Preamble: Firstly, I'm still not doing a review, but based on the feedback I've had I've tried to extend my exploration of the game here considerably. I've tried to look more at what made the game work or not work, what mechanics were interesting, and even touched on relevance to the real world. I'm really keen for feedback - whether you prefer the short and sweet "remember this game?" approach, or this more in-depth look. Hope you enjoy it
Note: I won't be looking at the multiplayer aspect of Half-life in this blog entry. I will have a separate entry for each mod (Half-life Deathmatch, Team Fortress, Counter-Strike, Ricochet, etc).
Half-life
Developer: Valve Platform: PC (later PlayStation 2) Release Year: 1998 Stephen's Rating: 9/10
Half-Life was a ground breaking new take on the first person shooter genre by Valve Software.
Basic Plot
The story revolves around Gordon Freeman, a scientist at Black Mesa. The player takes the role of Freeman during a scientific experiment which opens up a portal to another universe (Xen), and allows the alien organisation known as the Combine to invade Earth.
Gordon spends the rest of the game trying to find his way out of the Black Mesa complex, avoiding the collapsing structure itself as well as battling the alien parasites who now reside there.
Gameplay
Half-life is a first peroson shooter developed in a 3D world. The game engine (GoldSrc) was an extension of the Quake engine.
One of the key features which makes this game groundbreaking was the inclusion of scripted sequences throughout the game. The player might approach a lift to travel up it, but moments before you hop inside the lift breaks free from its cable and falls aimlessly down the shaft. This kind of action meant the player was always alert, anything could happen. It gives you the sense that you're part of a move, and you are the main character. What made these scripted events unique is that the player still had control and could look around while they were happening - there was no "cut scene" that stopped the player interaction meaning one continuous flow of gameplay experience.
Before everything goes horribly wrong.
There were a variety of weapons available throughout the game including some technology borrowed from the other universe. Each weapon had a use, even toward the end of the game. The items and weaponry were also interesting and fun to use. There were Xen and combine weapons available such as the Hive Hand which fired heat seeking alien bugs at enemies, and also Snarks which were little critters which could released on the floor. They would run independently, seek out enemies and explode acid on them.
The feeling of the game was pretty lonely - you're on your own. You encounter some other characters in the game, most notably Barny the security officer (star of Half-Life: Blue Shift). The stark contrast between being around other human characters and being alone (for the majority of the game) is powerful - there is a "deathly silence" at times which is electric.
Positives
The biggest positive for me was the scripting sequences and really putting the player in the shoes of Gordon Freeman. You get to live that moment of the failed experiment, it's you who pushes the final piece into place and starts the whole thing off.
Head-crabs anyone?
Another thing which makes this game magical is the mystery. I think this best summed up with the character of the G-man. He's a man in a suit who talks strangely... seems to have a lot of power and be intricately linked to the Combine and everything that's going on - but you don't find out how or why. Sometimes not being told the answer is the best thing for a story, as it lets the audience (the player) make up their own mind.
One thing you'll notice about the game physics is that they're not realistic. You can fall great distances, there is no recoil when you fire a gun (I think...) - it's not realistic but it's enjoyable to play and it works. For Counter-Strike they introduced some of these aspects to make it more realistic and you could really notice the difference.
Another thing that makes this game stand up is its extensibility. Valve opened the game up for modification and custom mapping and the impact was massive. There are many thousands of custom maps for both single and multiplayer, not to mention a vast array of complete custom mods for the game created by both Valve and the fans alike. When I had a low spec computer at university I was able to find my gaming quota simply by playing some of these mods. I even remember playing a Dragonball-Z modification for the game where you battle it out using your super abilities.
Negatives
I can't really think of any. Perhaps the weapons and enemies in this original game were a bit limited, that's all I got.
Relevance
To take this another step further, why this story and why then? What is the relevance to the game and the story to the real world? Perhaps there is a warning in there about the harm good intentioned scientific experimentation could potentially do to our world. Whether it be genetic modification, particle collisions, space exploration, whatever it is. I don't personally believe this is a major theme in the game or that it's of major importance to this world - I think that the major challenges for us are more around breaking down the old sense of the "economy" which doesn't fit our world anymore, and how to handle the social diversity of a global community.
