"The Freeman Returns" with The Official Orange Box Thread

Also, spies in disguise will always have their primary weapon out.

The perfect anti-spy though is the pyro. Just a quick stream of fire around you every once in a while or on any of your teammates works very well. If they are a spy, they will be lit on fire and cannot go invisible until the flame burns out.
 
All right so I just beat the original Half-Life 2. Going to play Episode One and Episode Two next. But can someone clarify what's going on for me? I think I have the general idea but I'm not completely up to date on the HL series story.

So can someone summarize the events of the original Half-Life for me so I can connect them to HL2? Thanks.
 
ToyMachine228 said:
All right so I just beat the original Half-Life 2. Going to play Episode One and Episode Two next. But can someone clarify what's going on for me? I think I have the general idea but I'm not completely up to date on the HL series story.

So can someone summarize the events of the original Half-Life for me so I can connect them to HL2? Thanks.

Go here - http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/
 
ToyMachine228 said:
All right so I just beat the original Half-Life 2. Going to play Episode One and Episode Two next. But can someone clarify what's going on for me? I think I have the general idea but I'm not completely up to date on the HL series story.

So can someone summarize the events of the original Half-Life for me so I can connect them to HL2? Thanks.

I posted this earlier in the thread.
http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/timeline.htm

edit: damn, beat'n
 
PillowKnight said:
Anyways anti-spy tips :

1) Learn the location of different classes, ie, is there a engineer in a location where engineers don't often go? Shoot the hell out of them. This is also true for offensive classes walking backwards, offensive classes never go backwards, unless of course they're about to die.
2) Shoot at them, if they make any attempt to dodge your shots, its a spy. This is specially true with soldiers, your teamates will never attempt to dodge your rockets.
3) If you see yourself colliding with an ally, that's a spy. There's very little hit detection between you and your teamates to the point where you can basically walk right through them, this isnt true for spies. Also, if you see someone walking suspisiouly towards your back, that's a very good way to identify a spy who's trying to back stab. It's hard to explain it but there's something about the way they walk in a sort of circle towards your back.
4) Look to people who arent shooting, if one of your ally seems to be running around doing alot of nothing, that's a telltale sign of a spy, this last one's harder to notice unless you're really observant.
5) Whenever possible have your back against a wall.
6) Finally, when you're by yourself, be a bit paranoid, and flip to your back every once in a while, you might get lucky and find a spy uncloaking.

This is all lies, don't listen to him.
 
Just installed steam. I could get the orange box...but are HL:S, HLDM:S, DoD:S, CS:S, and HL2:S worth it? I never played CS and had a quick go on a friend's HL2:DM when HL2 was originally released...that's it.

Am I better off sticking the orange box games and forgoing CS:S or should I download anything in addition to orange box? thanks
 
MrSardonic said:
Just installed steam. I could get the orange box...but are HL:S, HLDM:S, DoD:S, CS:S, and HL2:S worth it? I never played CS and had a quick go on a friend's HL2:DM when HL2 was originally released...that's it.

Am I better off sticking the orange box games and forgoing CS:S or should I download anything in addition to orange box? thanks

I mean I'm not a DoD Fan. I liked Counter Strike and the orange box gives you HL2, HLEP1 and EP2 with TF2 and Portal. Which are the main and pretty much only products I use out of the family. HL2DM is nice for a change of pace, but meh.
 
I'm pretty upset. I just beat Ravenholm, and didn't fire A SINGLE SHOT. I used the Grav Gun the ENTIRE time, but somehow, I didn't get the Zombie Chopper achievement for it. WHAT THE HELL.
 
beelzebozo said:
you may just not be all the way through the level yet. how far are you past it?

Just got to the buggy, and Highway 17 flashed across the screen. I have no idea what happened. Does having a weapon out count as using it? I may have switched back to the Grav Gun with the D-Pad instead of with the right bumper when I got the shotgun, and when you switch with the D-Pad you have to go through the crowbar first. :/
 
beelzebozo said:
you may just not be all the way through the level yet. how far are you past it?

Exactly. I think you have to be far pass the "long drop down" before the chapter is actually finished. Just because you're out of the town doesn't mean you're out of the level.


Edit: neeeeeevermind...
 
no way. when gregory tosses you the shotgun, it automatically switches, but i just switched right back. so that's not the problem. you must have accidentally swung your crowbar, fired a shot--something

:(

if it's any consolation you can just load the chapter back up and run through it in twenty minutes, if you're determined and not set on killing a lot of enemies. i posted a trick for totally bypassing having to fight the quick-zombies while you're waiting for the lift a few pages back. whatever the case, that sucks, and good luck snagging the achievement
 
beelzebozo said:
i posted a trick for totally bypassing having to fight the quick-zombies while you're waiting for the lift a few pages back.
I think I did that accidentally. Gregory kept saying ALMOST THERE! like I was in a hurry or something. And I kept thinking, wasn't this more intense a few years ago when I played Half-Life 2? :lol
 
beelzebozo said:
no way. when gregory tosses you the shotgun, it automatically switches, but i just switched right back. so that's not the problem. you must have accidentally swung your crowbar, fired a shot--something

You can't use the crowbar? Oh well, there goes that.

