<!--QuoteBegin-Zek+Nov 17 2004, 09:00 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zek @ Nov 17 2004, 09:00 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Disco, it seems like your only complaint with the game is that it isn't dark and evil enough. I don't think HL was ever really focused on being a "dark" game either. I don't believe that making an FPS have as adult a rating as possible makes it fun, which is probably why I thought Doom 3 was terrible. Half-Life 2 delivers in atmosphere and gameplay in ways that Doom 3 never even compared to. I thought the whole airboat sequence was fantastic, that and the early experiences being chased by the Combine were the highlights of what I've played so far(I'm up to the buggy). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I really do think HL1 was dark and scary... it starts out with a disaster killing almost everyone you work with. everything made scarier noises; things were always crawling out of vents and getting you when you least expect it... you think you're being saved but it turns out the military is against you, not with you... I havent' gotten far enough into HL2 to definitively say the plot isn't as dark, but the monsters and atmosphere definitely aren't (though I haven't been to this Ravenholm yet)... ok, to be fair, I'll hold back on my comments til I get there :>
<!--QuoteBegin-Maus+Nov 17 2004, 06:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Maus @ Nov 17 2004, 06:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I was unimpressed with it for about the first hour. Partly due to massive stuttering (fixed with a combiation of console trickery and letting it cache everything at the start of a section), and partly due I think to me being bitter abuot it being a real pain the the backside to install. I don't know when it happened, but I think I was in the some water (an inner-city canal thing?) with cops raining fire on me and the awesome touch of the sound effects when you kill them that won me over.
One thing I really like is that it isn't falling over itself trying to show off its graphics to you the way doom3 was. It is very subtle, and you just get these moments where you have to stop to look around and think "Wow!" <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> <span style='color:orange'>UltimaGecko requires this console trickery, and therefore requests it.</span>
<!--QuoteBegin-DOOManiac+Nov 17 2004, 08:33 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DOOManiac @ Nov 17 2004, 08:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> If you aren't impressed with HL2... well.. I don't think you will ever be impressed with any game, ever. You should probably just save your money, because you will be disappointed with any game you ever play. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Correct.
Well, why shouldn't they show of the physics? It's no secret that they would get HL2 sold without a singleplayer mode at all. I'm willing to bet that the majority buy HL2 to play online, mostly mods (take a look at how many play unmodded HL online right now). The singleplayer is just a bonus to keep you busy while you wait for the mods to come out (if DoD and CS on the new engine isn't enough). By doing a singleplayer mode that take advantage of as many aspects of the engine as possible, you're telling people what the engine can do, making them pick it for modding.
As for Doom 3, it was arcade-style action. I didn't found it scary at all. It was merely annoying with all the darkness, and you always knew there would be a monster in that dark corner or a bunch of them teleporting in whenever you openend a room. Doom 3 was predictable, and that doesn't work very well with a game that's supposed to be scary. Oh, and I was really annoyed by the way the game killed of everyone else. When that soldier started talking about that squad I was supposed to catch up with, I thought to myself; "gee, I wonder how they will be killed juuuust before I get to them".
I find HL2 is scaring me more than DOOM III did on the whole.
Yes, DOOM III scares you the first couple of itmes something jumps out. But like people have stated, it's the same thing over and over. You are EXPECTING something to come up behind you, or to crawl out of that dark corner, you basically ignore anything in the light <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
SPOILERS ON HL2 BELOW:
SPOLIERS I SAID COMING!
OK, on HL2 you hear those flying dudes scrapping against the walls, even with surround, I spin around trying to find them, where are they. You walk forward a bit, checking all around until they come swooping down from behind making you jump. This is like DOOM III, but HL2 doesn't repeat it over and over. You get the thrill there, and walk down the hall, up a ladder. Suddenly barrels on fire come tumbling down the hill at you as 3 combine soldiers pop up and a helicopter swoops overhead. Totally different situation. You run away from the barrels, only to see they don't stop. And so on, it mixes it up, making it twice as scary.
