LTTP - Ode to Half-Life 2

Kaboose the Moose

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[HEADING=3]A better late than never look at:[/HEADING]​


Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher(s): Sierra Entertainment (expired), Valve Corporation
Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,
Release date: November 16, 2004

Celebrity voice actors:

Michelle Forbes (Lost, Prison Break, Battlestar Galactica) - Dr. Judith Mossman
___________________________________​

All right so it's not exactly an ode by it's strictest definition but I decided to do things differently anyway. I am between format changes for my reviews so this will not follow conventional LTTP format, instead you all get a poem..of sorts.

It's called:


[HEADING=1]
Imagine​
[/HEADING]

Imagine the future. Not shiny metal and fluorescent lighting; not lightsabers and foreign planets. This is a disturbingly grounded future: today's world and today's ideals, painted black by the harsh brush of technological surrealism. A future where, day by day, life becomes a little more synonymous with survival.

Imagine a city full of hopes and dreams, destroyed by the very nature of its existence. Imagine it being put to use as a subtle prison, a place of brainwashing and alien authoritarianism, masquerading as a safe haven for humanity. Imagine its beauty ripped apart by the bullets of a seven-hour war, rebuilt by an unfamiliar and unfriendly race. Imagine the sun?s rays reflecting off dingy canals, highlighting the intricacy of the bloodstained walls.

Imagine feeling helpless. Imagine feeling like the most powerful person alive.

Imagine a woman so achingly beautiful that it hurts to be in her company. But imagine her being the only remaining scrap of comfort in the universe. Imagine her as a spectacularly intelligent, fiendishly independent human, one who speaks in a way so hauntingly magical that it makes you feel gorgeously inept. A woman whose gaze follows you across a room, who jokes with you, who clearly wants you around but never needs you. A woman you adore to rely on.

Imagine a village on a hillside. Imagine it dark and foreboding. No one goes there any more - not since the oppressive Combine government destroyed it with bombs containing vicious Headcrabs, which enslaved the villagers as their hosts, rendering them murderous, zombified versions of their former selves. Imagine pure terror as you sneak your way through the flaming wooden remains, escaping a Combine attack on your safe haven. Imagine a lone survivor, shotgunning through the hordes of undead, maintaining Ravenholm as his own paradise. Imagine killing everything with saw blades and luring monsters into gory metallic traps.

Imagine hurtling at 70 miles per hour down a canal, foot firmly down on the pedal of your airboat, finger tight around the trigger of the devastating weapon mounted upon it. Imagine it so real and tangible that you can practically feel the wind whistling through your shaggy hair and goatee beard.

Imagine a constant, unrelenting sense of awe.

Imagine fierce and visceral gunplay against a mysterious masked species, hell-bent on bringing you and your ideals to the ground. Your reputation precedes you: as far as the Combine are concerned, you're only there for one reason, and that's to cause trouble. Imagine pistols and shotguns and submachine guns, all blisteringly powerful and gorgeously balanced. Imagine grenades, rocket launchers, and a device that lets you manipulate gravity to your advantage. Imagine doing so, regularly, to wondrous effect.

Imagine regrouping and leading the oppressed citizens of City 17 in a huge rebellion against the Combine?s headquarters, a pacey and exciting race for control and restoration of peace. Imagine the most astonishingly designed, curiously inhuman architecture you've ever seen: an inexplicable tower that Ian Simpson [http://www.e-architect.co.uk/manchester/jpgs/beetham_tower_aw120806_229.jpg] could only have dreamed of creating. Imagine a fight to reduce it to rubble - because that's what this will take. The lives of thousands depend on you.

And imagine the end. An end that comes a little more quickly and abruptly than you may have been expecting from your epic journey thus far. But imagine the thrill of the explosions, the sheer carnage and destruction around you, as you sit back, smile, and think. "we made some progress today."

But remember: you're never in control. None of this was your decision. You're a perpetual puppet to the mystifying secret agent that brought you to this nightmare of a place, offering to spare your life on the grounds that you unquestioningly obey his orders. There's no illusion of free choice here, not for a second. After all, it's only a videogame...

