Half-Life 2 Please Explain

[ImmortalDrifter]

I do not get what everyone thinks is so good about this game, it seems like a run of the mill shooter with a plot that while well written, holds no relevance to the first.

Note: I am not a troll, I seek legitimate enlightenment.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

In order to find the enlightenment you seek you must somehow transport yourself back in time to 2004 when the game was new. Most of the exciting new things the game did have since been done in many other games thus making the impact of the game virtually non-existant.

I would point out that this is always the answer to any question of the form "Why do people love this game that came out years ago" when asked by someone who only recently played the game.

 

[Imbechile]

Like the post above me said, it was revoluionary when it came out, but now most games have done many of the things. HL2's phisics, for instance were unbelivable when it came out, ....

 

[BENZOOKA]

In addition to what Eclectic Dreck said:

It also helps if you did happen to play Half-Life and the expansions before the sequel.

And every game is not going to work for everyone, obviously. I could never enjoy a Final Fantasy game, just like I've heard of some people who don't like Civilization games for some odd, twisted reason.

 

[bar901]

It is only "run of the mill" because so many aspects of the game were adopted by later titles. Did this really require a thread just because you played a game 7 years late?

 

[oplinger]

with a plot that while well written, holds no relevance to the first.

Well ain't that a kick in the face. No relevance? >.> Besides Freeman caused the dimensional rips that led to the combine and such to exploit them and take over earth, and that most of the black mesa crew holds quite important positions in the resistance and with the combine. The entire game was caused by Freeman in the first HL, and now it's like he's cleaning up his mess. Even if he's contracted by G-man to do so. Since canonically he accepted his job offer at the end of HL1.

...Absolutely nooooo relevance at all though.

 

[Valagetti]

Its different, thats why I like it.

 

[Phishfood]

As others have said, it is average now, but half life started the trend.

I must confess I personally found it a little over rated even when it was new, but it is definately above average.

 

[Baby Tea]

In order to find the enlightenment you seek you must somehow transport yourself back in time to 2004 when the game was new. Most of the exciting new things the game did have since been done in many other games thus making the impact of the game virtually non-existant.

I would point out that this is always the answer to any question of the form "Why do people love this game that came out years ago" when asked by someone who only recently played the game.

No freaking joke.
I mean, if some 8 year old said "Whats so great about Super Mario Brothers"? we'd just say 'he doesn't get it' because, quite frankly, he doesn't. He grew up without it in a age where games have been more complex with higher graphic fidelity.

If people weren't playing Half Life 2 in 2004, then they just missed the boat. Everyone who played it when it was released understands what made it great (If they enjoyed it at the time. It's not for everyone, admittedly). The physics were near unparalleled, the facial animations were just epic, the water effects were also crazy awesome, and the engine just did some bad-ass stuff we weren't used to (Anyone else remember seeing the tech demo with the camera and the video screen?).

At the time, it was probably the most detailed shooter I had ever seen. From its environments to it's character models, it was drop dead gorgeous. The fact that people STILL play it, MOD it, and buy it is a testament, I think, to the impact it had. Not many first person shooters, in the sea of them, can say that.

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

It is only "run of the mill" because so many aspects of the game were adopted by later titles. Did this really require a thread just because you played a game 7 years late?

Maybe not, but everywhere i go i still see people touting it as some cultural masterpiece that will never be trumped. I simply wanted to know why from people who do. (Seemed a better use of time that posting in the 4 billion gamer girl treads)

 

[Scabadus]

That bit about the plot being well written helps. Think about it, what other games of the genre have genuinly good plots? There are others, I'm not saying that Half-Life's the only one, but there arn't many. There are lots with plots that arn't bad and provide a perfectly reasonable reason for the mindless alien killing, but there are few with really good ones.

On a similar note, the characters feel human. With the exception of Freeman himself (and it is hinted that there are reasons for that exception) these are regular people trying their best to survive. They arn't ultra-competent special-forces super-soldiers; they're who we would be in their situation (and not who we wish we would be). This is something a lot of game designers forget; it's easy to root for a race that looks human and we're told is human (i.e. every shooter last year) but it's natural to root for the side that acts human.

 

[oplinger]

It is only "run of the mill" because so many aspects of the game were adopted by later titles. Did this really require a thread just because you played a game 7 years late?

Maybe not, but everywhere i go i still see people touting as some cultural masterpiece that will never be trumped. I simply wanted to know why from people who do. (Seemed a better use of time that posting in the 4 billion gamer girl treads)

It's the technology. The physics are heavily modded Havok physics, which are very close to reality as far as weight is concerned. The facial animations were ground breaking, and had never been done on that level before. Never. The lighting was also brand spanking new, with realistic refractions and reflections, the iris effect. Also the sound was realistically simulated with echo and distance degradation. Not to mention the engine could render an unprecedented amount of polygons for it's time, which lead to very high detail models.

