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[Liquid Helium]

Yeah. If there was a way to just have the new environment textures and enhancements like that, I'd be trying it for sure, but the new NPC models are utterly hideous.

Surely this has been done? It can't be that hard to just remove the NPC models from the mod can it?

Edit: Damn this thread has got me in the mood to play some HL2 with the cinematic mod, 9.5 is the one to get, right?

 

[brain_stew]

Yeah. If there was a way to just have the new environment textures and enhancements like that, I'd be trying it for sure, but the new NPC models are utterly hideous.

There is.

If you delete any of the content you don't want then it'll just revert back to the Valve default. Heck, the "HD" models aren't even included by default. You have to specifically add the ones you want with the included tool. Most of the textures are very faithful and they are insanely high resolution, coupled with the volumetric fog, 3D foliage, huge draw distance and true HDR lighting it can look really stunning.

For a repeat play through its great, the graphics take a huge leap forward.

 

[randomwab]

playing through the original Half-Life for the first time now. I've had it sitting in my Steam account for a while but I always end up putting it to the side because of dated it is by today's standards.

it was tough to start out with because of this, but once I got by Office Complex and got into Blast Pit the game got it hooks into me.

The last thing I did was get a scientist to operate the retinal scanner. I might make a new LTTP when I'm done with it. We'll see if I can be f'ed or not.

If only I wasn't nine or ten when this was released. I'd have loved to have played this back when it was new. I can only imagine how great it would have been.

I'll be interested to hear what you think. I often wonder how many people go from Half-Life 2 back to the original Half-Life and its expansions, and what they think.

I mean, they're so different, even in the things both titles do. For example, Half-Life introduced scripting in a way that was completely revolutionary for the time, and something that almost every FPS since has emulated, but Half-Life 2, albeit heavily scripted too, is executed in a much different, more linear fashion. Even in the art style and story execution I feel they're so far apart.

But yeah, I'm interested to hear what your thoughts are. And if you're liking Half-Life, you really should grab the two expansions. Blue Shift has its moments, but Opposing Force is a must play.

 

[Sibylus]

I'll be interested to hear what you think. I often wonder how many people go from Half-Life 2 back to the original Half-Life and its expansions, and what they think.

I mean, they're so different, even in the things both titles do. For example, Half-Life introduced scripting in a way that was completely revolutionary for the time, and something that almost every FPS since has emulated, but Half-Life 2, albeit heavily scripted too, is executed in a much different, more linear fashion. Even in the art style and story execution I feel they're so far apart.

But yeah, I'm interested to hear what your thoughts are. And if you're liking Half-Life, you really should grab the two expansions. Blue Shift has its moments, but Opposing Force is a must play.

I went back to play Half-Life around 4 months ago, posted a thread on Gaf, too.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348132

 

[DMczaf]

I've been running through Orange Box this month, and yes I did the Gnome achievement in Episode 2!

Probably the most annoying part during that trip was the drive through the train station with the chopper :|

 

[Sibylus]

I didn't bother trying to keep the Gnome in the backseat in that part. I simply used the gravity gun to throw him ahead, then I drove to that spot so the Hunter-Chopper wouldn't begin its "ground fire" firing mode. Throw him again, drive, etc.

 

[DMczaf]

I didn't bother trying to keep the Gnome in the backseat in that part. I simply used the gravity gun to throw him ahead, then I drove to that spot so the Hunter-Chopper wouldn't begin its "ground fire" firing mode. Throw him again, drive, etc.

That's what I ended up doing. I also liked doing the One Bullet achievement in Ep 1.

 

[AniHawk]

So I finally beat Half-Life 2 again last night. First time in four years.

I usually don't replay games. I'm content with just having them, that maybe someday I'll go back and replay them.

What else can be said that hasn't already? I'm at a loss for words.

I do have a few questions though, mostly regarding Breen.

-He's talking to an advisor when Alyx and Gordon are in the elevator and about to confront him (he then leaves down another elevator with a shit-eating grin while he waves (I love this part so much)). He says something about becoming a host... Not sure what was said. Just wondering if anyone else knew.

-Apparently in Half-Life, the Adminstrator (Breen) had gone through "great lengths" to get the crystal that caused the resonance cascade. I have not played Half-Life, so I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I heard that there were bodies in HEV suits on Xen, and that the crystal that caused the resonance cascade also came from Xen. I had thought that there was no portal to Xen before the events of Half-Life... so what's going on exactly? How did Breen know so much?