Half-Life 2: the stuff of imagination, on disk​


___________________________________________​

Reviews:

Resident Evil 5 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.170618#4664134]

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.170159]

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.169389]

Monopoly [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.168849]

Golden Axe: Beast Rider [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.167937]

Call Of Duty: World At War [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.167469]

Eat Lead: The Return Of Matt Hazard [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.167254]

The Godfather II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.165846]

Flash Games Roundup [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.164079]

Assassin?s Creed II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163778#4249881]

Tropico 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163694#4244655]

Thief: Deadly Shadows [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.138283#3107800]

Thief II: The Metal Age [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136846]

Thief I: The Dark Project [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136341]

Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.134802]

Death to Spies: Moment of Truth [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.134495]

Trine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.132012#2966560]

The Path [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.131763]

Psychonauts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127811]

Overlord II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127136]

Tales of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.126361]

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.126157]

Previews:
The Hobbit [2011]: Film Preview [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.166781]
God of War III [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.168506]
Mass Effect 2 Preview [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.170666]
Preview of MAG [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.171315]

Sacred 2
007: Quantum of Solace
Secret Service: Ultimate Sacrifice
Shellshock 2: Blood Trails
Tomb Raider Underworld
Fable II
Bioshock
Europa Universalis III
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Half Life 2
Half Life 2 :Episode One
Half Life 2 :Episode Two

Please feel free to comment!
 

Pandairon

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Oooh, a cerebral review this time around. I like it it's like a minimalist version for review writing and I do love the game when it first came out. We could not shut up about the Gravity gun and G-man and even though I have tried every Gmod available I still never tire of Half-life 2.

Very interesting review nevertheless. I see you got episodes 01 and 2 in the list as well, good to see more HL2 love coming from you.

Eliam_Dar said:
I love this game, for those who have it, I suggest to try Cinematic Mod 10
Is that the same as Gary's Mod or what?
 

Eliam_Dar

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Pandairon said:
Oooh, a cerebral review this time around. I like it it's like a minimalist version for review writing and I do love the game when it first came out. We could not shut up about the Gravity gun and G-man and even though I have tried every Gmod available I still never tire of Half-life 2.

Very interesting review nevertheless. I see you got episodes 01 and 2 in the list as well, good to see more HL2 love coming from you.

Eliam_Dar said:
I love this game, for those who have it, I suggest to try Cinematic Mod 10
Is that the same as Gary's Mod or what?
nope, Cinematic mod 10 is free, though it is 9gb to download and almost 20 when installed, what it does is to upgrade all the graphics from HL2 and its episodes. It makes it look as if the game was made yesterday, it also adds new models for civilians and main characters, including new models for G-MAN, alyx, Eli, Dr Kleiner, Dr Breene and Barney. Massive texture upgrades and music.
 

Pandairon

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Eliam_Dar said:
Pandairon said:
Oooh, a cerebral review this time around. I like it it's like a minimalist version for review writing and I do love the game when it first came out. We could not shut up about the Gravity gun and G-man and even though I have tried every Gmod available I still never tire of Half-life 2.

Very interesting review nevertheless. I see you got episodes 01 and 2 in the list as well, good to see more HL2 love coming from you.

Eliam_Dar said:
I love this game, for those who have it, I suggest to try Cinematic Mod 10
Is that the same as Gary's Mod or what?
nope, Cinematic mod 10 is free, though it is 9gb to download and almost 20 when installed, what it does is to upgrade all the graphics from HL2 and its episodes. It makes it look as if the game was made yesterday, it also adds new models for civilians and main characters, including new models for G-MAN, alyx, Eli, Dr Kleiner, Dr Breene and Barney. Massive texture upgrades and music.
Woah when did that come out? Is it a Valve patch or a fan based Modification and does it apply for all the episodes?
 

UnusualStranger

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Jan 23, 2010
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That......

was good. Really good. I'm impressed. I think I'll go play that again now.

I have a feeling I need to check the rest of these things out now.
 

brabz

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Jan 3, 2008
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So the G-Man is a dreamer? As far as we know, he's the only one. /lame joke

Very cool review, solid and interesting approach.
 

Dragonearl

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Fact: I have never been moved into replaying or buying a game more from a review than you have just made me with this post. Top work, truly fantastic!

brabz said:
So the G-Man is a dreamer? As far as we know, he's the only one. /lame joke

Very cool review, solid and interesting approach.
I see what you did there with the John Lennon lyrics and all XD

Also just noticed that Michelle Forbes better knows as Admiral Cain from Battlestar Galactica lent her voice for this came. Very cool to know.
 

Eliam_Dar

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Nov 25, 2009
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Pandairon said:
Eliam_Dar said:
Pandairon said:
Oooh, a cerebral review this time around. I like it it's like a minimalist version for review writing and I do love the game when it first came out. We could not shut up about the Gravity gun and G-man and even though I have tried every Gmod available I still never tire of Half-life 2.

