It's here and almost as quickly it is gone! I have been waiting at least a year to get my HANDS on it. Half Life is in large part a reason why I stopped playing consoles for years and concentrated solely on PC gaming. I have just finished this game and must say it has been the biggest waste of my time.... I am looking forward to playing Skydive! after this crap.
Yeah right, stop reading these damn reviews and go buy this game. If you are waiting for the price to go down or a holiday treat from a loved one go and stop yourself.... go pick the game up for the extra $10, the 1 extra cable porn flick is not worth it and waiting for a loved one to allow you 15 plus hours of spectactular enjoyment without them isn't going to happen.
Graphics/Sound - The graphics are not as exquisite as Doom 3. They are however still mighty fine, the source engine's ability to create outdoor areas is awesome, couple that with really nice physics and you have this great ability to use the environment to assist you in the game. Countless times during the game you utilize items around you to progress. Everyone interested in this game has heard about the Grav Gun.... I want one, I want one NOW. The sound is very good if not a little soft, it does not seem to pack the punch I expected, barrels of flammable stuff explode and they lack punch, shots don't seem to ring and rebound off of tunnel walls. Maybe I dont have something set up right but other recent games have had that oomph. I have 2 complaints. First I have encountered sound issues where it seems to stutter, the update provided did not eliminate these issues, better yes maybe but not gone. It is mostly at checkpoints and occasionally when a new game sound is heard for the first time but never really stops the actions. Secondly and inexcusably in my opinion, Gordon Freeman does not have hands. Huh? Early in the game before the crowbar becomes available you never see his hands, after weapons become available you can see his hands except when he picks something up and when he does... poof ... his hands are gone and he is carrying a crate with his mind I guess. This needs to be addressed, it seems so simple but I lose immersion into the half life world each and every time I interact with something. The Engine ran at 1600X1200 excellently on a year old PC and last generation Radeon, some hitches but only during the level with the 'squadmates' did I feel it required to reduce it down to 1280X960. If I had been fair I would have also put FarCry in this category but couldn't with the issues I had initially getting that game to play smoothly. Overall 28/25
Gameplay - What can you say, you are thrust into a situation that you don't understand running for your life to meet up with people you don't know or can't remember, fighting soldiers that know something your importance when you yourself haven't begun to understand what you mean to the resistance and you have precious little ammo. the game delivers throughout except the final 2 levels that I felt were exciting but much easier than the previous levels. Drive an airboat, without hands, how bout some buggy driving or some jumping puzzles or maybe you like some strider action... it is all here and all good. the enemies never feel old, just when you get tired of zombies ... wham a load of combine soldiers are in your face. The best 'enemies' in the game in my opinion were the Ant Lions ... why? mostly because they creeped me out with the sounds and the ability to do short distance flying. no real reason to discuss each and every enemy but I suspect that more than once you will allow death just to watch because they are just that cool. Overall 32/35
Bang for $ - The professional reviews that I have read indicate 15-20 hours before MP. It held true, I probably logged a few hours more but I also replay sequences I complete over and over trying to leave the sequence in the best shape possible. If that hold true then it is a comparatively long FPS, so was Doom 3. MP should add hundreds of hours to people who A) Have been playing Counter Strike for years or B) people who enjoy being a new kid on the block and being picked on mercilessly until they either give up or get competent at Counter Strike. I am neither A) or B) above so I don't think Counter-Strike is in my future and to date Valve has only released a Half-Life 2 Deathmatch mode with 2 maps which isn't my cup 'o tea, I am a big fan of objective based maps like those found in MOHAA and Call of Duty. Still I suspect for those that like the above the fun has only begun because Vavle is ready for the online explosion. Overall 19/20
Personal View - Lets recap.... it is the sequel to the game that changed my gaming habits, it is the game that I used to rationalize the purchase of a new PC, it is the game that I have been eagerly awaiting for over 12 months.... I bought this game with the expectation that it would forever scar my thoughts on FPS games to follow. In the end I don't think I am scarred for life but it lives up to the hype in everyway imaginable.... ok with the exception that Gordon is handless.
Final thought.... half-life 2 is part 2 of a 3, 4, or even 5 part storyline. With that in mind, although I was dissappointed in the rather vague and anti-climatic finish, I am already counting the days until we find out what happens next and how the hell Gordon Freeman and what amounts to his disciples will survive it all. Well it is off to my first MMORPG - World of Warcraft. Overall 19/20
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