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[Easy_G]

Got The Orange Box a couple weeks back after finally getting a computer that can run HL2 and all its siblings...

The first thing I have to know is how to disable this Steam thing. One of my biggest pet peeves with software in general is a program that keeps something running after it's been killed. Apple's really guilty of this with iTunes and Quicktime, and then there's the stuff like Norton, RealPlayer, and now apparently The Orange Box. Yes, I can just go down and quit it manually, but I've already quit the game, I shouldn't have to go through and kill its support program or whatever you'd call it.

It really bugged me when there was an internet outage here the other day and I figured "hey, since I can't do what I was going to do online, I'll play a little HL2", and apparently Steam thinks that I need to be online to even LOAD the game for some reason.

Which reminds me, am I missing something or is there no option for multiplayer in the HL2 menu? There IS multiplayer, right? And what about mods? Anything good out there?

As far as the game itself goes, I'm (for the most part) enjoying myself. Beat Portal in a single sitting, and am currently up to the Entanglement chapter in HL2. The one thing that's really bugging me at this point is the combat. Now, this might be because I keep getting killed in the part where you've got to hold off the swarms of soldiers with the three turrets, but a LOT of the weapons feel really underpowered. I can sit there and empty a SMG into a soldier, point-blank, and until the point where he finally dies, he doesn't so much as flinch. Now, I'm guessing that these are supposed to be aliens, or armored, or something, but still, some indication that yes, I am emptying a few dozen bullets into their torso would be nice.

Still, overall I'm having fun. I actually really liked the vehicle sections, and the game does keep finding ways to throw new stuff at you. That, and I'm glad that it seems to have moved away from the "stack a bunch of stuff on something until it's heavy enough" puzzles.

Steam is here to stay. You can't play HL2 without it and it won't automatically close when you quite HL2. If you want to close just keep doing as you're doing and close it manually.

There is an offline mode for steam games, but I've had trouble getting it to work consistently, so yes that part does suck.

Also, the multiplayer for HL2 is HL2: Deathmatch. It should be available for you to download from steam for free. Check your games section and it will probably be there, but not installed.


As far as the game is concerned, I kind of agree with you. I prefer playing on hard for the challenge, but it gets annoying when you have to empty entire clips into an enemy's head. And I also agree that the vehicle sections were great.

 

[v4gr4nt]

I have just beat Ep 2 for the second time. Still is as amazing as the first time.
Sucks that Valve haven't said a word about Ep 3

 

[Easy_G]

I have just beat Ep 2 for the second time. Still is as amazing as the first time.
Sucks that Valve haven't said a word about Ep 3

I seriously can't believe that half a year after the release of some episodic content that they still haven't revealed any info about the next episode. With Episode 1 they put a freaking trailer for 2 right at the end! Who knows, maybe they have big plans for Episode 3. I certainly can't wait, but I just want some kind of confirmation.

EDIT: Just dug this up from gamespot:

Valve divulged little in the way of information about Episode Three, saying only that it was the last "in a trilogy...that will conclude by Christmas of 2007."

haha, Valve time.

 

[CrookedRain]

I seriously can't believe that half a year after the release of some episodic content that they still haven't revealed any info about the next episode. With Episode 1 they put a freaking trailer for 2 right at the end! Who knows, maybe they have big plans for Episode 3. I certainly can't wait, but I just want some kind of confirmation.

A trailer with lots of things that were changed... It's probably the reason they haven't revealed anything yet.

 

[Easy_G]

A trailer with lots of things that were changed... It's probably the reason they haven't revealed anything yet.

Outside of the clip of Alyx hanging from the train, nothing in the trailer was changed. Unless you're counting graphical updates.

 

[Captain Nemo]

I seriously can't believe that half a year after the release of some episodic content that they still haven't revealed any info about the next episode. With Episode 1 they put a freaking trailer for 2 right at the end! Who knows, maybe they have big plans for Episode 3. I certainly can't wait, but I just want some kind of confirmation.

EDIT: Just dug this up from gamespot:

haha, Valve time.

You might have to wait longer than you expect: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=181670

To add acid to the wound, IIRC episode 1 and episode 2 were developed simultaneously by two different teams so they would be able to ship out episode 2 faster.