And it had even more features than they used in HL2, they're all explained in the lost coast. Not to mention the story was well written and conveyed in a wonderful and engaging way, where everything isn't spelled out for you, but you're able to make your own speculations and fill in the gaps yourself just by looking around.

The graphics, sound, and story, all came together for an insane level of immersion, and it hardly ever broke that immersion. That's why it's considered one of the best FPSs ever.

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

It is only "run of the mill" because so many aspects of the game were adopted by later titles. Did this really require a thread just because you played a game 7 years late?

Maybe not, but everywhere i go i still see people touting as some cultural masterpiece that will never be trumped. I simply wanted to know why from people who do. (Seemed a better use of time that posting in the 4 billion gamer girl treads)

It's the technology. The physics are heavily modded Havok physics, which are very close to reality as far as weight is concerned. The facial animations were ground breaking, and had never been done on that level before. Never. The lighting was also brand spanking new, with realistic refractions and reflections, the iris effect. Also the sound was realistically simulated with echo and distance degradation. Not to mention the engine could render an unprecedented amount of polygons for it's time, which lead to very high detail models.

And it had even more features than they used in HL2, they're all explained in the lost coast. Not to mention the story was well written and conveyed in a wonderful and engaging way, where everything isn't spelled out for you, but you're able to make your own speculations and fill in the gaps yourself just by looking around.

The graphics, sound, and story, all came together for an insane level of immersion, and it hardly ever broke that immersion. That's why it's considered one of the best FPSs ever.

And that is the explanation i was looking for. Thank you. Sorry if this was a waste of a thread I just needed some insight.

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

with a plot that while well written, holds no relevance to the first.

Well ain't that a kick in the face. No relevance? >.> Besides Freeman caused the dimensional rips that led to the combine and such to exploit them and take over earth, and that most of the black mesa crew holds quite important positions in the resistance and with the combine. The entire game was caused by Freeman in the first HL, and now it's like he's cleaning up his mess. Even if he's contracted by G-man to do so. Since canonically he accepted his job offer at the end of HL1.

...Absolutely nooooo relevance at all though.

But when is the Combine at all mentioned in the first, despite in the second apparently being this horrible omni-dimensional empire of infinite terror? What does his action in xen really do? How the hell did the combine find out about earth?

 

[Smooth Operator]

I feel this is like explaining a joke to people, honestly if you notice any of the many gems in this game... I really can't enlighten you further.

You either got the "joke" or you will be looking at a meaningless set of words, if you didn't feel the setting, story and characters then it will probably look "run of the mill" shooter... only Valve found this amazing book called Colors That Are Not Brown.

 

[bar901]

It is only "run of the mill" because so many aspects of the game were adopted by later titles. Did this really require a thread just because you played a game 7 years late?

Maybe not, but everywhere i go i still see people touting it as some cultural masterpiece that will never be trumped. I simply wanted to know why from people who do. (Seemed a better use of time that posting in the 4 billion gamer girl treads)

Well, I hate to say it, but in the end it's really one of those "you had to be there" kinda things. A few others here have tried to explain how good it was for its time, but really there is no subsitute for having been a gamer at the time, picking up a copy of HL2 and having your mind blown.

 

[tzimize]

Like the post above me said, it was revoluionary when it came out, but now most games have done many of the things. HL2's phisics, for instance were unbelivable when it came out, ....

I still remember the awe I experienced at one of the first puzzles. It was a piece of wood over a barrel. I could make a bridge up to the ledge above by weighting down one end with bricks that lay around.

It was a way of thinking that was completely alien in gaming to me, and when I figured it out I giggled on the inside and reveled in the newness and creativity that was HL2.

Man. I think I'm gonna have to replay it soon.

 

[oplinger]

with a plot that while well written, holds no relevance to the first.

Well ain't that a kick in the face. No relevance? >.> Besides Freeman caused the dimensional rips that led to the combine and such to exploit them and take over earth, and that most of the black mesa crew holds quite important positions in the resistance and with the combine. The entire game was caused by Freeman in the first HL, and now it's like he's cleaning up his mess. Even if he's contracted by G-man to do so. Since canonically he accepted his job offer at the end of HL1.

...Absolutely nooooo relevance at all though.

But when is the Combine at all mentioned in the first, despite in the second apparently being this horrible omni-dimensional empire of infinite terror? What does his action in xen really do? How the hell did the combine find out about earth?

The combine weren't in HL1, when Freeman killed Nihilanth the portal storms started (see episode 2, it was apparently very similar to the beginning) The combine used the resulting portals to launch a large scale invasion of earth. Obviously Freeman wasn't there for that. It's never explained how they knew about earth, but that's what the combine does, they invade other dimensions and enslave the dominant species. Rinse, repeat.

 

[MrGalactus]

It's the level design. It's absolutely the best there is as far as I can think of. That and there is a genuine feeling of progression, and the story and elements of the universe are incredibly interesting. I love it, it's great, and I only bought The Orange Box for Team Fortress 2. And I bought it late last year, so not much interest before, but massive, massive surprise after.