Half-Life 2

[Purkake]

Lately every other thread has derailed into a HL2 bashing/defending at some point, so I thought it would be nice to have a little postmortem for it looking at what it did well and where it fell short. This includes Episode 1 and 2(and Lost Coast if you really want to).

 

First of all, if you go into HL2 expecting it to be the awesomest game ever, you will be disappointed just as with any other game. The first rule to enjoying anything is managing your expectations and moderating the hype. That said, it is not for everyone. While it does a lot more things than most conventional shooters, if you really despise walking around in first person and shooting at things, it won't convince you otherwise.

 

HL2 is not perfect, even if some people advocate it as such. The shooting mechanics were somewhat antiquated even when it came out with the lack of iron sights view for most guns and a general lack of punch to them. Most of the enemy models could use a some more variety and dismemberment. The driving sections were too long and pretty dull.

 

What it does, it does well. There is never a time when you just walk down corridor after corridor mowing down endless waves of enemies. The action is always broken up by a puzzle, story progression or some other set piece. You never really do the same thing over more than a couple of times and even then it usually has some kind of twist. The animations(especially the facial ones) are some of the best and the same goes for voice acting.

 

What really makes HL2 an unique experience is Valve's extreme attention to detail. Everything in the world feels like it supposed to be there, the Combine soldiers don't just teleport in to attack you, they rappel down from the roofs, arrive in APCs or helicopers. To get you in the sewers they send down swarms of manhacks or a helicopter to carpet bomb the area. It's not just the world though, when you see Alyx cover her eyes as you shine the flashlight in her face or hear her making fake zombie noises, it makes the experience feel authentic. How many other games give you a companion that isn't invincible, but at the same time doesn't cause frustration by dying all the time or getting in your way? Plus, she actually helps you out in combat without stealing the show.

 

As for the story, it's not for everyone and you really have to pay attention to understand what's going on. I do like the Lost-style feel it has, giving you just a little piece of the story and always hinting at the bigger picture without giving away too much.

 

So what did you like/dislike about HL2 and/or the episodes?

[Llyranor]

The good: Gravgun is still the best FPS weapon.

 

The bad: Alyx.

[Pidesco]

I found it to be a pretty bad FPS. The endless cutscenes pretending not to be cutscenes were a highlight in awfulness, and ditto for the vehicle sessions. The maps were very, very linear, the combat was dull.

 

 

The only thing I really liked was the engine. Very pretty, very well optimized and physics.

 

I didn't touch the episodes, for obvious reasons.

[Oner]

Disclaimer: My opinion.

Half-Life 2 was boring, the episodes weren't. The vehicles sections would have been good if they'd not get interrupted by boring walking every 3 turns. The "cutscenes" were really good, I would've liked more, the characters were also good, minus the sweater scientist woman, she was a bit annoying. The "big rebellion" felt stupid with the useless but ever respawning NPCs (who somehow survived being shot without hazard suits. After HL one perfectly lambshading why you're hard to kill, this was very idiotic).

I had no problems with the episodes, except the vorts somehow being able to mess with the G-Man, that could seriously backfire in a plot hole sense.

 

Pidesco: the episodes weren't boring, especially ep 2.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Oner

[Purkake]

What's wrong with Alyx?

 

There are hardly any "cutscenes" after the first chapter. Yes, HL2 is linear just like a bunch of other games, why is it a problem? You almost always have multiple ways to approach each confrontation.

 

I got the feeling that the Vorts vs G-Man thing was a one time only thing. It worked because he wasn't expecting it, I'm sure he's going to come back and kick your ass in EP3.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Purkake

[Pidesco]

What's wrong with Alyx?

 

There are hardly any "cutscenes" after the first chapter. Yes, HL2 is linear just like a bunch of other games, why is it a problem? You almost always have multiple ways to approach each confrontation.

 

 

The game doesn't offer anything to compensate the linearity. Not combat, not plot, not anything.

[Purkake]

The game doesn't offer anything to compensate the linearity. Not combat, not plot, not anything.

 

So what would you have liked? A totally open world with missions ala Oblivion?

[Guest Slinky]

No matter what game, there's always someone defending/bashing. It's just as fun as it is pointless argue matter of opinions.

 

Well okay. Why I personally think HL2 + Episodes are the best in the FPS gengre:

 

- Variety. Doom 3 is the most boring modern FPS I have played. Why? Because it's running on same looking dark corridors for 20h. In HL2 the scenery changes constantly and there is always something new around every corner. Thats why HL2 is the only FPS I have played through more than once and thats why I like it so much.

