Half Life: Alyx Now Released for VR Systems, Receives Acclaim in Reviews

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erek

erek

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"Of course, to play this game, you need a PC-based VR headset to play the game through Steam. The game has received rave reviews already, featuring a 93 Metacritic score based on 24 critic reviews, and an 8.2 user score. Give it some time before actually looking for guidance in that user review score, though. Valve founder Gabe Newell had this to say: "Half-Life: Alyx represents the culmination of Valve's technological advancement over the past few years. We have built SteamVR, our game engine, our tools, and VR hardware specifically to enable us to ship the best content we know how to create. Today, as we ship Alyx remotely from our homes, we are hoping that everyone stays safe and has a great time playing the game. Please let us know what you think.""

https://www.techpowerup.com/265015/...ed-for-vr-systems-receives-acclaim-in-reviews
 
I'm playing it on the Valve Index and it is amazing. Probably the most polished and detailed VR game I've played. The gameplay and graphics are top-notch.

I would highly recommend if you already own a VR headset, but I would advise against spending $1000 on a VR just to play this game.
 
nguyen704 said:
I'm playing it on the Valve Index and it is amazing. Probably the most polished and detailed VR game I've played. The gameplay and graphics are top-notch.

I would highly recommend if you already own a VR headset, but I would advise against spending $1000 on a VR just to play this game.
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So what would make the $1000 purchase be recommended?
 
The third video on Steam makes it look like that game might be hard!
 
nguyen704 said:
I'm playing it on the Valve Index and it is amazing. Probably the most polished and detailed VR game I've played. The gameplay and graphics are top-notch.

I would highly recommend if you already own a VR headset, but I would advise against spending $1000 on a VR just to play this game.
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You can spend $300 on a Rift S or Odyssey+. You don't need an Index to play the game.
 
Armenius said:
You can spend $300 on a Rift S or Odyssey+. You don't need an Index to play the game.
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Isn't that like saying you don't need a 2080ti, you can play on integrated graphics as well? I mean how much worse is the experience?
 
M76 said:
Isn't that like saying you don't need a 2080ti, you can play on integrated graphics as well? I mean how much worse is the experience?
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Except the Rift S or Odyssey+ are more like a 2080 in comparison to an Index, not an IGP. And like if a 2080 was priced at $225 used, $250 new (Odyssey+).

All of these current gen HMDs will give you a front-row-center seat at the same concert. Arguments over the pricepoints are just quibbling over minor differences in comfort and perceptibility. A little more FOV here, a little more dexterous input control there, but you're taking the same ride, the same rollercoaster as everyone with the $1000 Index.
 
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After just spending about about 2.5 hours with it on my Index, I'd say this is some next level shit. HL Alyx truly is a taste of what digital entertainment will transform into over the next few years. And we're part of it. Gaming has yet again advanced technology that will impact countless aspect of the world.

I've been an active gamer for over 30 years. I remember a time when PC gaming sucked and arcades ruled the world. I have never felt so INSIDE the game. Ever. The world is alive. The ambient sound, the birds, all the detail. Valve has done it again. Man, I am excited about the future of gaming.
 
M76 said:
Isn't that like saying you don't need a 2080ti, you can play on integrated graphics as well? I mean how much worse is the experience?
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I agree with Nguyen that most people intending to get VR for just one game might not find the Index a good value. Its best for those already playing a lot of VR or those who just want the best no matter what cost.

Comparing the Odyssey+ to integrated graphics is a bit extreme since the latest AAA games are basically unplayable on integrated. The Odyssey+ has the same resolution as the Valve index. Its a 90Hz OLED screen vs a 120 Hz LCD. Better colors and deeper blacks though text is supposed to be sharper on the Index.

Sure the index knuckles are the best controllers around but you can have a great time too for 1/4 the price (O+ recently on sale for 229). I thought about upgrading to the Index for Alyx but couldnt justify the cost. In terms of performance, the Odyssey is closer to the Vive Pro and Index than it is to bottom of the barrel WMR like the lenovo, Acer or Dell ones. In fact I upgraded from a lenovo to the original Oculus to the O+.
 
This game transcends numbered scores and ratings. If reminds me of the "WTF" moment the first time I saw a FPS (Spear of Destiny) in a computer store in the early 90s and couldn't believe what I was seeing, a feeling like computers had made this huge leap forward, like I was witnessing magic.

