Half-Life

Half-Life
by Vivendi Universal Games

Half-Life
Our Price: $75.00
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary

Platform: PlayStation2
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Accessories:

Video Game Reviews of Half-Life

Customer Review: PS2 version is not worth it.
Summary: 1 Stars

I realize I'm reviewing an old game here and I'm writing this review with 2008 standards. Please keep in mind I am only reviewing the PS2 version (not PC).

If you're one of those fans considering to track this old game (on PS2) and spend lots of money on it -- don't bother wasting it.

The PS2 version is just really frustrating. Some games still look good on the PS2 even to this day. However, this game just isn't worth tracking down and playing it again, on the PS2.

Like most games that are poorly ported onto console, this game is no exception. There are many slowdowns. That is my biggest complaint. It's not that the graphics are so demanding, but it just isn't optimized well.

This game is considered a classic and really took FPS to a whole new level when it came out. However, to fully appreciate that, even in today's standard, go with the PC. Instead of paying $20 or more for the PS2, just for the rare factor (unless you just want to put it on your shelf or something and collect dust), it's better to buy the Half-Life Anthology (where you get many expansions) for less than $10 now. You don't even need a fast computer and everything will be smooth. Plus, you'll get to use a keyboard and mouse -- the way it is meant to be played.

But for better graphics, I recommend getting the Orange Box, which has Half-Life 2 and even the original Half-Life with updated graphics.

So my 1-star rating is for the PS2 version.

Update: The Orange Box does not seem to include Half-Life: Source (original Half-Life game with updated graphics); however, it seems you can purchase/download later on Steam for about $10 extra. Since The Orange Box is around $30 now, it's not too bad, considering most of us paid $50 for Orange Box when it was first released. However, I think the best way to go is try to track down "Half-Life 2: Game of the Year Edition", which includes Counter-Strike: Source as well.

Description of Half-Life

Originally released in 1998, the PC version of Half-Life changed first-person shooters forever by proving that a compelling story can be told within the genre. Prior to the game's release, first-person shooters were mindless action games. Half-Life, while containing its fair share of action, also contained plenty of exploration, puzzle, and story elements. Now released as a PlayStation2 game, Half-Life has never looked or played better. This version contains the outstanding single-player story mode, as well as a few new ones. While the new additions aren't so great, the story mode is one of the best escapades available on the PS2.

The game follows the adventures of Gordon Freeman, a young research associate at the Black Mesa Federal Research Facility. A typical day at the office goes completely awry as numerous alien life forms invade the facility. The fate of the facility, and quite possibly the world, is in the hands of an unlikely hero.

The graphics here trump the original's (understandable, as more than three years have passed). The character models have four times as many polygons, as well as smoother textures and animations. The sound is also very good, with some of the funniest voice acting yet heard in a game. Of course, the single-player gameplay is excellent, thanks to some very well-developed enemy artificial intelligence.

Unfortunately, the new modes aren't nearly as brilliant. Decay, the new cooperative mode, seems like an afterthought and pales in comparison to the cooperative modes in Perfect Dark and Halo. Deathmatches only support two players, which is incredibly lame considering many PS2 first-person shooters support four. Despite these flawed modes, the single-player story is so superb that it totally warrants a purchase. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

  • Greatly improved graphics from the original
  • Excellent storytelling, especially for the genre
  • Strong enemy artificial intelligence
Cons:
  • Cooperative mode is dull
  • Deathmatch only supports 2 players

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