Half Life 2 -I don't get it...

I got the Orange Box 3 years ago, but I've never beaten Half Life 2. I started it, but couldn't get into it, I got to the point where you're driving through the sewers getting chased by a chopper.

This weekend I thought, what the hell I'll give it another go. I read the background to Half Life 1 just because I know I'll never get a chance to play it, so I might as well know whats going on for Half Life 2.

All I've heard about this game is "Once you reach the Gravity Gun, it's THE best game you'll ever play"

Ok, so I thought that must have been why I missed out the first time! I never reached the Gravity Gun.

I reached the Gravity Gun, its cool and all, but I'm beginning to lose the drive and motivation to keep playing. I just don't understand whats so amazing about this game. I'm currently fighting off mutant zombies in this village. (I have to say the Gravity Gun + Razor Blade = Badass)

If I keep playing will I start feeling more immersed into the story? Does it get better or have I reached the point of awesome, but completely missed the point? or is this game only awesome because of the Gravity Gun?

(Ps I noticed G-Man is stalking me)

I was in the same boat as you, but once you reach Nova Prospek the game gets much better. The game is almost 7 years old btw, but its a cIassic. Funny thing I've been playing it since last week, game still plays/looks great. :)

I was in the same boat as you, but once you reach Nova Prospek the game gets much better. The game is almost 7 years old btw, but its a cIassic. Funny thing I've been playing it since last week, game still plays/looks great. :)

D3s7rUc71oN

the game is like 7 years old, you're kind of late, it's probably feeling dated but keep in mind this game was pretty good 7 years ago, I got it again when it came out on current gen consoles like 4 years ago and it was still pretty good, by now standards have changed, they changed all the time if you haven't noticedlamprey263

[QUOTE="lamprey263"]the game is like 7 years old, you're kind of late, it's probably feeling dated but keep in mind this game was pretty good 7 years ago, I got it again when it came out on current gen consoles like 4 years ago and it was still pretty good, by now standards have changed, they changed all the time if you haven't noticedBaconbits2004

I gave it a go a few years back. I'm in the same boat as you TC. Had some good elements, but certainly overrated in my opinion.

I gave it a go a few years back. I'm in the same boat as you TC. Had some good elements, but certainly overrated in my opinion.

Twin-Blade

Overrated, or just got the attention it deserved? People always say HL2 wasn't that great yet few people argue that any other game was better.

I never liked it much either. It is often praised far too heavily for what it is... just a mediocre shooter with great story-telling and NPC narrative.

Overrated, or just got the attention it deserved? People always say HL2 wasn't that great yet few people argue that any other game was better.

cyborg100000

Definitely overrated. Hell, I enjoyed Doom 3 more than HL2 (bought them at the same time in 2005). At least its gunplay was hefty and rewarding. All the guns felt like they had weight and weren't just shooting air.

foxhound_fox

The gunplay in Doom 3 was weak and the weapons just didn't feel right, at all. It would have ben one of the best games of all times if:

• It had a gunplay similar to FEAR.
• Did not have such a poor artistic st yle, added by the horrible pitch darkness.
• The enemies were better scripted.

I think mods fixed most issues though..

I'm in the same boat as the OP. i started playing and felt mostly.... MEH. So I used the cheatcodes to give myself everything and did the levels using mostly rocket launchers which increased my interest watching things blow up.

I was stuck at the one part where you're in the citadel and have to go into that chair thingy to advance. For the longest time I didn't know I had to get into it.

the game is like 7 years old, you're kind of late, it's probably feeling dated but keep in mind this game was pretty good 7 years ago, I got it again when it came out on current gen consoles like 4 years ago and it was still pretty good, by now standards have changed, they changed all the time if you haven't noticedlamprey263

standards havnt changed...still waiting on a few fps's to be better than half life and unreal tourney and quake live and battlefield 2...crysis is about the only one i can think of...

I never liked it much either. It is often praised far too heavily for what it is... just a mediocre shooter with great story-telling and NPC narrative.

[QUOTE="cyborg100000"]

Overrated, or just got the attention it deserved? People always say HL2 wasn't that great yet few people argue that any other game was better.

foxhound_fox

its a really really overrated game. i mean its good but people put it on a pedestal because its valve mems_1224

To start with, you're about eight years late. The big things about HL2 were the graphics were of the best available at the time, and the environment and mood of the game and the resistance feel hadn't been done as well before it.

Other than that, it's still a fun shooter and since you don't mention any specifics more than saying it's just not awesome, I don't think we can help you.

It's one of the best and most important games ever made. Fantastic level design, pacing, art-styIe, writing, setpieces, sound design. It offers an uparalleled level of variety. It revolutionized physics. The way Valve weaves storytelling into the gameplay is still unmatched. Half-Life 2 achieved something that no other FPS managed to do - it made the reason to fight just as important as the fight itself.

