Why do people often say that Half Life is better than Half Life 2?

[PCgamer81]

Why do people often say that Half Life is better than Half Life 2?

I understand looking at it from the perspective of the era it debuted in; what Half Life brought to the table, the innovation, the entertainment level, etc. Simply put, the original Half Life was/is an amazing game. It no doubt utilized the Quake engine far better than any game before it, arguably even surpassing Id Software's "Quake".

But...

Half Life 2 and the Source engine was revolutionary. From the gravity gun and real time physics calculations, to the Combine, weapons, sound, and AMAZING graphics; every facet of Half Life 2 screamed epic. This was the game that ushered in the current generation of interactive entertainment. This was the game that really opened up PC gaming, blowing everyone away in the process.

For anyone to even remotely insinuate that Half Life is superior to it's sequel is indicative of a severe lack of gamer appreciation.

I am old enough to remember both games well. I have played both games. Half Life, was an absolute blast at the time, but Half Life 2 totally and completely took my world by storm. Half Life 2 is STILL the best first person shooter out there today. Half Life 2 is so good, that it has totally spoiled me from enjoying other shooters. When playing other shooters, I say to myself, "I am playing this (insert shooter), when I could be playing THIS (Half Life 2).

This is not merely a matter of opinion. Anyone with a working pair of eyes can see it.

Half Life 2 far surpasses Half Life.

Thanks.

 

[Gothams Finest]

I personally don't like playing games with overly dated graphics, but at the same time, my fondest memories are from games that would be horrible to play now.

I agree but I still enjoy playing older games that I have fond merories off. Age of Empires, Resident Evil, Crash Bandicoot, etc all the games from my childhood. But if I didnt have fond memorys of them then I dont think I would enjoy them half as much.

 

[Gothams Finest]

Sadly, I will have to respectfully disagree with your classifying of Half Life 2 as "action rpg". The furthest outside of the traditional "first person shooter" genre that I would venture to classify Half Life 2 as would be "first person adventure".

Yeah I dont see any RPG elements in Half Life 2 at all. For me its a great first person adventure/platformer

 

[Gothams Finest]

Yeah, Metro 2033 was short. But to be honest, I had rather have a blast for 5 hours that be bored for 40.

And to me, no offense, Fallout 3 was boring.

I could not get into it at all. I got to that part where you are in that big tanker - you know with the draw bridge and the beggar wanting water. I got to about that point and lost interest.

Again I've got to agree with you. Me and my girlfriend tried playing through Fallout 3 because it did look like a really good game but we just found it boring and lost interest after about an hour or two and never played it since. I thought about buying it again or maybe giving new vegas a try, but I know i'll end up bord again, its one of them games I wish I could like.

Metro 2033 is one of my favorite games, I was a big fan of the book before the game came out so I already knew that I would enjoy the setting, characters and story. The only part that I didnt like about the game is the human A.I is a little poor.

 

[PCgamer81]

Again I've got to agree with you. Me and my girlfriend tried playing through Fallout 3 because it did look like a really good game but we just found it boring and lost interest after about an hour or two and never played it since. I thought about buying it again or maybe giving new vegas a try, but I know i'll end up bord again, its one of them games I wish I could like.

Metro 2033 is one of my favorite games, I was a big fan of the book before the game came out so I already knew that I would enjoy the setting, characters and story. The only part that I didnt like about the game is the human A.I is a little poor.

The human AI is really not that great, no. And the game certainly has it's fair share of bugs.

But ya know, there is just something about Metro 2033 that woos me. I am not exactly what some would call a graphics whore, nor do I really put a lot of emphasis on graphics at all. But Metro 2033, despite it's problems, had "it". It had the "it" factor. Hell, it is not even a great shooter (as far as shooters go), but it still has "it".

Whatever it is that makes games great, Metro 2033 had it. I think it is the presentation, graphics, IMMERSION, atmosphere, and story...all coming together and clicking in just the right ways.

Metro 2033 had it.

 

[Gothams Finest]

there is just something about Metro 2033 that woos me. I am not exactly what some would call a graphics whore, nor do I really put a lot of emphasis on graphics at all. But Metro 2033, despite it's problems, had "it". It had the "it" factor. Hell, it is not even a great shooter (as far as shooters go), but it still has "it".

