.

[TargetPractice6]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Yeah, I did but I wanted to get one going in this part of the forum, since it's the games portion.

Ah alright, didn't see any posts by you in it so I thought you might have missed it.

[hukarez]

Really haven't gotten around to picking up this title yet.

Granted (from what I've heard/read) the Counter Strike: Source thing must've been a very nice graphic upgrade from the original - and with tons of folks still playing the game, I'm assuming - I still wished there was more of a HL2 setting to multiplayer with the game.

I was pretty tempted to pick up the game nonetheless (I know I will in the future), but I'm waiting for the price tag to drop by another $5 or so. I jumped the gun with Doom 3 for the $54.99 thing - and while HL2 probably justifies the extra $5, I figure I'd wait. (Spent $1k getting my car repaired...think it's time to exercise caution with funds at this time of year).

At the same time, I'm trying very hard to obtain any other new titles like Metal Gear 3, and Pirates! or what not. Erg...I need a higher wage to compensate my outrageous entertainment spending excursions.

[Desnudo]

I'll admit it, parts of this game scare the daylights out of me. It's like being put into your own zombie movie except those damn crabs from Alien are there too. Ravenholm...

[Vince]

This game simply rules. Greatest game I've ever played, bar none. My dad is still pissed that you can't shoot out the lights, but still. Vehicles, the graphics...I think I remember someone mentioning in the other thread that he spent ten minutes getting a guard to chase him around at the beginning by throwing stuff at him. It's little things like that (I did the same thing at first ) that just make this game that much better than anything I've ever played.

The fact that it is visually stunning and that I was a complete and utter fanboy of the original Half-Life don't have anything to do with my opinion at all, I'm sure

[Kozure]

The game was amazing...just finished today.

I will agree, Steam was a pain in the ass. With dial up, it took me 2 freaking hours to get the game up and running.

[EagleFan]

Still loving it but haven't been able to play it because of Steam. I try to play when I have a free half hour or so and it keeps getting bogged down on some damn Validating file screen for Steam.

Steam has got to go!!! My biggest complaint is that I should be able to play a game that I payed for whenever I want to and not whenever their little security program allows me to.

[Desnudo]

If you're on cable modem then turn it off before you start your computer. Then choose offline mode for Steam. The game should load fine.

[cartman]

Gotta put my two cents in. I never played the original Half Life. I'd heard about the new version, but it wasn't on my list of potential purchases. I finally DLed the demo a couple of weeks ago, and the two demo levels piqued my interest. I broke down and bought the full game. Not disappointed at all!

Incredible graphics, very believeable physics engine, and a great mix of gameplays. The game length was just about right. I was expecting it to be shorter than it ended up being. And, of course, the door was left wide open for HL3.