So I could play it on my laptop afterall. Depending on the scenarios I found myself compusively cranking the settings all the way up to admire the beauty of the levels I could run fine at that setting, and near all the way down (or to the middle, more accurately said) when I wanted the gameplay to take charge.
Best thing this game does: throws you in a believable environment. Physics engine used to very good effect for the gameplay, not as a "look, we can break stuff just because we can!" kind of show off way.
But not only the physics help here, but the characters, the level art/modelling, the scripting, the events.
Worst thing: The game really doesn't explain much of many things that truly demand an explanation. I just can't see the connection in a logical fashion of what is going on in City 17 and what happened at Black Mesa. And if they intend to explain it all in Half Life 3 in 5 years.. well... sorry.. I am dissapointed actually.
The ending of the game has a nice climax, but it leaves just so many unanswered questions.... So that to me was a let down.
- Raist
PS: This is a game I intend to replay when I get a new machine, eventually.
Dude! You're a game playing demon!
I just got my buggy. Deeeam.
I agree with both your points. I keep expecting an explanation of the current state of affairs, but I guess I ain't getting one.
That being said, fvck the story. The gameplay is great. The gravity gun is one of the most innovative weapons I've seen recently. Did you happen to throw paint cans at beasties? I did (I had to, I had nothing else on hand), and after 2 or 3 throws, one of the cans popped, and the zombie got painted white. It was awesome.
Level design, at least thus far, is a bit disappointing. They're pretty and all, but so far all I've done is run away from stuff. Very shallow storyline. Run here! Run to the other place!
The puzzles are interesting, but if a monkey can stack boxes to get bananas, why would Valve think them challenging?
ps. Got a DS for my kid for xmas. Very sorely tempted to 'test' it, if you know what I mean :)
Posted by: carlosmorales | November 22, 2004 at 09:59 AM
"Dude! You're a game playing demon!"
Well it's the first time I have played a game like this so quickly in a long long time. Really, I don't play games as much as I used to. I guess Half life 2 did a good job of pulling the carrot.
"
I just got my buggy. Deeeam.
I agree with both your points. I keep expecting an explanation of the current state of affairs, but I guess I ain't getting one."
This is perhaps, for me, the *BIGGEST* let down in the whole game (and everything related to that as you will see).
"That being said, fvck the story. The gameplay is great. The gravity gun is one of the most innovative weapons I've seen recently. Did you happen to throw paint cans at beasties? I did (I had to, I had nothing else on hand), and after 2 or 3 throws, one of the cans popped, and the zombie got painted white. It was awesome."
Yes, the gravity gun is certainly one of the most innovative weapons. What surprises me is that they figured out a way to show off the new physics engine while making it an integral part of the gameplay. Brilliant.
And yes, I did throw a paint can and I saw it got painted.. that was amazing indeed :-) Throw it at walls for similar effect.
"Level design, at least thus far, is a bit disappointing. They're pretty and all, but so far all I've done is run away from stuff. Very shallow storyline. Run here! Run to the other place!"
I read somewhere it's super linear.. and it's true though forgiving that part I think the combat scenarios are good.
"The puzzles are interesting, but if a monkey can stack boxes to get bananas, why would Valve think them challenging?"
True. To me it kinda.. made me feel part of the environment but I agree something more interesting should have happened.
"ps. Got a DS for my kid for xmas. Very sorely tempted to 'test' it, if you know what I mean :)"
Oh, read my next entry :-)
- Raist
Posted by: Raist3d | November 23, 2004 at 02:07 AM