Difference between revisions of "Half-Life 2"

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[[File:Half-Life 2 - W32 - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Half-Life 2
 +
| Image            = Half-Life 2 - W32 - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = Windows - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Valve}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Valve}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 2004
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 11
 +
| PublishedDay    = 16
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Android}}, {{Platform|Linux}}, {{Platform|Macintosh}}, {{Platform|Windows}}, {{Platform|Xbox}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|First-person shooter|First-person shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Shooter|Shooter}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Horror}}, {{MediaTheme|Science Fiction}}, {{MediaTheme|Suspense}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Half-Life (universe)|Half-Life]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Half-Life 2''''' is a first-person shooter adventure game for Windows, XBox, and Macintosh. It was released on November 16, 2004 by Valve.
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'''''Half-Life 2''''' is a first-person action adventure game developed and published by [[Valve]] and released for [[Windows]] on 2004-11-16 and then ported to several other platforms. It is the sequel to ''[[Half-Life]]'' and the second game in the [[Half-Life (universe)|''Half-Life'' series]]. The game is built using the [[Source Engine]].
  
==Status==
+
==Personal==
I own this game and have beaten in several times.
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{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      = Yes. On Steam.
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Easy and normal difficulty. I have 24/33 achievements.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2011‎-09-15.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
I first heard about this game from a co-worker who had bought it at launch and said he was so impressed with it, he spent a lot of time at the beginning just playing with the physics. I rarely buy games at launch, so it was years later until I played the game. I got it as a gift, along with all the other ''Half-Life 2'' games, from my friend Cody. Certainly one of the best gifts I ever received because these games became some of my favorites. I played the game through on easy difficulty and beat it, then, some time later, I beat it again on normal difficulty.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 8/10
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{{Video Game Review|10|8|8|5|8|Windows}}
* '''Best Version:''' Windows
+
 
 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
* The 3D engine was awfully impressive at the time featuring water reflection, fog, dynamic lighting, light blinding, cast shadows, focus changing, etc.
+
* The 3D rendering engine was awfully impressive at the time featuring water reflection, fog, dynamic lighting, light blinding, cast shadows, focus changing, etc.
 
* The physics is also really great for the time. Rolling wheels, weighted levers, spinning merry-go-rounds, and thrown objects that ricochet beautifully.
 
* The physics is also really great for the time. Rolling wheels, weighted levers, spinning merry-go-rounds, and thrown objects that ricochet beautifully.
 
* The weapons feature a nice gradual increase in power that allows you to feel like you're becoming stronger as the game progresses.
 
* The weapons feature a nice gradual increase in power that allows you to feel like you're becoming stronger as the game progresses.
 
* The Ravenholm chapter is deliciously terrifying. One of the scariest experiences I've ever had with a game.
 
* The Ravenholm chapter is deliciously terrifying. One of the scariest experiences I've ever had with a game.
 
* The Gravity Gun is a fantastic weapon, and being able to hurl saw blades and gas tanks was a wonderful idea.
 
* The Gravity Gun is a fantastic weapon, and being able to hurl saw blades and gas tanks was a wonderful idea.
* There are a lot of secret areas in the game which aides in the replay value.
+
* There are a lot of secret areas in the game which aides in the replay value. Despite trying to maintain an attention to detail each replay, I still haven't found them all.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* The NPCs continue to talk even if you're out of earshot which means you can often miss dialogue.
 
 
* There are a few points where the game gets dull and repetitious, like the highway section.
 
* There are a few points where the game gets dull and repetitious, like the highway section.
* Some of the puzzles are tedious, especially jumping puzzles. Not touching the sand in the sand lions section was especially annoying.
+
* Some of the puzzles are tedious, especially jumping puzzles. Not touching the sand in the sand lions section is especially annoying, not the least because of the frequent bugs in how the Source engine handles collision.
 
* I miss having the more powerful weapons from the first game like the Gluon Gun and the Tau Cannon. The Combine rifle is too similar to the machine gun.
 
* I miss having the more powerful weapons from the first game like the Gluon Gun and the Tau Cannon. The Combine rifle is too similar to the machine gun.
 +
* The NPCs continue to talk even if you're out of earshot which means you can often miss dialogue.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
 
* This game doesn't really have any serious faults.
 
* This game doesn't really have any serious faults.
  
==Info==
+
==Media==
===Escape From City 17===
+
===Documentation===
This is a three-part movie about the aftermath after Gordon Freeman sets off the singularity in City 17, and all the rebels are trying to get out of the city with the Combine still after them.
+
<gallery>
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ixFf4ljuCg Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lyUNs7eNhs Part 2], Part 3 hasn't been released yet.
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Half-Life 2 - XBOX - Manual.pdf|Xbox manual.
 +
Half-Life 2 - W32 - Quick Reference Card.pdf|Windows quick reference card.
 +
Half-Life 2 - Counter-Strike Source - Prima Official eGuide.pdf|Prima Guide.
 +
Half-Life 2 - Orange Box, The - Prima Official eGuide.pdf|Prima Orange Box Guide.
 +
</gallery>
  
==Gallery==
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===Gallery===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
Half-Life 2 - W32 - Map.jpg|Flattened game map.
 
Half-Life 2 - City 17 Train Station Square.jpg|City 17 Train Square.
 