Whatever it is that makes games great, Metro 2033 had it. I think it is the presentation, graphics, IMMERSION, atmosphere, and story...all coming together and clicking in just the right ways.

Metro 2033 had it.

I know exactly what you mean.

 

[FlintIronStagg]

^^ ill second that

 

[datfreek]

I am a big oblivion fan, so FO3 was obviously a must have for me. Having played fallout 1 and 2 briefly, I do understand why some would be disappointed, but since I love and still play oblivion to this day, I automatically fell in love with FO3. For me it was just something new, the setting and everything. Just my opinion xD but I would gladly play oblivion over fallout3. After the first play through I had no motivation to start over and do new side-quests, there just wasn't enough for me, still a great game imo.

And I think that the only reason people would say that HL is greater than HL2 is because of the nostalgia factor, HL2 elaborated on the HL formula, especially with the source engine, I was really impressed. Not many FPS can stand up to HL2. soo many games nowadays are uninspired and designed to entertain a simple minded audience, I'm talking about games like Modern warfare and such.

 

[PCgamer81]

I am a big oblivion fan, so FO3 was obviously a must have for me. Having played fallout 1 and 2 briefly, I do understand why some would be disappointed, but since I love and still play oblivion to this day, I automatically fell in love with FO3. For me it was just something new, the setting and everything. Just my opinion xD but I would gladly play oblivion over fallout3. After the first play through I had no motivation to start over and do new side-quests, there just wasn't enough for me, still a great game imo.

And I think that the only reason people would say that HL is greater than HL2 is because of the nostalgia factor, HL2 elaborated on the HL formula, especially with the source engine, I was really impressed. Not many FPS can stand up to HL2. soo many games nowadays are uninspired and designed to entertain a simple minded audience, I'm talking about games like Modern warfare and such.

Well spoken.

I also agree that Oblivion is better than Fallout 3. I think Fallout 3 deserved more than what Bethesda gave it. After really playing the first two, it is kind of disappointing that the Fallout 3 team took it in the direction they did. I will say this about Fallout 3...

The environment is amazing. Roaming around the wasteland was the highlight of my time spent with Fallout 3. Unfortunately, that just wasn't enough to make up for the fact that I didn't like the gameplay. I was not challenged by the game, nor did I find much reason to press forward.

*I kind of liked Modern Warfare* 😉

 

[bystander]

I am a big oblivion fan, so FO3 was obviously a must have for me. Having played fallout 1 and 2 briefly, I do understand why some would be disappointed, but since I love and still play oblivion to this day, I automatically fell in love with FO3. For me it was just something new, the setting and everything. Just my opinion xD but I would gladly play oblivion over fallout3. After the first play through I had no motivation to start over and do new side-quests, there just wasn't enough for me, still a great game imo.

And I think that the only reason people would say that HL is greater than HL2 is because of the nostalgia factor, HL2 elaborated on the HL formula, especially with the source engine, I was really impressed. Not many FPS can stand up to HL2. soo many games nowadays are uninspired and designed to entertain a simple minded audience, I'm talking about games like Modern warfare and such.

Being an Oblivion fan, did you ever play Morrowind? For many who played all the TES games, Morrowind would rank as the best.

 

[PCgamer81]

I know exactly what you mean.

You know what game I am all of a sudden in the mood to play?

STALKER: Call of Pripyat.

 

[Gothams Finest]

I am a big oblivion fan, so FO3 was obviously a must have for me. Having played fallout 1 and 2 briefly, I do understand why some would be disappointed, but since I love and still play oblivion to this day, I automatically fell in love with FO3. For me it was just something new, the setting and everything. Just my opinion xD but I would gladly play oblivion over fallout3. After the first play through I had no motivation to start over and do new side-quests, there just wasn't enough for me, still a great game imo.

And I think that the only reason people would say that HL is greater than HL2 is because of the nostalgia factor, HL2 elaborated on the HL formula, especially with the source engine, I was really impressed. Not many FPS can stand up to HL2. soo many games nowadays are uninspired and designed to entertain a simple minded audience, I'm talking about games like Modern warfare and such.