The Combine are a really interesting example of an empire who enslaves its people and there are a lot of connections to both human history and in fact Frank Herbert's Dune series in how they are designed and feel. There is a real post-apocalyptic feel to them; there is no "me" only "we". It reminds me of stories such as the film or book 1984, or Brasil. In Western society we put independence ahead of everything so it is particularly poignant.
Memorable Moments
The scripted sequences for sure. I can't actually remember any other than the lift that collapses while you're in it... or the one where you're in a lift and dozens of head crabs start falling down the lift shaft to get you.
Where to now?
If you've played this game and loved it, then make sure you play Half-Life 2. I wouldn't necessarily recommend Episode 2, but the originally released game was fantastic and stands up as one of the greatest single player video games of all time. If you like scripted sequences of action which occur during gameplay then I'd also recommend Doom 3. It doesn't have the mind blowing story that Half-life does, and it's a horror themed game, but the sequences where suddenly the lights go out one at a time and you get ambushed are what make it magic.
more like 10/10, half life was by far one of the greatest single player first person shooters i've played. It was probably the last bastion of the golden era of pc gaming
Also, how could not not recommend Episode 2? It was on par w/ Half Life 2.
On June 22 2012 06:50 wei2coolman wrote: 8/10???? :O
more like 10/10, half life was by far one of the greatest single player first person shooters i've played. It was probably the last bastion of the golden era of pc gaming
Also, how could not not recommend Episode 2? It was on par w/ Half Life 2.
Yes, sorry about the confusion - I agree with you. How I should have worded it was; play the original game first and see how you go. They're all amazing, I agree. And yes 8/10 is a bit low but that's purely from a personal perspective because I got so side-tracked with the multiplayer mods for the game that they kind of overshadowed the original game in my memory. But I'm not arguing, greatest first person game of all time - although I honestly think I enjoyed the sequel even more.
HLDM is amazing (Especially Adrenaline Gamer). Name me one game that you can shoot a trip-mine through a wall with a pistol and kill people with it? Whilst at it with the long-jumping and bunny-hopping mechanics that most DMS games have, mixed with interesting and unique weapons such as the Tau cannon that can be used to send you straight across the map with one quick charge of the alt-fire. Not to forget maps such as Stalkyard and Crossfire!
Go on, name me a game that you can do that? Nah, you can't, its a completely different gem compared to other typical DMS games. Whilst in my heart QuakeWorld stands above HLDM, Painkiller and Q3, HLDM is certainly a game that all fast paced DMS players need to check out with their friends.
Theres several DMS games out there that I reckon could be remade in the future and become successful eSports. Perhaps these games will need new titles, new maps and new developers as well as players. I have 3 to name, PainKiller, QuakeWorld and Half-Life Deathmatch. I can only dream about that. Perhaps with Carmacks words on "Going back to Quake" with Quake 5, will we actually see a real fast-paced DMS game, unlike Quake-Live of which has decayed rapidly since its release (Not having a dig at Quake-Live, but it isn't what it could be - an amazing game).
On June 22 2012 06:50 wei2coolman wrote: 8/10???? :O
more like 10/10, half life was by far one of the greatest single player first person shooters i've played. It was probably the last bastion of the golden era of pc gaming
Also, how could not not recommend Episode 2? It was on par w/ Half Life 2.
Yes, sorry about the confusion - I agree with you. How I should have worded it was; play the original game first and see how you go. They're all amazing, I agree. And yes 8/10 is a bit low but that's purely from a personal perspective because I got so side-tracked with the multiplayer mods for the game that they kind of overshadowed the original game in my memory. But I'm not arguing, greatest first person game of all time - although I honestly think I enjoyed the sequel even more.
You're giving it a lower rating because you got side-tracked with multiplayer mods? You're not rating the game then.
Truthfully, I grew up on Duke Nukem and Half-Life. I've played every single Half-Life game from Half-Life: Blue Shift to Half-Life 2. I'm not a huge multiplayer fan, so I only occasionally played in high school. Overall, I found the plot and game play of the actual game way more compelling than dealing with a bunch of d-bags, friends or not.