Very interesting review nevertheless. I see you got episodes 01 and 2 in the list as well, good to see more HL2 love coming from you.

Eliam_Dar said:
I love this game, for those who have it, I suggest to try Cinematic Mod 10
Is that the same as Gary's Mod or what?
nope, Cinematic mod 10 is free, though it is 9gb to download and almost 20 when installed, what it does is to upgrade all the graphics from HL2 and its episodes. It makes it look as if the game was made yesterday, it also adds new models for civilians and main characters, including new models for G-MAN, alyx, Eli, Dr Kleiner, Dr Breene and Barney. Massive texture upgrades and music.
Woah when did that come out? Is it a Valve patch or a fan based Modification and does it apply for all the episodes?
fan based, but great, here check the site and check the before and after mod screens.

http://www.cinematicmod.com/cm_10.php
 

Kaboose the Moose

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Feb 15, 2009
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Eliam_Dar said:
I love this game, for those who have it, I suggest to try Cinematic Mod 10
Glad you liked it and cheers for recommending Mod 10A. Never really got a chance to try it out but I might give it a go when I replay episodes one and two again

Pandairon said:
Oooh, a cerebral review this time around. I like it it's like a minimalist version for review writing and I do love the game when it first came out. We could not shut up about the Gravity gun and G-man and even though I have tried every Gmod available I still never tire of Half-life 2.

Very interesting review nevertheless. I see you got episodes 01 and 2 in the list as well, good to see more HL2 love coming from you.
Glad you liked the review and I'll admit back in the day when I actually did subscribe to PC Gamer UK, I was taken in by all the user based content they advertised. G-mod is the awesomesause!

bbarco224(341) said:
god that was great, i could see everything
Cheers :)

UnusualStranger said:
That......

was good. Really good. I'm impressed. I think I'll go play that again now.

I have a feeling I need to check the rest of these things out now.
This was pretty much a one off thing. Everyone in the world has either played Half-Life and it's sequel or have heard about it and it is *the* yardstick that all FPS games are thrust against for comparison. The reviews have been done to death, so I thought it best to overview it as opposed to dissect it. Glad you enjoyed it :)

brabz said:
So the G-Man is a dreamer? As far as we know, he's the only one. /lame joke

Very cool review, solid and interesting approach.
Cheers, mate!

Overlooking the obvious "Imagine" lyrics, I wouldn't go calling the G-man a dreamer. To this day he still gives me the creeps

Dragonearl said:
Fact: I have never been moved into replaying or buying a game more from a review than you have just made me with this post. Top work, truly fantastic!
Thank you. Mr. Freeman though makes it look easy.
 

Nick Bounty

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Feb 17, 2009
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You sure know how to stir memories I'll give you that Skarin. Brilliant writing in that you managed to capture the essence of hl2 without even breaking it apart.
Kudos and +1 internet to you good sir!
 

Jekken6

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Excellent review! Half-Life 2 and it's episodes are some of my favourite games, ever. Now let's pray Episode 3 is in good shape and is on it's way.
 

McHanhan

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Sep 13, 2009
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Good review Ska. One of my favorite games after Thief

Dragonearl said:
Also just noticed that Michelle Forbes better knows as Admiral Cain from Battlestar Galactica lent her voice for this came. Very cool to know.
Well to be pedantic she was from the Pegasus and not the Galactica, hehehe
 

Immortalis_sp

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What an interesting way to do a review! I really liked this despite not having the much sought after game-graphics-gameplay style writing. It's a nice refreshing way to recommend a game by saying whats great about it all. Loved it and I am off to read more of your other works
 

Reavers'R'us

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Long time lurker of these forums and I decided to join the community thanks in part to your reviews. I loved this particular one when I read it and felt that I had to join to post my comment on it. It's fan-tas-tic and such a refreshing change from all the other reviews out here. I hope you do more reviews like these because you now have a new fan
 

Kaboose the Moose

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Reavers said:
Long time lurker of these forums and I decided to join the community thanks in part to your reviews. I loved this particular one when I read it and felt that I had to join to post my comment on it. It's fan-tas-tic and such a refreshing change from all the other reviews out here. I hope you do more reviews like these because you now have a new fan
Wow that's flattering and slightly unnerving all at the same time, now I have to focus on not disappointing you with my reviews :p

Thanks again for the comments guys.