Im on a 56k 1p a minute an it cost me the earth just installing it <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> the way u NEED an internet connection to even play it single player seems very dissapointing
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->the whole game essentially feels like a physics demo for itself. I got the point after the playground - they're really proud of their physics, they can stop trying to drill it into my head by making nearly everything in the game pushable, throwable, swingable, etc...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Generally when you are making a game realistic, you want everything in it to act real. Now I don't know about you, but in real life nearly everything is pushable, throwable, and swingable. The physics aren't there just to show off, they're there to make the game feel <i>real</i>.
IRL many things may be pushable, but there's many things IRL that I don't push.
it makes me laugh to run up to a shelf, intending to get the items on it... and I knock the shelf over.
I have a mental picture of Gordy moshing everywhere he goes, charging into everything like a rhino...
also IRL I don't expect to see goodies everywhere suspended in baskets by elaborate pullies - I wouldn't expect that even if RL had zombie aliens running all over it either...
and as for the Doom 3 scariness factor - I'm surprised more people weren't more terrified by it... I sure was. I could only play maybe 2 hours at a time, max, before it started getting under my skin. Yeah, you usually knew when something was going to come at you, but that did NOT make it any less scary. in a horror movie, do you not usually know when something terrifying is about to happen? the ominous music starts playing, the camera angles do weird, predictable things... and it just makes the suspense MORE powerful...
when you don't expect something, that's called being startled. when you DO expect something, then you're actually scared.
Who cares about RL, this is HL2. They BETTER put in a bunch of random stuff that I can throw at zombies.
Keep in mind I haven't played HL2 yet (money ETA 3 days <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
But honestly, the single player, from what I heard, wows you, but in all honesty that's not why I'm going to buy HL2. All the physics (that according to you they are shoving down are throats) is going to come into play in multiplayer. Hopefully not in the same way as CS:S though (Apparently max you can do is shoot a can and it MOVES OMG)
Oh and don't forget the ragdoll physics.
All in all, I buy HL2 for the mods. Think about it, we have all at one point played NS. NS is a mod for HL1. And the quake engine blows. Now imagine how long we'll be playing mods for HL2, because the source engine is the shiznat my son.
Well... I do ramble alot.. try to make sense of it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The game itself was really cool, but it didn't really get you into the game at the beginning of it like HL1 did... It just sort of threw you into the hazard suit, gave you a crowbar and said "kthx have fun bai". That sort of disappointed me :\
<!--QuoteBegin-sawce+Nov 17 2004, 03:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (sawce @ Nov 17 2004, 03:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The game itself was really cool, but it didn't really get you into the game at the beginning of it like HL1 did... It just sort of threw you into the hazard suit, gave you a crowbar and said "kthx have fun bai". That sort of disappointed me :\ <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I think you hit the nail on the head, much more succinctly than I did :>
I'm probably 1/3 into the game and I still have no idea what is going on besides the fact that I'm running around killing grunts and some aliens with a pistol and SMG...
in HL1, the first third of the game was spent experiencing a disaster and witnessing/fighting through its direct effects... it drew me in much better.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->in a horror movie, do you not usually know when something terrifying is about to happen?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only the bad ones. The good ones makes you think something scary is going to happen, then it doesn't. Then you can wait a couple of seconds for the viewers to relax and THEN throw in something scary. And then you mix it all up, so that sometimes, when people should expect it to happen, it does, but if you execute it correctly, they won't be ready for it anyway. In short, you make sure there are no situations where people can be sure something will happen. Let them scare themselves, let the viewers built it up and then go for the kill. Doom 3 never gave you time to build something up, because it threw monsters in everywhere, every time. HL1 one did a better job at being scary, because it didn't do that. Sometimes, there were even corpses that didn't turn out to be zombies (*gasp*).
Then of course, there's the splatter-type horror movies, that cover up for their lack of good writing with lots and lots of blood and gore. Nothing wrong with blood and gorge, but it does get a bit tedious to watch a movie that might as well have been one of them documentaries about operations.