 

- Atmosphere. All the big and little details create a great atmosphere no matter where you go. In episode 1 when you get to the hospital which is overrun by Combine and zombies, and Alyx gets an shotgun for herself and that great music starts to play, thats FPS heaven for me.

 

-Characters. They are all pretty much all just comic reliefs. You either like them or not. I like them all a lot.

 

Only thing that bothers me sometimes are the weapons. It's clear that valve want's players to get close who/what ever you are shooting, because almost all the weapons are pretty inaccurate. That annoys me sometimes on the city streets.

 

In a nutshell HL2 is everything I want from a FPS.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Slinky

[Pidesco]

No, just better plot and better combat and better pacing and better plot exposition.

 

Edit: One thing that really bothers me about the linearity is how city 17 seems like a city but it never is. The introductory chase sequence is atrocious and pointless because of it.

[Oner]

I got the feeling that the Vorts vs G-Man thing was a one time only thing. It worked because he wasn't expecting it, I'm sure he's going to come back and kick your ass in EP3.

He's already back in ep 2 (even the devs say it in the commentary), and why would he kick Gordon's ass? He is still G-Baby's subordinate, and didn't do anything "bad" per se.

[Purkake]

No, just better plot and better combat and better pacing and better plot exposition.

 

The pacing was pretty much perfect, you never did the same thing for to long(I agree about the driving sections being too long, though).

 

As I said the storytelling style isn't for everyone, but what's wrong with the plot itself? You screw up, aliens come to earth then other aliens come and pretty much occupy earth, establish a totalitarian regime and drain earth's resources. People make a resistance movement and you'll become a part of it.

 

I got the feeling that the Vorts vs G-Man thing was a one time only thing. It worked because he wasn't expecting it, I'm sure he's going to come back and kick your ass in EP3.

He's already back in ep 2 (even the devs say it in the commentary), and why would he kick Gordon's ass? He is still G-Baby's subordinate, and didn't do anything "bad" per se.

 

In EP2 you are still pretty much acting on your own. I mean he'll be back and at least attempt to put you back in the box.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Purkake

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

Characters were always way too happy (excluding Episode 2 obviously) and for some reason they all feel like comic relief with their quirky oh-so-sweet personalities. Barney is a moron. I want to shoot him in the face every time he opens his big fat mouth.

 

Scenery was really boring. Nothing out of the ordinary, just warehouses, appartment buildings and a beach. Even the Citadel had some terrible art direction: big black square walls? Really, Valve? The driving sections suck since they're interrupted every ten seconds by puzzles or some arbitrary gunfight to go press on a button. Level progression couldn't be any more linear, to the point where finding that one pile of crates that lets you climb to the next part of the level is infuriating.

 

Story was awful. The cutscenes are completely irrelevant most of the time, to the point where some of them basically turn into "OH LOOK IT'S GORDON FREEMAN PLEASE SIGN MY GUN I LOVE YOU" and maybe some actual plot once in a while. Basically the entire story is just "Aliens invade. Go kill the bad guy at the top of the big bad tower while helping the resistance".

 

Guns were insanely dull. They feel so damn weak, inaccurate and cheap, with the exception of the gravity gun.

 

The game is only pretty in terms of texture quality and physics. Valve has been using the same explosion model for years for every single explosion in the game and it's always looked and sounded awful. The magnum has no use, the crowbar's hitting animation is just plain weird.

 

But the worse part is, there is no ambiance. No music. No atmosphere. You're just this guy, killing aliens, along with some other guys. There is never any sense of urgency and barely any emotion.

[Purkake]

Have you played the episodes, Will? They change stuff up a little.

 

What do you mean there's no music? There's music for each area and it's actually pretty good.

[Pidesco]

No, just better plot and better combat and better pacing and better plot exposition.

 

The pacing was pretty much perfect, you never did the same thing for to long(I agree about the driving sections being too long, though).

 

As I said the storytelling style isn't for everyone, but what's wrong with the plot itself? You screw up, aliens come to earth then other aliens come and pretty much occupy earth, establish a totalitarian regime and drain earth's resources. People make a resistance movement and you'll become a part of it.

 

I got the feeling that the Vorts vs G-Man thing was a one time only thing. It worked because he wasn't expecting it, I'm sure he's going to come back and kick your ass in EP3.

He's already back in ep 2 (even the devs say it in the commentary), and why would he kick Gordon's ass? He is still G-Baby's subordinate, and didn't do anything "bad" per se.

