PC Zone Classic "HALF-LIFE 2 IS THE BEST FIRST-PERSON SHOOTER EVER - 97%"
PC Gamer "THE MOST INTENSE AND EXHILARATING CONFLICT EVER UNDERTAKEN IN A VIDEOGAME - 96%"
Half-Life was said to be the greatest PC game ever created at the time of its release years ago, it completely revolutionized first-person shooters, and paved a path for the next generation of this genre. When Half-Life 2 hit the shelves, it once again shifted to the next level of gaming.
You once again step into the shoes of the time travelling and realm jumping commando that is Gordon Freeman. We last saw our hero fighting his way through the corridors, complexes and labs of Black Mesa, fighting off and getting to the source of the potential Alien invasion, all under the watchful eye if the mysterious and infamous, blue suited character known as the G-Man. The G-Man rescues Freeman at near death at the end of the first game, on the catch that he must work for him, to travel time and space, and stop these sort of disasters happening again.
This saga begins an untold amount of years after Black Mesa, and after a brief introductory speech from our very own G-Man, you appear in a train, bound for City 17.
City 17. One of the thousands of major cities under the control of the Alien race known as the Combine. Run-down buildings, blaring propaganda, Combine troop patrols and civilians wearing the same clothes who are constantly being transfered and 'processed'. This particular city is under the rule of Dr. Breen, one of the Freeman's co-workers in Black Mesa, who has been placed in this position of authority as a puppet dictator, ruling with an iron fist from his office in the Citadel; an extraordinary, alien-like, towering structure that practically dominates the city's landscape. Valve have done a fantastic job on creating such a believable and engaging atmosphere, you do feel like that the world and humanity, has come to an end.
Right from the word go, you will notice the immense graphic capabilities this game offers, with some very smart and impressive use of rendering and light reflection. As the game moves on you will see more and more why this game offers some of the best graphics a game can contain, even now!
It is not long before you are deleved into action. Soon along your path you discover a run-down apartment building, housing people of some sort of resistance group against the Combine, only to have Combine patrols arrive outside and storm the building. You will soon find yourself running from groups of Combine troops weilding stun batons and pistles! However, once the action starts, it just never stops! You will find yourself fighting your way through the suburbs of the city through countless Combine patrols, racing away from Combine Gunships through the City's sewer system on an airboat, fighting your way through a Zombie invested ghost town, fighting your way into a Combine fortress, fighting your way up the Citadel itself and much, much more.
However, what does wonders to this game is the way it combines action with a small dose of puzzle solving. This was introduced into the first Half-Life, and worked extremely well. It has been used again to the same effect in Half-Life 2, and brings a new context to the game, other than shooting everything that moves. The flow and the feel of the game is superb also. If you are a veteran of the Half-Life, you will know that Freeman never speaks, as to portray that you are him, and it hardly ever falls from that. There are know tedius cut-scenes to deal with, and are very few loading sequences either, and when there are, they are very short (well for high-end PCs anyway).
Another feature that graces Half-Life 2 is the brilliant use of facial animations and voice acting with the characters. Unlike with other games, the characters are very believable, they are show passion, warmth and witiness. They are almost like real people. There are a few farmiliar faces to the second installment, such as Dr. Breen, but also Barney, the security guard from Black Mesa makes an early entrance, as well as Dr. Kliener, Freeman's superviser in Black Mesa. There are also a lot of new faces to come across, all telling their own little story, or simply aiding Freeman to the best of their abilities.
The game also grasps a stunning use of game physics. Every object from rocks to people, obey the laws of gravity, friction and buoyancy. This can be as simple as throwing a rock against a wall and watching it fall or bounce off other objects, to something as exiting as seeing a truck-load of explosives go off, sending the truck itself and everyone around flying yards through the air!
When Half-Life 2 first came out, it did not have multiplayer and online capabilites of its own. However, it does contain them now thanks to Steam, who have introduced new mods such as Half-Life 2: Deathmatch. However, with addition to the game itself you will also recieve Counter-Strike: Source which is one of the best online multiplayer shooters about. Steam have also introduced mods for this game using the Source engine in Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, to create other games such as Day of Defeat: Source, and Red Orchestra, all of which are now highly popular amongst the gaming world!
Half-Life 2, overall, almost reaches perfection, however, it does contain two very minor flaws. One thing is the enemy AI is a bit dodgey at times. The Combine will attempt to find cover and shoot from there, but other time they will just mindlessly charge at you, making it very easy for you to gun them down. However, they do impressively support each other using their radio's to which you can here. If one of them is on there own and spots you, they will retreate and radio for backup, if you take out and entire group with one left, he will retreate and radio for reinforcements. Another minor flaw is the lack of a lean function, which this game definately needs. At time you will fidn yourself in good cover from enemy fire, only to find you have to neglect your cover to shoot at the enemy.
However, other than that, this game offers everything you will want from a First-Person shooter. It has revolutionized this genre just like the previous Half-Life, and will entertain almost anybody who plays it.
Gameplay: 9/10
Superb gameplay all-around, bit dodgey enemy AI and really does need a lean function
Graphics: 10/10
Some of the best graphics every seen on a game to date. However, you will need a high-end computer to get the most out of the graphics.
Sound: 10/10
Everything you would expect, guns sound realistic, gun fights blister the speakers and some top notch voice acting.
Originality: 10/10
Its a first-person shooters which has completely redefined and revolutionized the way all other future first-person shooters will be made.
Replayability: 10/10
The briliance of the single player will want you coming back again and again in the future. Lack of multiplayer support to begin with but now has many new games running on its engine. Counter-Strike: Source comes free with it also.
Overall: 10/10
Justice clearly, if you own a PC, BUY THIS GAME! |
