Does the Half-Life Series hold up now?

The entire collection of Half-Life games is on sale right now for steam and i was thinking of picking them up for such a low price but seeing how they are atlest 7 years old, are they too far gone? When i saw that I mean the graphics and gameplay. The FPS genre has changed so much over the years so would it still have the same impact to me as it did for people who first played it when it came out or will it be just a game with a great story?

Whether or not it would have the same impact as if you played it back then is up in the air. Maybe, maybe not. However, Half-Life is still one of the definitive FPSs of all time. I replayed it last year and while there's no doubt it's aged a bit (both in graphics and gameplay), it's still great. Half-Life 2 has a more modern feel to it and can carry its weight against any recent FPS without a problem. Hell, it's still far better than the vast majority of FPSs released these days. Incredibly varied in gameplay and level design, compelling characters and storytelling, superb facial animations and physics.

Half-Life 2 is the greatest first person shooters to date, if you ask me. Half-Life 1 is also pretty incredible and still holds up quite well.

Since both HL and HL2 are virtually required games to experience the classics, I'd say they hold up quite well. Timeless in fact.

Half-Life can feel a bit dated now, but it's still relevant. The game is a certifiable classic. Half-Life 2, meanwhile, is hands down in the top 3 first person shooters of all time. I would say it's in the top 5 best games of all time. For the love of everything that is holy, spend the $10 to experience one of the best video game series of all time. One of the things I love about HL2 is the fact that it came out six years ago but it still looks amazing. It has some of the best character models ever.

The first one holds up a lot better than the second I think. The gunplay in the first is superb and part of the reason it turned the genre upside down and everyone went from making Quake clones to Half-Life clones. Half-Life 2 on the other hand has crappy gunplay and the gravity gun which in my opinion is a gimmick to show off the physics engine and nothing else. Regardless grab all of them if they are on sale.

great games. half-life 2 through episode 2 is definitely close to 40 hours of gameplay, depending on how long you take in certain areas. it wouldnt hurt to buy them, even if you didnt like them. mods bro. mods. mods. total conversion mods galore. mods. did i say mods? moddb has hundreds of hl2 mods. check that site out. anyways, you can see hl2's age, but you can still see what made it so revolutionary.yellosnolvr

Its a good game, always has. Its alot about story. My favorite games are the half life games and most other valve games. Buy it, even if you dont like it there what? Only about a dollar or two each?KLONE360

Never played HL1. HL2 lacks any tactical characteristics of other FPS; the enemies always know where you are so the game is about is running and gunning. There are a few puzzles where you have to find out how to pass to the next area. It is extremely linear and scripted, which is not necessarily bad. I think the big thing is not the gameplay but how you watch events unfold before your eyes, so think of it like watching a movie. Again, it is just a shooter gameplay-wise; things pop up you shoot them. It probably could have worked as a rail shooter. I think the game is overrated, but it is good. I played up to episode 2 and will definitely get episode 3 and Half Life 3 when they come out.bzwax

To me, Half-Life 2 is the best "FPS" (Modern terminology) Single player Video Game. I don't think there is going to be another "FPS" that will render HL2 as an inferior video game for quite some time, especially with the current mind set of modern game designers.

I've seen comments criticizing the gunplay for HL2, but if HL2 was to emphasize on shooting it will fight against the game design. HL2 is an experience. The shooting serves to motivate the player through spaces.

The way HL2 leverages Realistic and Realism is still a benchmark. In terms of realistic, a video game like Crysis is superior, but enervated in realism. Valve was incredibly clever by tossing anything unnecessary that will break the illusion of reality; for example, enemy NPC's doesn't even talk, they mumble language because in my opinion, the split second you have an enemy A.I. repeat a phrase the illusion of reality will disjunction.

HL2 is one the few video games that keeps me from falling asleep. It's also one of the best game designs to battle against monotony and passiveness because to me if a game designer is not aware of the two then that person is a terrible game designer; it makes me question Valve with Left Dead. In HL2, you as a player is interacting in space influencing things, it's marvelous.

The way Valve utilizes Alyx as a device to create emotions for the player, or seeing NPC's give you full contact by body movement, head movement and eye movement, or the removal of dialogue from the protagonist to avoid any incompatibilities for the player to connect in space, or using the crowbar to touch in game space, or the atmosphere of making me as a player feel like a geek and ultimately making me go through all these positive emotions.... I can go on about Half-Life 2, but it is without doubt, one of the best video games of our time...until OoSuperMarioO rules the Galaxy of course, the future will indeed be mine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mHxxY-8pZk

Don't click that.

I cant get into the Half life games myself. I bought the Orange Box 2 years ago and played half an hour of the first one and never bothered since. Just thought it looked dated and boring and didnt feel much for the characters. I suppose if I played the game when it first came out and was cutting edge I would probabley have a different opinion.

To me, Half-Life 2 is the best "FPS" (Modern terminology) Single player Video Game. I don't think there is going to be another "FPS" that will render HL2 as an inferior video game for quite some time, especially with the current mind set of modern game designers.

I've seen comments criticizing the gunplay for HL2, but if HL2 was to emphasize on shooting it will fight against the game design. HL2 is an experience. The shooting serves to motivate the player through spaces.

The way HL2 leverages Realistic and Realism is still a benchmark. In terms of realistic, a video game like Crysis is superior, but enervated in realism. Valve was incredibly clever by tossing anything unnecessary that will break the illusion of reality; for example, enemy NPC's doesn't even talk, they mumble language because in my opinion, the split second you have an enemy A.I. repeat a phrase the illusion of reality will disjunction.

