Taken from the GI article;
The Half Life series is acclaimed by many as a pioneer in the shooter genre, having received accolades for its engrossing narrative as well as technological advancements in the industry. And after years of anticipation for a sequel, met with countless delays we have finally learned of the next major instalment.
What was expected to be Episode 3 has effectively become a full production sequel, now titled as Half Life 3, slated for release on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 platforms. "We're done with the episodic format", stated Erik Johnson, Project Manager at Valve. "We decided that to bring back our most recognized title after all these years, we need to do it in a BIG way." And it seems this includes some big changes to the familiar formula that caught us quite unexpectedly.
The most dramatic change to the game will be it's redesign from first person, to a third person shooter. "Half Life having been a presence in the gaming scene for so long, we were looking for a way to add a fresh new approach to our beloved flagship IP, and when this idea of changing perspective was first proposed, suffice to say there was a great deal of debate and discussion in the office", Johnson goes on to say.
"This is going to be the most harrowing battle for the freedom fighters in their struggle against the Combine and we felt that a third person viewpoint can deliver an intensity of the action for the player's experience in far more compelling and interactive ways than what you get from the first person perspective. We aim to deliver the most memorable experience in the Half Life saga, whether played on PC or consoles. It also seemed a natural transition as Gordon Freeman already has an established character design and we're very proud with what the render artists have come up with to bring him to three dimensional life."
Other game advancements to be expected include a cover system that Valve promises to be more engaging and fluid than what has been seen in Gears of War and Vanquish, and an implementation of the Gravity Gun which will be far more interactive and visceral than what was previously possible. The third person viewpoint also allows use of new dynamic animations for the multitude of ways the iconic crowbar can be wielded to "dish out punishment to the Combine".
It goes without saying that Valve maintains its tradition of always innovating. Whether this radical transition in game design and control mechanics will deliver the experience promised, or alienate the long standing faithful fans of this enduring series remains to be seen.
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