 

[Rekki-Maru]

just finished episode 2, so awsome.. time to start over from HL2 now.

 

[Vlad]

As far as the game is concerned, I kind of agree with you. I prefer playing on hard for the challenge, but it gets annoying when you have to empty entire clips into an enemy's head. And I also agree that the vehicle sections were great.

Ok, still stuck at the part in the prison with the three turrets, and at this point, I think I'm a little bit past just "annoyed"...

Spoiler

The best strategy I can come up with is to hide in one of the two open cells and have the turrets placed somewhere nearby so I can use the gravity gun to quickly set them back up once they get knocked over.

I'm mostly irritated by the fact that the game seems to really stack the odds way too far against you in this part. I'm using the same weapons as the enemies, yet they can take half my health away with a single shotgun blast from the other side of the room, yet I can be emptying pulse rifle rounds right into their face and they don't seem bothered enough by it to stop shooting me while I'm doing it. It also doesn't help that the turrets don't always seem to like to fire right away, and they don't always flip back up quickly when you're holding them, either. To top it off, the way you constantly get stuck on the environment and objects, which was just a little bothersome before, is EXTREMELY irritating at this point. I've probably had at least ten deaths that have come from me trying to scramble back to my little hole but getting stuck against a barrel or turret, unable to move.

 

[Doytch]

Ok, still stuck at the part in the prison with the three turrets, and at this point, I think I'm a little bit past just "annoyed"...

Spoiler

The best strategy I can come up with is to hide in one of the two open cells and have the turrets placed somewhere nearby so I can use the gravity gun to quickly set them back up once they get knocked over.

I'm mostly irritated by the fact that the game seems to really stack the odds way too far against you in this part. I'm using the same weapons as the enemies, yet they can take half my health away with a single shotgun blast from the other side of the room, yet I can be emptying pulse rifle rounds right into their face and they don't seem bothered enough by it to stop shooting me while I'm doing it. It also doesn't help that the turrets don't always seem to like to fire right away, and they don't always flip back up quickly when you're holding them, either. To top it off, the way you constantly get stuck on the environment and objects, which was just a little bothersome before, is EXTREMELY irritating at this point. I've probably had at least ten deaths that have come from me trying to scramble back to my little hole but getting stuck against a barrel or turret, unable to move.

I never really had problems with this section in my playthroughs. Here's what I do:

Go to the part where the two sides connect, with the health/ammo pickups I think. This is where you're gonna be chillin for most of the fight. Take two turrets, set them up in one hallway so that they face opposite directions, and close to the spot where you're gonna stand, so you don't have to run far. Then, take the last one and put it in the other hall, facing the long way.

That's the set up, and it's worked pretty well for me. Just run around in the middle, paying special attention to the side with only one turret, and it's backside of course.

edit: just looked up what they suggest in gamefaqs. Pretty similar to mine, but fences you in even more.

X = Where you should place the sentry. < and > indicate firing direction.
U = Where you should be.
# = Console
@ = Pole
% = Sentry storage / HEV-Health Chargers
A = Ammo chest for SMG
+ = Where Combine come from (^ = upper floor Combine)


|¯¯|   +   |¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|   +   |¯¯|
|__|       |          |       |__|
|          |          |          |
|  @       |__________|       @  |
|          |          |          |
|  @                          @  |
|          |     AA   |       @  |
|  @       |¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|          ||
|          |          |          ||  <--Closed gate.
|  @       |          |          ||
|          |          |          |
|  @       |          |       @ #|
|          |__________|         #|
|  @       |  %%  %%  |       @ #|
|__^        <X      X>         __|
|  |        <X    U           |  |
|__|   +   |   %  %   |   +   |__|
            ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

 

[daw840]

Just picked this up at Best Buy.

It's on sale for $39.99, so if anyone needs it they should jump on it. I've only played the first Half-Life game so far (and a little Team Fortress.) I am loving everything so far.

Is anyone on GAF still playing this game?

 

[Vlad]

Just picked this up at Best Buy.