-Anyone else get the feeling he'll be in Episode Three in some form? I dunno. He should be dead as of the end of HL2, but going back to my first question, I wonder if he'll be the host for something else, or his memories would be part of an advisor.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

you know the Adviser you see in Episode One toward the beginning, that head-shocks you and Alyx? A common theory is that

Spoiler

that is Breen.

The little references are scattered across the episodes if you look for them.

We learn in Episode 2 that the G-Man originally supplied Breen with the crystal that starts the whole shebang. It isn't said explicitly in HL1 (hell, Breen technically isn't referenced as a character in that game), but HL2:EP2 makes it clear.

My HL1 knowledge is spotty, though. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[itsinmyveins]

I'm at one of the last chapters now, so soon I'll finish it as well. But even if I like the game a lot there's a bunch of things I dislike.

There are a few enemies--the flying little machines, the poisonous headcrabs, those balls that jump up out of the ground--that I don't care for at all, and I think it'd be better without them. The mines that are scattered all over the city during the beginning of the chapter Anticitizen One only slows the fights down without contributing any fun gameplay. Instead they just draw attention away from the gunfights with the combine. Well, to be fair, I do see the point of the flying machines, but I'd rather have a slower and less annoying type :/

Moreover, I think the way you're over and over again forced to either equip the crowbar or the gravity gun to destroy boxes with ammo kinda slows down the gameplay. I like to have two weapons ready, i.e. being able to switch between them fast with the "Q" key. All those boxes throw that out of the window. And on the same note; changing weapons isn't smooth at all.

 

[rnwd]

Recently started the original Half-Life 2 myself. It brings back a lot of memories, but I can already tell how much I prefer the episodes. Walking around solo doesn't hold a candle to running through areas with Alyx.

 

[jtb]

So I finally beat Half-Life 2 again last night. First time in four years.

I usually don't replay games. I'm content with just having them, that maybe someday I'll go back and replay them.

What else can be said that hasn't already? I'm at a loss for words.

I do have a few questions though, mostly regarding Breen.

-He's talking to an advisor when Alyx and Gordon are in the elevator and about to confront him (he then leaves down another elevator with a shit-eating grin while he waves (I love this part so much)). He says something about becoming a host... Not sure what was said. Just wondering if anyone else knew.

-Apparently in Half-Life, the Adminstrator (Breen) had gone through "great lengths" to get the crystal that caused the resonance cascade. I have not played Half-Life, so I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I heard that there were bodies in HEV suits on Xen, and that the crystal that caused the resonance cascade also came from Xen. I had thought that there was no portal to Xen before the events of Half-Life... so what's going on exactly? How did Breen know so much?

-Anyone else get the feeling he'll be in Episode Three in some form? I dunno. He should be dead as of the end of HL2, but going back to my first question, I wonder if he'll be the host for something else, or his memories would be part of an advisor.

Its is basically implied that the G-Man (who is already a huge source of questions throughout the series) gave Breen the crystals, which is the whole reason why Earth is under Combine control. The reason there are HEV suits on Xen is because other scientists (who were less fortunate than Gordon, I guess) made it there, and then were KIA. Breen knows a lot of this probably both because he got the crystal from G-Man, and because he did work out the surrender between the Combine and Humans (due to his prior experience with the aliens, I believe).

Hopefully that clears up the second bullet

 

[Deleted member 30609]

I'm at one of the last chapters now, so soon I'll finish it as well. But even if I like the game a lot there's a bunch of things I dislike.

There are a few enemies--the flying little machines, the poisonous headcrabs, those balls that jump up out of the ground--that I don't care for at all, and I think it'd be better without them. The mines that are scattered all over the city during the beginning of the chapter Anticitizen One only slows the fights down without contributing any fun gameplay. Instead they just draw attention away from the gunfights with the combine. Well, to be fair, I do see the point of the flying machines, but I'd rather have a slower and less annoying type :/

Moreover, I think the way you're over and over again forced to either equip the crowbar or the gravity gun to destroy boxes with ammo kinda slows down the gameplay. I like to have two weapons ready, i.e. being able to switch between them fast with the "Q" key. All those boxes throw that out of the window. And on the same note; changing weapons isn't smooth at all.

set the gravity gun to middle click. it'll still screw up your "q" setup, but it makes it easier.

the manhacks (annoying little flying buzzing machine enemies) can be killed easily with the gravity gun. grab them and throw them into a wall with it.

