icemann on 22/11/2008 at 07:19
The only issue I`ve ever had with HL2 is that it didn`t match up to that really long E3 video that was released 2 years before it was released. The video was fucking awesome, the battles were more exciting and the npc AI appeared to be alot smarter.
For an example of the AI in the video (which was later revealed to be scripted), in it the player/Gordon pushes over a monitor screen and a scientist guy tells him off for pushing it over. AI to that kindof level would have kicked ass from an AI standpoint. Another is when Gordon stares at Alyxx for a while and she gets embarassed. But sadly as I mentioned earlier it was all later revealed to be scripted and if you try to do the same thing in the actual game the AI`s dont react at all.
Fragony on 22/11/2008 at 08:07
My only issue with Half-life 2 is that it's a pretty boring shooter, the episodes are awesome though especially the second. Mixed feelings about half-life, was too busy drooling over Thief to be impressed. First hours are great but it loses it's edge.
Angel Dust on 22/11/2008 at 11:14
Quote Posted by icemann
Another is when Gordon stares at Alyxx for a while and she gets embarassed. But sadly as I mentioned earlier it was all later revealed to be scripted and if you try to do the same thing in the actual game the AI`s dont react at all.
They have stuff like that in there though, you can look at the photos and newsclippings in Eli's lab and he'll come over and talk about them, so I wonder why they cut that stuff? One cool NPC reaction I like is in Ep2 if you shoot the car with the gravity gun while Alyxx is in it.
SalaciousCrumb on 22/11/2008 at 13:23
I don't really get why Half-Life is praised all the time for its great story. Well here is the story from my point of view:
Scientists create some hole in the time-space-continuum and many monsters from a strange dimension come and want to eat them and Gordon.
Here is Dooms story from my point of view:
Scientists create some hole in the time-space-continuum and many monsters from a strange dimension come and want to eat them and the Doom-Marine.
Well, the soldiers also weren't that much of a surprise as I see it. You hear there are the good guys...and after some seconds it is clear they are the bad guys. Huge turning point? I think not.
Also I don't get the Unreal fanscene. Well you get out of that shipthing see some great scenery but after all it is just another mindless shooter. Sorry both games don't mean anything revolutionary to me.
Thief on the other hand managed to impress me even to this day. It was the first game that led me to not killing anyone over the course of missions as I though I should stay undercover as a simple thief. A murderer would attract more attention of the law.
Angel Dust on 22/11/2008 at 14:16
Half-Life wasn't a revelation for it's story, and many at the time of release noticed the similarity to Doom's story, but for the way it told that story, completely in game and 100% from the players point-of-view.
Thief is of course aces though.
Jason Moyer on 22/11/2008 at 15:07
I tend to rate System Shock 2 as my favorite game ever, but Thief (and to some degree, the original Descent) had a profound impact on the way I play almost every game. Trying to hide from the AI, or trying to sneak past for a simple flank, is something I instinctively do now in everything from the Bethsoft RPG's to something like TF2 - even when I'm playing an offensive class, my favorite strategy is to try and find an alternate route into the enemy's territory, sneak in, and hit them hard from behind.
gunsmoke on 22/11/2008 at 15:52
Well, in Single player games, I play like JasonMoyer...but multiplayer, I am an in-your-face, aggro, adrenaline junkie.
heywood on 22/11/2008 at 16:28
Quote Posted by swaaye
Nobody ever seems to sit around and fondly recall 1997's FPS of the year, DF2: Jedi Knight. What is the deal with that? That game blew away everything before it too. Told a decent story, had absolutely unbelievably expansive levels, and looked decent for its time. The game had a multiplayer community that was quite big and happy for a long while, too.
I don't know many people who played it. I tried the demo when it first came out, but it was one of the most boring demos I've ever played so I ended up buying Quake II instead. One of my friends liked it a lot, so I was going to give it a go after QII, but then Unreal came out and I forgot all about it until now. Looking back, I kind of wish I gave it another chance.
Angel Dust on 22/11/2008 at 20:46
Jedi Knight was a good game, although I don't think the light saber combat worked very well, but I for some reason I've always perferred Dark Forces.
Gaph on 22/11/2008 at 21:30
In Half-Life 2, I never felt like I was in Gordon's shoes (or mind). What does Gordon do? Where is he going and why? These are things I can answer but they're so transparent throughout most of the game that all you're left with is the gameplay. Like you're moving forward without any real goals to reach or connection with what's going on in the world.
Gordon had a much more defined "role" in Half-Life 1. You're just a theoretical physicist trying to escape an underground research facility during an alien invasion/government cover-up. Like those characters in zombie movies who do better while civilization is crumbling than they ever did while it was thriving, Gordon discovers he makes a better ass-kicker than a scientist. It all plays out right infront of the players eyes. Everyone can relate to the simple goal of survival and it's enough to move the player forward through the entire game.
