Since Half Life 2 is almost out, maybe it's time I tried Half Life

[Father Beast]

I mean, since I got it at a thrift store, cheap.

and since I just got a PC Gamer which gave HL2 the highest score ever.

I just have some reservations....

First, difficulty. I suck very, very hard at shooters. Even with lots of reloads, I was never able to get very far in Duke3D. I'm wondering if there's a "daddy, can I play?" difficulty level so I can enjoy without being a shooter vet.

Second, I'm wondering just how long it takes to get through the single player game. Since I only play for an hour a day or so, will it take several months to play through on my own crappy playing level?

When I played the demo (half life uplink), there was a training course I could never get the hang of. Some of these maneuvers require some odd keypresses and I never could seem to get the hang of it. This is why I play TBS games, as they don't require reflexes.

Any advice on this matter?

[Jaguar]

A five-button mouse helps with shooter games if you can't do weird keypresses.

http://www.planethalflife.com/half-life/walkthrough/

Use it if you get stuck. There are some weird puzzles that can be confusing.

[pg]

If you have trouble with single player shooters on the easiest levels you are hopeless. Seriously think of shooters like a TBS game. You can overcome bad reflexes by tactics and strategy. Certain weapons are best used vs certain enemies. There are also basics like learning how to abuse AI stupidity like in any other game. You also need to be methodical and find all the secret areas with extra ammo, etc. Learning to use positioning to your advantage. Attack from elevated positions if possible and avoid being attacked from them, etc.

[DrSpike]

On easy it's very easy, you'll be fine. It will take you about 25 hours first run through.

You should check this iconic game out.

[Father Beast]

Thanks For the walkthrough link, Jaguar. Downloading it now.

I guess I'll give it a shot, What's the worst that could happen?

[Maquiladora]

A walkthrough and you havent even started yet?!?!

[Traianvs]

Only use a walthrough if you are really stuck and have no idea where to go next. Otherwise you'll waste some good gameplay!

Half-life is really easy. I finished it in a weekend on hard level. It's easy because very often you'll encounter marines which have a decent AI. Problem is that it's just that what makes it easy.... Enemies coming at you in great number with some nasty attacks can get you killed pretty quickly, but those marines just hide and cover eachother. It's rather easy to find a weak spot, throw a grenade here and there. Also very often you will hear them speak (in scripted events). They sometimes give valuable info, but it's just easy to blast them instead while they're off-guard

The monsters you will fight in the game are usually not very numerous so they don't pose a real threat . Except for the last level(s) (in the black mesa). On hard they're a real *****, especially if you're not used to shooters, you'll just have blast your way through. Spamming your secondary rifle/shotgun helps to clear the path

PS: Don't ever stand still in a shooter game. Try the strafe left/right buttons first. Once you get the hang of that you'll be good enough, even if your aim is not that great

[Traianvs]

PS: about HL2: That 98% score is ridiculous. The graphics aren't revolutionary anymore with some of the other advanced games out there. What's worse is that there's no new multiplayer included!! Yeah there's Source but that's a load of bollox if you don't like CS, and on top of that it's just a gfx update and nothing else... even the gfx update is sloppy: It uses the same textures as the original CS, which were horribly crappy!!!!!!!!!

Of course I haven't played the SP yet so that might be a great experience. On the other hand like most other games around today it doesn't take awfully long to finish the game from what I've heard...

[Grumbold]

PC Gamer staff just cream themselves over FPS games and have no tolerance for anything that isn't mainstream for the 13-23 set. I don't trust their reviews at all. In the latest (UK) issue the arrival of 2 games they liked saw all the rest of the reviews compressed to the point where they had no room to say anything at all. My subscription is definitely not getting renewed.

[Solver]

PC Gamer was bound to give a high score, as Valve gave them exclusive rights. I'm excited about no MP though - that means that the SP game will be alright, hopefully.

The original HL is good. Damn good. It feautures a nice story that is very well-told, a special atmosphere and is all-around good. As far as my preferences go, there could maybe be a few less puzzles in the game, especially jumping ones. One level was completely dull, but rather short... overall, it's an excellent experience.

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Solver
PC Gamer was bound to give a high score, as Valve gave them exclusive rights. I'm excited about no MP though - that means that the SP game will be alright, hopefully.

The original HL is good. Damn good. It feautures a nice story that is very well-told, a special atmosphere and is all-around good. As far as my preferences go, there could maybe be a few less puzzles in the game, especially jumping ones. One level was completely dull, but rather short... overall, it's an excellent experience.

On the contrary, it means they were running short on time so they cancelled the mp altogether... and that's never a good sign. Oh well doubtlessly HL2's a good game I guess, even without playing it you just know it's pretty good

[Solver]

Well, they were indeed not ahead of the schedule, heh, but they got Counter Strike:Source as the MP component. Deathmatch is not going to be in, only as mods later. I won't be playing Counter Strike:Source anyway either, that bored me after two hours I spent playing to look at the engine... as with most shooters, I don't care about multiplayer here, as this one luckily has a nice SP campaign. My multiplayer shooter needs are nicely covered by one tactical team-based online shooter and one team-based and objective-based intense shooter.