 

[itsinmyveins]

set the gravity gun to middle click. it'll still screw up your "q" setup, but it makes it easier.

the manhacks (annoying little flying buzzing machine enemies) can be killed easily with the gravity gun. grab them and throw them into a wall with it.

Well, switching to the gravity gun works fine using the "g" key, but it's annoying when you're in the middle of a firefight and you need to switch to another weapon and press q only to equip the gravity gun instead of the shotgun because you forgot to do the switch-thing after that last ammo box. Didn't know you could crab the manhacks with the gravity gun though. I've been using the shotgun against them and it works quite good.

It's gonna be fun to see what I make of Episode One. I've only played it once before and back then I thought it was too short considering I wasn't that fond of the opening hours.

 

[shadowsdarknes]

I personally wasn't crazy about HL2. Couldn't finish it.

 

[Itsintheairtonight]

the best part is defiantly the interactive cinemas, like the beginning or when you are playing catch with dog.

The gun play and ai is pretty standard.

Still think its one of the better fps though. I would like this series to be even more fpa than fps. Less shooting and more story immersion, cause thats the series strong point.

 

[AniHawk]

the best part is defiantly the interactive cinemas, like the beginning or when you are playing catch with dog.

the word is definitely. defiantly means something else entirely.

Its is basically implied that the G-Man (who is already a huge source of questions throughout the series) gave Breen the crystals, which is the whole reason why Earth is under Combine control. The reason there are HEV suits on Xen is because other scientists (who were less fortunate than Gordon, I guess) made it there, and then were KIA. Breen knows a lot of this probably both because he got the crystal from G-Man, and because he did work out the surrender between the Combine and Humans (due to his prior experience with the aliens, I believe).

Hopefully that clears up the second bullet

I guess that makes sense. I don't recall the hints in Episode Two that Rez was talking about. And I thought the resonance cascade was the reason why the portal to Xen opened in the first place... unless several other scientists got there first during the events of Half-Life.

 

[Sibylus]

-He's talking to an advisor when Alyx and Gordon are in the elevator and about to confront him (he then leaves down another elevator with a shit-eating grin while he waves (I love this part so much)). He says something about becoming a host... Not sure what was said. Just wondering if anyone else knew.

He was offered to abandon his own body for a host body, it was effectively the only immediate option. Breen didn't want to do it, but he quickly relented when Freeman closed in. He would have been placed into a host body to survive the conditions on the other side of the portal.

Unless he was cloned here on Earth, I don't think he was able to reach the portal. He started falling before he was able to reach the "event horizon", so I think it's safe to say he's dead.

-Apparently in Half-Life, the Adminstrator (Breen) had gone through "great lengths" to get the crystal that caused the resonance cascade. I have not played Half-Life, so I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I heard that there were bodies in HEV suits on Xen, and that the crystal that caused the resonance cascade also came from Xen. I had thought that there was no portal to Xen before the events of Half-Life... so what's going on exactly? How did Breen know so much?

Eli says in Episode Two that Gman personally handed him the crystals. However, Breen's lines seem to indicate that he himself was also aware of the Gman's presence, so it may be that it was by his actions that Gman brought the crytals to Black Mesa, where he handed them off to Eli Vance.

I'm not too clear on when the dead scientists entered Xen, but it's conceivable that they did so via the Lambda Complex of Black Mesa, where portal technology was apparently being worked on before it was used in Anomalous Materials.

-Anyone else get the feeling he'll be in Episode Three in some form? I dunno. He should be dead as of the end of HL2, but going back to my first question, I wonder if he'll be the host for something else, or his memories would be part of an advisor.

Cloned memories being implanted into a "blank slate" Advisor could be an interesting possibility.

 

[hypostatic]

I liked Half-Life 2, but felt like it was trying to do too much by changing up the gameplay (nearly) every chapter. I'm just about to finish Episode 1, and wish it was a little more varied. I guess you always want what you don't have, right? :lol

 

[itsinmyveins]

Just finished it.

I've finished it once before shortly after it was released, and I've played half ways or less through it several times and I do enjoy the story a lot. But I don't know that much about what happened in the first game which I've only played for a few hours.