Also, I think getting 1000/1000 in Orange Box would take a very long time indeed. Right next to Oblivion as far as time consuming.
 
Pimpbaa said:
This is all lies, don't listen to him.
:lol
That's fine when he's on the opposing team, but what'll ya do when he's on your team?

Oh I know
...

ctf_2fort0031.jpg


Ps how do you do sprays?
 
3) If you see yourself colliding with an ally, that's a spy. There's very little hit detection between you and your teamates to the point where you can basically walk right through them, this isnt true for spies.

Not always true.. yesterday everyone on my team was pushing me every which way. We couldnt even all fit on a cap point without bumping into each other.
 
finally picked my OB up today. the sound quality is fuggin awesome. I'm in 5.1 heaven. shooting my guns sends shockwaves through my floor when I have my volume cranked up
 
Just finished playing Episode 2.. wtf, that wasn't a game, that was a work of art!! The way it flows, how ingeniously the player is directed, Alyx, feelings, writing, gameplay, sounds, art. :O


I'm still out of breath from the final hour of the game :D
 
asa said:
Just finished playing Episode 2.. wtf, that wasn't a game, that was a work of art!! The way it flows, how ingeniously the player is directed, Alyx, feelings, writing. :O


I'm still out of breath from the final hour of the game :D

I seriously think it's my favorite game of the year right now. (And this is coming from someone who would have rated the original HL2 back when it came out somewhere between 8.5-9.0)
 
I got this today and I just beat Portal. Oh man. Purchase totally worth it already. Clever writing, fun levels, not a single frustrating moment,... Please give me more cake that's as delicious and moist as this. Now on to HL².
 
I think the friendly fire stuff really kinda ruins the spy. A lot of people say, "a good spy won't get caught," but IMO that's bullshit when you have a pyro running around firing EVERYONE just because.
 
Got this today, mainly for HL2 (never played it as my PC is utter shit) and Ep.1 & 2. Loving it sofar, the style is great, feels like I'm playing a sci-fi Bourne game. This airboat segment seems a bit long but besides that no complaints yet. I played HL1 so long ago though that the backstory is fuzzy at best, will probably read up on HL1's plot before continuing HL2.

Portal is AWESOME. Love it. Love it. I even like the ?story?

TF2, played 2 matches and while the mechanics were fun the lag was so bad most of the time it was near unplayable. Will try again later and hope for better hosts.

Sofar well worth my $60
 
PillowKnight said:
Ps how do you do sprays?

:lol at the picture. I dunno if the ingame picture importer for sprays is still broke. But if it is, then you need to have a 256x256 picture and then convert using to the *.vtf format using a program such as this http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=40 and then copy the file to C:\Program files\steam\steamapps\your username\team fortress 2\tf\materials\VGUI\logos
and C:\Program files\steam\steamapps\your username\team fortress 2\tf\materials\VGUI\logos\UI (or whereever you have the game installed). And then pick it in settings in TF2.
 
I finished Half-Life 2 today. I must say, I'm very impressed with it. I loved the level Following Freeman. That last part, where I'm running along the rooftops fighting the striders and trying to get into the Citadel, that was some great stuff. It reminded me a lot of Children of Men. That level single-handedly changed my perspective of this game.
 
JdFoX187 said:
It reminded me a lot of Children of Men. That level single-handedly changed my perspective of this game.

My favorite part was also the rooftop Strider battle. The first time I saw Children of Men all I could think about besides how awesome the movie is, is how similar it is to HL2.
 
Just finished Episode One. Pretty cool. Really has the post apocalyptic warfare thing going for it. Going to start Episode Two tomorrow.

Also I was just sitting here and the trailer for Left 4 Dead played with my Orange Box running. Who says we see Left 4 Dead packaged with CS: Source for 360 for the ORANGE BOX 2???
 
ToyMachine228 said:
Also I was just sitting here and the trailer for Left 4 Dead played with my Orange Box running. Who says we see Left 4 Dead packaged with CS: Source for 360 for the ORANGE BOX 2???

Hey, that wouldn't be so bad.

Orange Box 2:
Left 4 Dead, CS:S, HL2:EThree, and DoD:S.
 
Akia said:
Hey, that wouldn't be so bad.

Orange Box 2:
Left 4 Dead, CS:S, HL2:EThree, and DoD:S.

Haha that would certainly rock. Don't think it'll happen but it would rock hard. I just played my best game of TF2 as a Sniper so far. I've been focusing on HL2 and now I just have to finish HL2: Episode Two and Portal and I'll be playing TF2 a lot more. Wicked fun game.
 
JdFoX187 said:
I finished Half-Life 2 today. I must say, I'm very impressed with it. I loved the level Following Freeman. That last part, where I'm running along the rooftops fighting the striders and trying to get into the Citadel, that was some great stuff. It reminded me a lot of Children of Men. That level single-handedly changed my perspective of this game.

