Half-Life 2
Let’s put it this way, the most beautiful, and realistic game ever created.
Developer: VALVe
Platform: PC
Genre: First-Person Shooter
ESRB: M
Price: Was 54.99...might have gone down though. Trust me, it’s worth it!
Back in 1998 VAVLe put out the best first-person shooter (FPS) in all of gaming, called Half-Life. Half-Life featured nice, but nothing amazing graphics, great AI, and intense, nail-biting action. Half-Life set standards for FPS winning the most GOTY awards for its time. Half-Life 2 (HL2) exceeds its predecessor in nearly every aspect except its value. Graphically, nothing touches it. It has some of the best sound effects in all of gaming, and has plenty of variety to the game. HL2 has something no other game has produced so fully…a physics engine. Nothing that’s never been done, but they take that to a new path. I’m no physics expert, but it’s something about gravity. All objects in 3D move and fall as if in real life. Ill explain this later, but for now, lets just stick with this, Half-Life 2 is like nothing ever before. It is truly a masterpiece.
Some people think the story could have been better, but they say that because they don’t quite fully understand it. Gordon Freeman gets awaken by the mysterious G-Man from his eternal sleep, apparently, he has been chosen once again. Over 10 years have passed since the incident at Black Mesa, and a lot has changed. The Xen creatures that invaded Black Mesa years ago are now under control of the ruthless Combine. The Combine are bent on dominating the world, as well as the entire universe. The Combine have nearly taken over the world, but a small group of human rebel forces are planning a rebellion. Oddly enough, it’s the day that he shows up, Gordon Freeman. Some of the Xen creatures have escaped the control of the Xen, and are either friends with the rebellion, or are lone creatures that want nothing more then to live. The gorginites have befriended the rebellion, and with their knowledge, Mr. Freeman will once again save the day…hopefully.
Words don’t do justice to how excellent this game looks. HL2 has amazing character models, facial expressions, and astonishing textures and environments. HL2 is the best looking game ever. Although if you don’t have a powerful computer, the game might suffer from long load times, and slightly choppy graphics, but the lucky ones will have trouble keeping their eyes off the game. HL2 has some of the most realistic character models ever put in a game. Unlike Doom 3, HL2’s humans and Combine soldiers don’t have points in their heads. Each human has a distinct face as well as different clothing and even patches and awards. Plus, when you get close to someone, they will immediately turn their head and look at you, sometimes even talking at their own will. As good as the character models are the textures and environments are just as good. Once you start the game you are on a train, and once those doors open, you are bombarded with outstanding environments. For instance, a scanner will be taking your picture while an enormous screen shows one of Gordon’s fellow scientists, Dr. Breen, who is the dictator of the world, is talking about how “safe” it is in City 17 when its not.
HL2 sounds just as good. Although the music pops up whenever it wants, especially during battle scenes, it sounds just as excellent as before. It has a nice mix of techno tunes with electric guitar riffs. The sound effects are also excellent. HL2 is probably the most realistic sounding game. Gunshots sound awesome, and the revving up of your dune buggy’s engine sounds great. Even the voice acting is awesome. Each civilian has their own voice that fits them well, and G-Man has never sound so good.
As good as this game looks; it’s the physics that truly get you. Physics aren’t anything new to games, but VALVe does the unthinkable: making a full 3D engine. Every object in 3D uses the laws of gravity and can be picked up and thrown around. Wine bottles will break in half when tossed at a wall, and even the half will break. Suit cases will fall over spilling out papers at times, and vending machines will blow up spewing tons of sodas at you. Enemies will light on fire when they walk into fire, and will explode when a nade is thrown at them. But what’s really amazing is how they incorporate objects into combat. Early in the game, you are introduced to the Gravity Gun. The GG lets your pick up barrels and boxes and shoot them out really hard. This gun alone is astonishing to use.
The GG can pick up anything and everything, from paint cans that spray paint everywhere, and will even stick to walls, to saws that chop enemies in half revealing an awesome explosion of blood. The GG can also pick up enemy projects like the annoying manhacks, and turrets, to grenade and loose ammo. Sadly, the GG will not puck up people or enemies until the end of the game.