It's on sale for $39.99, so if anyone needs it they should jump on it. I've only played the first Half-Life game so far (and a little Team Fortress.) I am loving everything so far.

Is anyone on GAF still playing this game?

Yeah. I finished HL2 a while back, and played the first 15 or so minutes of Episode 1. Haven't had the time to get back into it, though.

 

[Sibylus]

Just picked this up at Best Buy.

It's on sale for $39.99, so if anyone needs it they should jump on it. I've only played the first Half-Life game so far (and a little Team Fortress.) I am loving everything so far.

Is anyone on GAF still playing this game?

The urge to play through HL2 and the episodes hasn't died yet, but I'm currently amusing myself with the Synergy mod.

 

[TomServo]

Yeah. I finished HL2 a while back, and played the first 15 or so minutes of Episode 1. Haven't had the time to get back into it, though.

I bought it shortly after release, played through Portal twice, and shelved it. Not sure why, because I've never played HL2 and I absolutely loved Half Life back in my PC gamer days.

A real badge of shame, especially considering some of the stuff I've played instead. Maybe I'll start up HL2 tonight.

 

[brain_stew]

I bought it shortly after release, played through Portal twice, and shelved it. Not sure why, because I've never played HL2 and I absolutely loved Half Life back in my PC gamer days.

A real badge of shame, especially considering some of the stuff I've played instead. Maybe I'll start up HL2 tonight.

Honestly you really should. HL2 is great, Ep 1 is good and Ep 2 is phenomenal. Even if you find you start to dislike a segment from the first two installments its worth trudging through just to experience Episode 2 which is great from start to finish.

 

[Sibylus]

Honestly you really should. HL2 is great, Ep 1 is good and Ep 2 is phenomenal. Even if you find you start to dislike a segment from the first two installments its worth trudging through just to experience Episode 2 which is great from start to finish.

This. Even if you dislike portions here and there the whole experience is still amazing.

 

[TomServo]

This. Even if you dislike portions here and there the whole experience is still amazing.

Started tonight, played up to Ravenholm. Brought back a lot of fond memories from the original, but the airboat section went on way too long.

Amazing how three hours just kind of flew by.

 

[fallout]

The driving sections do drag on, but the game is still worth playing if you're enjoying it even a little (if only just to see how much they improved things in E1 and E2).

 

[Sibylus]

Started tonight, played up to Ravenholm. Brought back a lot of fond memories from the original, but the airboat section went on way too long.

Amazing how three hours just kind of flew by.

One of the many things I love about HL2 and the episodes is the pacing, you can just sit down and play for hours and hours on end .

 

[dankir]

Picked up La Boite Orange last night, too good to pass up at 39.99

How hard is it to learn TF2? I'm gonna get pwnzerd for a while ain't I?

 

[Flesh Into Gear]

Wow, finally got around to playing Ep.2 last night. So many cool cinematic moments. The ending though

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

Wow, finally got around to playing Ep.2 last night. So many cool cinematic moments. The ending though

yep, that got me too

 

[ThaiGrocer]

Picked up La Boite Orange last night, too good to pass up at 39.99

How hard is it to learn TF2? I'm gonna get pwnzerd for a while ain't I?

No, it's not hard to learn TF2. Very user friendly relative to other FPS games.

 

[Doytch]

Picked up La Boite Orange last night, too good to pass up at 39.99

How hard is it to learn TF2? I'm gonna get pwnzerd for a while ain't I?

You'll be especially fine this weekend, since they're apparently having a free weekend. You can camouflage as a free player.

 

[brain_stew]

Started tonight, played up to Ravenholm. Brought back a lot of fond memories from the original, but the airboat section went on way too long.

Amazing how three hours just kind of flew by.

Yer, the vehicle sections do drag on a bit on your first play through but I appreciate the fact that they offer a different kind of gameplay and pacing than the rest of the game. Still, this is one area that the episodes improve upon immensely, pacing is much better in Episode 1 and literally perfect in Episode 2.

 

[Laurentius]

Gq39n

 

[daw840]

Now that I have 5-6 hours in HL2 I am seeing how cool this game really is. There has been a few moments of WTF during the vehicle portions, and yes they were a little long for my taste, but overall everything has been real fun. I finished the Airboat andthe Dune Buggy section, and probably 1 hour past the end of the Dune Buggy. How much more of this game is there?

