A visual tour of the best gaming experience your money can buy. Serious!
There is a danger while reviewing a product with a heritage that Half-Life 2 enjoys. When you have waited for a game for close to two years, built a computer system for its imminent arrival, have hungrily consumed every nugget of information thrown by the Almighty Valve, there is a tendency that you will end up praising it, even if it—technically speaking—sucks. Wait, before you rip out clumps of hair—the game rocks… honest!
What makes Half-Life 2 the most amazing virtual experience yet is the beauty of the world it creates. The game system makes inherent sense. It is visually stunning, starring believable characters that showcase emotive expressions; it is supported by a laudable simulation of real-world physics, and is paced to perfection.
Within 15 minutes of playing it, you will go through curiosity, elation, surprise, fear, revulsion, dread, relief, and joy.
The emotive package is ably wrapped in a musical score which thrills, chills and rides your adrenaline back down to human levels. I do not exaggerate when I say that every moment of playing the game is a surprise, it feels fresh and invigorating right up to the somewhat-deflated end (blame it on bloody sequels!)
Having poured praise, my ego must point out some flaws—the installation takes an eternity (thanks to the Steam decryption and verification systems); like the first, the game is too scripted, and loading times will frequently throw a wrench at, what is otherwise, a study in immersion. That aside, the game is perfection itself.
Do yourself a favour and play it at all costs.
Physics
Half-Life 2 tests your physics IQ. During the game, you will need to surmount various challenges based on the principles of physics, such as a pulley-based puzzle shown below. The game employs the Havoc physics engine, as a result of which, the simulations by HL2 are believable and immersive. For a more satisfying usage of real-world logic, read on…
Who Is Gordon Freeman?
A quantum physicist, a firestarter, a flirt…
The Firestarter
Turn up a gas pipe, whip out your pistol and shoot! Stand back, and watch them burn. Fun times.
The Decapitator
Get your gravity gun out and right-click to “tractor beam” saw-blades to yourself. Aim at the nearest zombie and fire the blade, watch it cut your target in half—like a hot knife through butter! Repeat
Lover Of Gulls
The game is consistent. See birds flying? Shoot to bring one down. Here, gulls enjoy a quiet siesta
A Hit With The Women
Expressions enhance immersion in HL2. Seen here—a bit of flirting, followed by a tiff
Enemy Of The State
Physics at play again, this time as a weapon. See that fool shooting at me on the left? See that huge metal container falling at him at 9.8 m/s2 ? They met!
Half-Life 2
Distributed by Milestone Interactive Software Limited
Phone: 28381614
Web site: www.milestoneinteractive.com
Price: Rs 1,499