Half-Life/TF 2 Suggestions?

[ranger19]

As a Mac player, I've been getting into Steam on OSX. So I want to start playing Half-Life 2, but want to know about how much time the campaign will take me. Is it going to be something along the lines of a 6-8 hour campaign, or is it going to be significantly longer (10+hours)? If there are any difficulty settings, I'll probably play on normal. Also, will I be missing much if I just start with Half-Life 2 and skip the original, or is the original really worth it?

Also, I've started playing TF2, enough now that I'm not a total noob but not anything special. Any advice?

 

[manythings]

The game will give enough of a recap on Half-Life 1 and really the story was "Holy shit everyone is out to kill me today!" You won't recognise somethings and the significance of others might go over your head but you'll always be told what you need to know. Depending on how often you die and how careful you play? Maybe up to 10 hours. There is a normal and it is worth getting Episodes 1 and 2, especially for the in-game commentary mode... also get portal.

Just keep in mind that a lot of it is less than perfect by todays standards and you should be ready to do what feels natural and end up screwing yourself. E.g. You might flip out and move the mouse too far when reacting, no grenade button you have to select them from the weapon list... can't think of anything else you really need to know.

 

[repeating integers]

I made a point of looking up Half-Life's storyline before I played HL2. I also found a timeline of the HL story (be warned, stop before the events of HL2 and its episodes):

http://www.members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/timeline.htm

The game is mostly average, but it has its good moments and there's nothing really bad about it apart from the first vehicle section.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Also, I've started playing TF2, enough now that I'm not a total noob but not anything special. Any advice?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Escapist-Team-Fortress-2-Group-PC

We have some Mac users in there as well.

 

[Vigormortis]

Since you already have Team Fortress 2, and are interested in playing Half-Life 2, my suggestion is to purchase the Half-Life complete pack. You'll get Half-Life, Half-Life: Blue Shift, Half-Life: Opposing Force, Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and Team Fortress Classic. That's eight games for $40. Trust me, if you're a fan of well written science fiction, exquisite atmospheric level design, and top notch sound and voice work, you won't be disappointed.

 

[DazZ.]

Also, I've started playing TF2, enough now that I'm not a total noob but not anything special. Any advice?

What classes are you enjoying playing? Sure someone can give you something relevant to whatever you're playing. But the group Root posted will be helpful if you ask questions about what anything means/how to craft. I was away for one update and the crating confused the hell out of me so I can see how jumping into the whole thing can be confusing.

Half Life 2 is a pretty long game, around 10 hours. The episodes are around 3 hoursish each maybe less or slightly more. There are difficulty settings but they just change the amount of health you pick up and how much damage enemies take.

I'd say play the original but I don't think it's on mac anyway, wait for Black Mesa to come out. It's a remake of the original on the Half Life 2 engine, not made by Valve though, and really not sure if/when it's coming.

Get the Orange Box though, then Gmod.

 

[ranger19]

Thanks everyone for the advice so far! I'm tempted to pick up Half-Life 2 by itself since it would only be $10, but then I might want more later so I'm trying to decide whether or not to just get a big pack. Hm.

What classes are you enjoying playing? Sure someone can give you something relevant to whatever you're playing. But the group Root posted will be helpful if you ask questions about what anything means/how to craft. I was away for one update and the crating confused the hell out of me so I can see how jumping into the whole thing can be confusing.

Half Life 2 is a pretty long game, around 10 hours. The episodes are around 3 hoursish each maybe less or slightly more. There are difficulty settings but they just change the amount of health you pick up and how much damage enemies take.

I'd say play the original but I don't think it's on mac anyway, wait for Black Mesa to come out. It's a remake of the original on the Half Life 2 engine, not made by Valve though, and really not sure if/when it's coming.

Get the Orange Box though, then Gmod.

I don't really have any one class I've been sticking to. To be honest, I downloaded the game over the summer, but couldn't figure out that I needed to download an additional patch to be able to play online until I was motivated by the Halloween update to fix stuff. I started with Pyro because I wasn't good enough to just shoot things from a distance lol, and Pyro worked on the small halloween capture point I was playing.

Then I mean, I've played and enjoyed engineer on maps playing Payload, but sometimes get annoyed when i take a bunch of time to build awesome buildings then i die and someone destroys them/it takes so much time to build. I played changed to medic in one game where my team dramatically held off the payload right at the very end which was fun... I've fooled around with em all. *shrug* Engi, Pyro, Medic, Soldier/Heavy, Sniper, in approximate order of playtime/enjoyment, I guess.

Also the crafting/items thing is just so confusing. I've got multiples of a couple things and I'm just like lost there.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Grufflenark]

Half Life 2 is great, 10 hour campaign possibly.

Team Fortress 2 is awesome, but for advice you should maybe tell what your main class is?

You should also get Portal.

Edit: I read that crafting was confusing to you, I'll provide you a link, but I suggest keeping one of every unlock your planning to use.
http://www.tf2items.com/crafting/blueprints.php

 

[Anarchemitis]

Team Fortress 2 is an excellent game for newbs to start out in. Listen to players, be attentive, communicate. Ask questions, either in chat (Y or U for server chat and team chat respectively) and experiment. Use weird tactics, explore, change classes. Find something you like, then get awesome at it.

Press M to change your loadout if you find, craft or obtain weapons or gear. And remember, communication is key because there's lots of Team in Team Fortress 2. Or at least there should be.

 

[DeASplode]

Half Life 2 is a good game. You don't really need to know much about the original, since it's all just "KILL GORDON FREEMAN".

The level design is pretty damn good. Most of the game (if not all) is connected one way or another. So you walk through level 1 into level 2 into level 3, etc. Just an example.
It should take you about 10 hours to complete HL2. But that depends on how you play and how good you are.
Then after that, you've got Episodes 1 and 2 which are probably 5 hours tops each on your first play through.

Once you've finished HL2, EP1 and EP2, you get to join the "WHERE THE HELL IS EP3" bandwagon.