<!--QuoteBegin-DiscoZombie+Nov 17 2004, 12:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DiscoZombie @ Nov 17 2004, 12:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm probably 1/3 into the game and I still have no idea what is going on besides the fact that I'm running around killing grunts and some aliens with a pistol and SMG... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> You know only as much as Gordon knows.
HL1: - You're Gordon Freeman - You're working in a research facility called Black Mesa - You're working in Anomalous Materials - Accidentally open up a portal to another world - Attacked by aliens - You attack back to save the day
HL2: - You're Gordon Freeman - You've been "relocated" to a location called City 17 - City 17 is under the control of a alien force - Your old friends are in City 17 - People dont like the alien forces - People, along with Gordon, try to fight back
Hmm... Now, i <i>wonder</i> what will be HL3's story... <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
My god, i just finished Nova Prospect. It was absolutely amazing.
The atmosphere has been great throughout the entire game, but that one chapter was absolutely stunning. Watching ant-lions swarm a small group of combine and topple them over the railings, one by one, had to be the best experiance i have ever had in any game. Ever.
if we follow your definition of a story Maveric, then LOTR is this:
-a long time ago an evil guy made a really evil ring -the ring was cut off -a long time later the ring was found -the evil-guy wanted the ring back -the good guys quest to destroy the ring
I actually didn't like Nova prospect that much tbh, the only bit that really made me go "wow" was the very end of the chapter (that part ruled).
Loved the buggy and airboat though, especially the airboat. So far "Anticitizen One" is proving to be the best chapter so far <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Maveric+Nov 17 2004, 05:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Maveric @ Nov 17 2004, 05:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
<!--QuoteBegin-DiscoZombie+Nov 17 2004, 12:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DiscoZombie @ Nov 17 2004, 12:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm probably 1/3 into the game and I still have no idea what is going on besides the fact that I'm running around killing grunts and some aliens with a pistol and SMG... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> You know only as much as Gordon knows.
HL1: - You're Gordon Freeman - You're working in a research facility called Black Mesa - You're working in Anomalous Materials - Accidentally open up a portal to another world - Attacked by aliens - You attack back to save the day
HL2: - You're Gordon Freeman - You've been "relocated" to a location called City 17 - City 17 is under the control of a alien force - Your old friends are in City 17 - People dont like the alien forces - People, along with Gordon, try to fight back
Hmm... Now, i <i>wonder</i> what will be HL3's story... <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> <span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
<span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
<span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
For all you blokes who didn't get into the story. It may sound like there's not story, but I think there's a HUGE, rather IN DEPTH story there... you just gotta read between the lines.
Let's analyze.
In HL1, you open a portal to Xen. You've been fighting these guys for awhile, when you goto the lamba labs and find out that your friends in that area of Black Mesa have been messing with these guys for a long time. Now, in Xen, you hear the main boss say something along the lines of "You came in peace..." or something.
This is point 1: Xen aliens are not our mortal enemy.
After destorying everything in Xen damn near, you're offered a "job" by G-Man. What he didn't tell you was that you'd be kept in stasis in some parallel dimension until you were needed. Remember that Dr. Vance said you hadn't aged a bit. Anyway, G-Man tells you to "Rise and Shine" at some point afterwards... who knows how long? A few years maybe. He's got another job for you, but you don't know what it is.
You find yourself on a train heading to City 17. You don't know where it is, what it is, how you got there, or what's happened. If your friends are alive, how much time has passed, etc. But see, at this point, how the combine came to be is common knowledge, so no one wants to explain it to you.
Now, your former director at Black Mesa was talking about how "Our Benefactors" (ie, combine), have basically sterilized us to help our evolution. Also, these soldiers you fight are pseudo humans, as you can pick up in bits and peices. They are modified by the combine and called "Overwatch." Sounds to me like the Combine are some kinda race from another universe bent on wielding power.
This is point 2: The Combine are a conquering race from somewhere else.
Along the way, you meat up with Voltigores of all kinds, these if you might remember, resemble Alien Slaves from HL1. They call you "The Freeman" or protects "The Eli Vance." And that's cool because Dr. Vance is their savior, fighting the combine. This seems to me that Xen and Combine ARE mortal enemies.