On June 22 2012 07:01 Matuka wrote: HLDM is amazing (Especially Adrenaline Gamer). Name me one game that you can shoot a trip-mine through a wall with a pistol and kill people with it? Whilst at it with the long-jumping and bunny-hopping mechanics that most DMS games have, mixed with interesting and unique weapons such as the Tau cannon that can be used to send you straight across the map with one quick charge of the alt-fire. Not to forget maps such as Stalkyard and Crossfire!
Go on, name me a game that you can do that? Nah, you can't, its a completely different gem compared to other typical DMS games. Whilst in my heart QuakeWorld stands above HLDM, Painkiller and Q3, HLDM is certainly a game that all fast paced DMS players need to check out with their friends.
I LOVE HLDM. Looking forward to blogging about it soon.
We played a lot of LAN together, anything from 2-5 players. The 2 player ones were the most intense in some ways... DRTsorak and I really learnt the maps down to a tee. The "super jump" as we called it was so vital as well for zipping around without getting hit. My favoruite weapon was that plasma gun which fires a beam of blue energy... I just called it the "fire hose" haha. Sorak hated it. His strength was the crossbow... he would get some INSANE kills on me even when I was jumping around like a mad man.
Favourite level for me was Crossfire, and we also liked Bounce a lot. We'd both pick a maroon skin so we'd blend into the walls We also downloaded some maps online - one called Farmland which was amazing and didn't have any armour, and also one just called 2play which was fantastic for forcing engagements often.
SO fast paced. My hands and wrists ached after every session.
You're giving it a lower rating because you got side-tracked with multiplayer mods? You're not rating the game then.
Truthfully, I grew up on Duke Nukem and Half-Life. I've played every single Half-Life game from Half-Life: Blue Shift to Half-Life 2. I'm not a huge multiplayer fan, so I only occasionally played in high school. Overall, I found the plot and game play of the actual game way more compelling than dealing with a bunch of d-bags, friends or not.
You're right, I agree. I've changed it to 9/10 - only because I want there to be some room to go higher when/if I find a game that is "perfect".
On June 22 2012 07:04 DRTnOOber wrote: I LOVE HLDM. Looking forward to blogging about it soon.
We played a lot of LAN together, anything from 2-5 players. The 2 player ones were the most intense in some ways... DRTsorak and I really learnt the maps down to a tee. The "super jump" as we called it was so vital as well for zipping around without getting hit. My favoruite weapon was that plasma gun which fires a beam of blue energy... I just called it the "fire hose" haha. Sorak hated it. His strength was the crossbow... he would get some INSANE kills on me even when I was jumping around like a mad man.
Favourite level for me was Crossfire, and we also liked Bounce a lot. We'd both pick a maroon skin so we'd blend into the walls We also downloaded some maps online - one called Farmland which was amazing and didn't have any armour, and also one just called 2play which was fantastic for forcing engagements often.
SO fast paced. My hands and wrists ached after every session.
You should see the videos I just posted, two of them are from my friend Ska, whose a keen DMS player, the other is a video of gArpY, a well known British multigamer who holds a lot of titles in duel games, as well as being known as the best Half-Life Deathmatch player when it was in its prime.
You forgot to mention the AI. Before this game, how many times could have you hid behind a box and waited for the computer to come around the corner and pop them? Or how clunky the movement was in general?
You try doing that in HL and on the normal difficulty, there were times where you would just get flushed out by a grenade. That is a pretty significant departure from the big franchises at the time, such as Doom, Hexen, Duke Nukem, Quake, etc. That was one of the things that stood out.
One of the negatives was how poorly designed the Xen levels were. I would make the argument that those levels would have been awesome if HL was made 10 years later, but in either case, the levels were a pretty big drop off from the Black Mesa levels, especially the earlier ones.
Episode 1 and Episode 2 were also really great games. Maybe Episode 1 was a bit short though, but Episode 2 definitely deserves a top recommendation by introducing new enemies and new styles of combat. In summary I would say that Episode 2 fully meets the high quality of the first 2 games, while Episode 1 falls just a bit short but still is very enjoyable nonetheless.
Oh yeah! Half-Life baby! For someone who grew up on Doom, Quake, Hexen and so on, HL was mind-blowing for its time. It doesn't hold up as well today but still is a damn fine game. HL 2 and its expansions are also excellent, especially in the story department compared to 90% of all the other shooters around.
EPT
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