Hi,

I am nearing the end of HL2 and unless it has some amazing ending it is an average game. Sure it looks brilliant, plays well but it lacks the real storyline of the original.

Without giving to much away it seems to have fallen into the game makers ploy of making the game difficult by overloading you with enemies at one time (the remote machine gun placement bit for those in the know (still stuck on it - very frustrating)). Boring!!!

Discuss......

haven't got very far into yet as the computer crashes VERY frequently while playing and becoming very annoying, might wait till i get the laptop to really play it

Depends what laptop your getting, as it might prove even more annoying! I'm not getting it for PC as it will force me to spend probably at least 130-150 on a new graphics card

Steve

Loaded it looks lovely, plays nice as well, but where is my gun :confused:

Played for about 15/20 Mins before getting bored, was up to the bit in the first Plaza where you have to try and get on the roof :thumbdwn:

laptop is a 512MB 1.6 pentium m with 64mb ati 9700, should be alright on that. not the best admitidly but should still be alright

I think its the best intelligent FPS to date. It has hard parts and easy parts, and puzzles and all out warfare. I think its a better balance of game than Doom 3 - which is the only game you can compare it to because Unreal is more of a deathmatch style game where its fast frantic and you dont have to think on your toes. This game is the best game of all time on the PC (seconded of ALL time to Gran turismo series). Yes admittedly they do try and hide the story within the physics engine and the fancy facial expressions, but they are all part of the game, and you have to use the physics to your advantage and the facial expressions help the story. I am a picky gamer and will only play a good game right through till the end (and i've only done XIII and nearly HL2).

Story is simple yet workable, and it is only focused in one place.... imagine how many games there could be if they focused on a larger scale. I shaln't spoil it but there is room for a 3rd one.....

Contradiction with meaning coming up.... but HL2 has to be the most real fiction title going in terms of gameplay and plausibility.

Bengie, What are you currently running at the moment?

I just Bought the Ultimate Doom Trilogy collectors edition (Ultimate Doom, Doom II and Final Doom). Graphics are crude compared with the game mentioned in this thread, but ultimately they are much better to play, and therefore better games. Only cost me

I certainly agree the physics aspect of the game is very good. In fact the whole way it plays and its environment is excellent. I do think it is a tad easy (except for the bit I am at now that is) and just feel the story is a bit light. It is a bit like the second Matrix film. Nice eye candy but more of a snack that full meal. Maybe HL 3 will fill in the blanks?

I would say that I just don't feel immersed in it. FPS are my main game but they can be very one dimensional. The best games I have played over the years are HL 1, System Shock 2 and Deus Ex 1. They all had in depth story lines which coupled with excellent game play set them apart from your run of the mill "shoot, reload, throw grenade" games.

What is XIII like? I have looked at it a couple of times but never bought it.#

Regards

I thought it was pretty good - runs a lot smoother on my slightly aged hardware than Doom3 did. I can see myself playing HL2 again, whereas D3 isn't even installed on my PC anymore... (I'd rather play SW-BF to be honest...)

HL2 physics and the gravity gun (esp. once it gets erm, 'upgraded') are excellent and help to immerse you. Airboat was good, the buggy was pretty nasty... although the method for getting it onto the docks was nice

XIII is a fantastic game, and its cheap now too so a good time to get it. Graphics are good and it adds a twist to the gameplay, and coupled with a really head-**** of a story it makes a good game.

Apparently the HL series is going to be like the matrix series and fill in a lot of gaps in the 3rd one. As limited as the storys can be though (matrix2 and HL2) they do leave you with a subtle thought in your mind as to what happened here or there etc.

I can understand the immersion into games that some people feel, but i think that the uncertanty and variation help add to it in this game. One game (and i'm sorry to those who feel strongly (and not dissing anyone who faught in the real version)) i couldnt get immersed in was medal of honour. It was too linear, and maybe if it had the style of play associated with counterstrike (modern warfare) but with the weapons and characteristics of that era then it would have been a spot on game. It was a story without an engine, possibly as half life 2 is an engine without a story..... now theres a thought

HL2 is the best FPS game I've ever played. Admittedly I'm a long time HL(1) gamer and I've waited a long time for HL2. It's exceeded all my expectations, and the general view on the net is that HL2 is an absolute smash, a shoe-in for 'Game of the year'.

Dave.

No doubt its a smash but i read somewhere that the only reason it doesnt get 10/10 is because the story is light and you dont see your own shadow when you look down or shine the flashlight on yourself.... think they gave it 9.7/10, and now-a-days thats as perfect as youre gonna get. I think if HL3 had a bit of a complete and compelling story and you could see your own shadow - but still on the source engine, then it would be a 10/10.

Must say when ive completed it, its gonna be played again

I thought the game was great... physics were incredible especially liked pinning soldiers to bill boards with the crossbow.

Not too sure that the story was light as such, but familiar so it needed something more.

Still its gonna be played again

I've only looked at the game as another family member will not let anyone else play it, but it looks great and I don't think the first time through you can have as much fun with the physics of the game. I'm a gamer that likes to use anything but guns to kill enemies, more fun that way. Like system shock 2, you could reprogram the turrets to shoot enemies, leaving you to escape or save your ammo. I'm looking forward to bio - shock (unofficial system shock 3) looks really good.

