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[mhayze]

Number of HL3 threads may see this one not last long but I have to ask: are people so worked up for HL3 because they love the past games or is it because they've been teased so much?

I never see Lttp threads for it, it never gets mentioned in "which game had the best ____?" threads, there aren't any publishers trying to cash in with HL clones. It was a polished FPS with some mild innovations and, at the time of release, nice characterisation. What exactly are you expecting a "next-gen" version to have in it that will be so amazing?

How many times do people actually reinstall HL2 or the Episodes (let's not pretend a new HL game will have much in common with the original Black Mesa-orientated ones)? I have to wonder if it's because people genuinely enjoy it or because we've been teased with it so many times over the years we're obsessed with getting some concrete.

I was one of those people that bought a new video card and 22" flat screen monitor for HL2. At the time of the first leak, it was literally like something beamed down from the future. I had never seen or played anything quite like it. When I finished the game a few days after launch, despite all the insane hype, it was better than anything I was expecting, which has never happened before or since. I have probably replayed the game a few times since (each time an 'episode' launched, plus a few times at higher difficulties intially). So many moments stood out, the vertigo on the bridge, the first fight with the strider, the ending, etc. After playing the game, the HL2 'source' engine was a continuous source of mods and add-ons, eventually games - Portal, L4D, TF2, CS:S and CS:GO, Gary's Mod, etc., after id and the Unreal team pretty much ceased delivering anything good in this field.

Those who came to the HL series on console, or were LTTP will never understand - you experienced what others learned from both HL games in the million other games that took from it (and rightly so), to the point that if you played HL later, you probably couldn't recognize what it had brought to the table, and in watered-down, ported formats. It would be like playing Pac Man or Space Invaders for the first time today, and thinking 'What's the big deal? This is good, but not great'

Honestly, I doubt HL3 can replicate that. MAYBE, if they deliver some crazy combination of new control method that's better than both dual analog AND mouse + kb, and some new level of gameplay and graphical innovation and native Oculus HD support, and a great conclusion to the story of the HL trilogy AND they include portal 3 another L4D with some kind of tie in showing it's all been one big universe... Like I said, it's probably impossible to live up to the hype, but if there's one company that I believe can do it, it's Valve.

Spoiler

gaben, please cure disease and famine, while you're at it

 

[Romars202129]

The quick answer is nostalgia.
I've played through every version of it, and it just doesn't really hold up. It's a decent game, but mostly forgetable [except Dr. Breen is legit]. Especially considering the bloated shooter world we now live in.
To be fair, that probably describes most old games, but the difference is most of them we still care about, have done something within this generation.

My problem, how the hell do you think L4D3, Portal 3, TF3, and go 'f' that, I need a sequel in a forgotten scifi shooter series, cause lord knows, this industry needs more of those!

 

[epmode]

My problem, how the hell do you think L4D3, Portal 3, TF3, and go 'f' that, I need a sequel in a forgotten scifi shooter series

It's strange how a rumor of a sequel to a forgotten scifi shooter series can bring down GAF for half a day.

 

[TrutaS]

Half-life and episodes are the best FPS ever made in my opinion. Then Portal and Portal 2 came and almost trumped them. Really there is no game on earth that deserves this amount of hype as much as Half-life 3. It is one of the big reasons why I read game news everyday.

 

[Romars202129]

It's strange how a rumor of a sequel to a forgotten scifi shooter series can bring down GAF for half a day.

Forgotten by Valve, lol.

 

[epmode]

We'll see.

 

[dmr87]

HL3 will be the biggest Disapointment ever.... The hype for it will never live up

The only expectation I have is that it plays like Half-Life 2 and looks a lot better. I've been waiting for 6 years.

Also, great post by EC.

 

[thesolidshark]

So for a lot of people, it's kind of the Shenmue 3 of FPS's (in terms of waiting). I figured that.

 

[TheRedSnifit]

Because people like Half Life 1 & 2? Why do people want any sequel?

 

[revolverjgw]

HL is a game that really gets the linear/scripted thing right. It's a hell of a ride you don't get from most comparable FPSes, with great atmosphere to boot. Who wouldn't want some more of that quality?

 

[Valnen]

The only expectation I have is that it plays like Half-Life 2.

Eh. I at least want to be able to ADS. And I'll probably get that wish too.

 

[OmegaDL50]

In a sense it's like the Shenmue of FPS's

A build up to this cliff hanger with no resolution or what happen next in sight.

EDIT - I glossed over thesolidshark's post above before I even made my response, goes to show I'm not the only one with the same line of thought.

 

[Goldenhen]

Because the cliffhanger of HL: EP 2 and great epic storyline. And I'm still waiting for the sequel to release so I can continue the story left at last game.

 

[Night_Trekker]

The quick answer is nostalgia.