I've played plenty of VR games, through many different headsets. I've gone through phases of putting the HMD away for a few months waiting for "the next big thing". This is it, this is finally the corner I started to lose hope would ever be turned; the full AAA, full length affair that finally and truly delivers on the promise of VR.

Naysayers need to stop worrying that VR is going to "replace" flat monitor gaming - it's not. It's just another door into a parallel universe you can enter and exit at will. This is not zero sum. I encourage everyone to try it once. Bricks will be shat. I'm not kidding.
 
SPARTAN VI said:
Been playing on my Rift, it's absolutely superb. If this game doesn't take away GOTY 2020 from every major publication, then they're just not paying attention.
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I doubt it can take away GOTY from the likes of TLOU2 or Cyberpunk 2077. I get it, it's novel, but let's remain on solid ground here, please.
 
GreenOrbs said:
I agree with Nguyen that most people intending to get VR for just one game might not find the Index a good value. Its best for those already playing a lot of VR or those who just want the best no matter what cost.

Comparing the Odyssey+ to integrated graphics is a bit extreme since the latest AAA games are basically unplayable on integrated. The Odyssey+ has the same resolution as the Valve index. Its a 90Hz OLED screen vs a 120 Hz LCD. Better colors and deeper blacks though text is supposed to be sharper on the Index.

Sure the index knuckles are the best controllers around but you can have a great time too for 1/4 the price (O+ recently on sale for 229). I thought about upgrading to the Index for Alyx but couldnt justify the cost. In terms of performance, the Odyssey is closer to the Vive Pro and Index than it is to bottom of the barrel WMR like the lenovo, Acer or Dell ones. In fact I upgraded from a lenovo to the original Oculus to the O+.
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I thought the odyssey had no haptic interface at all, just a regular push button controller. Not that it changes much for me, as the odyssey+ is still unavailable in my region, and when it does get here I doubt it will retail for anywhere near $300. I know flogger23m, will say it's somehow my fault that most tech stuff is 30-40% more expensive here due to taxes, but the reality will still remain that it costs too much to justify the purchase, no matter why it costs that much.
 
odditory said:
Naysayers need to stop worrying that VR is going to "replace" flat monitor gaming - it's not.
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Said by nobody ever.
I encourage everyone to try it once. Bricks will be shat. I'm not kidding.
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Believe me I'd love to try it out, but I can't without investing serious bucks, that I might as well be flushing down the toilet if I don't like it. And if I like it, then I'll be kicking myself for buying entry level. It's a catch 22 situation.
And before someone starts I could justify buying a 2080ti because I knew what to expect, and it delivered. VR is a completely unknown quantity, and I'm not big on gambling away 2-3 weeks worth of salary, especially in the current situation.
 
I played it yesterday for some 20 minutes. I have tons of RPGs etc for VR but this was from the get go something different and way better done than other games.
I spent about 10 minutes on the balcony in the beginning trying to throw shit and hit people on the street lol. The game feels great.
 
M76 said:
Said by nobody ever.

Believe me I'd love to try it out, but I can't without investing serious bucks, that I might as well be flushing down the toilet if I don't like it. And if I like it, then I'll be kicking myself for buying entry level. It's a catch 22 situation.
And before someone starts I could justify buying a 2080ti because I knew what to expect, and it delivered. VR is a completely unknown quantity, and I'm not big on gambling away 2-3 weeks worth of salary, especially in the current situation.
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But the thing is, entry level is not bad these days. Hell, I would say that if it were not for the Valve Index controllers the headset is not far above the said entry level headsets as far as specs go. It improves in some things like slightly higher FOV (but not even nearly as high as Pimax) and slightly sharper image, but is actually poorer on other things than much cheaper Oculus Rift S. Like glare/godrays on high contrast scenes which was a big issue on first gen VR sets and which Oculus has managed to eliminate pretty much completely but it still plagues Index. If you have average IPD, Rift S is a great and affordable entry to VR. If not, then Oculus Quest with the link cable is another option that also works as standalone VR console for casual gaming, and it has an OLED screen which has some benefits of its own. But if you want to stay away from deviced made by Facebook, then you are screwed. Valve Index and Pimax are your only options and both are expensive as hell.
 
