What's so great about Half Life 2

It's not that he doesn't talk, it's just that he isn't really a character at all, he's you. Your thoughts, actions, speech, all are represented by just an avatar that is Gordan. He is your portal into the world of Half-Life, he is YOU. I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but I don't see him as a character nor a hero.enterawesome

gameplay is good in some areas...but the driving so booooring -_-

Sorry OP, but Freeman just won the best character of all time. And you think he's the worst? Half-Life 2 was the perfect FPS. It's ridiculous how you play the game 5 years later and complain about it.

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]Everything. Story, characters, gameplay. Also, the way they were able to make a shooter that was "linear" while still keeping environments very "open". It's amongst the top 5 games I've ever played, sitting at #2.Toriko42

You have been in SW long enough to know that it's all opinions. Your opinion is different to his, and many, many, many reviewers and publications that awarded the game GOTY.

It is the best game I have ever played. You clearly don't like it, and no amount of people telling you why they like it is gonna change that. So why make this topic in the first place?

Sorry OP, but Freeman just won the best character of all time. And you think he's the worst? Half-Life 2 was the perfect FPS. It's ridiculous how you play the game 5 years later and complain about it.

KHAndAnime

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion...I believe that HL2 is the best FPS ever. I can honestly say that without a doubt.

So in conclusion it is a great FPS and got a 9.2 here on GameSpot (9.5 average.)

If you don't like it, your loss.

If you'd played it 4 years ago when it released, you'd know it was way ahead of its time in both presentation, story, graphics, and so worth

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]

Sorry OP, but Freeman just won the best character of all time. And you think he's the worst? Half-Life 2 was the perfect FPS. It's ridiculous how you play the game 5 years later and complain about it.

Mystery_Writer

The Steam message was actually only up for a few hours and was taken down before Gordon was even up against Mario. In fact Gordon was already beating Linkt too.

I keep trying to play this game but it bores me beyond tears. There is little that is good in this game and honestly I've put it off for so long because so many other games look better but now that I'm finally playing it what the hell was the hype about.

Goods:

- Looks Nice
- Controls alright except for...
- Neat characters like Alyx
- Decent Envrionments

Bads:

- Controls in driving are weak, driving sequences weak overall
- Gordon Freeman is as stale as yesterdays oatmeal, worst character I've seen in a long time
- Apart from the gravity gun the weapons are uninteresting
- Enemy is stupid on the standard difficulty
- Anti-climactic
- Poor story in every shape or form, I have no care for it at all even though I get what's going on. None of the plot twists have even impacted me one bit
- Derivitive, I know it's an FPS but it feels so repetitive.
- There are some annoying platforming and puzzling like that sequence with the crane, what was the point?


So tell me hermits, what was so great about this. I've played up to the end of the prison and at this moment I give it a 5.0 out of 10

Does it get better or is this game just a dud

EDIT: Yes I played Half Life 1 when it came out 10 years agoToriko42

It's one of those games that I also never thought was that special. It's all a bit too forced and guided imo. Still I don't think it's particularly bad in any way just nothing special for the most part.

Great story and visuals for it's time, game-play was there as well - Loved them all and episode 3 can't be too far off... at least I hope not.

I thought Episode 2 was the best one, its' everything Half Life 2 should have been

Toriko42

I actually agree in some ways. Although I haven't completed it yet.

Firstly I love the atmosphere and the gritty urban realism in the graphics style, I love it.

I too find Gorden a bit of a bland character though.

I actually don't even like the gravity gun and I don't like the enemy insects much either.

I do think it's overrated. But the atmosphere and the graphical style is what I play it for.

I'd love the whole game set in the city with less enemies on you and the enemies that are there sort of hunt you down, with the gameplay pace changing between fast and slow (but then it'd be a different game).

I wish they could make some kind of patch which makes it work slightly better with vista and todays graphics cards, it works well but there is some screen tearing, may just be mine :P.

I actually agree in some ways. Although I haven't completed it yet.

Firstly I love the atmosphere and the gritty urban realism in the graphics style, I love it.

I too find Gorden a bit of a bland character though.

I actually don't even like the gravity gun and I don't like the enemy insects much either.

I do think it's overrated. But the atmosphere and the graphical style is what I play it for.

I'd love the whole game set in the city with less enemies on you and the enemies that are there sort of hunt you down, with the gameplay pace changing between fast and slow (but then it'd be a different game).

I wish they could make some kind of patch which makes it work slightly better with vista and todays graphics cards, it works well but there is some screen tearing, may just be mine :P.

