Playing Half Life for the first time....

twe

twe

twe

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Hi guys, yes I know, just started to play Half Life (original) as I have never played it before.

Luckily my original cd key still works via steam so added it there and downloaded it along with the HD pack. Shame they don't give you the Half Life Source one automatically but is there any other way to improve the graphics?

Finally any way to get my 360 controller to work on it instead of using the keyboard and mouse? as I normally play on my bed with the laptop and thats easier to use.

Thanks.
 
I have no idea how to improve things or add the 360 controller into the mix, but I really envy you :p
 
half-life Source didn't feel as good for me personally, I would stick with the original (while remembering how long ago it was made). I would also strongly recommend mouse + keyboard over gamepad for half-life (there are some Google results showing up for 'half-life 1 + gamepad' but it wasn't designed for that. This is one game worth playing properly. I think Half-life with a gamepad would be like eating the finest steak with plastic cutlery.

Also envious, best game ever IMHO.
 
How did you manage to get the retail version working? I tried installing it and it was twitchy as hell. Had to use the version on Steam instead, though it is basically the exact same game.
 
I never really liked half life, never understood the huge following.
Played all of the expansions and the sequal and it's episodes and never got into it. Wasted my money just hoping it would 'click' or something... I guess I'm just weird haha! Never completed any of them as got fed up (not because they were too hard, just because I wasn't enjoying them).

I played both versions of the original, the source one felt better for me.
 
Craig1981 said:
How did you manage to get the retail version working? I tried installing it and it was twitchy as hell. Had to use the version on Steam instead, though it is basically the exact same game.
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You can just add a retail key to steam and then download it.

If you're REALLY set on using a joypad, check out the ps2 version. It had a funky lock-on system to replace the autoaim most console FPS's use.... as well as an exclusive co-op addon pack.
 
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Rezident said:
half-life Source didn't feel as good for me personally, I would stick with the original (while remembering how long ago it was made). I would also strongly recommend mouse + keyboard over gamepad for half-life (there are some Google results showing up for 'half-life 1 + gamepad' but it wasn't designed for that. This is one game worth playing properly. I think Half-life with a gamepad would be like eating the finest steak with plastic cutlery.

Also envious, best game ever IMHO.
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Agree the Source version just felt a bit odd, the textures are all the same so it wont look that different.

Definitely use M+K for HL or any FPS for that matter. I only use my gamepad for things like Fallout 3, Just Cause 2 etc but for FPS, especially one never designed with gamepads in mind you may struggle in a few places.
 
Orignal Half Life is a classic, Enemy AI was very good for the time, first time you fought the -- um spoilers. you'll know when it happens. But you do have to bear in mind its age when playing, you will have seen it all before and proberly better but if you'd played it on release it would be with good memories even now..

Enjoy it and crowbar the hell out of anything that twitches :)
 
Wow expected to come back after a few hours for a single reply! Good to know this forum is buzzing :D

OK cool will keep playing it as is then.

Yeh I just added the cd key from the back of the cd into steam and it excepted it, gave me about 6 new things in my games list like Half Life Blue Shift etc.... All new to me still!

I have the orange box on my xbox so controller for that....

In terms of the original half life I did notice the crosshair does click to the enemies, so I think a controller shouldn't be too difficult to use.
 
twe said:
Wow expected to come back after a few hours for a single reply! Good to know this forum is buzzing :D
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You're lucky you didn't come back to 3 pages of abuse over having never played half-life and starting it up with a controller :p

but really, K&M is the way to go. Set your laptop up on a desk and marathon it - if for no other reason than you'll be less tempted to swing the camera around to have a look at places if you're using a controller. And remember, pretty much the best PC offering before this game was Quake, with Goldeneye on the N64 - you should really try and cast your mind back to those days to get the most out of it.

As others have said, probably one of the best gaming experiences of my life.
 
Rezident said:
half-life Source didn't feel as good for me personally, I would stick with the original (while remembering how long ago it was made). I would also strongly recommend mouse + keyboard over gamepad for half-life (there are some Google results showing up for 'half-life 1 + gamepad' but it wasn't designed for that. This is one game worth playing properly. I think Half-life with a gamepad would be like eating the finest steak with plastic cutlery.

Also envious, best game ever IMHO.
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loved that quote at the end :D
 
I remember playing this for my first run through after a mate made me start it. Took me a week or so to get into it, but amazing game!

Enjoy!
 
Zefan said:
I have no idea how to improve things or add the 360 controller into the mix, but I really envy you :p
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Haha me too

I went through the whole Half Life series again a couple of months ago, best gaming session I've had in along time!
 
Lucky so and so, by the time I tried to register my hardcopy of HL generations (hl + expansions & cs) some git had already used my key on steam and steam support were having non of it without a receipt, wouldnt accept photos of the box, cd keys etc as it pre dated steam. :mad:

As for controller support, firstly, how dare you, but secondly didnt HL come with the ol' doom era keyboard only support with an aim assist option for when people didnt use mouselook? Would make using a controller a bit easier, assuming you get the control mapping sorted.
 
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