MaZa said:
But the thing is, entry level is not bad these days. Hell, I would say that if it were not for the Valve Index controllers the headset is not far above the said entry level headsets as far as specs go. It improves in some things like slightly higher FOV (but not even nearly as high as Pimax) and slightly sharper image, but is actually poorer on other things than much cheaper Oculus Rift S. Like glare/godrays on high contrast scenes which was a big issue on first gen VR sets and which Oculus has managed to eliminate pretty much completely but it still plagues Index. If you have average IPD, Rift S is a great and affordable entry to VR. If not, then Oculus Quest with the link cable is another option that also works as standalone VR console for casual gaming, and it has an OLED screen which has some benefits of its own. But if you want to stay away from deviced made by Facebook, then you are screwed. Valve Index and Pimax are your only options and both are expensive as hell.
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It seems the options that I can actually buy right now in CEU are:

Oculus Go : €260 - This doesn't even work with Alyx
Oculus Rift S : €560 - this is already expensive as hell by local standards
Valve Index: : €1080 - With 8 weeks shipping. - So not really an option regardless of the price.

So they decided for me.
 
M76 said:
Isn't that like saying you don't need a 2080ti, you can play on integrated graphics as well? I mean how much worse is the experience?
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There is very little difference in the VR experience between the Valve Index and the Rift S. Using your graphic card analogy it would be like the difference in gaming between 2080 super and a 2080.

I have played the game on a variety of headsets from OG Rift and Vive to the Index and it's a very well optimised VR game. It looks good and plays good on them all. The Vive wands do take a bit from the experience though and I wouldn't recommend buying one.

If you like Half Life and have any kind of interest in VR, then this is the game that's worth buying a headset for.
 
M76 said:
I doubt it can take away GOTY from the likes of TLOU2 or Cyberpunk 2077. I get it, it's novel, but let's remain on solid ground here, please.
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You're right, "solid ground" is definitely making broad claims about games that aren't even out yet versus a critically acclaimed VR game that was released this week. Another action-adventure game from naughty crunch studios and a new open-world RPG-FPS from a studio who's never made an RPG-FPS before. Solid ground. I still expect these all to be fine games, but we've tread this ground before. OTOH, it's rare to have a game like HL:A come along and set a new benchmark on so many levels.

M76 said:
I get it, it's novel
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You really don't get it. You've spent so much time in this forum spreading FUD about VR games/technology that you don't get. E.g. "Isn't that like saying you don't need a 2080ti, you can play on integrated graphics as well?" :facepalm:

Fortunately for me, I'm going to dip my head back into HL:A because talking about it only makes me want to play more. Have fun in this thread, I guess.
 
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M76 said:
Sorry, i didn't know asking questions was considered spreading FUD, it was a completely sincere question, but you attack like a fanatic.
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Don't play dumb. You cry and whine in every VR thread on this board - it's not healthy. Most people just ignore it because they don't want to feed what they perceive as trolling, even if that's not your honest intent.

We're all friends here. But if you aren't interested in the tech then there have got to be better uses of your time, just sayin.
 
M76 said:
Sorry, i didn't know asking questions was considered spreading FUD, it was a completely sincere question, but you attack like a fanatic.
What do you think lashing out at people who still have doubts about VR achieves? Because it definitely isn't making me run out amidst a global epidemic to buy the first VR set that comes my way.
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I posted that HL:A should easily take GOTY, not directed at anyone, just sharing that I really enjoy this game. Then you came in and quoted me saying I'm not on "solid ground." So who is attacking who? As odditory pointed out, you came in here with an agenda. Stop playing the victim and stop playing dumb.
 
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M76 said:
It seems the options that I can actually buy right now in CEU are:

Oculus Go : €260 - This doesn't even work with Alyx
Oculus Rift S : €560 - this is already expensive as hell by local standards
Valve Index: : €1080 - With 8 weeks shipping. - So not really an option regardless of the price.

So they decided for me.
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Yeah that is way too much for a Rift S. Actually has the price gone up? Hell I bought my original Oculus Rift + Touch set for less than 500€ back then when it was released.
 
MaZa said:
Yeah that is way too much for a Rift S. Actually has the price gone up? Hell I bought my original Oculus Rift + Touch set for less than 500€ back then when it was released.
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I'm "thrifty" and got my Rift HMD + 2 sensors for $200 USD, used. Then bought new Rift Touch controllers for $100 USD and a 3rd sensor for $60 USD. All in was about $360 USD, or roughly 333 EUR.
 