Half-Life 2 - City 17 Train Station Square.jpg|City 17 Train Square.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Graphics===
 +
* [https://www.textures-resource.com/pc_computer/halflife2 textures-resource.com/pc_computer/halflife2] - Textures.
 +
 +
===Fan Art===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Joey Spiotto - Golden Books - Half-Life 2.jpg|Fan art by Joey Spiotto.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|g5Qdu7b6eGs|Leadhead - How bad is the Combine?}}
 +
{{YouTube|m7tppdVrxbQ|Leadhead - ''Half-Life 2'' makes me proud to be a human.}}
 +
{{YouTube|n_9fncpIenI|Boundary Break.}}
 +
{{YouTube|NdkzjHEjIyA|Speedrun progression.}}
 +
{{YouTube|Y5FV3Qmrkso|Longplay.}}
 +
 +
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Escape_from_City_17 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Escape_from_City_17] - Escape From City 17 - Wikipedia.
 +
 +
Escape From City 17 is an amateur film series produced by David and Ian Purchase. It's set in the Half-Life universe and details the aftermath that occurs after Gordon Freeman sets off the singularity in City 17 as all the rebels try to get out of the city with the Combine still after them. The first two episodes were self-funded, but the duo tried to crowd-fund the third episode, but it didn't reach its goal. A teaser was made for the third episode, but it never materialized. The films were later taken offline, but have be re-uploaded by other people.
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Pass
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = Alyx Vance for sure, and, to a lesser extent, Dr. Judith Mossman.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Pass
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = Alyx and Judith argue about the gravity gun.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Pass
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Dr. Eli Vance is black, Alyx Vance has a black father. Possibly Father Grigori who appears to be some Eastern European race.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life_2 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life_2] - Wikipedia.
+
{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/half-life-2}}
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/half-life-2 mobygames.com/game/half-life-2] - Mobygames.
+
{{Link|Wikipedia|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life_2}}
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/914642-half-life-2 gamefaqs.com/pc/914642-half-life-2] - GameFAQs.
+
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Half-Life_2}}
 +
{{Link|GameFAQs|http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/914642-half-life-2}}
 +
{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/HalfLife2}}
 +
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Half-Life_2_(Windows)}}
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: First-Person Shooter]]
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[[Category: Favorite]]
[[Category: Adventure]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
 
[[Category: Favorite Games]]
 
[[Category: Favorite Games]]
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
 
[[Category: Horror]]
 
[[Category: Science Fiction]]
 

Latest revision as of 17:00, 12 March 2024

Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 - W32 - USA.jpg

Windows - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Published 2004-11-16
Platforms Android, Linux, Macintosh, Windows, Xbox
Genres Action, First-person shooter, Shooter
Themes Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense
Series Half-Life
Distribution Commercial

Half-Life 2 is a first-person action adventure game developed and published by Valve and released for Windows on 2004-11-16 and then ported to several other platforms. It is the sequel to Half-Life and the second game in the Half-Life series. The game is built using the Source Engine.

Personal

Own?Yes. On Steam.
Won?Yes. Easy and normal difficulty. I have 24/33 achievements.
Finished2011‎-09-15.

I first heard about this game from a co-worker who had bought it at launch and said he was so impressed with it, he spent a lot of time at the beginning just playing with the physics. I rarely buy games at launch, so it was years later until I played the game. I got it as a gift, along with all the other Half-Life 2 games, from my friend Cody. Certainly one of the best gifts I ever received because these games became some of my favorites. I played the game through on easy difficulty and beat it, then, some time later, I beat it again on normal difficulty.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
10 8 8 5 8

Best Version: Windows

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The 3D rendering engine was awfully impressive at the time featuring water reflection, fog, dynamic lighting, light blinding, cast shadows, focus changing, etc.
  • The physics is also really great for the time. Rolling wheels, weighted levers, spinning merry-go-rounds, and thrown objects that ricochet beautifully.
  • The weapons feature a nice gradual increase in power that allows you to feel like you're becoming stronger as the game progresses.
  • The Ravenholm chapter is deliciously terrifying. One of the scariest experiences I've ever had with a game.
  • The Gravity Gun is a fantastic weapon, and being able to hurl saw blades and gas tanks was a wonderful idea.
  • There are a lot of secret areas in the game which aides in the replay value. Despite trying to maintain an attention to detail each replay, I still haven't found them all.

Bad

  • There are a few points where the game gets dull and repetitious, like the highway section.
  • Some of the puzzles are tedious, especially jumping puzzles. Not touching the sand in the sand lions section is especially annoying, not the least because of the frequent bugs in how the Source engine handles collision.
  • I miss having the more powerful weapons from the first game like the Gluon Gun and the Tau Cannon. The Combine rifle is too similar to the machine gun.
  • The NPCs continue to talk even if you're out of earshot which means you can often miss dialogue.

Ugly

  • This game doesn't really have any serious faults.

Media

Documentation

Gallery

Graphics

Fan Art

Videos

Leadhead - How bad is the Combine?
Leadhead - Half-Life 2 makes me proud to be a human.
Boundary Break.
Speedrun progression.
Longplay.

Escape From City 17 is an amateur film series produced by David and Ian Purchase. It's set in the Half-Life universe and details the aftermath that occurs after Gordon Freeman sets off the singularity in City 17 as all the rebels try to get out of the city with the Combine still after them. The first two episodes were self-funded, but the duo tried to crowd-fund the third episode, but it didn't reach its goal. A teaser was made for the third episode, but it never materialized. The films were later taken offline, but have be re-uploaded by other people.

Representation

Strong female character?PassAlyx Vance for sure, and, to a lesser extent, Dr. Judith Mossman.
Bechdel test?PassAlyx and Judith argue about the gravity gun.
Strong person of color character?PassDr. Eli Vance is black, Alyx Vance has a black father. Possibly Father Grigori who appears to be some Eastern European race.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-TVTropes.png  Link-TCRF.png