Half-Life 2: Collector's Edition
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend Half-Life 2 Collector's Edition delivers a new level of realistic action and excitement. Players return to the world of Gordon Freeman, as he returns to the Black Mesa research facility. The aliens are pouring into our world, and Freeman becomes part of a resistance group to stop them. New weapons, new enemies and new characters are waiting -- along with major enhancements in animation, artificial intelligence and graphics. Product details and pricing info |
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71 Customer Reviews Posted
- Gimmick, Stupid Ai, Over Hyped, Check Check & Check
- First off I would like to dispel a few things right up front. This game is not the best, revolutionary, nor as great as perfect as anyone says. It has glaring problems, but it's a sequel to a game everyone loves. So I'll go through some of the issues I have with it and let you decide for yourself.
The first thing is the whole `gimmick' side of the physics engine. Yes it is as great as they say, hell its better. But the way they use it is horrible. With a game as linear (we will get to this later) as this you really don't need a physics engine so grand. You will constantly find yourself in a place where you have to move one object from point a to point b to allow yourself to move on. This is not a great or innovative thing, specially when they could of allowed you to do so much more with it. I found myself tiring of it fast, especially after the third or forth set of `lift this move it so you can move on or get the next health pack'. It is first a gimmick and second an amazing feat.
The next thing is the AI, I have heard some people say this AI is smart. Hell some say it's the most realistic AI ever. Sure it is, if you find most people willing to stand in the open repeatedly shooting you while you shoot them realistic. At one point in the game I opened a door and found a group of enemies on the other side, I retreated inside the door and waited a few. The door opened and an enemy ran through, I of course shot it as quickly as possible in the head a few times before it died and the door closed. With out failure another and another came running through till they where all dead. As well, they have what seems more to me like a randomizer to allow them to run or hide here and there, though not intelligently. I ran into a few during the `canal' sequence where they would shoot from a bridge, run a few feet then shoot again. They never actually seek `true' cover. This AI is not only NOT smart or great; it can't even compete with older games.
As for the hype, it was way over done. Of course gamers get worked up when a title (especially a sequel to a great game) is coming out. They just tend to forget to judge it based on its merits and not it's original. This game is extremely linear and in a day and age of the `sandbox' game, you truly get put off. I found myself able to just run constantly and grab a pop in my other hand. If I had to shoot I tended to just stick with the pistol, hell I didn't even use a grenade till I decided I had to see what it was even like in this game. It isn't overly difficult if you are used to first person shooters, and the extremely linear game play does hinder it. The story is cool, and won't disappoint you. But if you really are looking for something `innovative', `new', or even `creative' this isn't the place to look.
This game is another first person shooter, with pretty graphics and an overly used physics engine.
-Dan - 2005-09-21, 1 of 7 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Not perfect, but still damn good
- Half Life 2, is touted as the best game of all time. Like Halo 2 and Resident Evil 4, there is serious hype and fan following to be found. I suggest you shelve those ideals, and the idiots who rave this is the best game ever. It's not. Yes, I will explain why, but first, let me cover some other ground.
For one thing, Half Life 2 is visually, stunning. More so, that beyond the pretty outter shell, there is alot to be found here. To start, objects in the world often react to your presence. Boxes break, bridges creak, bottles crack, and all of it, can be manipulated by you. This is the most talked about point of Half Life 2, the Havok physics engine, and it does not disappoint. Firefights that could have been boring, are enhanced by the physics, where barrels won't just sit there are they are barraged with a hailstorm of bullets, they will react. This is one of those things where, you have to experience it, to understand what I'm talking about.
Though Half Life 2 delivers in other areas as well. The Dystopian European cityscape, and it's dilapidated structures look great. Even on low settings, this game will impress you. Everything is modeled great, though despite the awe inspiring view...as you get closer...
...you will see pretty grainy textures at times. Bear in mind, I wasn't playing this on max settings, so it might have just been me, but I noticed things like this on halfway to max settings. I also noticed odd things like, how my gun would reflect just fine in light, but in the dark, it had some kind of texture issue, and it looked strange. Still nothing all that serious here.