I have been watching some youtube playthroughs of the game. Looks amazing except I don't really understand the teleporting movement thing. I have never used a "real" VR system so I guess I can't comment on how motion sick I would get, but it just seems a bit odd that you can just teleport all over the place like that. I am hesitant to keep watching as I don't want to ruin the game for myself, but I really don't think I can justify the cost of a VR headset any time soon....
 
elite.mafia said:
I have been watching some youtube playthroughs of the game. Looks amazing except I don't really understand the teleporting movement thing. I have never used a "real" VR system so I guess I can't comment on how motion sick I would get, but it just seems a bit odd that you can just teleport all over the place like that. I am hesitant to keep watching as I don't want to ruin the game for myself, but I really don't think I can justify the cost of a VR headset any time soon....
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Teleport is just one method of locomotion. They also have traditional joystick movement, "blink" teleport, then a sort of "slide" teleport. The teleporting modes are really for people who are sensitive (i.e. get nauseated) to movement in VR. For instance, if my VR body moves at all without my physical body, my brain's poison responses kick in and I feel like I have to yak... so "slide" teleporting is what I use in HL:A.
 
Very immersive. During Covid19 shutdown, i have to *work* from home, but all i can think of is playing HL:A. Very well polished. Valve still can make an amazing game.
 
elite.mafia said:
I have been watching some youtube playthroughs of the game. Looks amazing except I don't really understand the teleporting movement thing. I have never used a "real" VR system so I guess I can't comment on how motion sick I would get, but it just seems a bit odd that you can just teleport all over the place like that. I am hesitant to keep watching as I don't want to ruin the game for myself, but I really don't think I can justify the cost of a VR headset any time soon....
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Personally, I find teleporting worse than smooth locomotion. Teleporting makes me nauseous while it seems the opposite is true for other people. The only issue I've had with smooth locomotion was nearly tipping over after my first 2-hour playtime with the tech, but I haven't had the issue since. No feeling of sickness at all.
MaZa said:
Yeah that is way too much for a Rift S. Actually has the price gone up? Hell I bought my original Oculus Rift + Touch set for less than 500€ back then when it was released.
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What part of Europe? M76 is somewhere in Eastern Europe, if I'm not mistaken.
 
SPARTAN VI said:
Another action-adventure game from naughty crunch studios
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From the quoted article: "Shining a flashlight at Ellie’s face in The Last of Us led her to blink and turn away. Those details exist because Naughty Dog has built a culture of perfectionism, where games have to be great, no matter the human cost."

I wonder if Valve, who did that fifteen years ago, crunches a lot.
 
1_rick said:
From the quoted article: "Shining a flashlight at Ellie’s face in The Last of Us led her to blink and turn away. Those details exist because Naughty Dog has built a culture of perfectionism, where games have to be great, no matter the human cost."

I wonder if Valve, who did that fifteen years ago, crunches a lot.
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Naughty Dog is given way too much credit for a lot of things. The story for TLoU was great, but the game itself was mediocre in both terms of gameplay and graphics.
 
Armenius said:
Personally, I find teleporting worse than smooth locomotion. Teleporting makes me nauseous while it seems the opposite is true for other people. The only issue I've had with smooth locomotion was nearly tipping over after my first 2-hour playtime with the tech, but I haven't had the issue since. No feeling of sickness at all.

What part of Europe? M76 is somewhere in Eastern Europe, if I'm not mistaken.
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I'm from north, Finland. But I checked the local prices and Rift S costs above 500e too.
 
Anyone know how to increase the mirror (observer window) FOV in HL:A? It seems like it defaults to 1920x1080 maybe and is extremely tunnel visioned compared to what the player sees inside the HMD.
 
SPARTAN VI said:
Anyone know how to increase the mirror (observer window) FOV in HL:A? It seems like it defaults to 1920x1080 maybe and is extremely tunnel visioned compared to what the player sees inside the HMD.
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I watched a few streams of the first few hours of HL:A before purchasing. Some of the streamers tried but failed. They complained that there is currently no way to increase the spectator window above 1920x1080. Its a bit of an oversight from Valve but really only matters if you plan to stream/record.
 
I just got to the first grenade sequence in-game. Hot damn that was really fun.



Apologize for the jerky/shaky-ness. My tracking was a bit impaired because I didn't realize my 3rd sensor tower was moved/knocked over until near the end of the recording. Obviously not much of a YT'er, I just stream for friends/family then make the VOD public.
 
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