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[MoonsaultSlayer]

So my brother played and enjoyed this on PC years back and despite his love for it and the praise I've seen from the gaming community, I never played it.

Well I recently tracked down a PS3 copy of the orange box (for Portal) and whenever my brother visited, I ignored his requests to boot up HL2... until tonight.

I'm really liking the world (even though there are 4 variations of NPCs).

The sights: PQ is clean for an older game and what I've always heard was a terrible ps3 port job. The city and level design are fantastic so far. I'm currently still fleeing through the aqueducts having just escaped helicopter fire.

The sounds: Hearing the radio chatter and ambient score and sfx are great. The random techno track that played during my escape was random but catchy and portal-like.

The feels: It was fun "acting" in this game. I would genuinely react as I would in real life when confronting or avoiding the NPCs. Level and scenario designs are great. I didn't need huge, neon destination markers to tell me where to go. And that one scene where they threw barrels from above as I bobbed in the water below avoiding the explosions and firing back... so epic, unique and satisfying. And speaking of satisfying, the gunplay is fabulous.

The initial escape through the building reminded me of Uncharted 3's escape scene up the stairwell and across the rooftops. Which made me think... Why such negativity towards Uncharted's linearity? HL2, so far, has been very linear but very enjoyable. Maybe I need to learn to keep track of those who scoff at one thing but praise another. Could just be 2 different camps.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to continuing this game. It's not my favorite game all of a sudden, but some things here are so well designed, I have to give credit where it's due (even though you've all done so, many times over haha).

 

[famousmortimer]

It's a classic for a reason. One of the few games I still replay from time to time.

 

[SlipperySlope]

Seems you like it. Good. The game gets a lot better, especially in Ravenholm.

 

[RyanReedyMusic]

Classic man. I have beat this game more times than my penis.

In all seriousness though. I have adored this game for many years. When I first played it. I played it from start to finish in one sitting. The atmosphere, the soundtrack, the characters, everything came together for me.

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

The gunplay is mediocre, the forced cutscene story breaks were lame, and Alyx was terrible. TERRIBLE. She might have been okay but all she did in these games was try to give the player a boner. Lame.

Anyways I thought it was fun, but not over the top great.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

I love the gunplay. It just feels RIGHT, the way it feels firing that pistol. I wish there was a melee button/option while holding a pistol.

The loading through specific doorways is kind of jarring but tolerable.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

I love the gunplay. It just feels RIGHT, the way it feels firing that pistol.

Total opposite here, shooting all but a couple of guns felt wholly unsatisfying. The revolver, the shotgun and the alt-fire on the combine assault rifle were the only times they felt as meaty as they should have. The generally non-reactive nature of the enemies does not help either.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

Incredible game. PS3 port is ass, though. Play the PC version. The game is 8 years old at this point, so an average machine today should run it well.

 

[B-Genius]

Total opposite here, shooting all but a couple of guns felt wholly unsatisfying. The revolver, the shotgun and the alt-fire on the combine assault rifle were the only times they felt as meaty as they should have. The generally non-reactive nature of the enemies does not help either.

Revolver, shotgun, grenade launcher... sounds like you just like firing big guns!

Even when excluding the Gravity Gun as a part of HL2's 'gunplay', I found it to be very engaging. The rocket launcher is as fun as it was when that guided concept was introduced in the first game, and even shooting off multiple rounds from the low-power pistol felt good. Enemies might not have been too reactive, but the way they went down was often satisfying.

Re: linearity, both games are quite obviously linear, but also quite 'seamless', in that the levels imply a grander landscape, but you just happen to be forced down one particular route. Depending on how well the design of that route/scene is handled, a forced path can often feel natural - like you chose it, which maybe shines through better in first-person.

Hope you enjoy seeing the game through and moving on to the episodes, OP!

 

[GavinGT]

Just don't give up on it during the extensive hovercraft sequence. Also, if you ever get stuck on a puzzle, it probably involves plastic barrels and a seesaw.

