Half-Life 2
About the Game
Following the period of instability caused by the events described in Half-Life , an interdimensional organization known as the Combine invades the Earth, defeating the human forces in the Seven Hour War. A Combine Citadel is erected in City 17, a town in Eastern Europe reminiscent of World War II ghettos. Dr. Wallace Breen, a human scientist, rules the city on behalf of his new masters. An energy field prevents humans from procreating, and no new children are born.
Gameplay & Core Systems
Half-Life 2 is a linear first-person shooter with light puzzle-solving elements and many setpieces, similar to its predecessor in concept. players guides Gordon Freeman through City 17 and the wilderness that surrounds it. A major part of the experience is a realistic physics system: Gordon can pick up objects and toss them freely, and many of the puzzles are physics-based - for example, at one point players has to weigh down a seesaw with bricks at one end to turn it into a ramp. To defend himself, Gordon has a range of weapons available: from the iconic crowbar for close-quarter fighting, through pistols and rifles, up to grenades and a rocket launcher. One of the most notable weapons is the gravity gun, with which Gordon can pick up objects, hold them in the gun's anti-gravity field, then hurl them at the enemy with great force.
Standout Features
- Included with the game is Counter-Strike: Source , a version of Counter-Strike made with the new Source engine which powers Half-Life 2 , and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch , an online multiplayer game featuring the same physics and weapons as the singleplayer game.
- Setpieces in the game include coordinated assaults on enemy bases, fighting gigantic boss enemies, bringing down aircraft with the rocket launcher, and others.
- A few levels require players to navigate buggy-type vehicles.
- Some of the more exotic stages involve players summoning an army of antlions to unleash on unsuspecting foes.
Presentation & Atmosphere
Display support includes Progressive Scan (480p). Audio support includes Dolby Digital.
