"The Freeman Returns" with The Official Orange Box Thread

Kabouter said:
I actually loved chapter 1 of Episode 1. The rest I pretty much entirely hated. I am very much noticing that I'm liking the parts of Half-Life 2 where you don't actually shoot stuff.
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Yah? I didn't really fancy the Citadel much in Episode 1, was a bit tired of it after HL2. One of the less interesting parts of the game I thought.

Y2Kev said:
Yeah, the regular pistol. Yuck. The popping noise it makes sounds like popcorn in the microwave, not a firearm. Compare it to the sound (nevermind function) of Halo's pistol.
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I really do think if they just transposed a few of the weapons from Counterstrike Source into HL2 it would be a lot better. The wacky SMOD gave us a glimpse of this by including the AK47 from CSS, amongst other awesome weapons such as a UMD-launching PSP, Gordon's Magical Wand, and Soy Beans.
 
The upper frequencies of the pistol sound completely choked off, so at lower volumes the thing sounds like a popcap gun. At louder volumes it has a nice upper mid-bass presence, but it still doesn't sound remotely natural.
 
Y2Kev said:
I know what a gun sounds like in real life, and it doesn't sound like the HL2 pistol. Sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree.
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Well, I'll take your word for it, because I have no idea. It just sounded to me like more realistic depictions of gunplay in a space like that.
 
Red Blaster said:
Yah? I didn't really fancy the Citadel much in Episode 1, was a bit tired of it after HL2. One of the less interesting parts of the game I thought.
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That was chapter 2.
Chapter 1 was outside the Citadel.
 
BenjaminBirdie said:
Actually, I liked that. It sounds like guns do on The Wire. It sounds like what a gun would sound like in the real world, in a wide open, concrete space.
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i know exactly what you're talking about and agree. i wonder if that "pop pop pop" is native to a certain kind of handgun? it's all over the wire
 
Y2Kev said:
Half Life 2's weapon selection kind of bothers me actually. When you're going up against the
Hunters
, there is no weapon I immediately think of for, "Okay, this is what I need for more firepower." You have the pulse rifle, where it takes like three rare clips to take them out, or the shotgun, which takes a lot, or the magnum, which takes a lot of hits, or the crossbow, where the firing rate is so slow and the bolts so rare that you really can run out of ammo entirely too quickly. I don't know. I was looking for some kind of equalizer.
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You know ... for what you spoiler tagged, I just
sprinted in, double-shotgun and sprinted away. Worked pretty effectively. I mean, it was pretty intense, but I didn't find it too bad. Running them over with the car also seemed to work well, despite the extra damage you take.
 
fallout said:
You know ... for what you spoiler tagged, I just
sprinted in, double-shotgun and sprinted away. Worked pretty effectively. I mean, it was pretty intense, but I didn't find it too bad. Running them over with the car also seemed to work well, despite the extra damage you take.
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Magnum rounds work wonders. Generally speaking, the more rare the ammo type the more effective it will be. This logic does not work when you look at the awesome sounding combine machine gun which is very weak and the ammo holding size is quite small
 
I've been trying to play Episode One for the past 3 hours and it's being rather rebellious. It's not my PC, it plays Half-Life 2 and Episode Two just fine, Portal ran great on max settings, but Episode One just wants to crash. I've played it up to when you
finally reach the surface and the scientist is making a public speech
, but everytime I try to load the save up from there it crashes at around the halfway point.

This happen to anyone else? Again I'm sure it's not my machine, it runs every other game just fine. And I'm not super-duper PC literate either, so maybe I should lower some of the settings anyway.
 
brandonh83 said:
I've been trying to play Episode One for the past 3 hours and it's being rather rebellious. It's not my PC, it plays Half-Life 2 and Episode Two just fine, Portal ran great on max settings, but Episode One just wants to crash. I've played it up to when you
finally reach the surface and the scientist is making a public speech
, but everytime I try to load the save up it crashes at around the halfway point.

This happen to anyone else? Again I'm sure it's not my machine, it runs every other game just fine. And I'm not super-duper PC literate either, so maybe I should lower some of the settings anyway.
Click to expand...

it probably has something to do with your video driver, as the game has been out for over a year

you can try deleting the local content and reloading it though, just to be sure.
 
ElectricBlue187 said:
it probably has something to do with your video driver, as the game has been out for over a year
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I'll look into it, thanks. :D

Would deleting local content wipe out my saves? Again I'm not hardcore PC literate, I'm not even sure what that does.
 
The 18th seems so far away. I want to get into some Portal! And both episodes. And HL² which I hadn't completed. And Team Fortress. Man this year is like Christmas, your birthday, new year's, Kwanza, Hanukkah and 12 Superbowls combined when it comes to gaming. I'm still knee deep in Halo mp and I know when I get home the new Zelda will be there. And at the end of the month there's Metroid too!

explscan.gif
 
The pulse rifle would be greatly improved by doubling the reserve ammo to 120 rounds.

