Half-life 2 is the excellent sequel to the highly acclaimed action game Half-Life. This time round, Xbox uses have been privy to the wonders of the Half-Life world.
BACKGROUND: The first game sees you playing as a particle physicist, Gordan Freeman. Following an accident at the research facility Black Mesa, portals begin to open to another world. Creatures from this world soon begin to pour through with disatrous consequences for Earth. Needless to say, Freeman saves the day.
PLOT: Half-Life 2 sees you playing as Gordan Freeman once again. However, you seem to have been transported many decades into the future, although Gordan himself hasn't aged (this is due to the medeling actions of the Suited Man, who's actions remain shrouded in mystery in Half-Life and Half-Life 2). This time round, you play in a once human city that has been taken over by a race called the Combine. Most of the human inhabitants have been locked away inside special complexes, and some are still 'free' to act as slaves for the Combine. Your main objective is to escape this city and help the small human resistance to fight back against the Combine. The first thing you may notice about the game is the lack of cut-scenes. This is because the entire game is viewed from the perspective of Freeman, meaning any additional information usually given to you in cut-scenes has to be told to you by other in-game characters. This helps to add to the overall realism of the game.
GRAPHICS: The graphics of Half-Life 2 are superb, and beyond comparison with any game that so far appeared on the Xbox, and is almost on a parallel with the 360. explosions look scarily real, dark environments are full of atmosphere, and costal regions are so realistic that you almost forget that you are playing an action game. Until you get shot in the back and then you remember pretty quick.
SOUND: The sound is also of the highest quality, with background music setting each mood perfectly. Every weapon has its own unique sound, adding to the realism. Try playing this game through a 5.1 surround sound system and you will be truly astonished.
ENEMIES: The AI engine for Half-Lfe 2 is the most sophisticated I have ever encountered. The enemies will adapt quickly to new terrain, taking cover in doorways, windows, behind pillars etc. It can become quite difficult to believe that you aren't fighting real people. They will also adapt to use objects around them as weapons; run out of ammo and they will pick up bricks and through them at you, find a barrle of oil and they will light it and roll it toward you. This makes for some pretty challenging gameplay! As well as the Combine, you will fight against the zombie-like creatures that made their first appearance in the first game. This time round there are a few more types of zombie creature, as well poisonous spiders etc.
WEAPONS: There are many, many types of weapon available to you in this game. There are the usual pistol, machine gun, magnum, shotgun and grenades, as well as Combine weapons. There is a crossbow too, which is the only long-range weapon available. However, the most fun can be had with the gravity gun. This is an addition to the Half-Life world from the first game, and allows you to 'suck' objects towards you and then either drop them or fire them forward. This adds a new type of puzzle-solving to a more-or-less action game.
REPLAY VALUE: The game is huge and will take most people a good few weeks to complete. However, there is no multiplayer, so replay can be limited, although the single player game is definitely worth playing through more than once.
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ConsoleContains:Half-Life 2Half-Life 2: Episode OneHalf-Life 2: Episode TwoTeam Fortress 2PortalHalf Life 2: Episode Two the second chapter in Valves award-winning trilogy, taki...
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Advantages: Great game to play and experience, online fun is better than ever. Disadvantages: Sometimes a little complicated for those who haven't played half life the original.
shazmanyo 25.10.2007 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Half-Life 2 (Xbox)
Advantages: Great game to play and experience, online fun is better than ever. Disadvantages: Sometimes a little complicated for those who haven't played half life the original.
shazmanyo 25.10.2007 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Half-Life 2 (Xbox)
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