HL2 is an outstanding piece of programming that unfolds into the most perfect single-player campaign I have ever seen.
Half Life 2 (HL2) is the faithful adaptation of last year’s PC edition. It retains the same formula of the first game, as it unfolds in one single real-time adventure. Gordon Freeman is brought back to life by the G-Man in order to follow his hidden agenda. Basically, the world has been infested by Xen native creatures and dominated by the Combine Empire (also known as the Synth or the Universal Union). The Combine are a ruthless empire that conquers planets in order to absorb their resources and technology. They also assimilate the species they dominate and are, as a race, a “combination” of those species with a strong mix of genetic technology and bio-engineering.
In HL2, the Combine have implemented their dominating regime on Earth, by setting several “cities” where humans are protected from the Xen infestants but are also kept under strict control. The mysterious G-Man sends Gordon Freeman into “City 17”, which is also the main center of control of the Combine, in order to infiltrate the human rebellion and set in motion a series of events that will eventually change the destiny of the world.
It is sad, however, that all this story material is missing from the game. Although these and many more background elements are available on the internet, the game assumes that either you already know all this, or that it doesn’t really matter much to the gaming experience. It is, in my mind, a mistake, and HL2 has been therefore criticized for lacking a solid story setting.
The game also suffers from the fact that Gordon Freeman doesn’t talk. Some people considered this a positive aspect that improves the sense of immersion of the individual player. It seems to be a silly excuse since other games life Riddick or Thief Deadly Shadows have already used that formula with success. HL2 would have gained a lot by allowing Freeman to be an active part of the dialogues, allowing him to grow more as a character.
These are, however, the only two negative critics I can pull out this game. HL2 is an outstanding piece of programming that unfolds into the most perfect single-player campaign I have ever seen. It has excellent graphics and an overall cinematic feel to it that support a continuous gaming experience of pure adrenaline. One of its greatest achievements is the game design. The world of Half Life is once again brought to life with incredible coherence and realism. It’s locations feel like real places, and even though your route is very much pre-programmed, it always feels like there is something out-there, a larger world that you are only small part of. There is a good balance in variety, some levels being wide and open, others intricate and claustrophobic. HL2 also has excellent gameplay with many combat variables and possible approaches. It is one of those games you are likely to finish and feel the urge to play right over, this time on hard difficulty.
Half Life 2 may not be to the games industry what The Godfather is to movies, but is is one of the most refined games made to date. Everything in it comes together to provide a strong sense of reality. It is the cherry on top of the Xbox games list, and if you haven’t played it on the PC, this is your chance to live one of the most intense journeys ever made in the world of gaming.