And man, when you're fighting in the town and can see the citadell far off in the background it does look kinda epic. Same goes for when you're being transported around inside the citadell.

But personally, I'd say my favourite part of the game is the Highway 17 chapter and up to Nova Prospekt.

 

[Dark Stalkers]

But personally, I'd say my favourite part of the game is the Highway 17 chapter and up to Nova Prospekt.

Spoiler

Having an insect army was pretty damn awesome, wasn't it?

 

[DiddyBop]

i just bought the orange box for the 360 last week and ive been playing through this. pretty fun so far.

 

[zbarron]

The Half Life 2 series is one of my favorites and Episode 3 is my most anticipated game right now. I must admit though that if it looks worse than the cinematic mod, I will consider it a visual downgrade. That is the bar of where the series is at for me.

 

[AniHawk]

The Half Life 2 series is one of my favorites and Episode 3 is my most anticipated game right now. I must admit though that if it looks worse than the cinematic mod, I will consider it a visual downgrade. That is the bar of where the series is at for me.

Really? I'll take the one where the characters aren't butchered beyond recognition.

 

[epmode]

Really? I'll take the one where the characters aren't butchered beyond recognition.

And the textures, for that matter. Some of the substitutions are just ridiculous.

 

[Jasoco]

My Orange Box on my 360 freezes in Half-Life 2 on the last stage (The part where you run down a hallway towards two striders throwing the coffin container things with your super gravity gun) every time. I can't beat HL2 on my 360 because of this! It always freezes every time I try to go down the hall!

It's a big sad disappointment. None of the other games freeze. I don't know if it is caused by something I did before that point and if I play again will it not happen? Either way, it's frustrating that I can't finish HL2 on my 360.

I want to try playing through again or starting a new game from that chapter, but I hate to think what if it does it still?

I even tried installing it. No luck.

 

[Sibylus]

My Orange Box on my 360 freezes in Half-Life 2 on the last stage (The part where you run down a hallway towards two striders throwing the coffin container things with your super gravity gun) every time. I can't beat HL2 on my 360 because of this! It always freezes every time I try to go down the hall!

It's a big sad disappointment. None of the other games freeze. I don't know if it is caused by something I did before that point and if I play again will it not happen? Either way, it's frustrating that I can't finish HL2 on my 360.

I want to try playing through again or starting a new game from that chapter, but I hate to think what if it does it still?

I even tried installing it. No luck.

Start a new game from that chapter. If you had guns, you'd lose their specific ammo levels and your specific health level, but that's more or less moot in that chapter.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

I liked Half-Life 2, but felt like it was trying to do too much by changing up the gameplay (nearly) every chapter. I'm just about to finish Episode 1, and wish it was a little more varied. I guess you always want what you don't have, right? :lol

see: Episode 2

 

[hamchan]

Just finished this game tonight because this thread reminded me to start it up again. I've actually gone through the opening bits with the boat 3 times now (twice on PC once on 360) and stopped because I just got bored. My last stopping point was on the highway so I just continued from there. I must say it got awesome after that point. I really enjoyed controlling antlions but actually hated the prison level.

From then on I loved the last few chapters in city 17. Controlling my squad was as bad as everyone said it was, their guns seemed to do no damage at all :lol. The strider battles were WTF AMAZING AWESOME! I actually got lost for 10 minutes after the rooftop battle and was just walking around in circles until I saw a beam I had to cross. This actually happened to me a few times in the game, which annoyed me greatly.

The Citadel bits were the best parts of the game. The super gravity gun just makes the player godlike, I love it. Riding around in the restraints, taking in the sights, was so good Also I never got lost in the place, which is a big thumbs up in my book. The final parts of the story was weird though. Why would Gordon deliver himself to Breen? Why the heck would Breen drop such an awesome weapon for Gordon to pick up? I guess the answers to these questions are that Gordon and Breen are both idiots. Also the final boss was so damn easy:lol

Now onto Episode 1!

 

[Sibylus]

"He doesn't have a clue, does he" pretty much sums him well enough. All that time in his tower probably made Breen a little bit too reliant on his Advisor pals and not reliant enough on his own initiative. He could have crossed over to the side of the Resistance before the end, but he allowed himself to be blinded by the might of the Advisors and their Universal Union.

And as for Gordon, that was probably the only immediate access. Breen might have had a private elevator deeper inside the Citadel somewhere, but it's not known.