It's one of the best and most important games ever made. Fantastic level design, pacing, art-styIe, writing, setpieces, sound design. It offers an uparalleled level of variety. It revolutionized physics. The way Valve weaves storytelling into the gameplay is still unmatched. Half-Life 2 achieved something that no other FPS managed to do - it made the reason to fight just as important as the fight itself.

UpInFlames

This 100%. Yes, HL2's gunplay is sub-par and clumsy by today's ultra-polished standards, but the way it transformed the typical shooter blueprint into a true adventure-experience has had a huge influence on games since.Harkat95

Half Life 1 did exactly what you are describing. Before HL1, all shooters (with the exception of a few incredibly niche ones that no one ever heard about) were Doom and Quake clones. Half Life 1 was the 2nd most important landmark in First Person Shooters (funny enough built on the Quake engine), because it evolved the FPS genre beyond Doom's influence, and modernized FPSs in such a way that most copied its st yle to this very day.

It's one of the best and most important games ever made. Fantastic level design, pacing, art-styIe, writing, setpieces, sound design. It offers an uparalleled level of variety. It revolutionized physics. The way Valve weaves storytelling into the gameplay is still unmatched. Half-Life 2 achieved something that no other FPS managed to do - it made the reason to fight just as important as the fight itself.

UpInFlames

I think the argument that HL2 is "so-and-so" years old doesn't up. I think to date, HL2 and it's episodes are clearly still a cut above the most of the FPS's that are released today.

As a shooter, it provides a balanced set of weapons that matches the situation and pacing at hand. Surrounded by Combine at CQC? There's the shotgun. Enemies at medium range? You have the SMG. Things are a bit slow paced and you see some soldiers off at the distance? There's the crossbow. Want to take out a bunch of them in a great displace of fireworks? There's the alt-fire of the Assault Rifle. See a few gunships flying in the air giving you trouble? There's the rocket launcher, which in itself is a fun little cat-and-mouse game that deviates from your tradition click and shoot scenario in most FPS's.

There's also specific story-based weapons that highlight some of the most fun you'll have in the game. Since the TC hasn't reached it, I won't spoil it here. But those who have finished and love the game know the epicness that happens at the beaches of Nova Prospekt and at the Citadel at the end of the story.

What's perhaps the most amazing aspect of HL2 is despite its very lengthy campaign, which is nearly twice as long as the recent COD games, is its pacing. It's easy to throw climactic setpieces one after another in a short 4-hour campaign, it's another string them along an 8-10 hour game and actually have them feel coherent, relevant to the story, and not feel overwhelmed. Even the way the game spreads out the resources show how deliberate the game is designed. Not every battle offers a bunch of health packs and ammo. But they appear right when you know you're at the brink of running low on health or ammo. It's design decision like these that are often overlooked, but when you realize it, you begin to appreciate the game so much more.

The game isn't perfect (but really, no game is) and it does have some issues. But i think the positives overwhelmingly outweigh the negatives. I suggest the TC to play through the game, and try to keep in mind what sort of design decisions were made. And try to look at the game as a comprehensive package, rather than a series of gunfights right after another. And if you still feel the game is still "eh", at least you gave it a fair shake.

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

It's one of the best and most important games ever made. Fantastic level design, pacing, art-styIe, writing, setpieces, sound design. It offers an uparalleled level of variety. It revolutionized physics. The way Valve weaves storytelling into the gameplay is still unmatched. Half-Life 2 achieved something that no other FPS managed to do - it made the reason to fight just as important as the fight itself.

muthsera666

When you click Start New Game.

I enjoyed Doom 3 as well, but thought the guns were one of the weakest aspects. Especially the shotgun. Thankfully, RoE brought us the super shotgun and fixed that issue.RandoIph

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

It's one of the best and most important games ever made. Fantastic level design, pacing, art-styIe, writing, setpieces, sound design. It offers an uparalleled level of variety. It revolutionized physics. The way Valve weaves storytelling into the gameplay is still unmatched. Half-Life 2 achieved something that no other FPS managed to do - it made the reason to fight just as important as the fight itself.

UpInFlames

When you click Start New Game.

its not that great, pc people just think its the best cus its on pc

its not that great, pc people just think its the best cus its on pc

RanDoMcApZ

so is halo, cod, gears, battlefield, bulletstorm, crysis, etc...failing to see your point...especially since the orange box is on ps3 and 360...

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

[QUOTE="muthsera666"] I'm pretty sure that we've had this discussion before, but when does the storytelling kick in?muthsera666

When you click Start New Game.

