And thank goodness. Though I love the episodes, I could never really accept their collective story as a third game. Playing it split up over the course of 4 or 5 years just doesn't feel right.
I'd love valve to do a new engine for HL3. They've kept source looking strong after all these years, but man, that engine has been public for 5 years. Time to break out something bleeding edge.
I hope 3 goes back to Half Life's roots, I don't really care about faux Eastern Bloc countries and futuristic nazis. Give me Scientists falling of ledges and bee guns any day.
The episodes carry on the Half Life 2 story and give Valve a good source of income. I think it's safe to say a lot more games will do this over the next few years. Some will exploit the system to make money and spread 1 game over 2-3 addons but I think Valve have been pretty good with their HL2 episodes so far. They've all had a good size and brought something new to the game.
^. They are still part of the same larger story that is HL2, the real reason you were awoken by the G-man. They are eps. because they each tell a major event in the story. Lord of the Rings could of been done in one book but there are different major events that take you to the true end. Besides would you really be willing to play HL2 for 18 hours to get to the end. This keeps up desire to play the game because of the cliff hanger endings in the eps. while maintaining that playable length where you won't wonder when its going to end and never finish it.
I think it's because they are still using the same engine and graphics and stuff. People get disappointed sometimes when you try to pass off new levels that use the same graphics and engine that you already made for anther game as a new game. Episode 1 is basically a level-pack expansion, more than it is a new game.
What I want to know, is why they called it Ep1 instead of Ep2 (since the levels that came with HL2 were the first episode of the story).
Whatever its going to be, I am totally ready for it, I just started to replay the episodes the other day.
IMO, Half-Life 2 is as close to perfect as any single player shooter has ever been. Its the right mix of action, story, environment, puzzles, weapons, its a modern classic, and I don't say that often.
As far as the continuation of the franchise on the current source engine, I am not too concerned if they do it that way, but because its taking some time, I would be willing to bet Valve is working on something new. Frankly, I always loved that the source engine scaled fairly well for our friends that did not have bleeding edge hardware, even four years ago, when it felt a little more cutting edge, it had great scalability with HDR and extra effects added for high end setups, while still running well enough with some of the eye candy turned off on more modest machines. To me, that's one of the real reasons the Source engine gained a little more traction than its competitor with the Doom 3 engine at the time, it just scaled better and offered a wider range of machines a great experience. I hope Valve can pull that off again rather than just try to build something like you have in Crysis, eveolutionary looking if you can afford the best hardware, but otherwise a slide show.
I think it's because they are still using the same engine and graphics and stuff. People get disappointed sometimes when you try to pass off new levels that use the same graphics and engine that you already made for anther game as a new game. Episode 1 is basically a level-pack expansion, more than it is a new game.
What I want to know, is why they called it Ep1 instead of Ep2 (since the levels that came with HL2 were the first episode of the story).
Was the pilot for the Stargate TV series called episode 2?
I'm one of those (few) people that always thought Half Life was severely overrated, so I can't say I'm itching for Half Life 3. Half Life and Halo -- I like to think it's no coincidence that the two most overrated FPS franchises of all time in my book both have H and L in their titles.
I'm one of those (few) people that always thought Half Life was severely overrated, so I can't say I'm itching for Half Life 3. Half Life and Halo -- I like to think it's no coincidence that the two most overrated FPS franchises of all time in my book both have H and L in their titles.
The original Half Life has not aged as gracefully. Lets face it, a big part of what made that particular game legend is the fact that Valve was smart enough to make the mod tools available so counterstrike could be released free of charge, and everyone loves a free game, especially when its a quality free game. So if buying Half Life meant getting counterstrike with it at the time, it made for a great value proposition and it helped introduce people to that game so they could take their time making a killer sequil.
Now, Half-Life 2, that game is innovative beyond compare. So many current games mimic the gameplay mechanics introduced in Half-Life 2. Its paced perfectly, and if you were not in awe the first time you stepped out to see the totalitarian landscape of City 17, then I say your just really hard to please.
We will disagree on Halo as well, Halo is innovative in different ways. Its matching making system over XBL has made for the definitive multilayer console shooter. Single player its not in the same league as Half-Life 2, but its a solid experience. Overated a little, perhaps, but its not a junk game, its good stuff espeicaly the multiplayer component.
Mochan, if you don't like those games, I have got to ask, what do you say the greatest couple of shooters are?
I'm one of those (few) people that always thought Half Life was severely overrated, so I can't say I'm itching for Half Life 3. Half Life and Halo -- I like to think it's no coincidence that the two most overrated FPS franchises of all time in my book both have H and L in their titles.
I vividly remember my first time with Half Life 2. I can't say that about too many games.
It was breathtaking; I remember feeling really attached to the characters, even the AI NPCs that battle with you; you felt what it was like to be there, to have your world taken from you. I felt like a part of a revolution. It was an incredible achievement for a video game.
Everything about it was perfect; the characters, the voice acting, the story, the immersion factor, the graphics. One of the greatest games ever made.
I'm one of those (few) people that always thought Half Life was severely overrated, so I can't say I'm itching for Half Life 3. Half Life and Halo -- I like to think it's no coincidence that the two most overrated FPS franchises of all time in my book both have H and L in their titles.
pic related.
