Earlier this month, I decided to replay Half-Life 2 (earlier and earlier): while the gameplay is excellent, I still think 50 dollars for a game with no extra features is a waste, particularly compared to what you get in the PC version. A level-by-level review:
- Point insertion: Introduction. Confusing.
- Red Letter Day: Part of Introduction.
- Route Canal: The fight starts! Finally.
- Water Hazard: Boat level. The boat part is sometimes fun and sometimes no fun. It’s fairly straight forward but there are a couple of hidden spots that are generally (easily) overlooked when playing the game the first time.
- Black Mesa East: Short. Cut scene.
- We don’t go to Ravenholm: Boring but full of unexpecting turns. Couldn’t challenge me really and I always end up with ‘no ammunition’. I blame the XBOX controller for that.
- Highway 17: Buggy/Car level. Fun. I think it’s more fun to ‘scoot’ around than to ‘float’ around.
- Sandtraps: Buggy/Car level. Fun. Except for past the Lighthouse. Jolly jumping around and that.
- Nova Prospekt: The jail level is fun at times. Most of part boring.
- Entanglement: Endless ‘turret’ fun. Boring, except for close quarters combat.
- Anti-citizen One: Fun.
- Follow Freeman: Urban warfare fun. Strider level.
- Our benefactors: Boring.
- Dark Energy: The conclusion. Not really hard to solve.
When doing the first ‘rail trip’ in the Citadel, I noticed that there’s no real reason given why the Combine are ‘collecting people’. Or maybe they aren’t but what’s the point of Freeman being inside the Citadel? So while I think the game was actually a good follow-up, the designers should have skipped the part of adding other Half-Life characters to the game. They don’t fit the storyline.
I thought it was the best game ever since Half-Life 1. And I know what I’m talking about.
I think.
I thought it was the best game ever since Half-Life 1. And I know what I’m talking about.
I’d beat you. Hey: if I can play this with a controller…
According to you, what did I get in the PC version (other than the obvious “You got it from me”) :-)
According to you, what did I get in the PC version (other than the obvious “You got it from meâ€) :-)
Multiplayer.
How do you beat the end of Dark Energy on the X-box.
1. First make sure you make it up to the the top. Watch for elevators and moving platforms (if you don’t see them, get somebody to watch with you. Four eyes see a lot more than two). Be prepared to jump around (and save your game) a lot. Remember, you have to reach the top.
2. At the top, shoot down the ‘choppers’ with the energy balls. Do this as fast as you can (it only takes 3-4 hits to get them down).
3. Then shoot at the ‘elevator’ [the thing in the center] using the energy balls.