Sound is another area that cover the atmosphere, and it works well here. You will feel tense while playing, because the setting, and the slight music cues that play, add to the suspense and feel of the game. About 20 minutes into the game, you'll hear the "Half Life 2 theme" play, as you take out a few soldiers, and it's a real rush. You get to manipulate exploding barrels, dodge gunfire, and emerge either alive, or dead, and that song, really fits. Not to mention, it's cued with the entire scene, the farther you get, the louder it gets, and then, as quickly as it came, it goes, fading out as you hit the next "checkpoint"...and "checkpoints" are a serious gripe of mine.
The "checkpoints" are points on a map, where the game will load a new area, and they are somtimes a bit annoying. For one, they have bad placement. When you finally get to the vehicles, you will run into about 5 instances each, where once you hit a tunnel, the game will load the next area. This completely takes away from the rush you get racing around, and dulls the sense of excitement, as you stare at the words "load". More annoying yet is that, the game seems to have a brief moment of gameplay stutter as you enter a new area, so after the load, you need to let the game sit for a moment, or else you'll be playing a at a very choppy framerate.
Another issue I had with the game, is the somtimes uncertain path to follow. Often times I could figure it out, but somtimes, I wished the game would point me in the right direction if I was straying too far from it. Admitedly, these wrong ways were mostly my fault, but for a first time through, your bound to get lost once or twice.
The final annoyance, was with a stange problem that would pop up occasionally, and belive me, it made it's presence known. For whatever reason, the game would seem to be running choppy, meanwhile, the framerate said it was moving at 40-80 fps. Now, I've seen 20 and below FPS, and this was not the case. This was the game not playing nice with my PC. Again, this may have just been me, but annoying enough to make note of here.
Gameplay wise, I have little to complain about. This is an action packed ride, that keeps a good pace, but somtimes, will diverge from it, for a puzzle or moment to rest your trigger finger. The characters who populate the world, are in fact, some of the most realistic and loveable bunch of characters in a game...shame they aren't seen much during the game.
Thats the main problem with Half Life 2 in fact. It has a great opening, and lots of dialoge, and then you spend the next 3-6 hours wandering around killing stuff, not talking to anyone really, and then all of sudden, your thrown more storyline, and it's back to wandering. I felt the story fell flat at times due to this...but still, it's a great experience with these characters, in particular Father Greogry, the seemingly insane preacher in "Ravenhome". He will stick with you long after you escape from that place, because of how Valve ended his characters involvment in the game. A serious "chill down the spine" moment. Also to be said...the ending kinda hurts. Not exactly the typical "to be continued", but I feel Valve should have done a better ending. Still, it fits with the original Half Life's ending, in the sense that, you know so little, and soon it will be told.
Last gripe, I promise. The damned buggy car you get, is about as responsive as a tank with a boat propeller. I understand Valve wanted to grab the "Hollywood" feel with all the bumps and jumps, but trying to stear with the keyboard, and aim a gun with the mouse, will cause you to fly all over the place. Perfect example of this to be found on Highway 17, when you get to the part with the "Magnet". You will be stuck for a bit trying to figure it out, and the fact that it's not clear what to do, conpounded by the fact that driving isn't easy...yeah, you'll curse a bit.
I feel the reason so many are raving about Half Life 2, is not because the game is good, but rather, it comes with Counter Strike, which is the MOST OVERRATED online multiplayer game to date. Half Life 2's deathmatch is so much more fun and rewarding. Let me ask you, have you ever killed anyone with a toliet? If you play Half Life 2 deathmatch, you will...and there is nothing like it.
So in the end, I really enjoyed Half Life 2, but because of all the hype and people around me claiming it was the "Next coming of Jesus as a computer game" I was put off when I actually played it from start to finish, and noticed it wasn't the flawless package so many claimed, and still claim it is. You'll also notice that people who rave about these games, haven't played, or know the better stuff, that seems to get burried under the hype and buildup.
Half Life 2 is like Doom 3 and Far Cry. Overhyped to no end, but still a very good game. Just don't go expecting to see the "Godsend" of PC games when you play this. Set your expectations a bit lower, and you'll have a great time, no doubt about it.
