Let it be known that I got a chance to play Half Life 1 and finish it. It was a very solid FPS that presented new ways to experience a story. I found it noteworthy but not as groundbreaking as many publications claimed it to be. Then came Half Life 2. The uncontrollable hype that the HL community has showered among many gamers compelled me to NOT play the game. However, two months after its debut, I ended up buying the game. As much as I hate to admit it, I enjoyed it immensely. I'm not your typical hardcore gamer who is bent up on choosing franchises, consoles, or brands and defending it to death. I refuse to waste my time tarnishing other games of this genre but it can't be ignored that HL2 is currently the best executed FPS games I've played thus far. I'm the type of person that is extremely picky and have played and collected games since Atari. very few games offer the kind of visceral (yet cerebral) action sequences that leave the gamer clamoring for more. Many times, I've seen games with a lot of flair but very little function. In the case of HL2, its function is its flair. Many games nowadays (especially FPS) has touted realistic graphics, physics, and interactivity. A few games have done these three things very well but HL2 makes it a nice seemless affair. The physics engine never gets appreciated until puzzles are encountered in the game. The puzzles also have purpose and are believable. In other games, the physics engines are mere tech demos and gimmicks that most gamers shrug over. Nevertheless, you will wonder why HL2 is one of those games you will wish wasn't a device for procrastination. HL2 is so well-rounded and well-paced that you will find yourself underestimating the amount of time you spend on the game. Character modeling takes a major upgrade from HL1 and the performances of these characters are convincing. Sometimes when you're goofing around at some area playing with the gravity gun or interacting with different parts of the environment (i.e. mini teleportation devices, etc.) its hard to appreciate every facet of the game and that's where HL2 has some of its faults. Even the great games have dents. Part of HL2's few faults lie in its ambitious design. If you can punt junked cars with your gravity gun, why can't you manipulate simple things such as simple wire gates, overhead lights, or weapons from combine soldiers? The story also has some plot holes over Gordon Freeman's true purpose. Assuming you don't go around the environment goofing around during these intricate conversations the story can be less or more convoluted. Despite these shortcomings, HL2 is a joy to behold. It puts the player in the deep end of the game right away but you never feel helpless. The graphics are immersive but more importantly, they're purposeful. The overall environment hints with small subtle cues so that the player knows what to do next but doesn't make it obvious. Half Life 2 is not revolutionary but it does provide a great experience, especially for the casual gamer. http://www.radcastro.com
1998, half life comes out, rocks the planet. Six years later, half life 2 comes out, rocks the galaxy. Gordon is back and so is perfection. For six years the world has been waiting, and now it is here. The game play ... Read Full Review
First person shooters changed forever in 1998 when an unknown gaming developer known as Valve released a game known as Half-Life. It revolutionized the genre with cinematic gameplay, intense combat, and a story filled wi... Read Full Review
