Half-Life 2 Review

[GameMaster]

9.5
*
Presentation
The story unfolds in a near flawless fashion. It's weird that Gordon never speaks, but easily forgotten. You'll be hooked by the storytelling and drawn into the action naturally.
*


*
10.0
*
Graphics
Half-Life 2 has usurped DOOM 3's place as the best-looking game on the PC. It's astounding from both a technical and an artistic standpoint.
*


*
9.5
*
Sound
Once again, simply top notch work. Gunfire, the sounds of Combine vehicles, the alertness of guards, voice acting, and all else can't be faulted in any significant way.
*


*
9.5
*
Gameplay
A near flawless implementation of a first-person shooter. A mix of intelligent and frantic combat, puzzles, driving, and squad control creates great variation and paces the game perfectly.
*


*
9.0
*
Lasting Appeal
I want to play Half-Life 2 again and again. It's just that much fun. I do wish there had been more HL specific multiplayer, though.
*


9.7


OVERALL:
(out of 10 / not an average)

If you're a fan of Half-Life, action games in general, or are looking for a way to get into PC gaming, this is it. It'll hook you, reel you in, and hold you captive for serious hours of hardcore brilliance. This is gaming at its best and shows that the future holds no bounds when the might of technology, precision of design, and touch of artistry work in tandem.

Sounds like a good game for me to get. I've already started PC gaming but I never played the amazing original Half-Life.

Entire Review: http://pc.ign.com/articles/566/566202p1.html?fromint=1

[KillerGremlin]

Overall, it seems like Half-Life 2's gameplay is very similar to the originals. That is fine, as the original was so awesome, but it also means that I'm going to snap when a Half-Life 2 fanboy comes up to me and starts shooting down Metroid and Doom and Halo.

Graphically, I've heard that Half-Life 2 surpasses Doom at creating a realistic looking environment, but Doom 3 did a better job with the Lighting and Shadow affects.

Multiplayer, Half-Life 2 has CS, and CS has been around for something like 4 years. So if you're looking for a totally new and fresh multiplayer experience, look elsewhere. However, CS: Source's physic engine has received rave reviews, and it looks like it enhances the gameplay of CS by a little.

Overall, it seems like Half-Life 2 is a pretty sweet package. I'll invest in it once I get a PC that doesn't suck, but that won't be until sometime next year. Until then, I'll be playing Halo 2, Metroid 2 and CS 1.6.

[Null]

Actually, HL2 is the first big step for FPS games in a long time. The gameplay is enhanced GREATLY by the phisics engine. And The phisics engine is going to shape FPS gaming for years to come.

This is the phisics engine that you mention enhances CS. the reason it doest do as much for CS right now as its doing for the game, is that most of CS Source is a port. when maps start coming out that really begin to use what that phisics engine is capable of, the gameplay will change tremendously. It'll cause players to use thier mind much more with the objects and stuff.

Then the possibilities become endless and people start using this to make new mods for the game.

From what it sounds like, HL2 has the first truly innovative gamplay in a FPS game MAYBE since HL1.

[Happydude]

I WANT HL2!!!!!

i need money...and for that, i need a J.O.B...which is extremly hard to find right now, as i have been looking for the past 2 months...applied to about 10-15 different places...and none of them are calling...those bastards...*sigh*

[Jonbo298]

9 hours 42 minutes to go til I start playing it

[Professor S]

Does anyone have any idea what kind of machine you need to play this game? Here are my important stats and let me know if you think I can get it going:

ATI 256 MB Video Card
2.6 Ghz P4
512 RAMBUS (I know, I know... Rambua sucks... I listened to the wrong people and now I'm screwed)

[Null]

you're fine.

RECOMMENDED is like 2.4ghz,with a directX 9 gfx card. and thats to play it like its meant to be played.

REQUIRED is like 700mhz or 1.2ghz (one of the 2) with a directX 7 gfx card.

either way, you'll play it just fine.

then you only need a Di

[Jonbo298]

What kind of Ati card? Ati 256 is way too vague. A model number like 9200 or 9600/9800 helps more

[Null]

Originally Posted by Jonbo298

What kind of Ati card? Ati 256 is way too vague. A model number like 9200 or 9600/9800 helps more

as long as he doesnt have an SE he should be set to go.

[Jonbo298]

SE will still play HL2 but just more ****ty if he doesnt turn down alot of stuff. Hell, I could probably get it to run on my spare Matrox 32mb video card as its DX7 but then again, its 32mb so it may not run

[Professor S]

I have a 9600 series. I believe the name was Xstacy or something like that. Is that any help?

[Jonbo298]

9600 will be fine for it. Should be able to get medium settings pretty easy.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Null

From what it sounds like, HL2 has the first truly innovative gamplay in a FPS game MAYBE since HL1.

We shall see, we shall see.

I'll reserve judgement until I play Half-Life 2 (Hopefuly on Thursday at my friends house), and then I'll start listing the names of games that have taken revolutionary steps in the FPS market.

The engine, as used by Source, is amazing. I played it at a friends house......and I like the way there is no hit box anymore the best. Now when you shoot someone in the head they get hit in the head. If you shoot them an inch above their head, they don't get shot in the head.

It will be cool to see new CS maps, yes, and I'm very excited. I want to see TFC: Source (Team Fortress 2 looks sooooooooooooo gay), and Natural Selection: Source.

[Canyarion]

I'll have to get this sooner or later. Probably later, I can wait.

[Blackmane]

This is getting me really excited for HL2.

Question: Do you have to buy it and download it through Steam or is it going to be sold in stores?