Half Life 2 - Episode 2 Review

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: Metron

Originally posted by: Frackal

This is an expansion pack 4 years later, nothing more.

Which is exactly what you should expect, since you're not buying a new game... you're getting exactly what you've paid for.

Weak rant... 3/10

Well I rate your rating of my rating a 2/10 !

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: ja1484
It was an excellent expansion to one of the best games ever made.

It's also one of the best looking games out there when run maxed out, mainly due to the outstanding art direction.



I have a feeling some of the complaints in this thread come from a misunderstanding of what's going on here. It's all about the story people. They're not going to introduce a radical new amount of weapons or enemies because that just wouldn't fit too well with the storyline. It seems to me some people are looking for radical advancements in graphics technology and engine tech. You're here for the wrong reasons - you're not here to play the game and progress the story, you're here because you wanted new wiz-bang tech features and play styles. These things don't come from expansion packs.

You dolts.

If you're unhappy with a game because the tech and gameplay mechanics haven't changed as radically as you'd like, you shouldn't be playing games, you should be downloading tech demos, because that's what you really want.

The thing I find odd is that people think this series needs more graphical advancement. They already have the best physics implementation and best character animation of any game out there, and all the other aspects (lighting, texture resolution, detail, shader effects, etc.) are on par with what's out there.


Edited to add: Though there are some nice tech advancements, such as the particle system and cinematic physics. Valve's HDR implementation is also hands-down the best in the business, even though it originally showed up for duty in HL2 canon with Ep 1.

Oh geez, what a bunch of baloney. Four years later should bring both a continuation of a storyline AND a brand new game/engine/features et al.

 

[ja1484]

Originally posted by: Frackal

Oh geez, what a bunch of baloney. Four years later should bring both a continuation of a storyline AND a brand new game/engine/features et al.

No, a new game should bring a new game engine. Expansions are pretty well understood by most everyone in the gaming community, except yourself apparently.

Valve never made any pretense that Episode 2 would be anything more than an expansion to Half-Life 2. If you expected something else, you have no right to get mad at a game developer because you have trouble reading the back of a videogame box.

 

[Polish3d]

Stop the snarky insults. The points you're making are irrelevant; I know what the game is, and it's too much of the same, and too old.

 

[ja1484]

Originally posted by: Frackal
Stop the snarky insults. The points you're making are irrelevant; I know what the game is, and it's too much of the same, and too old.

What's the point of posting on an internet forum if you're not going to be snarky?

Furthermore, if you knew what it was, then why did you buy it? You're not really helping your case here. If you didn't care for it, fine, but it's just the apotheosis of stupidity to complain about it having similarities to its parent title. That's kind of why people buy expansion packs - they want more of a given game.

Your OP essentially reads "It was what they said it would be. Points off."

Wayta go there skippy :roll:

 

[Polish3d]

The "apotheosis of stupidity?"


The predominant leitmotiv of the post is that the old formula is boring and outdated. They updated the game, but barely. It's not novel enough four years on.

The point, if you haven't grasped it by now, is that the formula they're using is too damn old.

I knew the game was based on the older engine. They presented it, promised updated graphics and more open ended environments; I played it, and my view is that it doesn't work any longer. It's too old, both in technology and lack of novelty in gameplay

 

[Kirby]

I can't believe people are comparing HL2:E2 to Crysis. That's like comparing Shawshank Redemption to Transformers.

 

[Polish3d]

Crysis:

Epic, technological masterpiece, decent story


HL2 EP2:

Done it before, technologically old, decent story

 

[mundane]

I really enjoyed Ep2, and finished my second run through with the developer commentary. I feel it's a very well assembled, thought out experience, and am eager to see the last installment.

 

[Boztech]

I thought EP2 was the by far the best of the HL2 series yet. The car/strider mission was fantastically fun. Couple of dramatic plot twists as well. I loved it.

 

[skace]

When it first came out, I compared Doom3 to HL2 and saw an inferior engine. 1 was a revolutionary jump (d3), the other an evolution of a previous engine (hl2). Now you are stating the same thing I stated way back then, except 4 years later, which means your viewpoint is so very far from new. What I learned from HL2 was, despite the evolutionary nature of the engine, Valve has managed a very consistent roll out of extremely high end content. Over the course of it all, the engine has aged nicely and I've begun to overlook a lack of fancy effects. TF2 makes exceptional use of the Source engine and I can run it at 2560x1600 res, something I can't say for Crysis.

Outside of graphics, the rest of your post/argument seems to be full of complete factual inaccuracies. The crux of your post seemed to be "same enemies, same puzzles", more of the same, etc. The problem with this, is it's just not true and makes for a pretty shitty "review". Valve has been very consistent on adding new content. Episode2 focused on some pretty decent outdoor areas, nothing on Crysis, but big enough to be enjoyable and allowed them to create the sticky bomb puzzle, which was brand new in EP2, the grub section/enemies were brand new as well, and so was the new striders, we got a sneak peak at the brain bugs which will most likely make more appearances later on.