All though I agree with you to a degree there is nothing wrong with Modern Warfare, Call of Duty 4 single player is awesome.

Not everyone who plays it are simpletons, and not all games have to be for the so called "cultured", "sophisticated", tweed wearing, pipe smoking, mahogany loving gamers who think they are superior to everbody else.

 

[Gothams Finest]

You know what game I am all of a sudden in the mood to play?

STALKER: Call of Pripyat.

I got STALKER: Call of Pripyat free with some parts for my computer when I built it in August, I played it for a while and then for some reason havent played it since. I'm going to have to play it again and give it another go.

 

[PCgamer81]

I got STALKER: Call of Pripyat free with some parts for my computer when I built it in August, I played it for a while and then for some reason havent played it since. I'm going to have to play it again and give it another go.

It is a pretty decent game. Not on the same level as Metro, or even the first STALKER, but still pretty decent.

I think it was a little scary, unlike the first STALKER. I am still waiting for it to finish downloading on steam.

One of the downsides of building a new rig from scratch is that you have to redownload all your steam games - and that takes forever.

 

[Gothams Finest]

How many you got?

 

[PCgamer81]

How many you got?

The ones I have bought through Steam?

38.

A lot of them came in package deals. Like for instance the Orange Box. And some are only expansions, so really less than that.

Bulletstorm
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Crysis
Dirt 3
Metro 2033
Morrowind
Oblivion
Empire: Total War
Far Cry
Far Cry 2
Grand theft Auto
Grand theft Auto 2
Grand theft Auto 3
Grand theft Auto: Vice City
Grand theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand theft Auto 4
Grand theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City
Half Life
Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Lost Coast
Half Life 2: Episode 1
Half Life 2: Episode 2
Portal
Team Fortress
Painkiller: Black edition
Left 4 Dead 2
Red Faction
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat
Civilization 3
Titan Quest
Titan Quest: Immortal Throne
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 Chaos Rising
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 Retribution
World in Conflict
World in Conflict: Soviet Assualt

 

[Gothams Finest]

The ones I have bought through Steam?

38.

A lot of them came in package deals. Like for instance the Orange Box. And some are only expansions, so really less than that.

Bulletstorm
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Crysis
Dirt 3
Metro 2033
Morrowind
Oblivion
Empire: Total War
Far Cry
Far Cry 2
Grand theft Auto
Grand theft Auto 2
Grand theft Auto 3
Grand theft Auto: Vice City
Grand theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand theft Auto 4
Grand theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City
Half Life
Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Lost Coast
Half Life 2: Episode 1
Half Life 2: Episode 2
Portal
Team Fortress
Painkiller: Black edition
Left 4 Dead 2
Red Faction
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat
Civilization 3
Titan Quest
Titan Quest: Immortal Throne
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 Chaos Rising
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 Retribution
World in Conflict
World in Conflict: Soviet Assualt

Ouch, thats gonna take a while to download. Best leaving your computer on 24/7 till they download.

Nice selection of games btw. I have a lot of them too.

 

[datfreek]

All though I agree with you to a degree there is nothing wrong with Modern Warfare, Call of Duty 4 single player is awesome.

Not everyone who plays it are simpletons, and not all games have to be for the so called "cultured", "sophisticated", tweed wearing, pipe smoking, mahogany loving gamers who think they are superior to everbody else.

I wasn't calling out COD4, just what the franchise is going through in general, I love COD-COD4, but it now it seems like a majority of developers want to make watered down versions of modern warefare 2 because its popular. We have devs putting out great games that don't really get much attention, but then the new call of duty comes out and its like its the only thing that matters. I know plenty of people that won't touch a game because its not call of duty. I guess my gripe is more so centered at console gamers where COD reigns supreme.

 

[PCgamer81]

Ouch, thats gonna take a while to download. Best leaving your computer on 24/7 till they download.

Nice selection of games btw. I have a lot of them too.

What I will do a lot of times, is like wait until the game is like 75% off, then buy it. I doubt there are 5 games up there I paid full price for. I game cheap. That is the thing that really cracks me up about people saying PC gaming is costly. I spent loads more money when I was a console gamer. When the next generation is here, and all of these console kids are dropping 500$ on the console alone, all I have to do is grab another 6970 and I'm set. And 60$ a pop for games. Ouch.