Another important tool to use in combat is your environment. Not only does it act as a weapon, but it can also work for protection. For instance, the GG can pick up steel barrels and will provide cover from gunfire since the bullets can’t penetrate through the barrel. Exploding barrels also play an important role in HL2. Gordon can either shoot a barrel to make it explode and kill enemies around it, but, it might also make something fall down and squash your enemies, or he can pick up the barrel and toss it. But be weary, the Combine can also make them explode.
One of the few complaints of Half-Life was the weapon arsenal. Even though it featured well more then 10 weapons, some of them felt slightly outdated towards the end of the game. Each weapon in HL2 has its ups and downs. You start off with the famous crow-bar and 9mm pistol, but will eventually expand to RPGs and combine pulse rifles. The pistol never feels outdated because it is able to hold a lot of ammo in 1 clip, and has surprisingly nice accuracy. Other weapons like the Combine pulse rifle holds only a maximum of 60 rounds, but packs a punch. Most of the weapons also have secondary functions. For instance, the SMG has a built-in grenade launcher, and the pulse rifle has charged bursts that ricochets of walls and vaporizes everything in its path.
Part of what made Half-Life so excellent was the AI even though you fought alone most of the time. HL2 has probably the most advanced AI I’ve seen in a long time. Your enemies are smart enough to realize that you are hiding behind a box, and will end up throwing nades at you, or charged pulse rifle bursts. They too are also smart enough to camp and hide. There were tons of times when I thought I killed all the soldiers, but I find out that there are still more up on a balcony, or in a corner shooting at me. Another one of the downsides to Half-Life was you rarely fought with anyone, but part of that is because you were underground in a science facility most of the time. Towards the middle of the game you are introduced to Pherapods, or bug bait. The bug bait spew out a sticky and smelly odor that the Ant Lions love. They will go wherever you throw it, and will attack anything around it. Watching your enemies quiver in fear by the Ant Lions are almost as rewarding as popping off heads and watching their life-less bodies move. HL2 is not a squad based shooter and your really can’t order your fellow humans around, but they too are smart enough to toss nades, hide around corners and walls, and even yell out the positions of enemies.
In Half-Life you had the RPG but you really only used it a few times except when you blew up tanks and helicopters. In HL2 there are plenty of battles with Combine gun ships, and the ruthless Striders. Striders strangely resemble the tri-pods from the War of the Worlds. They look like them and even have the ability to vaporize your enemies. I’m beginning to think that VALVe took the idea from the original War of the Worlds movie. In order to defeat these menacing machines, you will use your RPG because convention weapons don’t do justice (sound familiar). But what’s so interesting is that your rocket will go anywhere the laser is pointed. Gun ships will shoot down rockets if you don’t avoid enemy gunfire.
In Half-Life, your enemies were the Xen, the US Military, and the Black Opts. In HL2 the Xen aliens are still here and still pouring down on massive invasions, but it’s the Combine who has takes of Xen and is now trying to do what the Xen creatures failed to do. The Xen creatures are the same head-crabs and zombies, but there are 2 new head-crabs, the fast head-crab that has long legs therefore jumping higher, and going faster then regular crabs, and the black head-crabs. The black head-crabs inject poison into your body, but are slow. There are also 2 new breeds of zombies, and ironically, have the same name as the head-crabs because they are people taken over by the crabs. Following me? The fast zombie moves much faster then a normal zombie, and they are also more powerful. They are fast head-crabs that have taken over wolves, and you will know when they are about to attack, because the whole and sound like demented wolves. The next zombie is the black zombie, or carrier zombie that holds 3 black head-crabs and launches them at you. The Combine is much more human. They attack in groups and usually use much more advance technology such as guns, drop ships, and striders. They are powerful, smart, and agile. They can get tough to kill when you have swarms coming at you.