There's actually a good amount of ammo for it, but I think people tend to save it for big firefights, where you burn your clips fast and it's tough to find more amidst 10 guys shooting at you. Then at the end of the fight there might be 160-200 rounds but you can only carry 90.
 
GDJustin said:
Having never played HL2 before, but having HAD read Concerned, I'm having a hard time taking the game seriously, because you run into Gordon Frohman within the first like 10 seconds, and several times subsequently :lol :lol
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I'm pretty certain you see a character with the same model as Frohman always making the jokes.
 
Though I'm a little disappointed with HL2's gunplay, I do like the sound effects (actually the whole game sounds great, especially in my 5.1 setup). I was one of those disappointed by the muted-sounding weapons in Halo 3, so gunfire audio on HL2 is a nice change of pace. That Combine machinegun is fucking deafening (ironic since I find it so ineffective otherwise).

Haven't messed with Ep1, 2, TF2 or Portal yet.
 
Vrolokus said:
Though I'm a little disappointed with HL2's gunplay, I do like the sound effects (actually the whole game sounds great, especially in my 5.1 setup). I was one of those disappointed by the muted-sounding weapons in Halo 3, so gunfire audio on HL2 is a nice change of pace. That Combine machinegun is fucking deafening (ironic since I find it so ineffective otherwise).

Haven't messed with Ep1, 2, TF2 or Portal yet.
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You're gonna love the final battle. The sounds of the hunter, an incoming strider, your shotgun, and the cheers of your allies will sound awesome.
 
It's enjoyable hearing all the first time HL2 players.
It's like being a college student and seeing a bunch of freshman enter their first day of high school
 
Ok guys I have a question about HL2 >
After you take down the combine turret, they put radar in your car after its repaired. The second radar blip is in this building and behind a fenced room. There are rocket launchers and all that crap in there. How do I get in, and what do I do with the radar blips?
 
MrPing1000 said:
I just realised Barney isn't in Ep2. I wonder why.
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Yeah. I was waiting for him to throw a crowbar at me or something, but it never happened.
 
I'm about to go to the store, quick! PC or 360?

Can I even run it, my specs are Geforce 7600, 2.8 processor, 2Gigs of Ram.
 
I can only presume that the train he got on went somewhere else, but he did say I'll meet you on the otherside which would make me think we were going to the same place. How episode 2 panned out would make me think there isn't much scope for him to be in 3 either.
 
G-Fex said:
I'm about to go to the store, quick! PC or 360?

Can I even run it, my specs are Geforce 7600, 2.8 processor, 2Gigs of Ram.
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You can run it fine with that setup. I have the same card and it looks great.

I'd say PC unless you really have a problem using mouse/keyboard. You'll have access to all the fan-made maps for TF2 and Portal. Also, Valve has said they're going to release more official TF2 maps and I'm not sure if Microsoft will let them give them out on the 360 for free.
 
You'll play Barney in EP3.

Yes I pulled that out of my ass, but it would probably surprise everyone, and Valve wouldnÄt have to model and texture snow areas.
 
I loved Portal, finished it last night, played a few hours of Ep 2 tonight, just got to the bit
that looked a hell of a lot like starship troopers
Gotta say im not loving Ep2 at all.

I just find myself wishing the combat would end, I think the problem stems from my lack of affinity to any of the weapons (at least the ones you are blessed with enough ammo to use), There seems to be more combat this time round too. This problem existed for me in HL2 and Ep1 but I think I'm suffering especially this time because everything seems very much the same. And the hunters, for all there advertised intelligence, just stand there and let me shoot them while strafing to avoid their fire, wtf?!

The puzzles too have all been very familiar so far, in so much as I dont even have to think about possible solutions, I already know what's happening. eg the weighted lift in the mines.

The story and the characters are excellent, the 'cinematic physics system' or whatever it is, is fantastic, awesome to watch. It still feels like it's gonna be a slog to get to the end though
 
Nate405 said:
You can run it with that setup. I'd say PC unless you really have a problem using mouse/keyboard. You'll have access to all the fan-made maps for TF2 and Portal. Also, Valve has said they're going to release more official TF2 maps and I'm not sure if Microsoft will let them give them out on the 360 for free.
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Thank you, something to do when not on counter-strike. Thanks thanks thanks.
 
brandonh83 said:
I'll look into it, thanks. :D

Would deleting local content wipe out my saves? Again I'm not hardcore PC literate, I'm not even sure what that does.
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Don't bother with the redownloading. I downloaded mine last week and it started crashing at the same point as yours. This bug, if you can call it that, seems to target vista and 8800 users mostly, but I've read of XP users having similar issues. Just save a lot, finish the game and go on to EP 2 is my advice.
 
