Half-Life 2

Ok, let me get the obvious out of the way right at the start; the Source engine is absolutely stunning. However, having also played Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (which uses much of the same technology) I can testify that Half-Life 2’s achievement’s are far from its engines alone. The visuals, the sound, the PHYSICS… all are beautifully realised and totally integrated within the game world. Overall the level of quality in the production of this game is not only consistently breathtaking but also encourages a level of emotional involvement that I’ve never previously experienced. In this respect the character led set pieces are worthy of mention alone; they never fail to leave the widest of grins on your face and at times give you the feeling of having a bit part in your favourite TV show.

The really amazing thing for me is the way that Half-Life 2 makes you feel like your character is really growing throughout the course of the game… and I’m not just talking about the usual levelling-up or acquisition of new skills. In much the same way that Neo in the Matrix becomes more than the sum-of-his-parts by the end of the film, as Gordon Freeman you feel a real shift from the start of the game where you are on the run from overwhelming forces, to the mid point where you assume the mantle of a resistance hero and ‘Strider Killer’, to the final levels where… well, that would be saying too much. Suffice to say that by the time I entered the final scene I was so pumped up with adrenaline that I could’ve taken on the Nihilanth myself… bare handed! Basically HL2 is one of the most perfectly paced / balanced games I have ever played and, frankly, anyone who bemoans the games relatively moderate difficulty settings is just missing the point.

Part of the reason for this sensation is the power that your NPC comrades have in providing a real, visceral response to your actions. Simple things like the change in the way that characters address you throughout the course of the game really helps to promote the feeling that your mounting achievements are important to them and to the fate of the world in general. It is hard to describe the impact that this has on your experience of the game but I’ll just say that it is far more satisfying than just receiving the next class of weapon or power up and it really makes the story transitions all the more engaging. As I said before though, HL2 isn’t just a technology showcase. As with many things in in the game the devil is in the detail and I think it would be much harder to feel sympathetic toward your fellow resistance fighters if their responses weren’t so well designed and, well… acted! Forget about notions of ‘interactive movies’, this is where true cinematic gaming really begins.

One of the few real bones of contention that some people have had with Half-Life 2 is the perceived lack of substance in its underlying story, and indeed the lack of explanation regarding any of the events witnessed in the original game. It is true that in many ways HL2 treats its parent as another country; referring to it for the sake of continuity but that’s about it. In its scope though HL2 has much wider margins and can be seen as the beginning to a much larger plot line for which Half-Life was merely the prologue (I know, one hell of a prologue!). In this game a lot of time is spent setting up new themes and establishing new supporting characters, but it is only as we draw to the end that we see a glint of the larger picture emerging (this assertion is now backed up by the news that the upcoming expansion pack will continue things almost directly from where HL2 leaves off). In fairness Valve should really have made its intentions for the Half-Life franchise much clearer before this games release to prevent fans from feeling underwhelmed. That being said, try to think of HL2 as The Empire Strikes Back to Half-Life’s Star Wars: A New Hope. Much like that classic film sequel the games action sequences, and your immersion in them never feels hamstrung by the epic pretensions underlying the script. Furthermore, while the ending provides a quite unexpected ‘question mark’ finale, this episode in the saga still manages to have more than its fair share of memorable moments while still reaching a rounded, natural conclusion to events.

However, as with Half-Life before it the real interest in HL2’s story is to be found in the telling. In my opinion there are few games that take such a mature view of in-game narrative, or ingrain their story elements so completely within the gameplay itself. Valve has built on their ethic of absolutely no cut scenes, clean level transitions, and never leaving the players perspective, by creating levels that literally sing story and atmosphere to you as you play through them. Because of the way the game immerses you in your surroundings you never feel like you’re missing out on any of the overt exposition that many games rely upon to move things forward. It really is a testament to the time Valve has spent crafting HL2 that the final sensation is of having lived through the game rather then just being told what was going on before entering yet another action set piece. Compare HL2’s design nuances with those of other games in its genre (even FarCry which is arguably a more innovative game in terms of player freedom… Gravity Gun not withstanding) and I think there really is no contest. After all, this is a game that can relate more plot subtly in an overheard loud speaker announcement or briefly glimpsed graffiti decal than most other titles can do with a five minute long cut scene, and you’ve got to love that.

Again, it is worth stating that the shear emotive nature of Half-Life 2 cannot be underplayed. The fact is that I have never played a game that immersed and excited me to such a level that it made me play it over again as soon as I had finished it the first time round! In my humble opinion this game is so achingly close to perfection that most of its criticisms just become exercises in nit-picking. When all is said and done if you are at all interested in first person adventures then you really must play this game. In fact, stop reading this review right now and go and play it. Go on… GO! :)

* Originally written for my old GameSpot account in May 2005