Half Life 2 - just why is this game so great?
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Half Life 2 was the first FPS I ever played, and I loved it.
Yeah, the story is a bit weak , but the characters themselves are very fully imagined and the voice acting is terrific.
I'm surprised that you don't like the guns. I thought they were well designed and were great fun to shoot.
I will agree that the handling in the vehicle sections is iffy at best and terrible at worst, though Valve tightened things up a bit in Episode 2.
Why is it linear? To preserve the excellent pacing that is typical of Valve games. If the game had been more open, finding out where to go next would have broken up the game flow.
And the levels may be linear, but the environments and enemies are varied and interesting, and the game creates a fantastic, believable atmosphere, especially in the early parts of the game.
Yeah, the story is a bit weak , but the characters themselves are very fully imagined and the voice acting is terrific.
I'm surprised that you don't like the guns. I thought they were well designed and were great fun to shoot.
I will agree that the handling in the vehicle sections is iffy at best and terrible at worst, though Valve tightened things up a bit in Episode 2.
Why is it linear? To preserve the excellent pacing that is typical of Valve games. If the game had been more open, finding out where to go next would have broken up the game flow.
And the levels may be linear, but the environments and enemies are varied and interesting, and the game creates a fantastic, believable atmosphere, especially in the early parts of the game.
It was one of the very first games to successfully flaunt a working physics engine, and since it's run on Source, you can use Garry's mod to do amazing things. That's at least one reason why I like it.
Gordan is supposed to be interesting because he is YOU! The whole entire point of a silent protagonist is so that YOU can fill in the dialogue with whatever you would like...Sure, maybe it's just the dev's being lazy...but it also makes me damn excited that I don't have to listen to some annoying ass protag whining about his mommy...
With the AI staying in place for 2 seconds was a one time thing only yes? I know it was because I haven't had that happen and you only mention it once in a small little line. Besides was he looking the other direction? Take Metal Gear for instance, sneaking game. Your behind an enemy with a shotgun, you are completely quiet and sneaking up on him. He turns around and BOOM HEADSHOT. Perfect aim right between the eyes. They are not super soldiers and the guns are, as everyone else is saying, are standard. They are not like year 5467 you know and the alien weapons probably aren't meant for human use. The vehicle section has bad handling because they are rebuilt cars from probaly rusty cars that don't work. Think the rebellion as guerrillas that don't have top notch resources.
Ok just killing aliens to being a pawn for the rebellion? well first off the aliens attacked you first. Look aliens destroying the earth mommy! So? Who cares it's only our lives we have to worry about.GenHellspawn said:
Your buddy from the lab is working with the rebellion. What if you woke up not sure what to do, when you see your best bud doing something to stop some strange thing from happening?
The Combine weren't mentioned because the Combine didn't rely come until after Freeman was put into his sleep or what ever, THE DEAL HE MADE WITH G-MAN
The prisoner restraining one i don't rely get so I won't try to explain that one
There's two main points that make me want to punch people here:
1. Why is linear in a game so bad? People are so god-damn spoiled for these open-world games that they forget that there is nothing wrong with going from level to level. Hell, Half Life games do it pretty damn nicely, but all you can do is whine because it's not an open world the size of the real USA, and doesn't have a million plots you can do at your leisure.
2. Why does reading The Lord of the Rings or debating plot points in The Matrix somehow make your rant more legitimate than any of the other 'Popular Game _____ Sucks For The Following Reasons' rants you see here? Reading LotR makes you capable of reading a book, not any more highbrow because of it.
Finally, my challenge to you: If you dislike the game so much that has brought enjoyment to so many other people, then either a) don't play it and don't make lame troll posts about how you dislike it, or b) make a game. Make a full sized game - hell, even Half Life 2 in your own vision if you lack the creative bone - make a game to what you think makes a good game and show it to us. Let us play it, and then we can find you wanting.
1. Why is linear in a game so bad? People are so god-damn spoiled for these open-world games that they forget that there is nothing wrong with going from level to level. Hell, Half Life games do it pretty damn nicely, but all you can do is whine because it's not an open world the size of the real USA, and doesn't have a million plots you can do at your leisure.
2. Why does reading The Lord of the Rings or debating plot points in The Matrix somehow make your rant more legitimate than any of the other 'Popular Game _____ Sucks For The Following Reasons' rants you see here? Reading LotR makes you capable of reading a book, not any more highbrow because of it.
Finally, my challenge to you: If you dislike the game so much that has brought enjoyment to so many other people, then either a) don't play it and don't make lame troll posts about how you dislike it, or b) make a game. Make a full sized game - hell, even Half Life 2 in your own vision if you lack the creative bone - make a game to what you think makes a good game and show it to us. Let us play it, and then we can find you wanting.