 

[Sapphire Dreams]

My all time favorite FPS, I loved the world, the characters, I love how the characters emote different kinds of emotes while talking which something rare even today outside of cutscenes, and as a game, it still the best example of how to make a linear game without ever making feel that it's linear, at least to me, love the freedom it gives you while gameplay and it does reward you quite a lot for exploring the levels, I still find something new when I explore it, pacing in this is far better than most games in the market because it takes its time to establish things and doesn't rush into action straight away, and I am probably one of the minorities that didn't mind the vehicle sections though I admit they could have done a better job with it.


If there is something I don't like about the game is the soundtrack, completely forgettable tracks that really don't add anything to it, and the sound design is weak for the most part.

 

[Stahsky]

One of the greatest games ever made. I replay this game once a year.

 

[JaseC]

The Episodes, despite their length, are great additions. Episode One is essentially a distillation of the better aspects of Half-Life 2 while Episode Two improves upon it in every way and is arguably the best the HL2 saga has to offer. Two's cliffhanger ending may frustrate you seeing as Half-Life 3 is nowhere in sight, but just be glad you didn't play it all the way back in October 2007.

 

[sn00zer]

Probably my favorite games ever....its been surpassed in many ways now, but it really revolutionized FPS games in terms of story telling and the ways characters interact with the player

 

[sp3000]

A mediocre sequel to one of the best FPS games made

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

When I say "gunplay", I'm strictly referring to how smooth the analog controls are. Maybe it isn't noticeable by you kbm folks, but it's one of the better fpses on pad I've played.

 

[Pixel Pete]

Such a brilliant game, but unfortunately, the industry has moved so very far since it came out (in regards to style and mechanics)

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Half-Life 2 is a game stuffed with so much content in it's incredibly lengthy 20 hour experience, you almost take for granted the fact that it's so impeccably designed, polished to a sheen, and playtested to hell for maximum efficiency. Every music cue is just right, a puzzle placed right on time to break any monotony tempting to creep in, a surprising enemy encounter or a clever gag, or a subverted idea always on hand at a moment's notice to keep you engaged. Half-Life 2 is never short on an interesting new area or play mechanic to throw at a player to spice things up, but they always introduce this element to the player in a mostly safe environment with proper signposting.

Valve's pointing you in the right direction is more subtle and nuanced than many of it's competitors, pulling off the rare trick of a very linear shooter that still makes you feel like you're in control of your own destiny. Things can get unpredictable, what with the various enemy AIs and the still impressive physics engine. I don't think the game necessarily wanted me to hurl this explosive I found a couple rooms back into the combine soldier on the railing, be seeing him fly in the air before landing awkwardly, realistically on the back of a train was worth the trouble. Moreover, there's a player autonomy to the vast majority of the game outside it's few exposition-packed segments. What this does, at least in my experience, is keep me fully believing in this world and my actions. When I finally destroyed that goddamn helicopter and it crashed, flying right above my head into the water, there was no celebratory cutscene, no unseen AI voice pointing me in the next direction, no Mission Complete screen. Just a short little music cue, and that's it. You can bask in your own glory, driving around the fallen copter, take as much time as you want, and then figure out where to go next. Because the game didn't take control away from me after this climatic moment, I was more fully immersed into the world of HL2.

It's a really complete package, from it's puzzles, vehicles, group battles, defense scenarios, the wonderful, wonderful Gravity Gun, it's likable believable characters brought to life through great voice acting and animations, hell, even it's tutorials double as a character-bonding moment with Alyx and Dog. You throw in the content of the other 2 episodes including that incredible tension-filled sandbox battle against the Striders and that heartbreaking finale, and you got 30 hours of high-quality first-person shooter design and ideas. There are plenty of other shooters with better combat, or prettier visuals, or more addictive multiplayer components. But taken together as a whole, I can't help but be impressed with what Valve has accomplished with Half-Life 2.

Now where's the next fuckin' episode?

 

[diamount]

Game was great when it came out but it's pretty shit now.