 

[Polish3d]

Your first paragraph I'm not addressing because the gist of my post had nothing to do with the game engine in the way you're talking about it.


Regarding your second paragraph, for the second or third and final time:


The review is my impression of the game - it's not subject to technical arguments like "well there were grub bugs and re-skinned ant lions that shoot goo, and a new hunter enemy so your IMPRESSION that the game is just more of the same is clearly invalid."

Understand?

There are a few new items. The outdoor areas were stretched a bit. There are some new puzzles of the same format.


Big deal. My impression was then, and is now, that the third time through the same basic game four years later is totally unsatisfying and old.

 

[Daverino]

*Spoilers*
Starting in HL2 and continuing through EP1 and EP2, I began to really feel constrained. And I mean in really contrived ways. In HL1, you were trapped inside an underground research facility and some of the environments at least gave you the feeling that there was some openness. For example, the segment with the rail car, the ability to fix either section of the generator first, or the part on the cliff. Even the ending sections, by cleverly constructing the world as hovering land masses gave an open feeling where it was really very closed.

HL2, however, presented with you with areas like Route Canal, or the toxic river where the river banks were *just* so steep that you couldn't walk over them and take a stroll. Or how Ravenholm was cleverly constructed into village blocks entirely cut off from each other except for a single flimsy piece of wood acting as a bridge. It got more absurd as the game went on. That you couldn't progress through the city until you waited for a Strider to randomly blow a hole through a wall for you. Even Breen points out how stupid you are for getting into the final conveyance to his office. It got to the point where I was so distracted looking for these contrivances that I began to enjoy the game less and less. For example, I saw the mansion ambush in EP2 coming from miles away and was wondering how far I need to walk before it triggers. But the crowning groaning moment was after saving Alyx by collecting the Antlion spores (or whatever), there's AN ELEVATOR UP TO EXACTLY WHERE YOU LEFT. But mind you, it is a broken elevator, so you couldn't take it down and bypass 30+ minutes of antlion fighting. What? Nobody has ever seen a rope in this world? That was really bad.

I have to confess that the combat in HL2 has always been fun. The final battle against the Striders in Ep2 was great and I replayed it numerous times. But then even EP2 ends on a contrivance where after completing this epic battle the aliens are so powerful they can just walk into the base anyhow. I'm reminded of a review of the 'Resident Evil' movie and the infamous slicing laser against the trapped soldiers. The first laser kills one soldier, but they wise up and start dodging them only for the lasers to become trickier. Finally there's one soldier left and he's ready to dodge the next laser attack only for it to turn into an impassible grid that a hamster could not escape. The reviewer pointed out correctly that if the last attack was guaranteed to kill everyone in the room with no hope of escape, why do that one first? Same thing here. What was the point of sending in a dozen Striders to attack when a single administrator could just fly in and kill everyone without resistance?

I'll play EP3 just to see how it ends, but really Half-Life needs to be retired and Valve needs to do something fresh.

 

[EvilComputer92]

Originally posted by: Daverino
*Spoilers*
Starting in HL2 and continuing through EP1 and EP2, I began to really feel constrained. And I mean in really contrived ways. In HL1, you were trapped inside an underground research facility and some of the environments at least gave you the feeling that there was some openness. For example, the segment with the rail car, the ability to fix either section of the generator first, or the part on the cliff. Even the ending sections, by cleverly constructing the world as hovering land masses gave an open feeling where it was really very closed.

HL2, however, presented with you with areas like Route Canal, or the toxic river where the river banks were *just* so steep that you couldn't walk over them and take a stroll. Or how Ravenholm was cleverly constructed into village blocks entirely cut off from each other except for a single flimsy piece of wood acting as a bridge. It got more absurd as the game went on. That you couldn't progress through the city until you waited for a Strider to randomly blow a hole through a wall for you. Even Breen points out how stupid you are for getting into the final conveyance to his office. It got to the point where I was so distracted looking for these contrivances that I began to enjoy the game less and less. For example, I saw the mansion ambush in EP2 coming from miles away and was wondering how far I need to walk before it triggers. But the crowning groaning moment was after saving Alyx by collecting the Antlion spores (or whatever), there's AN ELEVATOR UP TO EXACTLY WHERE YOU LEFT. But mind you, it is a broken elevator, so you couldn't take it down and bypass 30+ minutes of antlion fighting. What? Nobody has ever seen a rope in this world? That was really bad.