Dude i totally agree with you and you are right the game is boring and overated every point you madesma_warrior said:
was correct. even the good things about the game is correct
(To all HALF LIFERS,,, it is overated and does not count as a shooter only a tech demo in)
P.S. about time someone said it right
It's always fun to fill in dialogue. Look at Freeman's Mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J80KD4BG7Msamsprinkle said:
Doesn't count as a shooter? I don't know what else to say... that's stupid. I wanted to be nice about it, but I just couldn't.UNKNOWNINCOGNITO said:
FIRSTLY: Do you know how the gravity gun works? No. So you cant complain about what situations you can use it in. Somehow, the science of the gravity gun doesnt get along with windows. The storey, what game has a better one? Sure it may have a few loose ends and its not perfect, but by video game standards, its phenominal. The guns? More creative than most games, the guns arent halo awesome, but the guns are awesome. I will say the SMG just plain sucks, the sound is annoying and its kinda ugly. The vehicle sections are SWEET! I wish you did say something about them because I want to know what you wouldve complained about. Also, whats bad about it being linear? Id go nuts if every game was non-linear. And I hate Gordon Freeman. He doesnt talk. Id like emotional value to my charecters, you know, some appeal.
Just something that came up in my head and I must say is one time at a hockey game I saw a banner that said "Be a fan, not a fanatic." Fan is short for fanatic.
Just something that came up in my head and I must say is one time at a hockey game I saw a banner that said "Be a fan, not a fanatic." Fan is short for fanatic.
Well... I disagree. I mean, that's a matter of personal taste. I like Half Life 1, and the origional Empire Earth,but that's not really relevant to a wider audience.
Linearity, in a FPS? Those bastards!
Yes Aliens, the Matrix 2, etc, are watchable without seeing the first, but even with those, the 2 in front sort of means you should watch the original. There isn't any problem with the story and characters. Well characters maybe, but I don't know anybody who gives you their life story everytime you see them. It's been made very well in mind for people who haven't played the first and the expansions. You're supposed to be a little clueless, you have to put the things together .
Yes Aliens, the Matrix 2, etc, are watchable without seeing the first, but even with those, the 2 in front sort of means you should watch the original. There isn't any problem with the story and characters. Well characters maybe, but I don't know anybody who gives you their life story everytime you see them. It's been made very well in mind for people who haven't played the first and the expansions. You're supposed to be a little clueless, you have to put the things together .
Because these days an open world is pretty much mandatory and you get downrated immensely for not having one, see the op for an example of that. Back in 2004, emphasis was placed on coherent storytelling and asking for an open world would only result in you getting redirected to the GTA series and rpgs.Fraught said:
Then I hope to God your ideal game comes out in which there is no story, no subtlety, no humor, and no character development, and all there is simply a massive world and a million ways to kill people. Christ, man, maybe you should read a book or something.Death Magnetic said:
In response to the thread creator: Some of your arguments are valid points, but they're arguments you could make about any FPS. True, it's linear. So is the Halo series. So is the Doom series. I haven't had much experience playing Call of Duty, but I'd bet it's the same way. The AI isn't the greatest, but we still haven't developed AI that will always respond like a highly trained human soldier. Also, notice that you're fighting creatures like zombies and giant insects, neither of which would be expected to have extra-sharp senses and lightning-fast reflexes.
Admittedly several of the weapons are standard FPS weapons, but it's not exactly unusual to have the basic 9mm/SMG/Shotgun/Grenade combo in any shooter. And have you forgotten the pulse rifle can launch an orb of energy that buzzes around the room like an angry insect, ricocheting off walls and vaporizing everything it touches? Or how about the crossbow that fires superheated rebars that nail enemies to the wall. I'd hardly call those boring weapons.
You said the story didn't make any sense? Guess what--that's the point. I don't know if you realized this as the game's intro suggested, but Gordon's been in suspended animation for TWENTY YEARS. The G-man drops him onto a train all of a sudden, and he doesn't have the slightest clue where the hell he is and what's going on. The Combine are supposed to be a mystery, but the details of their invasion of Earth are explained if you pay close attention. And no, the characters are not particularly well-developed, but because the game's strict immersiveness doesn't allow for any time skipping, the entire game takes place over a period of about three days, which doesn't allow much time for the characters to have any great emotional revelations or any such thing. However, during this time, the characters manage to act surprisingly human, displaying emotion and reacting like people would. The fact that Freeman is silent, despite the awkwardness of being talked to and not responding, really allows you to pay attention to the other characters and establish a connection with them, right down to the end of Episode 2, which many, including myself, have been rather moved by.
Whoops, this ended up being longer than I intended. Basically, what I mean to say is that I respect your opinion, but you're not appreciating the game for what it is, but rather what you want it to be.
Alas my favourite moment in gaming is when I'm on COD4 online which is exactly how you described so kudos to your perception of me. I like to think I'm logical and humourous myself though. But in all honesty the orange box isn't my cup of a tea when it comes to humour, Jimmy Carr and Frankie Boyle are.Yokai said:
-Ricky