the HL2 gaming "experience"

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chew63

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This is not a "HL2 BeSt GaMe EvEr!!!!" thread...and I have never played Doom 3, or even the original HL (worth going back to play after finishing HL2?).

But I do want to say that it's the best gaming experience I've ever had. The environment is the closest thing to real I've ever seen in a game and it's so immersive that I have been scared to death by people coming up behind me to tap me on the shoulder while I'm playing.

Another point I'd like to make: I've read posts that people "finished in 2 hrs" and crap. My question is "why would you want to finish in 2 hrs? This is the first game I've played in forever that makes me enjoy the experience more than the idea of beating the game.

That is what I want in a game. A lot of times I am so dissappointed when I pay $40-$50 for a game. I thought I might get burned again for buying such a hyped game, but this game actually delivers! It delivers the cutting edge visuals and physics without sacrificing story and fun.

Please, Valve, continue to produce this kind of game.
 
yeah people who rush through games make me wonder why they are playing. if I play a part of a game that's really awesome I tend to go back and do it again
to see if something different might happen.

also I like to play around. what happens if I throw a grenade at this? maybe I'll die but so what. I certainly get more for my money this way.
 
I know what you mean. I'm not very far into the game--almost at the end of the hoverboat sequence I guess...I loved the chases with the helicopter and the mines in the water. I've done it like 3 times to go different ways with the boat, jumping over different obastacles, etc.
 
I think I'm almost done, but im not rushing through the game. I just find myself drawn to play it as much as possible, i've been at it for a total of around 17 hours sinces tuesday. So far its the best first person shooter I have ever played. I hope to finish it before tomorrow night, so that I can focus my efforts in World of Warcraft. Any one who says they finished it 2 hours is bull&$@#ing, the game doesn't move fast enought to finish in 2 hours. I also noticed that some one said (in a differant thread) that the graphics look "dated" , im not sure what games he was comparing to, but if he has Far Cry and Doom 3 in mind, he's either blind or his video card isn't working properly. HL2 is by far the best eye candy I have witnessed, its the realest looking game to date.
 
Half life 2 is a great gaming experience .
iam also not rushing thougth the game i just got my gavlty gun,
so i just play like an hour or so a day
 
I'm also enjoying it and i have fun playing with the game physics. I cannot wait to get my hands on a gravity gun to make even more fun.
 
if the gravity gun is as cool as everybody says, I'll probably play around with it for an hour or so right after I get it.

:D
 
i dont think its the best game ever, but its definatly up there with them (OOT still beats them all ;) ) but yeah, as far as FPS gaming experience, it was amazing( and actually, as far as FPS's go, i think it might be the best game ever)

the real reason im writing this post is to say.. YES YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND PLAY HALF LIFE! it will explain quite a few things in hl2, and its a kickass game on its own merit

edit: and people who finish it in 2 hours are lying, i dont think there is any possible way to finish the game in 2 hours, and i cant see why anyone would want too.. on tuesday night, my buddy and i were talking about it, and he was like "you beat it, right?" i was like hell no, im taking my sweet time, its awesome. i finished it on saturday, after many entertaining hours, and now im starting it up again :)
 
about the original HL I was wondering if I'd be too dissappointed by going to back to 1998 graphics and physics...no doubt I'd enjoy the story

thanks for the recommendation though...I'll get a copy off ebay.
 
chew63 said:
about the original HL I was wondering if I'd be too dissappointed by going to back to 1998 graphics and physics...no doubt I'd enjoy the story

thanks for the recommendation though...I'll get a copy off ebay.
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Don't let the graphics stop you man, it's an awesome game.
 
chew63 said:
about the original HL I was wondering if I'd be too dissappointed by going to back to 1998 graphics and physics...no doubt I'd enjoy the story

thanks for the recommendation though...I'll get a copy off ebay.
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Or you could buy HL:Source - I played HL1 numerous times and I am thinking about buying HL:Source. I just checked Steam and currently you cannot buy HL:Source stand-alone and I see no upgrade options, I bought the retail version. Silver and Gold packages on Steam include HL and HL:Source... I'm kinda wishin I bought the Silver package... :(

If you played HL2 fast you missed a lot!! Including much of the story which would explain why some people complain about a lack of story, it is there but you got to stop and pay attention!! I just finished but I am gonna start it again on Hard and take my sweet time this go round. This is a top 5 game for me.
 
I beat the game over the weekend and am looking to go back through it on the hardest setting. I had a blast playing the game and thought the attention to detail was outstanding. However, this attention to detail is also the games downfall. When they pay enough attention to the little things such as allowing you to dent pipes with the crowbar, specific bullet hole decals for different object/matrials it is extremely frustrating when you can stack a bunch of crates/cars etc to get over a wall, but are prevented from going over it by and invisible wall. And why you ask? All so you can go the equivalent of 50 feet to the right, drop through a hole and talk to a guy that tells you . . . nothing. In all my favorite parts of the game are the highway and the last couple of levels fighting through the streets and finally inside the citadel.

I also thought Doom3 was more immersive.
 
Bane said:
Don't let the graphics stop you man, it's an awesome game.
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ditto, theyre not really that bad, at all.

oh and hl: source doesnt upgrade the textures or anyhting, just the physics engine and lighting, its not all that spectacular.

and you can get it in a used bin for like 15 bucks(at EB or gamespot), also, im pretty sure if you bought HL2, you can download HL for free on steam... but im not sure about that.. click on "browse games" and see if it gives you the option to "download and install" for half life. ifnot, im sure you can just buy it on steam and download it.
 
I played it through on the hardest setting, right off the bat. It wasn't too bad, some places got pretty hairy though.
 