I don't need to tell of my favor of the HL series, I believe you guys are well educated on where I hold it.
Like Prime, I too have vivid memories of my first time through that game (all 15 hours straight of it!) The Half-Life series excels in my opinion not just because of the technology, but rather the story telling itself. It's the same reason I adore Pixar and their films. They place storytelling first and foremost. Half-Life 2 enveloped that idea, and it's truly one of the finest examples of narrative in a game even still today.
The facial animation technology, do you remember how it blew you away the first time you saw it? That was absolutely groundbreaking. Not to mention the added detail of real-time hilights reflecting on the eyes. These characters were real. Their movement was so convincing, it made you care for them and get sucked into the world.
I would love to finish the HL series some day, but they are all, for some odd reason, the only games that actually make me sick to my stomach and give me a headache. I can only play for a little while at a time. Something about the graphics..
I'm one of those (few) people that always thought Half Life was severely overrated, so I can't say I'm itching for Half Life 3. Half Life and Halo -- I like to think it's no coincidence that the two most overrated FPS franchises of all time in my book both have H and L in their titles.
I'm one of those (few) people that always thought Half Life was severely overrated, so I can't say I'm itching for Half Life 3. Half Life and Halo -- I like to think it's no coincidence that the two most overrated FPS franchises of all time in my book both have H and L in their titles.
Comments
Yes, there will be a Half Life 3, it's been confirmed by Valve there will be at least one more Half-Life game past EP3.
I'd love valve to do a new engine for HL3. They've kept source looking strong after all these years, but man, that engine has been public for 5 years. Time to break out something bleeding edge.
Can't wait for Black Mesa...
To keep people interested in the series while they take another 10 years to actually release the next game.
yeah me too probably
What I want to know, is why they called it Ep1 instead of Ep2 (since the levels that came with HL2 were the first episode of the story).
Maybe the original is a prequel to the Episodes. :P
IMO, Half-Life 2 is as close to perfect as any single player shooter has ever been. Its the right mix of action, story, environment, puzzles, weapons, its a modern classic, and I don't say that often.
As far as the continuation of the franchise on the current source engine, I am not too concerned if they do it that way, but because its taking some time, I would be willing to bet Valve is working on something new. Frankly, I always loved that the source engine scaled fairly well for our friends that did not have bleeding edge hardware, even four years ago, when it felt a little more cutting edge, it had great scalability with HDR and extra effects added for high end setups, while still running well enough with some of the eye candy turned off on more modest machines. To me, that's one of the real reasons the Source engine gained a little more traction than its competitor with the Doom 3 engine at the time, it just scaled better and offered a wider range of machines a great experience. I hope Valve can pull that off again rather than just try to build something like you have in Crysis, eveolutionary looking if you can afford the best hardware, but otherwise a slide show.
Was the pilot for the Stargate TV series called episode 2?
The Half Life series is, bar none, one of the best of all time.
The original Half Life has not aged as gracefully. Lets face it, a big part of what made that particular game legend is the fact that Valve was smart enough to make the mod tools available so counterstrike could be released free of charge, and everyone loves a free game, especially when its a quality free game. So if buying Half Life meant getting counterstrike with it at the time, it made for a great value proposition and it helped introduce people to that game so they could take their time making a killer sequil.
Now, Half-Life 2, that game is innovative beyond compare. So many current games mimic the gameplay mechanics introduced in Half-Life 2. Its paced perfectly, and if you were not in awe the first time you stepped out to see the totalitarian landscape of City 17, then I say your just really hard to please.
We will disagree on Halo as well, Halo is innovative in different ways. Its matching making system over XBL has made for the definitive multilayer console shooter. Single player its not in the same league as Half-Life 2, but its a solid experience. Overated a little, perhaps, but its not a junk game, its good stuff espeicaly the multiplayer component.
Mochan, if you don't like those games, I have got to ask, what do you say the greatest couple of shooters are?
I definitely have to agree
No, it was given an entirely new title.
As another pedantic side-point: "episode" is the wrong word anyway because the half-life story is serial, not episodic.
Yeah, sorry Mochan: You're done here.
It was breathtaking; I remember feeling really attached to the characters, even the AI NPCs that battle with you; you felt what it was like to be there, to have your world taken from you. I felt like a part of a revolution. It was an incredible achievement for a video game.
Everything about it was perfect; the characters, the voice acting, the story, the immersion factor, the graphics. One of the greatest games ever made.
pic related.
I don't need to tell of my favor of the HL series, I believe you guys are well educated on where I hold it.
Like Prime, I too have vivid memories of my first time through that game (all 15 hours straight of it!) The Half-Life series excels in my opinion not just because of the technology, but rather the story telling itself. It's the same reason I adore Pixar and their films. They place storytelling first and foremost. Half-Life 2 enveloped that idea, and it's truly one of the finest examples of narrative in a game even still today.
The facial animation technology, do you remember how it blew you away the first time you saw it? That was absolutely groundbreaking. Not to mention the added detail of real-time hilights reflecting on the eyes. These characters were real. Their movement was so convincing, it made you care for them and get sucked into the world.
Lord, I love it.
:thumbsdow
How could that be a coincidence?