Picked up the 360 version yesterday.. it's a ton of fun, when the network connectivity works! I have never had problems with lag/connectivity on Live before, but I have been disconnected from so many games, and been unable to join so many games (for various reasons) it makes me not want to play it! Today I tried for 30 minutes, but every game I connected to had problems of the sort.
 
Fallout-NL said:
Don't bother with the redownloading. I downloaded mine last week and it started crashing at the same point as yours. This bug, if you can call it that, seems to target vista and 8800 users mostly, but I've read of XP users having similar issues. Just save a lot, finish the game and go on to EP 2 is my advice.
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*sigh* let me see if it'll load the save before the most recent...
 
Maybe im a Half Life fanboy but I think hl2, ep1, ep2 are all some of the greatest shooters out there being amazing in every category (gun play included).

Heres looking forward to episode 3.
 
Spruchy said:
Maybe im a Half Life fanboy but I think hl2, ep1, ep2 are all some of the greatest shooters out there being amazing in every category (gun play included).

Heres looking forward to episode 3.
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Before I declared Half-Life 2 my favorite first person shooter of all time, I had to see Halo 3's single-player first to the end.

it didn't have shit on Half-Life 2
 
Nate405 said:
You can run it fine with that setup. I have the same card and it looks great.

I'd say PC unless you really have a problem using mouse/keyboard. You'll have access to all the fan-made maps for TF2 and Portal. Also, Valve has said they're going to release more official TF2 maps and I'm not sure if Microsoft will let them give them out on the 360 for free.
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Hopefully the PS3 version gets it. That way, MS has no choice BUT to give it for free to the 360 users. Happened with RS:V and GRAW2.
 
Jirotrom said:
Ok guys I have a question about HL2 episode 2>
After you take down the combine turret, they put radar in your car after its repaired. The second radar blip is in this building and behind a fenced room. There are rocket launchers and all that crap in there. How do I get in, and what do I do with the radar blips?
Click to expand...

Answer:
see that little gap in the floor just as you walk in that building? roll a grenade under it, and get on top of where you just threw the nade (quick!)

edit: woops missed a part
first you have to hit the metal sheet with the gravity gun so it falls into a horizontal position.
 
wartime1020 said:
Answer:
see that little gap in the floor just as you walk in that building? roll a grenade under it, and get on top of where you just threw the nade (quick!)

edit: woops missed a part
first you have to hit the metal sheet with the gravity gun so it falls into a horizontal position.
Click to expand...


Haha, That bit had me stumped too, thanks.
 
mikekennyb said:
Picked up the 360 version yesterday.. it's a ton of fun, when the network connectivity works! I have never had problems with lag/connectivity on Live before, but I have been disconnected from so many games, and been unable to join so many games (for various reasons) it makes me not want to play it! Today I tried for 30 minutes, but every game I connected to had problems of the sort.
Click to expand...

Seriously! Had a match last nite and it was such a lagfest. TF2 does show connection strength before a match though, so that helped a little. Also, how does the search function work for TF2? If I choose unlimited time, does it search out only games with unlimited time or all times including the unlimited option?
 
I booted up a save and it loaded fine, I guess it was just a bad save or something. I made it a lot farther, and my PC restarted for no reason. Time for a break anyway. :lol
 
I beat HL2 on the PC but im playing through for the achievements, it seems some of them (raven with grav gun only) would ruin the fun if you only played it once, but being my second playthrough it makes it more interesting
 
Interesting that there's been next to zero buzz on Team Fortress 2 so far...

Plus, just for the record, lack of online splitscreen sucks. Bungie can do four player splitscreen, and other developers can't even be bothered to do two? Other devs are pussies, confirmed.
 
The popping to me sounds more like a paintball gun. Hate to harp on this, but since we are on the subject, let's indulge. It's obviously difficult to describe these individual sounds in onomatopoeia, but to me a real life gun almost has more reverb to it. It shouldn't be so clean.

Even the way the assault rifle-ish gun fires...just so lifeless. I feel no kickback in it, no weight, no power even.

The best way to deal with the end section is with the car, which would be so much easier if it weren't a total bitch to drive.

The sound in the end is something else though. Alarm going off,
hunter screams, strider feet banging,
and the AI cheering. Though I have to say the AI at the end is retarded.

Alyx is like a hawk...she's actually really helpful and really useful. She's probably the first friendly AI I haven't wanted to strangle. But everyone else just gets in my way and dies. Why weren't they targeting the YOU KNOW WHATS in the end, instead firing rockets at the YOU KNOW TALLER WHATs (i'm too lazy to spoiler now)? Why were they just standing there getting their asses kicked? They know I'm the only one who can use the gravity gun, let ME take out the YOU KNOW TALLER WHATs and stfu plz.
 
Jesus CHRIST now when I try to load a recent save, it exits out and gives this error:

failed to lock index buffer in CMeshDX8::LockIndexBuffer

I'm just about to give up :lol
 
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