 

[PC Gaming Sucks]

Personally, it didn't do it for me. It just didn't keep my interest after awhile. Highly overrated in my honest opinion. Has great characters though.

 

[CountAntonius]

Blew my mind then still love it now. The Episodes are even more action packed.

 

[Shaanyboi]

I really liked HL2 when i played it (early 2009 maybe?), but it's kinda padded. Alot of pointless moments where it's like "okay, you're driving for fucking ever, now, ya gotta get out and shoot some guys. Now get back in the buggy and keep on driving. Oh, gotta kill more guys. Now keep on driving... and... and.... keep on driving." And then the fucking hovercraft sequence. "You're boatin', keep on boatin', now you gotta get out and kill some guys. Then boat some more. Then open a gate. Then boat some more. Then open another gate." Come on, man...

On one hand, it adds to the scale of the world, but simultaneously, it just drags. The highs are REALLY high, but it didn't need to be as long as it was.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Two's cliffhanger ending may frustrate you seeing as Half-Life 3 is nowhere in sight, but just be glad you didn't play it all the way back in October 2007.

When orange box unlocked, I played Ep 2 first, and one of my friends played Portal first. I didn't realize he hadn't had a go at Ep 2 yet so the next day at school I totally spoiled the ending accidentally.

 

[JaseC]

When orange box unlocked, I played Ep 2 first, and one of my friends played Portal first. I didn't realize he hadn't had a go at Ep 2 yet so the next day at school I totally spoiled the ending accidentally.

Haha, that's the Half-Life equivalent of, "I can't believe Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father!"

 

[HueyFreeman]

The initial escape through the building reminded me of Uncharted 3's escape scene up the stairwell and across the rooftops. Which made me think... Why such negativity towards Uncharted's linearity? HL2, so far, has been very linear but very enjoyable. Maybe I need to learn to keep track of those who scoff at one thing but praise another. Could just be 2 different camps.

They're not even on the same plane of existence. The UC series trots out 2, maybe generously 3, gameplay types in quick cycle. Half Life 2 is just... different from most games. It's completely willing to constantly shift tone, gameplay, setting, atmosphere... all while still, heroically, crafting a highly unified universe. So while the linearity of Half Life 2 is undebatable, the moment to moment gameplay can be described as anything but.

 

[Myriadis]

Funny, I just finished it a few days ago. While I really liked the game, I wasn't a fan of the driving segemtns. They went on for much too long while not giving you enough diversity to make up for it. Stuff like the first visit to the City, Ravenholm and the return to that city were pretty great though. The final level was pretty bad, having just the improved weapon and just waves of enemies to fight was kinda boring. Plus the final boss was really disappointing, and the ending, while actually well done, was too short and abrupt.
Otherwise, the characters are likable, the gunplay some some encounters are pretty good and it has wonderful character models.

I'm currently playing Episode 1 now and I'm enoying it. I think it has better pacing and the scripted scenes seem to be better done. Also, I don't know how Half-Life 2 managed to cost about 40 million $ while taking 5 years to make, accoring to Wikipedia. Guess that most of that went into creating the source engine.

 

[VitalNerve]

half life 2 will be forever one of my most cherished gaming experiences.

I was blown away by the setting and story. Valve is excellent at drawing you in to care about the world and the people who inhabit it.

 

[Strike]

Great Game. It's been a few years, but I'll definitely play through it (and the episodes) again before 3 comes out.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

Greatest fps ever and I doubt it ever gets topped. Fucking ravenholm man....

 

[- J - D -]

It had some amazing setpieces both in regards to visual design and gameplay. Ravenholm, the bridge sequence, the Citadel mission, amongst others. On the other hand though, I ve really grown cold towards much of the gameplay segments in and within proximity of City 17, which includes the highway, the beach, the aqueducts, and the river segments. I also feel the same about the prison.

 

[ChimpBottle]

Alyx was terrible. TERRIBLE. She might have been okay but all she did in these games was try to give the player a boner. Lame.

Seriously? What? I thought Alyx was a prime example of a female character in a game who avoided objectification and that she was very likable as a character.