 

In EP2 you are still pretty much acting on your own. I mean he'll be back and at least attempt to put you back in the box.

 

 

How is the pacing perfect? Some sections are just drawn on and on and on.

 

"aliens come to earth then other aliens come and pretty much occupy earth, establish a totalitarian regime"

 

My original reaction to that was "wat".

 

Regarding the storytelling style, I would say it ins't really all that different, it's just like every other game, where the game stops to do exposition. The difference is that you control the camera during the cutscenes.

[Purkake]

I didn't feel that any section really dragged on.

 

Let's try this another way: name me a better FPS that is not a FPS/RPG hybrid(System Shock, Deus Ex, STALKER...)

Edited August 19, 2009 by Purkake

[Pidesco]

NOLF in particular. Apart from the cutscenes it's very much an improved, more varied HL1. It's much, much better than HL2.

 

 

Far Cry has its faults but has much, much better combat.

 

Does Undying count?

[Purkake]

NOLF is awesome indeed, but it is pretty much the only game of it's kind(along with NOLF2).

 

Farcry was pretty much ruined by the damn Trigens.

 

Did you play Call of Duty 4? It's pretty much as linear as HL2, but it's slightly better hidden.

 

EDIT: Is there actually anyone here who liked HL2? I feel like I arrived in the anti-half-life forums instead of a general gaming forum.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Purkake

[RPGmasterBoo]

For me Half Life 2 was playable, but somewhat boring. It didn't come off as sinister or as claustrophobic as the first one, the areas were pretty bland and the overall plot semi interesting. Some of the monsters like the spinning flying things ruined the immersion with their arcade appearance. The enemies were less intelligent than in the first one, (meaning combine soldiers) of which i was expecting a lot, the gunplay not rough enough for my taste. However its much praised competition at the time was in fact vastly inferior, those being the NoDuctTapeOnMars Doom3 and Jungle simulator Far Cry.

 

Episode One was where I started enjoying the games new direction. It was too short but Alyx made up for it and I really enjoyed her presence and character (and voice too). Episode two was where it got somewhat dull again, for inexplicable reasons. That said, I'll play Episode 3 and hopefully they will wrap up the story of the mute scientist in a sensible and entertaining manner.

 

Overall Half Life 2 was a very good shooter. Half Life 1 one was perfection. Since its impossible by definition to improve upon perfection, I think the end result was satisfactory.

[RPGmasterBoo]

Does Undying count?

 

As much as I like Undying the fact is that its an unbalanced game (almost broken,from the point you get the Scythe of the Celts), with poor level design (in the latter levels). The first impression is amazing but if you stick through you begin to see major cracks in it.

[Pidesco]

CoD4 was a very competent game. It didn't do anything new, it just did everything well. The combat was hectic and satisfying, set pieces well done, and the art direction did its job. I won't ever touch it again, but it achieves exactly what it was aiming for even if it wasn't aiming particularly high.

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

Have you played the episodes, Will? They change stuff up a little.

 

What do you mean there's no music? There's music for each area and it's actually pretty good.

There is very rarely any music, actually. I remember a few pieces used for action, but overall it's just very absent.

 

As for the episodes, I've played both. Episode 1 was just more of the same but Episode 2 was much better in terms of plot and action. The Hunter battles were great.

[RPGmasterBoo]

CoD4 was a very competent game. It didn't do anything new, it just did everything well. The combat was hectic and satisfying, set pieces well done, and the art direction did its job. I won't ever touch it again, but it achieves exactly what it was aiming for even if it wasn't aiming particularly high.

 

It was too easy on the hardest level, its plot was beyond idiotic, borderline Tom Clancy propaganda crap, and the shooting mechanics too easy. Even though most reviewers and gamers wouldnt agree - Call of Duty 5, in its Soviet campaign was much much better. It actually tried to make war look horrible and serious, it was quite challenging on its toughest difficulty, and a much grittier experience.

[Oner]

EDIT: Is there actually anyone here who liked HL2? I feel like I arrived in the anti-half-life forums instead of a general gaming forum.

I liked it. ,o/

[Purkake]

EDIT: Is there actually anyone here who liked HL2? I feel like I arrived in the anti-half-life forums instead of a general gaming forum.

I liked it. ,o/

 

The odds aren't in our favor, the Combine will win.

[RPGmasterBoo]

EDIT: Is there actually anyone here who liked HL2? I feel like I arrived in the anti-half-life forums instead of a general gaming forum.

I liked it. ,o/

 

The odds aren't in our favor, the Combine will win.

 

I liked it as well. Now we need more haters to even out the odds