Oh yeah, I have nothing bad to say about Steam, because it took no more then 10 minutes for Steam to run, and allow me to play the game. Steam is only a pain in the ass, if you bought this game through it. Then, you need to wait for the ENTIRE game to download. I know because thats how my friend bought it, and I remember him waiting two days just to play the game. Also, 56k is dead people...get broadband, or get out. You can not play this game online, or download the game, with 56k...and right on the box, it mentions "broadband internet recommended" so you can say you weren't warned.
Also, Steam doesn't charge your card for updating or downloading the game, unless you just bought it that same day. Normal CD/DVD users won't even need to put in a credit/debit card number, so to a certain Amazon reviewer, your claim on that, is complete and utter bulls**t. - 2005-09-20, 4 of 6 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Valve Rocks All the Time :-)
- Don't listen to any one who complains ! This game is awesome .Great Game play,Great graphics. People who still on dial up should keep sending complains cose that connection from long time ago yesterday .Nice steam service from Valve makes it play and upgrade much easier.If u want to enjoy all Half-Life 2 goods just make sure u not using dial up and your PC is up to date.
My rig :Amd 64x2 4400 //Ram 2gig //Video geforce7800gtx 256mg //Audio Creative Audigy 2zs Platinum //....& so on
all game sttings on max Game Just Rocks THX Valve THX Amazon shipping fast like a rocket !!! - 2005-09-19, 0 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- If you want fun, and have the system requirments...
- If you have any sence in you, and have the money, you will purchase Half-Life 2 for the PC immidietly. Though the game took nearly seven years to create, and the system specs are really up their, it is worth the money. I should warn you, you are getting 3 games on one cd, a HINT BOOKLET!!. Not the guide. A large, really black t-shirt, with the Half-Life 2 logo on it, and a subscription to Steam. Valve's program where you can buy and download games from Valve themselves. Oh yeah, Vale is the developer of the game. I mentioned earlier that three games where on one cd. They are Half-Life 2, Half-Life 1, and the newest version of Counter Strike. The fun version of Army Ops. Now, since Half-Life 2 has refrences from Half-Life 1, you might want to play the first. Half-Life 1 you get in this package is a remake of Valve's very first title. And yet, the graphics are very simplistic. The game is fun and definatley worth playing. Half-Life 2 is obviously the best choice to play the game, but the system specs are high, and if you don't reach them, expect long and lots of loading times. Counter Strike is the first army based online game. And the one you get on this disc is the updated on built on the Half-Life 2 source code. I mentioned that Steam is a program you also get on this disc, and you can download and purchase games from Valve, like Half-Life 2 deathmatch. Think Counter Strike, with aliens, and in the Half-Life 2 world. You also get a side scroller game on this disc that you have to download called Codename, Gordon. It is basically Metal Slug 3 from the Neo Geo back in the early 1990's. Oh, Gordon Freeman is the main character in this game. Now, if you are buying this collector's edition by yourself, you deserve it, and if you are buying it for a present to give to somebody, not even the hardcroe gamer, all you will get back is a lot of thank you's from that person. Though if they don't reach the system spec, you will get a lot of negative feedback, so talk to them before buying. I will highly recommend this for anybody, but 3 games are on one cd, and hint booklet, and a t-shirt, don't be expecting a lot, but you get so much. I give the game a 5 out of 5, and the package a total score of a 4 out of 5.
- 2005-09-19, 0 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- If you liked the original, you'll love this.
- This is an excellent sequel - it brings back the ambiance and feel of the original Half-Life, but with new physics and graphics that take it all to a new level. The story is great, the vehicles are a blast to drive, and there are some truly creepy parts too. CounterStrike has also been remade exquisitely. The gameplay is just like the original, but everything works and looks better than before. All of the old maps are back, and there are many new ones as well (some of which are even better than the old ones). The only problem with CS is that the weapons have been given fictitious names that no longer reflect the actual weapons that they are based on. Perhaps this was done to remove an element of reality in an effort to protect children or something, but regardless of the motivation it was a bad move. Those of us who played the original version know what the real names are (and some of us that are familiar with weapons in general know what the real names are), and it's frustrating to constantly see the wrong name in the price list. Other than that, this is a great game that perfectly matches Half-Life 2.
- 2005-09-13, 1 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