This is point 3: Xen and Combine hate eachother.
When you add these up, you get something like this:
Your former Director signed a pact with the Combine when they conquered us sometime after the Black Mesa incident, in the false hopes that he could some Humanity in some form or another. He was put as head of Overwatch and Civil Protection, making him our "Shephard" if you will.
G-Man knew about both from the beginning, and has been playing both side's against the middle for whatever reason his Employers decide upon and using you, Gordon, has his instrument to do so.
There seems to be a vast Illuminati running nearly everything, and Gordon is a the Queen on their chessboard. I'm certainly waiting in rapt attention for what's next here...
MartOrigin of SUYFJoin Date: 2002-02-26Member: 248Members
<!--QuoteBegin-Status Quo+Nov 17 2004, 07:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Status Quo @ Nov 17 2004, 07:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, why shouldn't they show of the physics? It's no secret that they would get HL2 sold without a singleplayer mode at all. I'm willing to bet that the majority buy HL2 to play online, mostly mods (take a look at how many play unmodded HL online right now). The singleplayer is just a bonus to keep you busy while you wait for the mods to come out (if DoD and CS on the new engine isn't enough). By doing a singleplayer mode that take advantage of as many aspects of the engine as possible, you're telling people what the engine can do, making them pick it for modding.
As for Doom 3, it was arcade-style action. I didn't found it scary at all. It was merely annoying with all the darkness, and you always knew there would be a monster in that dark corner or a bunch of them teleporting in whenever you openend a room. Doom 3 was predictable, and that doesn't work very well with a game that's supposed to be scary. Oh, and I was really annoyed by the way the game killed of everyone else. When that soldier started talking about that squad I was supposed to catch up with, I thought to myself; "gee, I wonder how they will be killed juuuust before I get to them". <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I wouldn't have bought HL2 if it didn't have SP. Since it doesn't have MP (heck no do I consider CS:S to be MP.) I really did buy HL2 just for the continuation of the storyline.
And Doom3 was scary and nerving, even when you know you can take down any monster in a shot or two, and even when you know the monster is going to pop out from the dark corner, the atmosphere was so absorbing that it didn't matter. The place was still spooky.
Well I've had a very good experience with HL2 it seems. For a start installation was the easiest thing ever. I had a friend that has broadband unlock the files first, then run the backup tool. I went home and installed the files, booted Steam into life and ran the game. From start to finish it took about 15 minutes. Also, you don't need to be online to play HL2. If you start Steam without being connected to the net it will just ask if you want to start offline mode. Thank you Valve.
I approached HL2 with an open mind. I loved HL1 as most people did and from the moment the game started I was hooked. It just sucked me in, not knowing what was going on just made me want to play more.
Now the physics are something special, I know every other new game is coming out with similar physics engines but the way its been done in HL2 is great. I spent the first twenty minutes just picking up old boots or chairs and hitting Combine soldiers in the head, then running away giggling like a schoolgirl.
The further on into the game I played the more immersed I felt. I think the way the physics work in the gameworld just adds the unpredictable element that feels so good. Just one example of this was in the train-yard, I was in the middle of a firefight and I was backed up against one of the forcefields shooting Combine soldiers when I spotted a few flammable barrels. I aimed for them and the one closest to the soldiers exploded sending them flying, but it also knocked the second barrel onto it's site and set it alight. So here I am with this flaming barrel rolling towards me and I have no where to go. There are so many situations like that throughout that make it such a joy to play.
In summary, I went into the game knowing it was just that. Only a game, but I knew I was going to love it and I did. I think it's all about how seriously you want to take it.
Well I've had a very good experience with HL2 it seems. For a start installation was the easiest thing ever. I had a friend that has broadband unlock the files first, then run the backup tool. I went home and installed the files, booted Steam into life and ran the game. From start to finish it took about 15 minutes. Also, you don't need to be online to play HL2. If you start Steam without being connected to the net it will just ask if you want to start offline mode. Thank you Valve.
I approached HL2 with an open mind. I loved HL1 as most people did and from the moment the game started I was hooked. It just sucked me in, not knowing what was going on just made me want to play more.
