 |
|
|
|
|
The multi-award winning game, Half Life 2, recently switched from PC to Xbox, and upon doing so meant it joined the rather long list of first-person shooters to grace the Xbox. Half Life 2 first hit gamers over a year ago on the PC, and it was the sequel to one of the most successful PC games to date. So a lot of pressure was on the shoulders when it was released, and like many sequels it came under scrutiny, but the majority of the gamers thought the game was beautiful in every way, even though the game didn’t bring anything new to the Half Life 2 equation. It looked cleaner, felt better to play, and when I first got my hands on it (for all of 30 minutes) it really did make me think this might just beat Halo 2.
Half Life 2 generally starts like the majority of FPS’ do. A basic tutorial into the game: getting used to things like jumping and what not, but even from the basic beginning you can see just how much time and effort has gone into this game. I mean while in the train I just glanced at the seats and the leather reflected in such away I thought I was in a real subway train, and it’s just those little things which make the whole game really stand out from others around it. Also the character interaction is unlike any other game out right now. The characters faces are so realistic and what’s more, their voices run in perfect harmony with the movement of their mouth; lip-sync perfected. If you turn away from someone their voices will become quieter, I know it’s nothing new but it’s still nice to see.
Half Life 2 puts you back into the boots of Gordan Freeman, many of whom will remember as the alien slaughtering commando and saviour of our world from the PC title. Of course the world is never safe, so we begin with you in a run down train on its way to City 17. Now City 17 is like a huge prison camp, where the survivors of the previous game are kept captive by the ‘Combine’. The first thing you will notice upon entering the City is the TV screen with a rather old man trying to explain what a beautiful place City 17 is, now don’t worry so much about listening to him as he never shuts up, and it gets to a point where you have sub-consciously memorized everything he says. Anyways once past the TV screen you will encounter for the first time the ‘Gas-Mask Boys’, and by the way they are a handful at times they may look like squeak toys you give your dog but rest assured they are very mean creatures. Just standing near them will get them sparking up the old electro stick so beware. They are by no means stupid, you will find that they can use cover and even asses situations and ambush you when you least expect it.
The audio also run flawlessly in this game, the voices of the ‘Combine’ is my favourite as it sounds so evil, but everything in general sounds great. The trains and other vehicles all sound nice. Gun fire as well sounds so real, so intense, and in some cases especially when lost it’s like a lifeline to hear that gun fire. But like I said earlier, just looking at a character will see their voice get louder, so you can use that idea to figure out direction and in some cases how far away the enemy is. The control set-up is perfect, the game has a perfect sensitivity and the actual layout of the controls makes it very easy for gaming. Just simple things like using Halo 2’s white button as a flash light, and also for those quick weapon changes all you need do is tap the D-Pad.
As for gameplay, well PC veterans will think they are playing on the PC. Nothing has been changed for the console, the game hasn’t been made easier or quicker, everything about the game is just pure Half Life 2. That is just what Valve needed to do as well; they could have hit the console market with a near new game, different set up, different story but if they had it would have never felt like Half Life 2. Overall though the best aspect is the combat, there is nothing better than popping a few shots between the eyes of the ‘Combine’, but hacking them to death with a crowbar is even more satisfying. The vehicles are nice to use, they’re smooth and not laggy in any way, and the targeting system (much like Halo 2) has been given a simple auto-aim which can to some make this game feel too easy, but personally I think it’s another great aspect of the game.
The graphics are by no means a second rate job, granted on a few occasions I saw the frame-rate drop, but apart from those few occasions it runs effortlessly. When you first take a look at this game in parts I started to think, “Why was this not put onto the 360?” I mean it looks sleek, sexy and clean, you name it, yet you are also thinking how this has been made for a console that’s on its last legs (so to speak).
Just how long will you be playing this game, well sadly as many may have heard this has no multiplayer, and so already a portion of the games lastability factor has gone, but by no means does that mean the game gets boring quick. Oh no far from it, in fact the campaign mode will keep you immersed within the game so much so that you will find that you can quite easily play this game over and over again just to find different routes, maybe you went through a level and thought ‘where does that alley go?’ or maybe you just want to take on the ‘Combine’ with more force. Any reason, it doesn’t matter, it’s just so easy unlike most games to pick up and play again and again.
Sadly there are a few downers. You will find that reinforcements will come along and help out, only to be shot in the head a few seconds later, so it is not advised to get attached to any of these gun-ho-soldiers. Sadly the gun-ho phrase applies to those on the opposing side, although the AI is awesome with the enemy units working as a team, you can’t help but notice the fact that they like to shoot at you with there body in full view. I think I saw one enemy soldier hide behind a wall in the first level while everyone else was screaming ‘kill me, kill me!’. This does ruin part of the games enjoyment factor. Also the mini loading screens can be very annoying, they come up every ten minutes and sometimes they will pop up right in the middle of a gun fight, it takes 15-20 seconds and it is very off putting and at times it can ruin the game.
Even so, despite the downers this is a great game. So there’s no multiplayer, but this game still performs flawlessly despite having no multiplayer, I would much rather sit down and watch a friend than play a multiplayer Halo 2 tournament. Yes, if this game was online it would have made the experience 10 times better, and it’s not so cheap considering it’s more expensive than the PC version which did have online aspects. Despite all this, Half Life 2 is a clean game, which looks and feels like a dream. It really does in parts feel next gen and the overall atmosphere of the game is beyond awesome. So I would recommend especially for those who do not have Xbox Live as it will keep you captivated for many months. |
Comments on this article
|
 |
|
Tony 15 December 2005 10:05 AM
This game got a higher score than i expected.
|
|
|
 |
|
Jamison Lanum 17 December 2005 11:32 AM
Nice review Lee...little shaky on the score in my opinion but good review.
|
|
|
|
|
Lee Matthews 17 December 2005 12:43 PM
Cheees J.L
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Platform: |
Xbox |
| Publisher: |
Electronic Arts |
| Developer: |
Valve |
| Origin: |
|
|
|
| UK release: |
15 November 2005 |
| PEGI (UK): |
15 |
| ESRB (US): |
M |
|
|
| Genre: |
Shooter |
| Players: |
1 |
| Multiplayer: |
Not Available |
|
|
|
Extra features:
Summary:
Once again players assume the role of Gordon Freeman, a scientist destined to save the Earth from hordes of gruesome alien attackers. Half-Life 2 takes computer games to a new level of realism with incredible in-game graphics that recreate familiar-looking city streets, and blend them with strange and grotesque monsters, resulting in a believable and at times unsettling environment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
