Finally Finished this Classic
Despite greatly enjoying this game when I first played it, I put it down about 70% through and never quite came back to it. Well I recenly went back and finished it and am very happy I did so. This is a great game and a contender for my favorite FPS of all time.
Pros: The game came out 5 years and the graphics are still very good. The art and character design is top notch, and the Source engine is very adaptable so you can pretty much run this game at higher settings on pretty much any new computer. For an FPS the story is very good and immersive. The cut scenes are all in engine and many are interactive which does a lot to make you feel like you are in the game. The game has some great set piece moments which make you stop and say "Cool!" The bits of music that they have are unique and do a good job of getting the blood pumping.
Cons: The gun gameplay doesn't feel quite as tight as something like Halo. I don't find myself hopping behind cover, taking out a guy or two and then having to go to a different location because someone is right on my tail. Half-life 2's shooting is more like a shooting gallery, which is not bad but is just not up to the high standards set by other aspects of this game. The music they did use was good and interesting but I wish there was more of it, you play a lot of this game to no music in the background and I think that was a missed opportunity.
Who should check this game out: Pretty much every game should play Half-Life 2. It is not only a very good game, but also significant one that has been influential. I also think the game has a mass kind of appeal in that I think it will appeal to most gamers.