I have to confess that the combat in HL2 has always been fun. The final battle against the Striders in Ep2 was great and I replayed it numerous times. But then even EP2 ends on a contrivance where after completing this epic battle the aliens are so powerful they can just walk into the base anyhow. I'm reminded of a review of the 'Resident Evil' movie and the infamous slicing laser against the trapped soldiers. The first laser kills one soldier, but they wise up and start dodging them only for the lasers to become trickier. Finally there's one soldier left and he's ready to dodge the next laser attack only for it to turn into an impassible grid that a hamster could not escape. The reviewer pointed out correctly that if the last attack was guaranteed to kill everyone in the room with no hope of escape, why do that one first? Same thing here. What was the point of sending in a dozen Striders to attack when a single administrator could just fly in and kill everyone without resistance?

I'll play EP3 just to see how it ends, but really Half-Life needs to be retired and Valve needs to do something fresh.

I couldn't agree more. It's this stupid level design that really got to me.

 

[Furyline]

I really liked Ep2, I also enjoyed HL2 and ep1. I know it is pretty linear, and sometimes contrived how they control the player experience, but I just let it go because it makes for a fun and engaging game. I think they do it better than anyone else, and I'm looking forward to episode 3, hopefully they get cracking on that.

 

[nova2]

i think ep2 is overall much better than ep1

ep2 was enjoyable and fun for me. every game has its critics.

bring on ep3, yo

 

[Noobtastic]

I didn't even finish HL episode 1!

I played episode 2 for a few hours but felt it too difficult and boring. The formulaic combat and overall exploring were flaws intolerable.

Valve needs to do more multiplayer.

 

[you2]

Hum. I replayed hl2, ep1 and then ep2 for the first time. I actually got stuck at one point (only one!) in ep2 where you are suppose to throw the balls back up at the heli (that was not obvious to me. I mean who's gonna throw a ball 1000 feet into the air). Anyways I thought it was ok but TOOO SHORT. I feel sad for those folks who paid full price for 2 days of gaming (portal+ep2). I can't complain too much I think those to together was almost worth the $25 best buy charged (I ignored tf2 because that isn't my 'thing' and there is no option to buy the other two for less than $25 best buy charged).
--
I.e, I am a bit surprise it takes valve this long to generate very small amounts of content. Mind you I've never tried myself so I'm unsure how difficult a task it is and I must assume (given how long hl2 took which is quite long) that is a bit of effort.

But overall ep2 was fun - not sure if it was 'more' fun than ep1 as it was quite a bit different but Ithink it was better done. ep1 was kind of vanilla.
-
so my rating (for ep2) would be 9 for quality, 3 for value.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I don't know what is weaker. The 100 word 'review' itself or the OP posting 40 times trying to justify why he gave a game he hates 80%.

 

[Creig]

I'll take the storyline, voice acting and pure fun of HL2 over the flashier, yet soulless games available out there.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I have not yet played Crysis as my hardware is not up to snuff, but I bought the OJ box and thoroughly enjoyed EP2 (as well as HL2 and EP1). I felt EP2 to be better than EP1. Portal was a blast too. Very clever combination of thinking puzzles and FPS. I accept the HL series to be what it is. Linear yet cinematic in a way with a great plot. I love playing it. If I want to play something more expansive I'll stick in something like BF2.

 

[CP5670]

I don't understand why everyone says HL2 has a great plot. When I think "great plot" in the context of FPSs, I think of something like Deus Ex. HL2's story is not very fleshed out or detailed (Gordon not talking, for example) and feels tacked on in the sense that it's all presented through a couple of cutscenes, with large parts of the game having no connection to it. You could change half of the levels completely and keep the same story. A game's story needs to be intertwined with the maps and gameplay to be truly good. Even Riddick:EFBB, which came out around the same time, had a much better story because it was weaved into the gameplay and levels so well.

I also agree with the other poster about the "assault course" style maps that made the whole game world feel like it existed just for you to go through it.

 

[Vidda]

The whole Half-Life series does a great job of knowing when to tell you something, and when to keep you guessing. That's really hard to find in FPS, or even science fiction novels these days. I'd compare it to Halo1 in terms of doing a good job w/ the universe. And no, I'm not a Halo fanboy, but I did think the 1st game did a lot of things right w/ the story (gameplay-wise, however...).

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
I don't know what is weaker. The 100 word 'review' itself or the OP posting 40 times trying to justify why he gave a game he hates 80%.

Maybe your eyesight, considering I only posted once to qualify the rating

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Frackal

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
I don't know what is weaker. The 100 word 'review' itself or the OP posting 40 times trying to justify why he gave a game he hates 80%.

Maybe your eyesight, considering I only posted once to qualify the rating

Nah, it's yours. You posted seven times defending a bad review.

EPIC FAIL.