 

[Gothams Finest]

What I will do a lot of times, is like wait until the game is like 75% off, then buy it. I doubt there are 5 games up there I paid full price for. I game cheap. That is the thing that really cracks me up about people saying PC gaming is costly. I spent loads more money when I was a console gamer. When the next generation is here, and all of these console kids are dropping 500$ on the console alone, all I have to do is grab another 6970 and I'm set. And 60$ a pop for games. Ouch.

Same here. I think my 30 odd games have cost me around £150, that would get you around 3-4 console games.

 

[Croffmen]

It's a shame, too. A lot of gamers have been holding out for that.

I can only imagine the records Half Life 3 will break it's first day out. I can only hope it will be PC exclusive, but sadly, we already know the answer to that one.

I personally have no problem with games crossing platforms. It gives more money to the company, and gets their game and ideas out to a broader and larger range of people. I own an xbox, but I prefer the PC. I don't mind, though, if a game is multiplatformed, rather I encourage it. It doesn't matter what you play on as long as you play it. PC's are a hell of lot more expensive to buy and keep up with and with an xbox I can just break it open and fiddle with it without having to worry about losing everything on my computer.

 

[PCgamer81]

PC's are a hell of lot more expensive to buy and keep up with and with an xbox I can just break it open and fiddle with it without having to worry about losing everything on my computer.

PC's are only more expensive when you first build. Considering what it costs to purchase a next-gen console, consistently buying games for 60$ a pop, you actually save money in the long run. Take for example my rig. It probably won't hold a candle to the Xbox 720. But by the time the Xbox 720 debuts for $599.99 (two years from now, most likely), I will be able to pick up a couple more 6970s for probabaly $500.00. Tri-fired 6970s and I am at the same performance level and I already saved a c-note. What will I save in games over the next 5 years to follow? A whole lot, man. I mean...a lot.

With that out of the way...

I personally have no problem with games crossing platforms. It gives more money to the company, and gets their game and ideas out to a broader and larger range of people. I own an xbox, but I prefer the PC. I don't mind, though, if a game is multiplatformed, rather I encourage it. It doesn't matter what you play on as long as you play it.

When developers cross platforms like that, the superior platform (PC) really stands to lose. They have to scale everything back to meet the demands of the inferior hardware.

Crysis 2.

 

[PCgamer81]

“You can choose to design a game around the specs of a high-end PC and make console versions that fail to hit the design point, or design around the specs of the consoles and have a high-end PC provide incremental quality improvements,” Carmack replied. “We chose the latter.”

- John Carmack, speaking concerning the development of Rage.

 

[hunter387]

lol I haven't upgraded my computer for 6 years. Can't play any new games anymore but im still blasting hours away on good ol classics. Got C&C, Red Alert 1 and 2, AOE2,3, max payne's, Far Cry, all of Valves games and a BUNCH more. Games like these never get old.

on topic:
I agree that HL2 is better for various reasons but HL1 is still one of the best games ever made. In fact I'd go as far to saying it is the best game ever made technically. Although my favorite game ever made is HL2.

 

[PCgamer81]

lol I haven't upgraded my computer for 6 years. Can't play any new games anymore but im still blasting hours away on good ol classics. Got C&C, Red Alert 1 and 2, AOE2,3, max payne's, Far Cry, all of Valves games and a BUNCH more. Games like these never get old.

on topic:
I agree that HL2 is better for various reasons but HL1 is still one of the best games ever made. In fact I'd go as far to saying it is the best game ever made technically. Although my favorite game ever made is HL2.

I enjoy the classics, too.

Would you believe it if I told you I consider myself a hardcore PC gamer and have never gotten into any of the C&Cs? Don't know why. Just never have.

Half Life 2 is in a league all by itself. There is really nothing to compare it to, that is how world shakingly different it was.

 

[HEXiT]

heavy on the action light on the rpg.
the other titles such as oblivion, mass effect, and dragon age were heavy on the rpg

your not wrong. but they are the evolution while HL2 was patient 0