Now the physics are something special, I know every other new game is coming out with similar physics engines but the way its been done in HL2 is great. I spent the first twenty minutes just picking up old boots or chairs and hitting Combine soldiers in the head, then running away giggling like a schoolgirl.
The further on into the game I played the more immersed I felt. I think the way the physics work in the gameworld just adds the unpredictable element that feels so good. Just one example of this was in the train-yard, I was in the middle of a firefight and I was backed up against one of the forcefields shooting Combine soldiers when I spotted a few flammable barrels. I aimed for them and the one closest to the soldiers exploded sending them flying, but it also knocked the second barrel onto it's site and set it alight. So here I am with this flaming barrel rolling towards me and I have no where to go. There are so many situations like that throughout that make it such a joy to play.
In summary, I went into the game knowing it was just that. Only a game, but I knew I was going to love it and I did. I think it's all about how seriously you want to take it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Agreed on all counts.
Many things did make me alittle nerved in a way, but they are out done by the serveral things they do frigin great!
PROS: -Outstanding visual effects! -More enemy types -Great graphics (not outstanding like Doom 3, but this kinda brings me to the biggest point of all) -Balanced system req! (Surprised I can play it wil a graphics crad 3 or 4 years old!)
CONS: -Not as many weapons compared to HL 1 -They cut things out from trailers (big deal) -Some pesky bugs (sure they will be fixed)
<!--QuoteBegin-Shadowlinex+Nov 18 2004, 12:03 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Shadowlinex @ Nov 18 2004, 12:03 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> -Some pesky bugs (sure they will be fixed) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I find it wild that there are as few as there are. After the whole steam fiasco I was a little worried about weather valve could pull off a highly polished product, but this game came out with signifigantly less bugs than even Farcry.
rob thats what i thought at the end of the game once i put it all together but during the game play i was still asking myself "WTH am i doing here who the **** are these guys where the **** have i been WTH is this combine smg?!!"
but in the end i figured it all out and robs post helps me know im right
every step of the way, every minute there was something really awesome or exciting going on, or something new to do or play with. it was a great, satisfying game. and i'm about to replay it. and OMG when you get that ONE WEAPON THAT ROCKS in the end that is so awesome.
I really can't believe they pulled it off. it's such a smooth game, yet so complex. I was amazed that there was such a diversity of content but it all worked soooo well. damn. great game. definitely game of the year for me.
Comments
I really do think HL1 was dark and scary... it starts out with a disaster killing almost everyone you work with. everything made scarier noises; things were always crawling out of vents and getting you when you least expect it... you think you're being saved but it turns out the military is against you, not with you... I havent' gotten far enough into HL2 to definitively say the plot isn't as dark, but the monsters and atmosphere definitely aren't (though I haven't been to this Ravenholm yet)... ok, to be fair, I'll hold back on my comments til I get there :>
One thing I really like is that it isn't falling over itself trying to show off its graphics to you the way doom3 was. It is very subtle, and you just get these moments where you have to stop to look around and think "Wow!" <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:orange'>UltimaGecko requires this console trickery, and therefore requests it.</span>
Correct.
As for Doom 3, it was arcade-style action. I didn't found it scary at all. It was merely annoying with all the darkness, and you always knew there would be a monster in that dark corner or a bunch of them teleporting in whenever you openend a room. Doom 3 was predictable, and that doesn't work very well with a game that's supposed to be scary.
Oh, and I was really annoyed by the way the game killed of everyone else. When that soldier started talking about that squad I was supposed to catch up with, I thought to myself; "gee, I wonder how they will be killed juuuust before I get to them".
Yes, DOOM III scares you the first couple of itmes something jumps out. But like people have stated, it's the same thing over and over. You are EXPECTING something to come up behind you, or to crawl out of that dark corner, you basically ignore anything in the light <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
SPOILERS ON HL2 BELOW:
SPOLIERS I SAID COMING!
