Half Life 2 Appreciation!

Brilliant game. Your mileage may vary depending on your appreciation of 'linear' games (never had an issue with strong plot orientated games myself). Episodes are definitely on the short side!
 
HL2 is a great game.. i dunno how anyone could argue against that.. i prefer the first one still but that was because that game was legendary and totally changed the fps genre, hl2 was a very good game, but didn't really add anywhere near as much as the first game did
 
I think the HL ep's are the best games i have ever played, they run so smooth and look fantastic too.

The mavity gun is the best weapon ever made! especially in deatchmatch

:D
 
The whole opening section of HL2 just sets the scene perfectly drawing you into the gameworld! I have to say I loved it the first time through and playing through the start of the game again is just as sweet. Is it the best FPS though? Well that of course is open to some debate, its definately up there as the pacing and challenge on higher difficulty settings is near enough perfect.

Episode 2 was just oh so short though since it was at least new areas. Episode 1 was a good length considering what it really was and still extremely enjoyable.

P.S Finally got round finishing crysis which was indeed superb
 
I think it holds up very well graphically. People say it looks dated, but I don't agree. Nice and sharp with sensible use of shaders :)

The game itself is good, but some of the sections are overly prolonged, and the mavity gun/physics puzzles are a bit OTT. Some of the NPC's are very irritating too.

I think HL1 is a better concept all round, all though it's really showing it's age now. Can't wait for the Black Mesa Mod - a HL1 remake for the HL2 engine.
 
Yeah, it's excellent, they just need to add some more weapons. Same weapons getting jaded (ok, mavity gun and magnusson thingy are different) but otherwise excellent.

Bring back the Opposing Force weapons :D
 
I'm not a huge fan of Half Life 2 tbh. I'm not sure if its any one thing in particular but the whole thing just didn't grip me. Farcry on the other hand (which came out roughly the same time) is one of my favorite games ever.

I don't think the story / setting of Half Life 2 was as good as the first game and the constant delays and lies from valve about the progress of the game (leaks and all) dampened my spirits for the final product. I thought the vehicle sections were too long as well and the gravety gun wasnt as exciting for me as it was for other people. I did enjoy the Ravenholm section however :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i think iam the only one who wasnt too impressed.

many parts of the game were too long and boring, the weapon selection was painfully dull compared to what made hl1 fun. the majority of enemies were boring to fight.

the came the episodes which were just more of the same, a section in the middle of ep2 made me think i was teleported back to 2004 with a extremely poor 'toxic waste' section with the same old repeating textures and props.


hl2 for me was no where near as fun as hl1, it forget to be entertaining on its route to being far too clinical and so far up itself.
 
Overhyped and overrated linear shooter. :)

i agree yes it had good physics and it was quite entertaining but not "the best action game of all time" that pcgamer branded

eps1 was way too short (mainly why i waited for orange box to play it)
eps2 was worth getting it a bundle with the others and TF2 and portal
 
Last edited:
a section in the middle of ep2 made me think i was teleported back to 2004 with a extremely poor 'toxic waste' section with the same old repeating textures and props.

I must admit some of those sectioned just seemed like a contrived way of getting some platforming in there. The puzzles in Ep1 were a bit better (electrified water etc), at least using the physics well.
 
Just finished half life 2 and started half life 2 ep1. If you dont jump when those bloody chickens or the spider things jump at you your offically dead. I know the game is way way to linear but for £27 in the orange box set from asda with portal tf2 and allt he other bits you cant go wrong. If i'd just payed £35 for Half life 2 on its own i wouldnt be too happy but for the hole kit and caboodle.

Towards the end of half life 2 when i started riding the people transport thing and it took me miles i had horrible flashbacks to that bloody tram ride in half life 1 that i thought would never end and couldn't be avoided.
 
Just bought the orange box and finally have had the opportunity to play this great game after 3 years!
I think this is probably the best FPS i have ever played, the graphics are so good considering it was made in 2004, looks as good as some of todays titles.
Love the physics,the mavity gun is so much fun to use, the environments are awesome and the canal/airboat level is brilliant!
Absolute classic!

Have to agree with you there HL2 rocks, thought airboat level was good-wait till ya reach ravenholm ;)
 
Back
Top Bottom