 

[xJavonta]

Fantastic cant describe it. Favorite FPS of all time.

 

[neptunes]

I finally got around to completing it a few years ago and I thought felt a bit dated even then, made me wish I played it when it came out in 2004. I think playing some of the later FPSes that were probably influenced by it spoiled me.

And people think alyx was objectified? She gave people boners? Really?

 

[Grand Funk Carwash]

I only played it for the first time last year so the 8 years since its release have probably coloured my experience, but I always felt like I was always on the way to somewhere interesting without ever actually getting there. The prison and ravenholm were the only two sequences where I was really 'in the moment'.

I think in a way Far Cry is my Half Life 2.

 

[alazz]

Enjoy it, this game is good. I hadn't played anything like it when I first played it. I replayed it probably four or five times. But now I can't say I'm all that impressed with it. As good as its whole is, its individual parts aren't all that great anymore. I adore HL2DM, though. That game is rad (and clearly not balanced for multiplayer).

My two thoughts:
Echoing Revolver, Shotgun, and Overwatch alt-fire (the others aren't fun). Getting a headshot on a combine and painting the wall red with its brains is really great. The blood decal, ragdoll, and sound effects are very very satisfying with revolver and shotgun (they are also pretty powerful).

It's a shame you're playing this on a console, because SMOD is a lot of fun if you already like HL2, and Counter-Strike Sci-fi is a blast.

It had some amazing setpieces both in regards to visual design and gameplay. Ravenholm, the bridge sequence, the Citadel mission, amongst others. On the other hand though, I ve really grown cold towards much of the gameplay segments in and within proximity of City 17, which includes the highway, the beach, the aqueducts, and the river segments. I also feel the same about the prison.

Overall, I really agree with you. I've become soured toward most of the game. I love Ravenholm, the opening act (most of the stuff pre-air boat), and the Bridge, but most of the game now feels padded and lacking. In particular, I think Nova Prospekt, the Citadel, and City 17 leading up to the Citadel are awful. Citadel and City 17 okay at best during my first play through, but mind numbing and frustrating on my successive plays. Nova Prospekt is cool and moody, and the part preceding it was neat, but I really dislike the flow of the level. The firefights, especially the choppers, aren't fun.

 

[I H8 Memes]

Much like System Shock 2, Half Life 2 was way ahead of it's time. Valves polish, characters, animations, physics, production quality, just all so far ahead of every other game in 2004 that it made the rest of the industry look silly. Like they didn't even think they should care about these things.

It's just about time for my annual playthrough so maybe we can put together a thread again.

 

[Horse Detective]

I love HL2, but on my replays I barely make it through the canals and water sequence. After that, the story actually starts to go somewhere.

 

[SonicVolcano]

An epic game, but to me: HL1 > HL2

 

[FrenchToastDisciple]

Heh, it's funny that people didn't like the long vehicle segments. They were my favorite part. Made the world seem real.

 

[Midnight Phoenix]

It's easy and boring for me. I can't say it is terrible or something in that way, but world feels empty. I can't get all this hype around HL series. I think that that type of game where you love it or you hate it from first minute.

 

[Tizoc]

As someone who doesn't like FPS games...will I like this series? I've only ever heard praise for it but never played it. If I do plan on playing it should I skip 1 and just get 2?

 

[StuBurns]

As someone who doesn't like FPS games...will I like this series? I've only ever heard praise for it but never played it. If I do plan on playing it should I skip 1 and just get 2?

You're more likely to than other shooters, it's far more of an adventure/journey type thing than it is a dedicated shooter.

And yeah, I'd say just play HL2 and the episodes.

 

[Horse Detective]

As someone who doesn't like FPS games...will I like this series? I've only ever heard praise for it but never played it. If I do plan on playing it should I skip 1 and just get 2?

Don't skip one. In fact, maybe even consider playing its updated version, Black Mesa Source. The story should be a lot more enjoyable when played in order. The introductory train scene in HL2 doesn't make sense otherwise, and when story is a big thing for Half Life, that is sort of a problem if you skip around.