OK, on HL2 you hear those flying dudes scrapping against the walls, even with surround, I spin around trying to find them, where are they. You walk forward a bit, checking all around until they come swooping down from behind making you jump. This is like DOOM III, but HL2 doesn't repeat it over and over. You get the thrill there, and walk down the hall, up a ladder. Suddenly barrels on fire come tumbling down the hill at you as 3 combine soldiers pop up and a helicopter swoops overhead. Totally different situation. You run away from the barrels, only to see they don't stop. And so on, it mixes it up, making it twice as scary.
Generally when you are making a game realistic, you want everything in it to act real. Now I don't know about you, but in real life nearly everything is pushable, throwable, and swingable. The physics aren't there just to show off, they're there to make the game feel <i>real</i>.
it makes me laugh to run up to a shelf, intending to get the items on it... and I knock the shelf over.
I have a mental picture of Gordy moshing everywhere he goes, charging into everything like a rhino...
also IRL I don't expect to see goodies everywhere suspended in baskets by elaborate pullies - I wouldn't expect that even if RL had zombie aliens running all over it either...
when you don't expect something, that's called being startled. when you DO expect something, then you're actually scared.
Keep in mind I haven't played HL2 yet (money ETA 3 days <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
But honestly, the single player, from what I heard, wows you, but in all honesty that's not why I'm going to buy HL2. All the physics (that according to you they are shoving down are throats) is going to come into play in multiplayer. Hopefully not in the same way as CS:S though (Apparently max you can do is shoot a can and it MOVES OMG)
Oh and don't forget the ragdoll physics.
All in all, I buy HL2 for the mods. Think about it, we have all at one point played NS. NS is a mod for HL1. And the quake engine blows. Now imagine how long we'll be playing mods for HL2, because the source engine is the shiznat my son.
Well... I do ramble alot.. try to make sense of it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I think you hit the nail on the head, much more succinctly than I did :>
I'm probably 1/3 into the game and I still have no idea what is going on besides the fact that I'm running around killing grunts and some aliens with a pistol and SMG...
in HL1, the first third of the game was spent experiencing a disaster and witnessing/fighting through its direct effects... it drew me in much better.
Only the bad ones. The good ones makes you think something scary is going to happen, then it doesn't. Then you can wait a couple of seconds for the viewers to relax and THEN throw in something scary. And then you mix it all up, so that sometimes, when people should expect it to happen, it does, but if you execute it correctly, they won't be ready for it anyway. In short, you make sure there are no situations where people can be sure something will happen. Let them scare themselves, let the viewers built it up and then go for the kill. Doom 3 never gave you time to build something up, because it threw monsters in everywhere, every time. HL1 one did a better job at being scary, because it didn't do that. Sometimes, there were even corpses that didn't turn out to be zombies (*gasp*).
Then of course, there's the splatter-type horror movies, that cover up for their lack of good writing with lots and lots of blood and gore. Nothing wrong with blood and gorge, but it does get a bit tedious to watch a movie that might as well have been one of them documentaries about operations.
You know only as much as Gordon knows.
HL1:
- You're Gordon Freeman
- You're working in a research facility called Black Mesa
- You're working in Anomalous Materials
- Accidentally open up a portal to another world
- Attacked by aliens
- You attack back to save the day
HL2:
- You're Gordon Freeman
- You've been "relocated" to a location called City 17
- City 17 is under the control of a alien force
- Your old friends are in City 17
- People dont like the alien forces
- People, along with Gordon, try to fight back
Hmm... Now, i <i>wonder</i> what will be HL3's story... <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The atmosphere has been great throughout the entire game, but that one chapter was absolutely stunning. Watching ant-lions swarm a small group of combine and topple them over the railings, one by one, had to be the best experiance i have ever had in any game. Ever.
-a long time ago an evil guy made a really evil ring
-the ring was cut off
-a long time later the ring was found
-the evil-guy wanted the ring back
-the good guys quest to destroy the ring
Loved the buggy and airboat though, especially the airboat. So far "Anticitizen One" is proving to be the best chapter so far <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-DiscoZombie+Nov 17 2004, 12:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DiscoZombie @ Nov 17 2004, 12:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm probably 1/3 into the game and I still have no idea what is going on besides the fact that I'm running around killing grunts and some aliens with a pistol and SMG... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You know only as much as Gordon knows.