The Half Life series, as a whole, is important because each game have pushed the FPS genre in new directions. The first Half Life was one of the first FPS titles in which you didn't play as some tough, highly trained space marine, but rather you were a scientist whipped into this survival situation. There was a story on focus, and even though it wasn't all in your face about it, if you looked enough you learned a lot (if that makes sense). It really immersed the gamer into this story and environment instead of it being 1 Marine vs 2000 evil demons/aliens. HL1 also did a great job with pacing. One minute you were fighting aliens that shot lightning at you, and the next you were fighting soldiers using tactics and flanking you, etc. Half Life 1 continued to be inspirational after that. Doom 3 has way more in common with Half Life 1 than it does with the original Dooms, that's how influential it was.

Half Life 2 was praised in the same manner because it was proper evolution to the franchise. It kept the same elements that made the first so great but expanded. It might not seem like anything new now, but the sheer level of interaction at the time was amazing. You could pick up pretty much anything, and what you couldn't pick up you later could with the Gravity Gun. It was awesome to play a shooter where you didn't have to rely on bullets, but kill someone by launching a toilet at the them. Or pick up a barrell and use it as movable cover. NPCs were also amazing and lifelike. Hell, Alyx is still impressive. It might not seem like too much now because a lot of games made interactivity and the like normal, but it was pretty amazing originally.

Plus, the episodes kept pushing the franchise forward. Alyx is with you every step of the way in Episode 1 and she never gets in the way or stands in enemy gunfire obnoxiously (A feat developers still can't seem to get right these days) and Episode 2 gave open environments to drive around and fight in.

Like every valve game ever made it's horribly overrated and horribly mediocre.

I got the Orange Box 3 years ago, but I've never beaten Half Life 2. I started it, but couldn't get into it, I got to the point where you're driving through the sewers getting chased by a chopper.

This weekend I thought, what the hell I'll give it another go. I read the background to Half Life 1 just because I know I'll never get a chance to play it, so I might as well know whats going on for Half Life 2.

All I've heard about this game is "Once you reach the Gravity Gun, it's THE best game you'll ever play"

Ok, so I thought that must have been why I missed out the first time! I never reached the Gravity Gun.

I reached the Gravity Gun, its cool and all, but I'm beginning to lose the drive and motivation to keep playing. I just don't understand whats so amazing about this game. I'm currently fighting off mutant zombies in this village. (I have to say the Gravity Gun + Razor Blade = Badass)

If I keep playing will I start feeling more immersed into the story? Does it get better or have I reached the point of awesome, but completely missed the point? or is this game only awesome because of the Gravity Gun?

(Ps I noticed G-Man is stalking me)

Mr_Pieman

Half-Life 2 was incredibly awesome, when it came out, 7 years ago.
still good, but I can see how somebody going in fresh would have problems with it.

Half-Life 2 was incredibly awesome, when it came out, 7 years ago.
still good, but I can see how somebody going in fresh would have problems with it.

BlackDevil99

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

[QUOTE="muthsera666"] I'm pretty sure that we've had this discussion before, but when does the storytelling kick in?muthsera666

When you click Start New Game.

Be as it may be. Everygame now is called overrated, this is something that will never stop. People who don't like a certain game, but others do label it as "overated". So just because you don't get what millions of other people do, it's an overated game? No you just didn't like it.

I think your missing a point. Not every game has to tell a story in a traditional manner. Most games use the generic route of "cutscenes". Half life 2 didn't. Instead it brings you into a world, where your not constantly interrupted, instead it forces you to live inside of it.PalmPixi

Half Life 2 is a great game

The story is told entirely in-game. Everything in the game just feels more important than in other games. I might press a button in Halo to start some important event, but it just doesn't have the same connection and importance to the player as a similar event in HL2. Take the launching of the rocket at the end of Episode 2. When i launched the rocket I knew the implications of launching the rocket and it felt like an important thing. In other games a similar situation would have just been me pushign a button and moving on to the next objective. In HL2 they would take time to make sure you saw and understood what was happening.

Good game but seriously overrated IMO.

Yeah, Half Life 2 is one of the most overrated games of all time. I don't understand how anyone can call it the greatest game of all time. I'd give it about a C. It's just not that much fun, it's no more fun than any other generic FPS.

My friends think of me as a heretic when I tell them that Half Life 2 isn't the best game ever.

I was in the same boat as you, but once you reach Nova Prospek the game gets much better. The game is almost 7 years old btw, but its a cIassic. Funny thing I've been playing it since last week, game still plays/looks great. :)

I got to the point where you're driving through the sewers getting chased by a chopper.

Mr_Pieman

This happens to be one of my favorite parts of the game.

I was in the same boat as you, but once you reach Nova Prospek the game gets much better. The game is almost 7 years old btw, but its a cIassic. Funny thing I've been playing it since last week, game still plays/looks great. :)