Darth_DuMas

Half-Life 2 is definitely my favorite FPS of all time (probably my favorite game). Beat it 3 times since it came out and I'll probably beat it another.

What makes this such a great game for me first of all is not the story itself, but how it is presented and the transition between chapters. I've played a lot of other FPS and it really feels as if you're teleported between levels (oh hey look I was in England and now I'm in China in a split second. How in bloody hell did I get here). Half-Life 2 definetly has the smoothest transition I've seen in a game.

Also while the story is pretty basic for a sci-fi shooter (oh hey aliens took over the earth), Half-Life 2 without a doubt in my mind presents the best atmosphere in a game I've ever seen. It sucks you in the game. Gordon Freeman not talking also contributes to this to make you feel more as if you were a part of it and I feel they nailed it.

I've cared more about the characters in Half-Life 2 than I have for any other FPS game (obviously RPGs are another story since they basically revolve around the characters and their stories). I cared about Alyx. I cared about Eli, about Kleiner, Barney and G-man. They were interesting unlike most characters I've seen in other FPS.

If you're looking for a fast paced action FPS then your'e right, this might not exactly be for you. But if you want an atmosphere unrivaled in any other FPS, graphics that still hold their own even to this date, a butterly smooth transition of the story and characters that you can actually give a flying f about, then Half-Life 2 is probably for you.

Funny thing is this game is almost 4 years old, and a last gen game, but it still holds up to todays standards in almost every facet. Its the best single player shooter ever, atmosphere, gunplay, physics, level design...All awesome. My third favorite game of all time. At the time, it was the farthest thing from a generic FPS.

Can anyone remember the first demo of HL2 of the GMAN?

Every single man/woman in that room was gobsmacked...

Still old and still rocking. Thats how GODLY this game is.

there is nothing great about HL2, its just a complete borefest

there is nothing great about HL2, its just a complete borefest

sikanderahmed

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]

Sorry OP, but Freeman just won the best character of all time. And you think he's the worst? Half-Life 2 was the perfect FPS. It's ridiculous how you play the game 5 years later and complain about it.

Mystery_Writer

Just something I noticed...but most of the people less than enthused with Half Life 2 mention they played it on their Xbox.

Half Life 2, to TRULY experience it's grandeur, must be played on the PC. It is a PC game. Period.

What don't people get about Gordon Freeman? You ARE Gordon Freeman. He is an empty shell that YOU are supposed to embody. He isn't supposed to have a personality, he is YOU. You are his personlity. He is the everyman.

What is so hard to grasp about that?

Also back in 2004 when the game released it had unrivialed graphics and physics. It was the first shooter to really have a physics based puzzles. It had some excellent battles and some very fun puzzles to solve. It had a few crazy characters and an overall amazing atmosphere.

If you started gaming post 2004 you wouldn't understand its greatness. Every FPS today has been influenced by Half-Life, Halo: Combat Evolved, and Half-Life 2.

[QUOTE="C-Lee"][QUOTE="Toriko42"] I don't feel as if it's very open, the envrioments aren't even that cool. The story is bland like I said and the gameplay is absolutely nothing specialBioShockOwnz

Agreed. Some people just don't "get" Half-Life. I dig more intellectual games.

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

[QUOTE="C-Lee"] Story Bland? i love the story. Alex is one of the best characters in gaming.vashkey

Agreed. Some people just don't "get" Half-Life. I dig more intellectual games.

Half Life 2 is one of the most intelligently designed games around.

Still.

As far as shooters go its strides ahead of the general pack.

Still.

[QUOTE="vashkey"]

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

Agreed. Some people just don't "get" Half-Life. I dig more intellectual games.

Half Life 2 is one of the most intelligently designed games around.

Still.

As far as shooters go its strides ahead of the general pack.

Still.

I just started playing it and it is good so far...

I feel the exact same way, i bought the orange box on the 360 played it as much as i could but it was soooooo verrrryyy boring, seriously guys i dont get the prise for this game at all. Then i bought it for the pc, altho it looks nicer and the controls are way smoother the story the gameplay still soo boring :( and freeman is hands down the worst character everSolid_Tango

The first time I saw that game in 2002 or 2003, shivers went up my spine on how real it looked.

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]Everything. Story, characters, gameplay. Also, the way they were able to make a shooter that was "linear" while still keeping environments very "open". It's amongst the top 5 games I've ever played, sitting at #2.Toriko42

I also didnt get the whole thing... I was thinking this was the best thing since Heavy Metal... But i was just disapointed. Certain parts were cool but those were few and far inbetwen.
I liked the beginning shoving how opresed evreyone was. But i just stoped caring about evreyone once i got out... When i got back in. I could care eaven less..