HL1:
- You're Gordon Freeman
- You're working in a research facility called Black Mesa
- You're working in Anomalous Materials
- Accidentally open up a portal to another world
- Attacked by aliens
- You attack back to save the day
HL2:
- You're Gordon Freeman
- You've been "relocated" to a location called City 17
- City 17 is under the control of a alien force
- Your old friends are in City 17
- People dont like the alien forces
- People, along with Gordon, try to fight back
Hmm... Now, i <i>wonder</i> what will be HL3's story... <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
<span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
<span style='color:RED'> MEGA SPOILERS AND SPECULATION!!</span>
For all you blokes who didn't get into the story. It may sound like there's not story, but I think there's a HUGE, rather IN DEPTH story there... you just gotta read between the lines.
Let's analyze.
In HL1, you open a portal to Xen. You've been fighting these guys for awhile, when you goto the lamba labs and find out that your friends in that area of Black Mesa have been messing with these guys for a long time. Now, in Xen, you hear the main boss say something along the lines of "You came in peace..." or something.
This is point 1: Xen aliens are not our mortal enemy.
After destorying everything in Xen damn near, you're offered a "job" by G-Man. What he didn't tell you was that you'd be kept in stasis in some parallel dimension until you were needed. Remember that Dr. Vance said you hadn't aged a bit. Anyway, G-Man tells you to "Rise and Shine" at some point afterwards... who knows how long? A few years maybe. He's got another job for you, but you don't know what it is.
You find yourself on a train heading to City 17. You don't know where it is, what it is, how you got there, or what's happened. If your friends are alive, how much time has passed, etc. But see, at this point, how the combine came to be is common knowledge, so no one wants to explain it to you.
Now, your former director at Black Mesa was talking about how "Our Benefactors" (ie, combine), have basically sterilized us to help our evolution. Also, these soldiers you fight are pseudo humans, as you can pick up in bits and peices. They are modified by the combine and called "Overwatch." Sounds to me like the Combine are some kinda race from another universe bent on wielding power.
This is point 2: The Combine are a conquering race from somewhere else.
Along the way, you meat up with Voltigores of all kinds, these if you might remember, resemble Alien Slaves from HL1. They call you "The Freeman" or protects "The Eli Vance." And that's cool because Dr. Vance is their savior, fighting the combine. This seems to me that Xen and Combine ARE mortal enemies.
This is point 3: Xen and Combine hate eachother.
When you add these up, you get something like this:
Your former Director signed a pact with the Combine when they conquered us sometime after the Black Mesa incident, in the false hopes that he could some Humanity in some form or another. He was put as head of Overwatch and Civil Protection, making him our "Shephard" if you will.
G-Man knew about both from the beginning, and has been playing both side's against the middle for whatever reason his Employers decide upon and using you, Gordon, has his instrument to do so.
There seems to be a vast Illuminati running nearly everything, and Gordon is a the Queen on their chessboard. I'm certainly waiting in rapt attention for what's next here...
As for Doom 3, it was arcade-style action. I didn't found it scary at all. It was merely annoying with all the darkness, and you always knew there would be a monster in that dark corner or a bunch of them teleporting in whenever you openend a room. Doom 3 was predictable, and that doesn't work very well with a game that's supposed to be scary.
Oh, and I was really annoyed by the way the game killed of everyone else. When that soldier started talking about that squad I was supposed to catch up with, I thought to myself; "gee, I wonder how they will be killed juuuust before I get to them". <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wouldn't have bought HL2 if it didn't have SP. Since it doesn't have MP (heck no do I consider CS:S to be MP.) I really did buy HL2 just for the continuation of the storyline.
And Doom3 was scary and nerving, even when you know you can take down any monster in a shot or two, and even when you know the monster is going to pop out from the dark corner, the atmosphere was so absorbing that it didn't matter. The place was still spooky.
