22nd May 2005, 8:39 PM
Released in late 2004, Half-Life 2 is the direct sequel to one of the most well-known, and loved, first-person shooter of all time.
Graphics:
Depending on your computer, games can look very different, so accurately scoring graphics can be a bit tricky at times. However, from what I've been able to see on my computer [a mid-ranger] Half-Life 2 looks really good. Everything has a lot of detail, and all the objects in the game from dune buggies to glowy-eyed Civil Protectors there's a ton of polygons going everywhere. Add onto that some high-res textures and an art style that accurately captures the feel of a world that is crumbling and derelict.
Sound:
For the most part, Half-Life 2 doesn't have ANY music [something which I think is actually a good thing], though there are some parts that have a short burst of music which does sound pretty good. Most of the time you're listening to the ambient sounds of what's around you, sometimes its nothing, and sometimes it might be the ominous sound of gunfire in the distance of the dull sounds of footsteps right around the corner. Having an excessive amount of music would only drown all that out. The guns sound much like you would expect them too, though some sound a bit weak. HL2 has some pretty good voice-acting, which adds a sense of realism to the game.
Story:
Set just a few years after the incident at Black Mesa [as seen in Half-Life 1], nerdy scientist Gordon Freeman is brought back to Earth, but quite a few things have changed. For one thing, the former administrator of Black Mesa is now the leader of the world, though it seems the oppressive Combine are more in charge than him. Also, everything is in a quite a state of disrepair and the few remaining pockets of humanity are crammed into the cities and constantly monitered and occasionaly imprisioned. It's up to you, Anti-Citizen One, and you're trusty crowbar of alien-bashing justice to aid the resistance movement and make sure the Combine go back to their own world. The ever-creepy G-Man is never very far away.
Controls:
It's an FPS on the PC, you probably know how it controls just from that information, but since there are several vehicles in the game I talk about them. Both the dune buggie and the hovercraft are controlled by applying forward acceleration with the W button and steered with the A and D buttons. They take a bit to get used too, and are still somewhat hard to maneuver, but it just means you have to pay attention to what you're doing.
Gameplay:
There's rarely a dull moment in Half-Life 2 and even during the games few "cut-scenes" you still have full control of your character. An old scientists saying something boring? Well, run around the room and look at stuff while he's talking, no more sitting back and letting the scene play out. There are very few times when something isn't happening, so be ready to head again into the gunfire and head crab-infested streets, sewers, caves, and spooky villages of the future. There are about 12 different levels and each one feels unique, there's very little repitition at all in this game. There are even some levels that are very creapy, like Ravenholme [which is full of crab-head guys and other nasties] and the old cave. The developers obviously put a lot of effort into designing this game and there efforts paid off in a big way here, unlike other FPSs I could name.
Conclusion:
Half-Life 2 does just about everything right and very few things wrong and anythings that's wrong is only minor. It excels in every area and is a great gaming experience. About the only person who wouldn't like this game is one that absolutely HATES first-person shooters of all kinds, or just hates good games in general.
9.5/10
Graphics:
Depending on your computer, games can look very different, so accurately scoring graphics can be a bit tricky at times. However, from what I've been able to see on my computer [a mid-ranger] Half-Life 2 looks really good. Everything has a lot of detail, and all the objects in the game from dune buggies to glowy-eyed Civil Protectors there's a ton of polygons going everywhere. Add onto that some high-res textures and an art style that accurately captures the feel of a world that is crumbling and derelict.
Sound:
For the most part, Half-Life 2 doesn't have ANY music [something which I think is actually a good thing], though there are some parts that have a short burst of music which does sound pretty good. Most of the time you're listening to the ambient sounds of what's around you, sometimes its nothing, and sometimes it might be the ominous sound of gunfire in the distance of the dull sounds of footsteps right around the corner. Having an excessive amount of music would only drown all that out. The guns sound much like you would expect them too, though some sound a bit weak. HL2 has some pretty good voice-acting, which adds a sense of realism to the game.
Story:
Set just a few years after the incident at Black Mesa [as seen in Half-Life 1], nerdy scientist Gordon Freeman is brought back to Earth, but quite a few things have changed. For one thing, the former administrator of Black Mesa is now the leader of the world, though it seems the oppressive Combine are more in charge than him. Also, everything is in a quite a state of disrepair and the few remaining pockets of humanity are crammed into the cities and constantly monitered and occasionaly imprisioned. It's up to you, Anti-Citizen One, and you're trusty crowbar of alien-bashing justice to aid the resistance movement and make sure the Combine go back to their own world. The ever-creepy G-Man is never very far away.
Controls:
It's an FPS on the PC, you probably know how it controls just from that information, but since there are several vehicles in the game I talk about them. Both the dune buggie and the hovercraft are controlled by applying forward acceleration with the W button and steered with the A and D buttons. They take a bit to get used too, and are still somewhat hard to maneuver, but it just means you have to pay attention to what you're doing.
Gameplay:
There's rarely a dull moment in Half-Life 2 and even during the games few "cut-scenes" you still have full control of your character. An old scientists saying something boring? Well, run around the room and look at stuff while he's talking, no more sitting back and letting the scene play out. There are very few times when something isn't happening, so be ready to head again into the gunfire and head crab-infested streets, sewers, caves, and spooky villages of the future. There are about 12 different levels and each one feels unique, there's very little repitition at all in this game. There are even some levels that are very creapy, like Ravenholme [which is full of crab-head guys and other nasties] and the old cave. The developers obviously put a lot of effort into designing this game and there efforts paid off in a big way here, unlike other FPSs I could name.
Conclusion:
Half-Life 2 does just about everything right and very few things wrong and anythings that's wrong is only minor. It excels in every area and is a great gaming experience. About the only person who wouldn't like this game is one that absolutely HATES first-person shooters of all kinds, or just hates good games in general.
9.5/10