It's also the wrong one!

 

[AJ_Wings]

Dat Eatchildren post...

It's basically one of my favorite series in gaming, why wouldn't I want a sequel that builds on the already excellent formula?

And if Valve decided they never want to release a sequel then I can safely say that it ended on one hell of high note, cliffhanger shenanigans and all which is something you can't say about a lot of game series.

 

[Nafai1123]

Valve is popular because of Half-Life, but Half-Life is popular because of Counter Strike

And CS was popular because of the Half-Life engine. It's all a cycle of perfection revolving around the gravitational pull of Gaben.

I am excited for Half-Life 3 not only for the game, but for the inevitable Source 2. It's fucking crazy that games are still coming out running on Source (albeit modified/upgraded).

A new Half-Life has historically meant a new Valve engine, which I am just as excited for.

 

[szaromir]

Why do people want Half Life 3 so much?

People like generic cinematic corridor shooters.

 

[Atomski]

A kind of "blue balls" fueled by nostalgia.

Why is nostalgia being thrown around? its not that old and it is still great to this day...

Im not the biggest nutjob when it comes to the Halflife series, I am glad that Valve hasnt milked it to hard. Personally Im cool with them getting to it when they feel like it. They have put out plenty of good content besides HL. If they jumped up with another new IP I wouldnt even be mad.

But when it is announced I will be pretty excited.

 

[gatti-man]

I want hl3 because shooters have forgotten how to tell a story. Resistance 1 was the closest thing to a half life type of fps I've played all generation.

 

[revolverjgw]

I want hl3 because shooters have forgotten how to tell a story. Resistance 1 was the closest thing to a half life type of fps I've played all generation.

I find this comparison really weird. If I remember correctly, R1 mostly told its story with narrated cutscenes by a peripheral character and collectable files that flesh out the lore. TOTALLY different. Even gameplay wise I don't link the two, Resistance is mostly defined by its insane, over-the-top weaponry and encounters designed accordingly.

Art-direction wise, it's kind of similar, though R3 got a lot closer to HL2 in this area. Maybe the closest ever, actually

Now something like Singularity, that really reminded me of HL

 

[ChronoX]

Because the Half-Life series as far as I am concerned are the best first person shooters ever and I need closure to the story.

 

[fvng]

Yeah, it was.

Can't really co-sign on that but the game did nail atmosphere

Since when do you name a game of the decade purely on how good of an emotional experience it is?

I think you misread my post, nowhere did I imply this was the only factor. I said in terms of raw emotional experience, SOTC was a better experience to me. Though there are obviously other factors involved.

 

[SparkTR]

For me it's because Half Life along with its engine historically births an entire community of modders and gamers that'll last longer than the game itself, and spawn so many awesome experiences. It's like a explosion of creativity that all links back to Half Life.

It's hard to see from a console-only perspective, but to me Half Life 1 was Counter Strike, Day of Defeat, Natural Selection, They Hunger, Sven Coop and a million other smaller stuff. Half Life 2 was Zombie Panic Source, Source Forts, Garry's Mod, Zombie Master, Synergy, NEOTokyo and hundreds of smaller things. My best MP experiences have been in these games, AAA games don't compare despite their production values.

 

[HolyBaikal]

Goodness if I know, I'm a fans of Valve for their service, rather than their games.
I really don't care that much or want another Half-Life game. But I'm also not really a first person shooter fan.

If I can recall correctly, though. It is one of Valve's first games that people cared about.
I remember when it was released and I was checking my local video game stores for guides and magazines, there was a bunch of articles for a Half Life game. And from the looks of things, it was a piece of science fiction that a lot of people were wanting in video games. Science fiction fans apparently loved the game and it was considered a more noteworthy entry in the science fiction genre during its time.

It so it seemed that's what a video game magazine was trying to tell me. I guess if it's the game that introduced a lot of people to Valve, people would like it. It probably has a lot of classic science fiction nostalgia for people.

Me, sadly, I really don't care.
I see people shouting "Half Life 3!" and I'm like "huuuhhhhhhhhh."

 

[zoukka]

Because HL1 blowed our minds beyond the stars. And HL2 did the same thing again.

We want to be blown away once more.

 

[Kolvenbach]

Most of you would only complain about it if Valve ever actually made it.

 

[Moon_frogger]

Because half life 1, 2 and episodes are 2 of the best shooters ever made. Not only do they hold up to modern standards, they haven't been surpassed by anything or in my opinion even challenged for what they do. Modern shooters are stagnant and boring, please valve, bring the half life 3 as soon as you can.

 

[L00P]

My hype for it kinda dwindled over the years, but by god I won't rest until I see what happens next after episode 2's cruel cliffhanger

And those "HL3 confirmed" posts always puts a smile on my face

 

[PetriP-TNT]

Number of HL3 threads may see this one not last long but I have to ask: are people so worked up for HL3 because they love the past games or is it because they've been teased so much?