Well I've had a very good experience with HL2 it seems. For a start installation was the easiest thing ever. I had a friend that has broadband unlock the files first, then run the backup tool. I went home and installed the files, booted Steam into life and ran the game. From start to finish it took about 15 minutes. Also, you don't need to be online to play HL2. If you start Steam without being connected to the net it will just ask if you want to start offline mode. Thank you Valve.
I approached HL2 with an open mind. I loved HL1 as most people did and from the moment the game started I was hooked. It just sucked me in, not knowing what was going on just made me want to play more.
Now the physics are something special, I know every other new game is coming out with similar physics engines but the way its been done in HL2 is great. I spent the first twenty minutes just picking up old boots or chairs and hitting Combine soldiers in the head, then running away giggling like a schoolgirl.
The further on into the game I played the more immersed I felt. I think the way the physics work in the gameworld just adds the unpredictable element that feels so good. Just one example of this was in the train-yard, I was in the middle of a firefight and I was backed up against one of the forcefields shooting Combine soldiers when I spotted a few flammable barrels. I aimed for them and the one closest to the soldiers exploded sending them flying, but it also knocked the second barrel onto it's site and set it alight. So here I am with this flaming barrel rolling towards me and I have no where to go. There are so many situations like that throughout that make it such a joy to play.
In summary, I went into the game knowing it was just that. Only a game, but I knew I was going to love it and I did. I think it's all about how seriously you want to take it.
Well I've had a very good experience with HL2 it seems. For a start installation was the easiest thing ever. I had a friend that has broadband unlock the files first, then run the backup tool. I went home and installed the files, booted Steam into life and ran the game. From start to finish it took about 15 minutes. Also, you don't need to be online to play HL2. If you start Steam without being connected to the net it will just ask if you want to start offline mode. Thank you Valve.
I approached HL2 with an open mind. I loved HL1 as most people did and from the moment the game started I was hooked. It just sucked me in, not knowing what was going on just made me want to play more.
Now the physics are something special, I know every other new game is coming out with similar physics engines but the way its been done in HL2 is great. I spent the first twenty minutes just picking up old boots or chairs and hitting Combine soldiers in the head, then running away giggling like a schoolgirl.
The further on into the game I played the more immersed I felt. I think the way the physics work in the gameworld just adds the unpredictable element that feels so good. Just one example of this was in the train-yard, I was in the middle of a firefight and I was backed up against one of the forcefields shooting Combine soldiers when I spotted a few flammable barrels. I aimed for them and the one closest to the soldiers exploded sending them flying, but it also knocked the second barrel onto it's site and set it alight. So here I am with this flaming barrel rolling towards me and I have no where to go. There are so many situations like that throughout that make it such a joy to play.
In summary, I went into the game knowing it was just that. Only a game, but I knew I was going to love it and I did. I think it's all about how seriously you want to take it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed on all counts.
PROS:
-Outstanding visual effects!
-More enemy types
-Great graphics (not outstanding like Doom 3, but this kinda brings me to the biggest point of all)
-Balanced system req! (Surprised I can play it wil a graphics crad 3 or 4 years old!)
CONS:
-Not as many weapons compared to HL 1
-They cut things out from trailers (big deal)
-Some pesky bugs (sure they will be fixed)
I find it wild that there are as few as there are. After the whole steam fiasco I was a little worried about weather valve could pull off a highly polished product, but this game came out with signifigantly less bugs than even Farcry.
rob thats what i thought at the end of the game once i put it all together but during the game play i was still asking myself "WTH am i doing here who the **** are these guys where the **** have i been WTH is this combine smg?!!"
but in the end i figured it all out and robs post helps me know im right
GORDAN FREEMAN IS A WOMAN!!!!!!!
every step of the way, every minute there was something really awesome or exciting going on, or something new to do or play with. it was a great, satisfying game. and i'm about to replay it. and OMG when you get that ONE WEAPON THAT ROCKS in the end that is so awesome.
I really can't believe they pulled it off. it's such a smooth game, yet so complex. I was amazed that there was such a diversity of content but it all worked soooo well. damn. great game. definitely game of the year for me.