[Father Beast]

OK, so I loaded it up and went through the tutorial. I tried to make it through the tutorial without dying, but to no avail. I managed to get through by use of numerous reloads. Then I started the game.

Sure is nice looking, I must say. The first part was pretty easy, as there were no enemies. It took me a while of wandering around the facility to find the locker room, and by that time I'd forgotten where they told me to go afterward. In my locker was some stuff, but no suit. Hmmmnnnnn....

I eventually found the HEV suit and figured out how to get to it I was thinking to myself, "this is like an adventure game!".


I went to the test site and into the chamber, and up to the platform they told me to, I thought how much I needed a doctorate to push this here button. but it's a game, what the hey. So I pushed the button and leaned over the rail to watch the show.

After watching for a few moments, I heard the techs yelling at me to do something else. I heard one comment, "What is he Doing in there?". I actually felt sheepish about it and went down to do my thing.

Holey Moley!! I know it's part of the show, but I was pretty caught up in it.

This game seems to do a good job of getting me involved in things. good reccomendation, all

[Solver]

Glad to see you're enjoying this. Now imagine how immersive and capitvating it was back in late 1998/early 1999, when the graphics were among the best in the industry.

Yeah, the first time, you can get stuck even early on, hehe. Mind you, a few puzzles later on may become frustrating - that's my only gripe with the game, a few specific puzzles. Oh, you can also encounter a bug where you can't progress... I won't be saying anything specific, but it's you freezing and dying in an elevator. If that happens, or any other trouble, post here.

[Traianvs]

like all other FPS games, save often..

[Proserpine]

Actually, PCG "only" gave it 96%. Seemed like a good review to me. Having also seen the movies, I will be buying this game. Course they also reviewed Rome: Total War, and gave it 95%. PCG make the point that both Valve (HL2) & the Creative Assembly (RTW) have taken their time with these, and completely refused to rush to release, so I think the lack of MP isn't down to lack of time (like it was for Civ3), but a deliberate decision. HL2 will stand or fall (and rightly so in my view) on the SP experience. The reviews say these 2 companies have taken gaming in their respective fields to the next level. Player feedback should be interesting.

Originally posted by Trajanus
PS: about HL2: That 98% score is ridiculous. The graphics aren't revolutionary anymore with some of the other advanced games out there. What's worse is that there's no new multiplayer included!! Yeah there's Source but that's a load of bollox if you don't like CS, and on top of that it's just a gfx update and nothing else... even the gfx update is sloppy: It uses the same textures as the original CS, which were horribly crappy!!!!!!!!!

Of course I haven't played the SP yet so that might be a great experience. On the other hand like most other games around today it doesn't take awfully long to finish the game from what I've heard...

[Father Beast]

Originally posted by Solver
Glad to see you're enjoying this. Now imagine how immersive and capitvating it was back in late 1998/early 1999, when the graphics were among the best in the industry.

Yeah, the first time, you can get stuck even early on, hehe. Mind you, a few puzzles later on may become frustrating - that's my only gripe with the game, a few specific puzzles. Oh, you can also encounter a bug where you can't progress... I won't be saying anything specific, but it's you freezing and dying in an elevator. If that happens, or any other trouble, post here.

Hmmnn... I have a patch for it somewhere on my numerous mag CDs, let me check.


ah, yes. The Aug 2002 PC Gamer disc has the 1.1.0.9 patch. is that the latest?

I sure am glad I catalogued those discs

[Solver]

1.1.1.0 is the latest you can get from Web. Google for it. There's also a newer update, but that's only from Steam... so it's only available if you still have a CD key for HL, and if you want to use that terrible service that Steam is (OK, HL2 forces you to use Steam to install anyway).

Mind you, that there are a few bugs with the patch, even. Including the one I mentioned.

And as for PCG reviews... I don't care. Especially not when they're given exclusive review rights and bound to write a good review. I've seen so many crap reviews lately...

[Proserpine]

Well the PC Zone review will be out in early Nov. , .

Originally posted by Solver
1.1.1.0 is the latest you can get from Web. Google for it. There's also a newer update, but that's only from Steam... so it's only available if you still have a CD key for HL, and if you want to use that terrible service that Steam is (OK, HL2 forces you to use Steam to install anyway).

Mind you, that there are a few bugs with the patch, even. Including the one I mentioned.

And as for PCG reviews... I don't care. Especially not when they're given exclusive review rights and bound to write a good review. I've seen so many crap reviews lately...

[Solver]

Yep, but they still got the game before the official release, right?