Half-Life was missing vehicles. But in HL2, there are 2 total chapters that use them. One of them is a chapter where Gordon drives one of those motor-boats that you see in swamps. It’s fast, but doesn’t come with a weapon. Another chapter uses a dune buggy to get around the coast. And it is very well needed because the sand on the coast is perfect for the Ant Lions who spawn whenever they feel the ground moving. There are even puzzles that involve grabbing boxes and debris to use as a bridge to make your way across the coast when you loose your buggy. Speaking of puzzles, HL2 has some of the best FPS puzzles since…Metroid Prime. Most of the puzzles involve the physics engine or the use of the GG. For instance, Gordon needs to raise a ramp so he can drive his boat over, but it’s too low. To raise it, he needs to grab floating barrels and put them under the bridge to propel it upwards. Clever if I might say so.
Nowadays, every FPS has a multiplayer on it. When you purchase HL2 you will receive Counter-Strike: Source (CSS) and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (DM). CSS is simply an updated version of one of the most popular online FPS, Counter-Strike. It is still a simple find, shoot kill, reload, and repeat game with updated graphics and excellent physics. VALVe is busy working on constantly making new maps for CSS, as well as classic ones from CS. They have already made 4 brand new CSS only maps, and have remade about 15 CS maps like Dust, Office, and Assault. DM is also an updated version of the original Half-Life: Deatmatch. What makes DM so much fun is the GG. Yes, it’s in the game, and just as fun as before, but without the saws. The GG is one of the best ways to kill you enemies in the game because it’s so powerful. DM, unfortunately, doesn’t have that many VALVe made maps but tons of great custom maps. For more information on these games, read my mini-reviews on them.
Quite possibly the biggest downside to the game is the lasting appeal. The game overall gives you about 12-15 hrs of value. Not bad at all for a FPS, but not great. HL2 is also quite easy, even on hard mode, but HL2 is one of those games where it starts out simple, but gets advanced and technical the longer you play it. Fortunately, HL2 comes with CSS and DM for free via steam. These games are sure to keep you playing for months if not years. I’ve been playing CS for over 5 years now and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Unlike most games, HL2 has a strong replay value. Every time you play the game you see something different, whether it’s a new spotting of G-Man, or a more interesting approach on killing your foes because the GG gives you tons and tons of possibilities on killing your foes. I am even thinking about beating this game for the 4th time. Something I’ve not done since…Ocarina of Time.
Despite its faults, HL2 is still astonishing to play. HL2 is excellent pretty much around the board. It has an intriguing, but some say confusing, story. They also say it could be better, but they probably don’t get the beef of it. HL2 is the best looking game. It has beaten out Doom 3 with better character models, and excellent textures and environments. It also sounds superb with awesome techno rock beats, outstanding sound effects, and fantastic voice acting. But the best part to HL2 is the campaign, from start to finish this game rules. The physics engine is absolutely breath-taking, and extraordinary to use, whether you are looking at barrels falling over, zombie heads flying into the air because of a nice shot with the GG, or a Combine soldier’s body falling from a rooftop hitting everything on its way down. HL2 comes with 2 very fun online games: CSS and DM. Read my mini-reviews for more info on them. The biggest draw-back to HL2 is the value. Even thought 12-15 hrs of game play is quite a lot for a FPS, I’ve seen more. Plus, the online games will last you for years on end. Is HL2 the best FPS ever? Maybe not, but it is definitely one of the best. HL2 gets my award for the best game of the year. It is truly a work of art.
Scorecard
Presentation: A-Nice box, great story, but no manual and cheap paper cases.
Graphics: A+-Astonishing textures and environments, excellent character models, and awesome special effects
Sound: A-Sweet techno music, amazing sound effects, and even better voice acting.
Gameplay: A+-Beautiful physics engine with nail-biting action
Value: B-Good value, but not great, 12-15 hrs, but with CSS and DM, this game might last forever.
Tilt: A+-Quite possibly the greatest FPS ever. The best FPS of the year if not game of the year
Overall: A+ (98%)
-Submitted by Master_Yoda on Sept. 3rd, 2005. This may not be posted anywhere without my permission
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