 

[Zeppelin]

Most overrated game of all time. It completely lacks challenge and the endless vehicle sections fail to invoke that feeling of discovery that I got from delving deeper and deeper into Black Mesa in HL1. One of few games I couldn't bother to finish. I just stopped playing at the beginning of the last chapter.

 

[StuKen]

The initial escape through the building reminded me of Uncharted 3's escape scene up the stairwell and across the rooftops. Which made me think... Why such negativity towards Uncharted's linearity? HL2, so far, has been very linear but very enjoyable. Maybe I need to learn to keep track of those who scoff at one thing but praise another. Could just be 2 different camps.

Its very simple. Player Agency. Uncharted is designed with actual gameplay as a secondary concern, with control by the player to taken away at its discretion in order to unfold its narrative. The rollercoaster ride they designed has no margin for player interaction outside of prescribed shooting arenas, signposted trivial climbing sections(which in the vita version can actually play themselves) and the ubiquitous qte. Half life on the other hand never takes control from the player. The narrative does not take centre stage but is delivered subtly by a background details in the environment like npc dialogue and incidental details in the level such as posters, text clippings and audio announcements.

Half life gives the illusion of freedom, makes it inviting to explore and gives you the tools through level design to have a different outcomes to encounters with identical initial conditions. Uncharted doesn't even bother, it's narrative comes first and player interaction be damned if they want to show you a flashy crashing train sequence.

 

[Fjordson]

I've never really gotten into Half-Life 2 for some reason. Even though I remember being amazed by the first HL upon release.

Maybe because my first complete playthrough came a good four and a half years after it was released. I like pretty much everything about it creatively (the world, the characters, the look of the game, the enemies) but I don't find it terribly fun. No real affinity for any of the weapons outside of the gravity gun and there are some sections that drag on into extreme tedium. Most of the vehicle segments definitely fall into that category for me.

Episode 2 was pretty good, though, easily my favourite out of the base game and the two episodes.

 

[daninthemix]

I found it a slow adventure that gradually sucks you into its world. The gunplay isn't the best, but the atmosphere and cohesiveness are amazing.

 

[LeBoef]

i dont get it...
that game was so boring that i couldnt even finish it back in the days.

hl1 was amazing in its time. the 2nd part had so many lengths, that i became aggressive while playing... it lacked competition and depth. and that annoying woman...

just the thought of driving with that car or boar around makes me aggressive again.

 

[Soule]

I didn't think it was that great at the time but it left an impression on me and the lack of closure from the episodes has me keenly awaiting the next installment.

Honestly the story was probably the thing that kept me going, I'm not the biggest fan of story-driven FPSs I'd rather play something more like TF2/CS/CoD multiplayer so the fact that I even finished it is testament that I thought it was a great game for the genre, I played it for the first time when I got the orange box too so it was a while after release.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

Its very simple. Player Agency. Uncharted is designed with actual gameplay as a secondary concern, with control by the player to taken away at its discretion in order to unfold its narrative. The rollercoaster ride they designed has no margin for player interaction outside of prescribed shooting arenas, signposted trivial climbing sections(which in the vita version can actually play themselves) and the ubiquitous qte. Half life on the other hand never takes control from the player. The narrative does not take centre stage but is delivered subtly by a background details in the environment like npc dialogue and incidental details in the level such as posters, text clippings and audio announcements.

Half life gives the illusion of freedom, makes it inviting to explore and gives you the tools through level design to have a different outcomes to encounters with identical initial conditions. Uncharted doesn't even bother, it's narrative comes first and player interaction be damned if they want to show you a flashy crashing train sequence.

Well I like my games diverse. From the cinematic, yet linear Uncharted to the crushing, interwoven lands and puzzle piece story of Dark Souls to the story telling and puzzle solving of Telltale games.

The frequent loads or forcing you to watch the story unfold as you're constrained in a room is akin to cutscenes in other games. I've seen this debate over the years and never got the fuss.