Generally, I don't trust official site reviews that much, I pay attention to reviews of people I know, or people who know the genre. Of gaming sites, IGN and GameSpot are two that I trust more than others for their reviews, they seem relatively unbiased usually and good. However, recently, there has been some amazing idiocy at GameSpot. Reviews of Doom3 and Singles by that punk Kasavin were both pretty sickening.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Father Beast
OK, so I loaded it up and went through the tutorial. I tried to make it through the tutorial without dying, but to no avail. I managed to get through by use of numerous reloads. Then I started the game.

Sure is nice looking, I must say. The first part was pretty easy, as there were no enemies. It took me a while of wandering around the facility to find the locker room, and by that time I'd forgotten where they told me to go afterward. In my locker was some stuff, but no suit. Hmmmnnnnn....

I eventually found the HEV suit and figured out how to get to it I was thinking to myself, "this is like an adventure game!".


I went to the test site and into the chamber, and up to the platform they told me to, I thought how much I needed a doctorate to push this here button. but it's a game, what the hey. So I pushed the button and leaned over the rail to watch the show.

After watching for a few moments, I heard the techs yelling at me to do something else. I heard one comment, "What is he Doing in there?". I actually felt sheepish about it and went down to do my thing.

Holey Moley!! I know it's part of the show, but I was pretty caught up in it.

This game seems to do a good job of getting me involved in things. good reccomendation, all

Hehe, I wish I could be playing it through for the first time.

[Father Beast]

Originally posted by Solver
1.1.1.0 is the latest you can get from Web. Google for it. There's also a newer update, but that's only from Steam... so it's only available if you still have a CD key for HL, and if you want to use that terrible service that Steam is (OK, HL2 forces you to use Steam to install anyway).

Mind you, that there are a few bugs with the patch, even. Including the one I mentioned.

And as for PCG reviews... I don't care. Especially not when they're given exclusive review rights and bound to write a good review. I've seen so many crap reviews lately...

Oh yeah, I Remember how pumped everybody was about Diablo II when it came out, IF they were the ones who went and played it at Blizzard Studios.

It took waiting for the release version to realize how big a problem it was trying to play on battle.net

As I recall, CGM was the only one not to fall for that.

I can't help but think that reviewing a game that isn't even out for another month is more like a hands on preview, not a real review. the magazines who wait for it will discover what a pain steam is to fight with, and other online issues. That kind of thing you can't get any feeling for playing in someone else's office.


Anyway, thanks for the heads up, Solver. I'll hunt for the 1.1.1.0 patch....

[Guynemer]

One of my very, very, very favorite gaming experiences of all-time is the opening credits of Half-Life. I was sucked in from the first second, and the game never let me go.

Clearly, the best FPS of all-time. (Not counting the hybrid Deus Ex.)

[Solver]

Oh yeah, I Remember how pumped everybody was about Diablo II when it came out, IF they were the ones who went and played it at Blizzard Studios.

It took waiting for the release version to realize how big a problem it was trying to play on battle.net

As I recall, CGM was the only one not to fall for that.

I can't help but think that reviewing a game that isn't even out for another month is more like a hands on preview, not a real review. the magazines who wait for it will discover what a pain steam is to fight with, and other online issues. That kind of thing you can't get any feeling for playing in someone else's office.

You know, it really works that way. Two years ago with the release of Age of Mythology, I was given the opportunity to play a press-beta of it early. Basically, I was playing the game about a month before anyone else except another bunch of happy guys. And, the bad sides of the game didn't seem so apparent - sure, the first impression is always better and imbalances take time to spot, but also the gratitude and the "cool factor" from playing a press-beta vesion helps cloud judgement.

[Father Beast]

Well, I've come to my first real hang up. In the first chapter after the accident, there's this place I died several times in a row.

There's this platform that turns out to be an elevator, but I died once when I went to the edge and fell off. The next time I discovered the lever and died of headcrabs after I watched it go down. then I was ready for the headcrabs, but by the time I got them dead, the elevator was all the way down and I died trying to climb down the shaft. I tried next time pulling the lever and quick hopping over the rail onto the elevator. I fought headcrabs all the way down and arrived with diminished health, but died fighting headcrabs at the bottom.

I quit then, as it was about bedtime and I didn't know what to do. The walkthrough says you can stand in one place and they won't bother you. is that true?

[Solver]

That place to stand on so they don't bother you is one of the many glitches - there was some point where they don't see you. Of course, you need to pull the lever and quickly jump on the elevator... I would quite on the contrary recommend moving constantly there, the crabs should have some trouble then, and just pick them off with accurate shots of the pistol.

[Maquiladora]

You dont need to take the lift either, you can set the lift going then jump down the shaft and press yourself against the wall and the slanting floor as you coast down, but thats a glitch too.

[Solver]

And that glitch is pretty hard to take advantage off. I suggest that you play the game the way it's meant to be played, not taking advantage of glitches (that sometimes let you skip a whole level).

[DrSpike]

It's a classic bit. Fight it out! Just keep moving and don't miss.

[FrostyBoy]

ha, I remember that part

took me a few tries too

best thing to do is go nuts, even after you kill the headcrabs you've got those ground things, I can't remember what they're called.