I never see Lttp threads for it, it never gets mentioned in "which game had the best ____?" threads, there aren't any publishers trying to cash in with HL clones. It was a polished FPS with some mild innovations and, at the time of release, nice characterisation. What exactly are you expecting a "next-gen" version to have in it that will be so amazing?

How many times do people actually reinstall HL2 or the Episodes (let's not pretend a new HL game will have much in common with the original Black Mesa-orientated ones)? I have to wonder if it's because people genuinely enjoy it or because we've been teased with it so many times over the years we're obsessed with getting some concrete.

Have you seen HL1 or 2? Mild innovations? What??

 

[Chozolore]

Because half life 2 was so good. What have we had like it since?

 

[Metalmurphy]

Go play HL1, or if you can't stand the graphics, the Black Mesa remake, and then HL2 EP2 and you'll know why.


There's just something about HL that no other game has. It's the perfect mix of oldschool shooters with new school ones.

 

[HK-47]

This thread is so stupid it has to be baiting.

But I agree with whoever said Riddick was the best FPS of 2004.

 

[Marvel]

All the games were incredible... and the cliffhanger.

Simple really.

 

[-SD-]

Stupid question from someone who doesn't like or "get" the Half-Life games.

 

[Xrenity]

People like generic cinematic corridor shooters.

Haha what?

Also it's pretty amazing HL2's facial animation is still better than a lot of current games.

 

[Silurus]

Very overrated series IMO.

 

[Sheroking]

Half Life 2: Episode 2 takes a shit on every single player FPS campaign ever made. And it ended on a cliff hanger. 6 years ago.

That's why I want HL3.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

People want what they can't have. Whatever happens, Half-Life 3 will be, to some, "one of the most overrated games of all time" when it comes out. Expectations can't be kept in check.

 

[The Dutch Slayer]

I seriously want to what is next in the story :O
Not for the gameplay, for me its all about the story.

 

[DeSo]

I always get up to the stupid boat part (or hovercraft or whatever the fuck it was) in HL2 and give up, still haven't finished that game.

 

[Batigol]

I played HL on the orange box and thought it was rubbish. Gave up halfway through as it was a bore.

I had more fun with Haze, tbh. At least that was fun

 

[PureGone]

I played HL2 too late and didn't really see what was so good about it, in fact its like 8/10 in my book and the story makes no sense.

The only reason it seems people are excited is because of the Half life 2 confirmed meme, the memes popularity has been working as a ongoing Ad and kids on the Internet who have never even played Half Life 2 are excited for it.

 

[2+2=5]

Half life 2 was one of the most boring, annoying and overrated fps i have ever played :| i tried many times to force myself to finish it but i really didn't like it so i didn't finish it and i didn't even touched the episodes(i have the orange box).

 

[Hypron]

People like generic cinematic corridor shooters.

I see people use the word "generic" all the time on gaf, but I don't think many actually know what it means considering the games they are talking about when they use it.

 

[The Albatross]

Because the Half-Life series is great and always brings some genre-defining element to it. Also, HL series are excellent all-around FPS games with the best narrative, pacing, ambiance, and varied enemy AI of shooters. It's too much work for most yearly-release games to make great, involved stories with strong narrative.

The thing that the HL games are weak in, all of them, is the shooting. It's a FPS that has sub-par shooting, from original Half-Life, all the way up through HL2 and the episodes. All guns in HL games feel like pea shooters, and mediocre shooting games have much better "gun feel" than Half-Life games, like Bioshock Infinite or Bulletstorm.

People like generic cinematic corridor shooters.

Half-Life/HL2/Episodes is basically the opposite of a generic cinematic corridor shooter. Like, you can't find a better example of the opposite of that phrase.

 

[DryvBy]

because Half Life is an awesome series and HL2 is one of the best FPSs out there

It's really not. It's fun but nothing outstanding. When I finished Half-Life (aside from that ending), I felt overwhelmed with happiness. Half-Life 2 I actually wanted to hurry up and end.

 

[Hedge]

Because we can't have it.

This is most likely the reason.

 

[EGM1966]

'Cause it's THAT fucking good. IMHO anyway - and those of many others.

Also because the franchise is frozen on a cliff hanger that remains unresolved. Also because we've been waiting so long. Finally because it remains arguably the franchise that is king of offline SP FPS campaigns.

 

[rosaceadude2112]

EP2 is still the best FPS ever made

Ive seen this exact sentiment so many times and I just don't get it. is this exclusively being said by people who don't play shooters except valve games.

 

[curlyfriski]

Why do people want a sequel to the most well regarded fps series ever which ended on a cliffhanger
I just don't understand