 

[Nachkebia]

I loved the bridge level, it was breathtaking! whole thing feels very real, very alive, atmospheric wise I got scared in HL2 more than any other horror game I played....

 

[jtb]

Wow! I just finished replaying the game today also, and I still didn't really like parts of it, while other parts were awesome. The driving was very hit-miss for me, as the actual driving was fun, while the "if you have anything within a 5 meter radius of the vehicle, you will crash and not be able to move" was not fun.

Ravenholm = Very atmospheric, very well done. It seems like my enjoyment went downhill after Nova Prospekt; didn't really enjoy the turret mini-game as much as I remembered, and then... Anti-Citizen One.

I don't remember much of AntiCitizen One from my first playthrough, but goddamn, this level was easily the lowpoint of the entire game. I can see why they included the level (since you have to get to the citadel somehow), but jesus, this level needed an overhaul. The level is designed specifically around the limitations of your character, and it frustrates me to no end. There are buildings everywhere, but you can only enter very selective ones. The squad AI is still completly incompetent (and likes getting in my way far too often). The city all looks alike, with no discernable landmarks, making it very easy to get lost (which I did, when I went all the way back to the start of the level by accident.) It relies far too heavily on scripting, as you can never move forward until ____ happens, or you cross a certain trigger point. Random gaps in the middle of the road force you to enter, again, very selective buildings. Then the climax of the level is a retread of the previous level in Nova Prospekt, another defense situation. Dragged on for far too long, and, honestly, I would rather have just teleported to the Citadel itself, as you do at the very beginning of the game. Last, the little mine things were introduced as a new gimmick, ala the turrets and the antlion bait, but it just didn't work nearly as well.

That level basically shows all the flaws of HL2, that really detract from the experience. All the jumps that are barely too high for you, there's just one entry/exit, just one path, and, of course, the AI is stupid. The entire level was devoid of any sort of enviornmental fun that was littered throughout the game earlier, and it focuses on arguably the weakest element of the Half-Life series: gunplay.

The one thing I loved about HL1 was the great use of space. Once you popped into Xen, you really explored every little area of Black Mesa. If a door was locked, you would probably end up on the other side sooner or later. I'm sure it's no coincidence that the levels I loved ended up having a great use of space: Ravenholm, the two Nova Prospekt levels, and the ones that didn't were wholly unsatisfying: the vehicle sections, street fighting.

So, basically... HL1 > HL2, though the peaks of HL2 >> HL1. HL2 is just too damn inconsistent to really best the 10-year old original.

 

[Chinner]

playing through the original Half-Life for the first time now. I've had it sitting in my Steam account for a while but I always end up putting it to the side because of dated it is by today's standards.

it was tough to start out with because of this, but once I got by Office Complex and got into Blast Pit the game got it hooks into me.

The last thing I did was get a scientist to operate the retinal scanner. I might make a new LTTP when I'm done with it. We'll see if I can be f'ed or not.

If only I wasn't nine or ten when this was released. I'd have loved to have played this back when it was new. I can only imagine how great it would have been.

I suggest that you keep your eyes on Black Mesa.
http://www.blackmesasource.com/

 

[kai3345]

Half-Life 2 is baisically what got me into serious gaming.

I had an xbox (original btw) sure, but all I really did was play the occasional Halo 2 on it. But on day my friend was over at my house (he was a big gamer) and he brought his 360 so we could system link and each have our own screen and stuff. He had this old OXM demo disc in his 360 for some reason (they dont even work on 360 :lol ) but he just kinda set it on the floor, and then put in Halo 2.

So after he went home, I found that he left the demo disc on the floor.

So I popped it into my Xbox 1 and started playing all of the demos just so I could play something diffrent besides Halo and NCAA.

So I eventually got to the Half-Life 2 demo. I had never heard of the game, and even thought it looked stupied from the preview image (it showed a picture of Ravenholm with all these headcrab zombies everywhere). But I played it anyway (it was the Ravenholm level, pretty much in its entiertey [sp?]) and I was blown away by how awesome this game was.

The game was just so much more realistic than anything I had ever played at the time - the physics, the destruction, and the "no-cutscene" presentation.

I baisically just repeated and eventually mastered the demo over the next 3 days. But then I got tired of the demo. And about a week after that I was at Circut City and saw the game on the Original Xbox for like $5 or something dirt cheap like that, so I got it.