HL2 is one the few video games that keeps me from falling asleep. It's also one of the best game designs to battle against monotony and passiveness because to me if a game designer is not aware of the two then that person is a terrible game designer; it makes me question Valve with Left Dead. In HL2, you as a player is interacting in space influencing things, it's marvelous.

The way Valve utilizes Alyx as a device to create emotions for the player, or seeing NPC's give you full contact by body movement, head movement and eye movement, or the removal of dialogue from the protagonist to avoid any incompatibilities for the player to connect in space, or using the crowbar to touch in game space, or the atmosphere of making me as a player feel like a geek and ultimately making me go through all these positive emotions.... I can go on about Half-Life 2, but it is without doubt, one of the best video games of our time...until OoSuperMarioO rules the Galaxy of course, the future will indeed be mine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mHxxY-8pZk

Don't click that.

OoSuperMarioO

[QUOTE="OoSuperMarioO"]

Elann2008

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AvIqS_62xA&

Marvelous?

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]

[QUOTE="OoSuperMarioO"]

OoSuperMarioO

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AvIqS_62xA&

Marvelous?

I still go back and play Half Life/Opposing Forces/Blue Shift sometimes, but Half Life 2 and etc were and still are pretty meh in my opinion.

I still go back and play Half Life/Opposing Forces/Blue Shift sometimes, but Half Life 2 and etc were and still are pretty meh in my opinion.

DerpyMcDerp

I think they're a bit overrated myself. I bought the orange box last year and I haven't finished a single game. I think HL2 is so well regarded because it was innovative for its time. By todays standards it's just generic and boring.

I still go back and play Half Life/Opposing Forces/Blue Shift sometimes, but Half Life 2 and etc were and still are pretty meh in my opinion.

DerpyMcDerp

i'd say exactly the opposite. i'd still replay HL2 along with those new episodes, but HL1 is already too old... it was revolutionary back in the days but i propably wouldn't enjoy it anymore.

For me personally, the half-life2 games have always been mediocre. Even if they aren't your cup of tea though, you can't go wrong at 7$.

Especially if you get the original half-life games, which were amazing at the time and still pretty amusing even today.

I just downloaded HL2 for $1.50. I was amazed at how good it still looks maxed out. It definitely still belongs with this gen. A little dated, but its still just such a great game.

How many FPS games - with narratives, not online, have tactical characteristics? biggest_loser

Half-Life 2 is still a very modern game and doesn't feel dated at all.

In my opinion, however, I don't think any FPS feels "dated". If you think about it, the core gameplay of the genre really hasn't changed that much over the years: bad guys show up in certain places, you shoot them until they're dead, lather, rinse and repeat. The only elements of the genre that have really evolved over the years are graphics and storytelling (i.e. interactivity). If a game has unforgiving mechanics and sloppy controls, it was probably a mediocre game when it was released too.

Half-Life 1 has amazing gunplay, great weapons, outstanding level design and extremely tight controls (I'm talking about the original here, NOT the shoddy port, Half-Life: Source). It is by all standards an excellent shooter, even today. Whether or not you enjoy it will probably be largely based on how much you enjoy the setting and set pieces, and your tolerance of the graphics, which I would say are rather servicable and don't get in the way of the experience at all.

Personally, I actually think the first game was better. In my book: HL1 > Half-Life 2 > Opposing Force > the rest of the series.

YMMV, but there is absolutely no reason I can think of for anybody not to own these games, especially at today's crazy prices. :)

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"]How many FPS games - with narratives, not online, have tactical characteristics? bzwax

No. The Half-Life, Stalker, and Doom franchises, as well as any other "old-school" franchise are all old and dated. Their time has come and passed. Playing any of these games won't give you half of the excitement and immersive experience that modern games can offer. Their mechanics and graphics just can't keep up. Forget about them.

This guy has made an insightful play-through of Half-Life

http://lparchive.org/Half-Life-2/Update%201/

No. The Half-Life, Stalker, and Doom franchises, as well as any other "old-school" franchise are all old and dated. Their time has come and passed. Playing any of these games won't give you half of the excitement and immersive experience that modern games can offer. Their mechanics and graphics just can't keep up. Forget about them.

BluRayHiDef

The original Half-Life is one of those games.

I bet the same guys that say HL2 and Stalker look like crap think Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines, Thief: Deadly Shadows, and Neverwinter Nights 2, Doom 3, Star Wars: KOTOR, Max Payne 2 all look like crap too. I think some of the older games look so much better than some of the newer games out today. PC ports or not, some of the older titles have held up very well and they have aged gracefully (even without mods).

For example, I was going through the "post what you're playing screenshots" sticky thread and I ran into x-2tha-z 's screenshots and I thought he was running some texture/graphics mod with HL2.. but it was just vanilla. :P And I'll even admit that I am a huge graphics-junkie but I'm very reasonable.

I love the Half-Life Series, and I still come back to play them.

Half life 2 is a very good game, however I hope they revamp the shooting mechanics, they are so dated.

No. The Half-Life, Stalker, and Doom franchises, as well as any other "old-school" franchise are all old and dated. Their time has come and passed. Playing any of these games won't give you half of the excitement and immersive experience that modern games can offer. Their mechanics and graphics just can't keep up. Forget about them.

BluRayHiDef

Also, I'd say the Half-Life games are much more immersive than most shooters. The graphics may not be as good as modern shooters, but the atmosphere is much better. HL2, for example, did an excellent job at capturing an Orwellian atmosphere.