 

[Creamium]

Now that I have 5-6 hours in HL2 I am seeing how cool this game really is. There has been a few moments of WTF during the vehicle portions, and yes they were a little long for my taste, but overall everything has been real fun. I finished the Airboat andthe Dune Buggy section, and probably 1 hour past the end of the Dune Buggy. How much more of this game is there?

You're about halfway through

 

[Laurentius]

RVFrK

 

[Duderz]

I'm playing through Half Life 2 and so far, I'm just not feeling it. I don't think it's a bad game by any means, but for all the times I heard that it's "the greatest FPS ever", I guess I expected more from it. I just got past Ravenwood, just for reference.

 

[wormstrangler]

I just finished Ep1 for a second time a couple of nights ago. I enjoyed it a lot more the second time through for some reason.

First time through, I would have it given it between a 60 and 70 out of 100. Second time through I thought it was a 90.

I'm now playing Ep2 with commentary turned on because I've already finsihed it 1.5 times previously.

I love commentary! I wish it was less scripted, but.

 

[Laurentius]

JYbfH

 

[daw840]

Alright, I am stuck.

Please, I beg you, help.

I am in the "Follow Freeman" stage. I have made it into the museum, dodging the super beam weapon, and now I have to take out 3 generators. I took out the first one, now I have to go into this room with a bunch of red lasers all over, and if I touch one the room seals me inside and turns me into swiss cheese. How the helll are you supposed to beat this room?!?!/!?!

 

[Sibylus]

Alright, I am stuck.

Please, I beg you, help.

I am in the "Follow Freeman" stage. I have made it into the museum, dodging the super beam weapon, and now I have to take out 3 generators. I took out the first one, now I have to go into this room with a bunch of red lasers all over, and if I touch one the room seals me inside and turns me into swiss cheese. How the helll are you supposed to beat this room?!?!/!?!

Platforming puzzle. Duck, jump, etc. There's a ledge you can safely walk along at some point in the room with a beam parallel and just above it (If you're stuck at the part I was the first time I played).

 

[JavaMava]

Noticed a few comments about E1 and E2 being in development at the same time thus the reason they were a year apart. Where as E3 is expected to be a much longer wait.

If you play through E2 with commentaries there is a part where they talk about E3 development and how some of the things they were making, worked so well that they threw it into E2 as foreshadowing. What I'm getting at is E3 is/was most certainly in some form of development while they were working of E2.

EDIT - I'm reading a lot of you like E1 a lot more on your second play through? I just finished up E2 for a second time, but with commentaries and thought it was excellent. I guess I'll give E1 a second go with commentaries as well.

 

[Sibylus]

Noticed a few comments about E1 and E2 being in development at the same time thus the reason they were a year apart. Where as E3 is expected to be a much longer wait.

If you play through E2 with commentaries there is a part where they talk about E3 development and how some of the things they were making, worked so well that they threw it into E2 as foreshadowing. What I'm getting at is E3 is/was most certainly in some form of development while they were working of E2.

I don't remember that part specifically, but I recall there being a commentary node that talks about the experimental Strider "guts n' stuff" system replacing the standard system in Episode 3.

EDIT - I'm reading a lot of you like E1 a lot more on your second play through? I just finished up E2 for a second time, but with commentaries and thought it was excellent. I guess I'll give E1 a second go with commentaries as well.

I'd be one of the rare gaffers who absolutely loved Episode 1 from my first playthrough :lol

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

I <3 HL2 so much. The bridge is still one of my favorite sections in a game ever.

 

[mr_nexus]

Just finished Half-Life 2 last night for the first time. What an awesome experience! Now I'm on to Episode 1.

 

[TomServo]

Just finished Half-Life 2 last night for the first time. What an awesome experience! Now I'm on to Episode 1.

Same here. 99% of the experience was awesome. The last couple of hours flew by.

Spoiler

Thank you for not teleporting me to Xen again.