When I finally finished the game my mind was blown to pieces. The characters, the presentation, everything felt so real and immersive.

After playing the game was when I became particular about story in a game. Before then I just cared about having multiplayer.

I eventually picked up KOTOR after that, a game which I had heard had an excellent story, without even having the slightest clue what an RPG was.

So then KOTOR threw me into the world of RPGs, which is what I mainly play today.

So Half-Life 2 (and KOTOR) are responsible for my love of gaming

EDIT: holy shit that was a long post.......

 

[Nessus]

AniHawk:

As I understood it there were smaller portals opened to Xen prior to the Resonance Cascade. Well in advance, like several months, at least. The Resonance Cascade was just on a much larger scale, a chain reaction that finally got the Combine Empire's attention.

A working theory some have is that the G-Man is cooperating with some interdimensional resistance group, and that he *wanted* to draw the Combine to Earth and stage the human rebellion (without concern for the loss of life; the resistance is only concerned with defeating the Combine).

The destruction of the Citadel was indented to further provoke the Combine and escalate things as they brought in reinforcements, but the Vortigaunts prevented the G-Man from pulling Gordon out. With the extra time the Combine are able to send their message which calls for reinforcements but also has the unintended side effect of handing the coordinates of the Combine home world to the human rebellion.

The Vortigaunts' interference also allows the human rebellion to close the superportal, which may prevent additional Combine from entering our dimension and also seems to go against the G-Man's original plan.

 

[neoism]

That's what I ended up doing. I also liked doing the One Bullet achievement in Ep 1.

I did that may first time through. It was awesome.

 

[JordoftheDead]

I used to think the areas in HL2 dragged on for too long but after multiple playthroughs I don't really agree with my initial criticism.

HL 2 has some of the best levels and characters of any game I've ever played, but I still think some areas can drag slightly. Still, after

Spoiler

destroying the chopper and making it to Black Mesa East

I think it's pretty much brilliant for the remainder of the game.

Also, I feel sorry for the guy who thinks Bioshock is perfection : (

I’ve recently started replaying Bioshock again for the first time since it was released (for some reason I decided to go for the Brass Balls achievement, which is odd because I never really achievement hunt) and I have to say that I’m absolutely loving it. I'm just enetering Fort Frolic and I’m appreciating the game a lot more than I did on my initial medium play-through.
I certainly don’t think its perfection, but I wish more games had the atmosphere and depth of concept that Bioshock does.

 

[Sohter.Nura]

I finished the first one in The Orange Box collection on my XBOX360 a few months ago.
While I thought the game was a video-game design acchievement, I didn't find the game particularly fun.
The part I really liked was the one in the beginning of the game where you have to go through a horror-city infested with zombie and brain-things. That got me quite pumped up!
Maybe I should play Left 4 Dead D=

 

[AniHawk]

HL 2 has some of the best levels and characters of any game I've ever played, but I still think some areas can drag slightly. Still, after

Spoiler

destroying the chopper and making it to Black Mesa East

I think it's pretty much brilliant for the remainder of the game.



I’ve recently started replaying Bioshock again for the first time since it was released (for some reason I decided to go for the Brass Balls achievement, which is odd because I never really achievement hunt) and I have to say that I’m absolutely loving it. I'm just enetering Fort Frolic and I’m appreciating the game a lot more than I did on my initial medium play-through.
I certainly don’t think its perfection, but I wish more games had the atmosphere and depth of concept that Bioshock does.

Yeah, the one thing Bioshock had loads of was atmosphere. I love the first ten minutes of the game. Really had me on my toes.

Then I found there were no real consequences for dying.

And there was no level design.

But man, those ten minutes were awesome.

 

[itsinmyveins]

And there was no level design.

How so?

 

[AniHawk]

How so?

I just say that about any game I feel has very repetitive design (like Halo). It's something that happens to most first-person shooters, and Bioshock is no different in that aspect. It's why I usually cannot stand the genre and why I find Half-Life 2 so fantastic.

 

[JordoftheDead]

Yeah, the one thing Bioshock had loads of was atmosphere. I love the first ten minutes of the game. Really had me on my toes.

Then I found there were no real consequences for dying.

And there was no level design.

But man, those ten minutes were awesome.