"Follow Freeman" was my favorite level of Half-Life 2 as well. Far and away the best encounters in that game. (Doesn't touch Ep. 2's finale though- wait till you get to that. :D )
 
GOD DAM the subtitles are fucking terrible in all the OB games. HALF THE FUCKING SCREEN!!!!! In a game like half life where you have so many npc's talking whether your near them or not, i want to hear them but cant because not only do the subtitles block my screen but immmeditly overlap if someone else talks. And if i turn my tv louder the machine gun fire sound will blow my speakers and piss of my roomates.
 
After playing through HL2 to the end of episode 2, it's really amazing to see how much work Valve has put into their Source engine. The original HL2 isn't really anything to look at or very impressive anymore (although there's some nice design work) but episode 1 takes it up a notch with noticably better lighting and texture work. Granted, the wow factor is used up pretty quickly as soon as you arrive in a pitch black parking garage, but still it's a step up. Episode 2 however is flat out goregous. I played it on the 360 and was incredibly impressed with just about every section in the thing. Amazing graphics.

If we get a similar bump in visual fidelity in epsiode 3 like we got going from episode 1 to episode 2.....good lord. That'll be something to see.
 
I had problems with the audio too but, then I turned the extra bass and treble on my system all the way down and I could hear people a lot better without turning it super loud and the machine gun wasn't loud enough to wake the neighbors anymore.
 
Some more notes after today's session. I'm about halfway through highway 17 so far:

-you DON'T get the ravenholm achievement if you use a crowbar. I didn't fire a shot, mostly used gravity gun, but I did have to crowbar a few of those jumpy things to death. 20g doesn't make a difference for me, but I know some will be looking to get all achievements. :lol

-I don't know if it's because I've played the game before or what, but the excitement really isn't there. I apreciate the great pacing, I really like how varied all the environments are... no 2 places are ever alike. I also apreciate the variety in gameplay, no mechanic is overused, there's constantly new stuff to do. You can really tell that this game was well thought out and a lot of care went into it. All that being said, it's just not a lot of fun. What it comes down to is actual combat. First off, there's hardly any challenge. I'm playing on hard and the only time I have to reload is if I get hit by an exploding barrel or if I let some combine with a shotgun get too close to me. The second thing that strikes me is that every encounter is basically the same. The amount of enemies doesn't vary, it always seems to be a medium sized party. There isn't any variety to enemies(atleast not yet) and that means they all act the same, there's also not a weapon or environmental advantage that I or the opposing force have. There is the occasional turret or poisonous headcrab zombie guy, but there's nothing there to really change the way the player aproaches a skirmish. The combat ends up being a lowpoint and that's really a bad thing for an fps. If memory serves me right, it does pick up from this point on out but those are my impressions so far. It's not a chore to play, but I do get the urge to skip ahead to episode 1.
 
So I'm playing HL2 right now, which I've never played before, because I've never really had a PC with a graphics card (I'm not much of a PC gamer). So I'm playin it now, and yeah it's a little dated, but I'm having a load of fun. I'm at Ravenholm, so I don't know how far through the game that is, maybe close to half?? This game runs alright on my PC, but Episode 1 and 2 won't hardly run at all. Is there a huge system requirement jump from the original HL2 to the new episodes?
 
Extollere said:
So I'm playing HL2 right now, which I've never played before, because I've never really had a PC with a graphics card (I'm not much of a PC gamer). So I'm playin it now, and yeah it's a little dated, but I'm having a load of fun. I'm at Ravenholm, so I don't know how far through the game that is, maybe close to half?? This game runs alright on my PC, but Episode 1 and 2 won't hardly run at all. Is there a huge system requirement jump from the original HL2 to the new episodes?

A third.
 
Half-Life 2 virgin playing on 360. Nice game on foot, love the design and the storytelling, but holy mother of fucking shit is the boat sequence totally horrible. What a frustrating control choice. I was so glad to get off that damn thing. Hope that's the last I see of it.

Using the grav gun to fire saw blades at dude's made it all better though.
 
So I just beat Portal.
I thought people were joking/stupid/fanboys when they called it GOTY.
I was wrong, they were right.

It alone worth the price tag, fuck, the end credits worth 60$.
Easily.

as good of a gaming experience as I had in my life.
Just perfect.

and if you're going to name another game as GOTY, ask yourself, did the antagonist sang the ending credits theme song?
Gravemind didn't, Fontaine didn't and I'm guessing Bowser wouldn't.
So you're wrong.
 
Ugh. I made the mistake of going back and listening to the commentary on Portal. Not only is it incredibly boring but the woman that plays GLaDOS is one of those amazingly annoying narcissistic theater types. Character = ruined.
 
Foreign Jackass said:
So those ending credits in Portal, should I see them before, after, or whenever I finish HL2:Episode 1, and Episode 2?
The Portal story doesn't rely on any HL games other than for a few small references, so just go ahead and finish it ASAP.
 
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