Ya, it's not physically possible to beat in 2 hours. I think the quickest you can actually beat it in is 6 hours if it's on easy & you rush like a mother. (easy is quicker then normal or hard because it takes less shoots per enemy)

And yes you MUST play through the original. It's an awesome game. Then play opposing force and then maybe blue shift. I've really enjoyed all the expansions. I can't wait for the expansion to start rolling out for hl2. Even if they make 5 I'd buy them all like the !!!!!! I am.

I'm probably gonna play through the game again on hard but I'll cheat so I get the grav gun off the start, I just can't be without that thing. If the blue grav gun didn't blow up weapons I'd start with that one and it would make the game too easy defeating the purpose of playing it through on hard..... but I could stack soldiers again :)
 
HL2 is my first time playing any HL game...It seems like there are tons of addons and exp. packs for HL. If there's anywhere near that number for HL2--it'll be incredible...
 
HavicWind said:
I'm probably gonna play through the game again on hard but I'll cheat so I get the grav gun off the start, I just can't be without that thing. If the blue grav gun didn't blow up weapons I'd start with that one and it would make the game too easy defeating the purpose of playing it through on hard..... but I could stack soldiers again :)
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at least put a spoiler alert man, that was a major part of the game

HL2 is my first time playing any HL game...It seems like there are tons of addons and exp. packs for HL. If there's anywhere near that number for HL2--it'll be incredible...
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remember: half life has been around for 6 years :cool:

for those who are wondering, the opposing force expansion pack follows col. *cant remember his name* in the military's efforts to get rid of Gordon (if you played HL, you know what im talkin about) and Blue Shift follows Barney through whatever he did at Black Mesa, and wasnt that great, but ok.

i got em all :cool:
 
Are there more enemies on hard? I want more enemies to "test" my weapons on :D
 
ThisMonsterLives said:
yeah people who rush through games make me wonder why they are playing. if I play a part of a game that's really awesome I tend to go back and do it again
to see if something different might happen.
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people who rush a game, especially HL2, to then post it somewhere on the net of all places? who the fuck cares!! you are a true GOOF!! how pathetic, get lives!

doom 3 sure came out @ a good time!! it ain't got nothing on HL2 bt nor do many others. HL2's realism and immersive nature are THE best thing yet. none compare, HANDS DOWN!
 
I was hoping I would find a thread like this. I have played Doom3 and farcry, both great games, but nothing put me in the game more than HL2. WOW what a great game! Kudos to Valve, worth the wait.

Oh and beat it in about 4 4-5 hour playing sessions...I am dissapointed now, I guess I will have to go play it again.
 
I'm not sure if there are more enemies on hard, but they go down really slowly on hard. I heard the game was a little on the easy side so I played through it on hard and just finished it yesterday. You really need to blast guys to get them down, and the guns seem pretty inaccurate at longish range, but that could just be me. I also thought it was great and hope we get a couple expansions out of it like the first one. I'd love to see a game that deals with the rise of the combine, or shows some of the other events after the first game that get you to the second one. The story tells you just enough to get you interested and then leaves you hanging, waiting to throw more money at valve for another game.
 
I played it thru on normal in about 15ish hours, over 3 days. It was such a great game I had to keep playing until I beat it. It was a *bit* too easy on normal. I immediately turned up the difficulty and detail settings and have started to play it thru again.


I cant compare this game to D3. I only played D3 for about the first 4-5 levels and got bored of it. I never got bored of Half Life 2 or Far Cry.

I think I liked far cry a bit more than HL2, because of the outdoor setting and realistic weaponry. Just felt a bit better to me. HL2 certainly runs better on my comp than farcry however.

I think i'll go ahead and beat D3 now, I just hope the white dots dont come for me.
 
i really wouldnt mind if the graphics in HL2 were the same in HL1 because the loading times, along with how often i had to load, made me want to shoot myself.

the game kicked ass though and was well worth my 50 bucks. however i want a 20 dollar rebate for having to put up with steam's bullcrap
 
Deity said:
Oh and beat it in about 4 4-5 hour playing sessions...I am dissapointed now, I guess I will have to go play it again.
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I wish I had time for 4/5 hour sessions...I probably could do it late at night but then work would suck the next day. Oh well, an hour a day will make the game last a few weeks longer---that's a good thing in this case. Bring on the expansions for when I get done.
:D
 
I've had a great experience so far. I've also been trying to take my time throughout the game so far.
 
I'm playing through for the first time on Hard. I'm on the approach to the citadel after the long teleport, so apparently i'm getting close to the end (been staying away from spoiler threads). Approximate play time I've spent so far is probably 20 hours or so, but thats a rough guess. I do a lot of reloading to get things done just right so that i'm not pressed for health/ammo later on.

Graphics are the best I've seen. I have some screenshots that I"ll try to post this week once I resize them. The environments are very well done and don't rely on excessive darkness to make the mood (i.e. can't see anything but whats in the flashlight area). Sound and music are also good.

I felt the storyline had a weak start, maybe I missed something though. Poor intro to the combine and the overall goal of the game, I still feel like I'm waiting for a purpose.

Difficulty: Would probably be about right if I didnt abuse the save/load... A few tough spots, but I managed to find some of them.
 
I'd have to say that HL2 edges out Doom3 - I'm having the same amount of fun, but Half-Life's a longer experience with more going on, whereas Doom3 was a breakneck run for my life - tons of fun while it lasted, but over too soon.

I'd give the nod to both titles over Far Cry. Far Cry was pretty good, but ridiculously hard in places, and went unpatched for far too long.

As for Halo 2, you really can't compare as well. Sitting on a couch with 3 friends here at school, playing against a similarly loaded couch of my friends back home, is a unique experience I'd give up HL2 and Doom3 put together to enjoy.
 
agreed...multiplayer in person like halo or something usually beats a single player game
 
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