There’s no consequence of dying if you use the vita-chambers. I thought it was a cheap idea and I didn’t use one on my first play-through and I’m not using any on my hard play-through either. I understand that it may sour the game for those who used them, but for me it was like any other shooter; if I died I reloaded the last auto-save and tried again.

And no level design? Repetitive? I can't agree with you at all. The levels all offer multiple ways to deal with enemies and works as a semi-realsitic setting (as in it doesn't feel like 'Oh, they want me to do this here'. If an area is a lounge or a garden, it's just that and you can use tools/weapons to deal with it however you wish).

Sorry to go so off topic.

 

[DieNgamers]

Maybe we like different kinds of level design (because I think there was awesome level design in Bioshock but that's another discussion ). I also don't get the love for dying in games. It's not that much of a punishment in HL2, either, but maybe that's just me.

On-topic: I must say that I love Episode 2 even more the second (or third?) time through. I find myself replaying the beginning with those nasty ants. ..Which is strange since I hated that part when I first startet the game.

 

[JordoftheDead]

Maybe we like different kinds of level design (because I think there was awesome level design in Bioshock but that's another discussion ).

.

On-topic: I must say that I love Episode 2 even more the second (or third?) time through. I find myself replaying the beginning with those nasty ants. ..Which is strange since I hated that part when I first startet the game.

Exact same feeling. I didn't enjoy it much the first time through, but I quite enjoyed re-playing it.

 

[itsinmyveins]

I just say that about any game I feel has very repetitive design (like Halo). It's something that happens to most first-person shooters, and Bioshock is no different in that aspect. It's why I usually cannot stand the genre and why I find Half-Life 2 so fantastic.

Hmm. I'm thinking that HL2 pretty much uses three various areas over and over again though (mines/rural areas/city). My biggest issue with Bioshock was probably that I thought the combat got pretty repetitive.

Either way, I've finished Episode One a day or two ago. I liked it more now than when I first played it. I've just started playing Episode Two but man, it's pretty fucking great.

 

[AniHawk]

I also don't get the love for dying in games.

Because I should be scared of things in a creepy atmospheric game like Bioshock. If I know that I'm essentially invincible, then what's to be afraid of?

And me manually loading an autosave is stupid. I shouldn't have to do the work of the game designer.

Hmm. I'm thinking that HL2 pretty much uses three various areas over and over again though (mines/rural areas/city).

It's not about how the levels look, but how you progress through them. Half-Life 2 only really got repetitive in Anticitizen One, when you were climbing and descending all those staircases.

 

[itsinmyveins]

Because I should be scared of things in a creepy atmospheric game like Bioshock. If I know that I'm essentially invincible, then what's to be afraid of?

And me manually loading an autosave is stupid. I shouldn't have to do the work of the game designer.

I was never bothered by that stuff, but then I don't know how long it took for me to realize that the vita chambers didn't only work as check points but that the progress past them also remained. But even if I did know that, I'm not sure that would have affected how I played, honestly. I would still try and not just store up on health kits by never using them, for instance.

But what does change my gameplay slightly is the ability to quicksave while playing HL2. I'm quicksaving all the damn time so I rarely lose any progress.

Oh, I managed to convince a friend to go buy the Orange Box for X360 today. I haven't played HL2 on a console though.

 

[Duki]

I think the level design mechanically was weak in Bioshock. Like, if you remove all the cool architecture and posters and things, which is more visual design than level design, the game is pretty much going up and down elevators in rapture to get to different levels which are just the same old buildings and corridors you see throughout the game with different visual themes. There didn't feel like there was a sense of progression in what you had to do in each level to make it any more complicated than the beginning. Feels really flat.

 

[sublime085]

I just finished another Orange Box playthrough the other day. God, the Half Life series is so fucking good.

I think I'll play through HL1, OpForce, And Blue Shift again.

 

[squinters]

Everytime I see this thread i get excited for Episode 3. I'm starting to imagine the beginning of that game. Since each episode takes place (roughly) 10 minutes after the last one ended, I can assume we'll be flying in a helicopter around the start. I hope that flight is as epic as the tour of the citadel in Half-Life 2. Flying out of the forest, over City 17and the citadel, to the shore, and then out to the ocean as we fly for artic waters.

I know it doesn't sound like much on paper, but set pieces and evironments are some of Valve's best strong points, and I know they're make it as memorable as possible. But, I'm off topic, sorry.