[QUOTE="Solid_Tango"]I feel the exact same way, i bought the orange box on the 360 played it as much as i could but it was soooooo verrrryyy boring, seriously guys i dont get the prise for this game at all. Then i bought it for the pc, altho it looks nicer and the controls are way smoother the story the gameplay still soo boring :( and freeman is hands down the worst character everWasdie

The first time I saw that game in 2002 or 2003, shivers went up my spine on how real it looked.

Halo 2.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="Solid_Tango"]I feel the exact same way, i bought the orange box on the 360 played it as much as i could but it was soooooo verrrryyy boring, seriously guys i dont get the prise for this game at all. Then i bought it for the pc, altho it looks nicer and the controls are way smoother the story the gameplay still soo boring :( and freeman is hands down the worst character everCicatraz_ESP

The first time I saw that game in 2002 or 2003, shivers went up my spine on how real it looked.

Halo 2.

[QUOTE="Solid_Tango"]I feel the exact same way, i bought the orange box on the 360 played it as much as i could but it was soooooo verrrryyy boring, seriously guys i dont get the prise for this game at all. Then i bought it for the pc, altho it looks nicer and the controls are way smoother the story the gameplay still soo boring :( and freeman is hands down the worst character everWasdie

The first time I saw that game in 2002 or 2003, shivers went up my spine on how real it looked.

I didn't play Final Fantasy VII until 2004 and I still really enjoyed it. A good game is a good game, a few years isn't going to change that. Just accept that there are aspects of Half-Life 2 not everyone's going to like. It's not the perfect game and it's not for everyone. Just because people are a few years late doesn't mean they can't have an opinion. The only changes in standards for games between now and 2004 is graphics. Thats it. Recharging health too, but that was already around during 2004, so....

I enjoyed the downtime that the vehicles brought from just shooting the guns. Although I'm one of those people who doesn't need explosions every minute of the game or movie.DragonfireXZ95

Come on now. I can understand that, but don't file me as a person who didn't like it because he only enjoys cheap thrills. Also, from what I remember, the vehicle sections had a lot of action that could be translated into what you just said.

Both episodes borrow so heavily from half life 2, instead of evolving and expanding on the design, its damn uninspiring at times. skrat_01

And that brings the point I made concerning the gripes I've been having with the progress of the series. Half life 2 definitely had a bigger impact at the time it came out, but I still found the sequels to be better in quality. On the other hand, I feel that valve could have made the episodes into something so much better.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="Solid_Tango"]I feel the exact same way, i bought the orange box on the 360 played it as much as i could but it was soooooo verrrryyy boring, seriously guys i dont get the prise for this game at all. Then i bought it for the pc, altho it looks nicer and the controls are way smoother the story the gameplay still soo boring :( and freeman is hands down the worst character evervashkey

The first time I saw that game in 2002 or 2003, shivers went up my spine on how real it looked.

I didn't play Final Fantasy VII until 2004 and I still really enjoyed it. A good game is a good game, a few years isn't going to change that. Just accept that there are aspects of Half-Life 2 not everyone's going to like. It's not the perfect game and it's not for everyone. Just because people are a few years late doesn't mean they can't have an opinion. The only changes in standards for games between now and 2004 is graphics. Thats it. Recharging health too, but that was already around during 2004, so....

It is the perfect FPS for me. And even after a few years I can still replay it and it still awes me.

- Great atmosphere thanks to nice graphics and sounds design.
- Great pacing, the best in any game I'd say.
- Interesting gameworld, at least I thought it had good enemies, characters(aside from Gordon) and weapons.
- Smooth gameplay, the controls are perfect at least on KB/M, difficulty just right so you never get stuck etc.
- Variety for a FPS, from being hunted, to taking down helos and striders to driving vehicles(which I liked btw), I thought it offered much more variety than for e.g. CoD4, Gears, Fear or most games in the genre.

Of course, not every game appeals to everyone, there are plenty I find completely overrated like Oblivion, but imo HL2 really does everything either well or really well, I can't find anything to bash about it.

[QUOTE="Cicatraz_ESP"]

[QUOTE="Wasdie"] There is your problem. You played it first several years after it came out. Everybody who bashes it seems to have played it after 2007... a whole 3 years after it was originally launched.

The first time I saw that game in 2002 or 2003, shivers went up my spine on how real it looked.

mo0ksi

Halo 2.