Episode 1 seems to be going really, really fast. I got through three of the five chapters in about an hour and a half, and I even slowed down to be an acheivement whore at a couple of points.

 

[Duderz]

I just finished it. Since I never played the first Half-Life, I needed to go to Wikipedia for the confusion that the ending brought. :lol

The game definitely gets better from Ravenholm on - the Bridge, Nova Prospect, seeing City 17 in all its devastation, and of course, the Citadel, were awesome.

I hated all the teammates you get during "Follow Gordon Freeman", though - dumb as a rock, and kept getting in my way.

Can't wait to start Episode 1! How long typically would both Episodes take?

 

[Creamium]

Can't wait to start Episode 1! How long typically would both Episodes take?

8-10 hours. 10 hours tops.

 

[Duderz]

Well, I just finished Episode 2.

What a brilliant game. Both episodes were tighter experiences all around; better pacing, locations, and fleshing out everyone (particularly Alyx's character) was done beautifully. Allowing her to fight alongside you made me groan at first simply because of how dumb your AI squad was in HL2, but man, whatever they did for Alyx is perfect - I never had any problems with her, and I never say that when it comes to AI teammates.

And man, after Episode 2's ending...What can I say? Bring on Episode 3 - hopefully simultaneously on consoles.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

Just seeing this thread remerge wants we want to replay HL2. SO GOOD.

That is all.

 

[Jim Sterling]

I recently played through HL2 again and am currently finishing up another playthrough of Portal. This stuff really is at the peak of in-game experience and it makes me almost angry that other game developers either refuse to make, or are incapable of making, games as good as Valve.

Of course, no company will ever make a game as good as Half-Life 2 while they insist on releasing sequels every bloody year. Valve gets a lot of flack for long development cycles, but people need to remember that long development cycles makes games like Half-Life 2 happen. If Valve takes another ten years to make the inevitable Half-Life 3, then so be it. I will wait for those ten years with a big smile on my face and will remain confident that the game at the end of it will be worth those ten years.

Other companies should be ashamed that they can't achieve such a level of pedigree.

 

[Slamo]

I have to play this again.

 

[wormstrangler]

If Valve takes another ten years to make the inevitable Half-Life 3, then so be it. I will wait for those ten years with a big smile on my face and will remain confident that the game at the end of it will be worth those ten years.

And yet, the majority of gamers rag on 3DRealms.

 

[beelzebozo]

And man, after Episode 2's ending...What can I say?

a shatner-esque angry scream to the heavens condemning the combine seems appropriate

 

[Dyno]

I played Ep. 1 and Ep. 2 again over the weekend, with an eye on the Achievements.

ONE FREE BULLET - Playing Ep. 1 without using your guns is a TRIP! You really learn to master the gravity gun and quickly spot weaponable objects. It totally changed the experience.

LITTLE ROCKET MAN - Playing Ep. 2 while bring the garden gnome with you everywhere is quite the challenge. While on foot it is equal parts difficult and ridiculous, once you are in the car however it becomes a hellish grind. The car isn't fully capable of holding an object inside and in a sad display of physics gnome slides right through Gordon's and Alyx's legs. It falls out with the slightest turn of the wheel. Ferrying the gnome though these section was one of the most tedious things I have ever done in a game.

That said I did it! I will never do it again.

 

[Pojo]

Does the framerate in Episode 1 get really bad at some parts in the PS3 version? I've played up until the

Spoiler

antlion garage scene where you have to fill up 3 holes with cars

, and have not noticed anything crippling (except maybe right after a save, which lasted all of three seconds.)

And I'm finding it fantastic, contrary to popular opinion.

 

[Laurentius]

sdFxn

 

[aznpxdd]

Awesome, glad you stuck with the game!



Um...okay, let's assume that every developer had the same raw talent that Valve does. Would they be able to make something that's as high quality as Valve's game? Doubtful.

There's a reason why Valve is even allowed to have long development cycles. They're owned completely internally. When Valve started, Gabe Newell funded the company completely out of his own pocket. There are no external publishers for their games. Whereas most developers are always struggling with deadlines and most often have to ship an unfinished product, Valve can literally release when "they're done". Valve is a unique company.

Blizzard.