Matt

I'm a gamer that likes to use anything but guns to kill enemies

Circular saw blades.... Line of zombies cut in two.. ahhh... good old fashioned computer game violence...

Well I am reliving my former joy of the chain gun cha cha in Doom . You really out to buy these classics (just

... I can see myself playing HL2 again' date=' whereas D3 isn't even installed on my PC anymore... (I'd rather play SW-BF to be honest...)

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Agreed, HL2 wipes the floor with Doom 3 - once you get HL2 you'll never play Doom 3 again. Shame though cos Doom has the better engine graphically (dons flameproof suit...)

I've just played HL2 for the first time last night, and frankly I fail to see how anyone can be disappointed with it. What a fantastic game - the details are there to everything, convincing facial expressions, fast city-scapes, trains, stunning water effects, an overall convincing, edgy atmosphere.

Personally, I think the graphics are every bit the equal of Doom 3. In Doom 3 the characters are very well designed but for me HL2's characters look even better. Comparing it gameplay wise its not even funny, HL2 is so much better than Doom 3. The only game for me on the PC in the last 12 months that compares is Far Cry. On my Athlon XP 2600+ / 1Gb RAM / Geforce 6800 GT system, it runs in high details in 1600x1200 and is very smooth, looks great on a big monitor

Also, I use my headphones and headphone amp to play games, and was pleased to learn that this game has its own headphone algorithims, so I get really convincing sound effects and environment. I'm never left in any doubt as to where something is on this game.

I've only played 1.5 hours of it (but thats longer than most games get), and yet I am looking forward to playing some more - again, most games dont really give me this feeling.

Shame though cos Doom has the better engine graphically (dons flameproof suit...)

Tough one to call, I'd say...

Doom3 has better "hi-tec" graphics, and the lighting/shadows are pretty amazing. But it only ever really does indoors stuff well, and requires a lot of hardware 'grunt' to do what it does...

HL2 isn't quite as cutting-egde, but the way it renders cityscapes and wide open spaces is wicked... Facial expressions and lip-synch give it extra points too... Lastly, it runs on 1024x768 on my PC with no problems, whereas D3 really drags it's heels if I try to do that...

Given all the delays with HL2, I guess their engine was outdated by the time it finally saw the light of day... but overall it matches D3 IMHO; it's just that each does different things better than others...

I agree pbirkett. It is an astonishing game and it grabs you from a playability point of view. I have seen and played doom3 as have my m8s and none of them like it. Personally i think its down to lazy programming. HL2's programmers have thought it through and made a gorgeous game for lower end modern PC's, whereas the doom graphics are way OTT and suck the life out a decent PC. Very lazy for me and personally i like to play a game more than go around admiring the scenery, but this is where hl2 excels in both points. Plays like a dream and looks stunning.

Doom3 tends to render far away objects too much when its not required (because its dark and indoors)..... But then i have an ATI card so HL2 is bound to play well with ATI's funding and all, and doom3 would play pap with nVidias funding and all

If you want good ol violence, play Postal 2..... Just been banned in NZ so get it quick here before they follow suit!!!

Completed hl2 yesterday..... God it leaves you hanging in limbo, however the fluid phyiscs at the end are utterly gorgeous. I enjoyed the limbo though because it will make HL3 so much better

The only thing I thought was "interactive" with D3 was the "scary" moments when monsters jump out from that panel, but when they do it for the umpteenth time, it's a little tedious.

On the otherhand, playing HL2, going through Ravensbourne or whatever that derelict town is gave me shivers. I find the atmosphere in open places even scarier than the confined geometry of D3. With D3, you just watch that door and shoot away. With HL2, you've gotta keep your eyes on the 3 alleys, the broken window on your right and the dodgy gutter pipe on the left where those evil wolf-like thingies have a pop at you. Now that's seriously good. Ooooh, and I've never felt so much enjoyment popping a few cartridges with the shotgun.

Gameplay, 10/10. And the contrast between levels is great. From the nice late afternoon scenery on the airboat to the scary night scene of that ghost town...

As much as I love it here in Beirut, it's quite sad to think one of the main reasons I'm looking forward to getting home to carry on playing HL2

I've fluffed HL2 up...well I'm out of ammo in the grk area...the little head sucker critters...I know I should use the grav thing but I ran out of saw blades, then .357, then machine gun, then pistol...the gav gun is handy, going to restart that area I think, spent far to long stacking things from all over the map before I saw the gas tap or the electric handle...doh!

I know the bit Colin, they just keep spawning and you use your ammo loads, without realising it.

I agree with Xavier on the atmosphere front, especially when you are running the train tracks with the sniper and also in the city trying to dodge them. Its really hard yet amazingly atmospheric

trying to dodge them. Its really hard yet amazingly atmospheric

oops...I just went all Clint Eastwood andran back to nab as many as would appear....on the air boat I really wanted to stop and have a go...wish I had now, might of got a few more clips

Tried the CS:Source aswell...firstly how rusty am I? But the old technique of knowing I'm not the best on the team meant I was a dam good decoy...got one chap classically bunkered in, so I'm jumping up and down..he comes out to pop me; does very well with a head shot, but in turn gets nabbed by the team

We had a good laugh in death view while the rest slugged it out...gave up when I threw a flashbang at closed door, it went off came round admist a mass of bodies and a opendoor with a terrorist....hey cool I'm dead, so's the team, sorry lads.