Half-Life 2
The most eagerly anticipated sequel ever? And then some, replies Sam in this preview.
As is increasingly common these days there will be a realistic physics engine, with lots of chuckable objects to amuse yourself with, such as chairs and bottles. But the physics isn’t just for impressing the new player for it will be integrated into the gameplay itself, not to mention the fact that it will increase the massive amount of interactive depth that made the first title so compelling. Another thing that made the first game so long-lasting and widely loved was the ease with which the mod community could fashion new worlds from the game’s code. This time round Valve have made the process even easier, with many tools to be provided, allowing even the most code-fearing of gamers have a tinker. All the physics, lip-synching, environmental effects and animations will be mostly automated (Valve are even using one of the animation systems used by Toy Story creators Pixar), and as the engine has been built entirely from the ground up the development team had the opportunity to make sure that their code could be everyone’s code. Although there is a note of caution – the level of detail now standard in the levels means that mod artists are going to have their work cut out for them. Although I personally have a sneaking suspicion that won’t stop a single one of them.
Alongside the immersiveness of the game world and the compelling storyline it was the AI of Half-Life that brought the game to such vivid life. This time round they will be less reliant on scripted events, no longer to the degree that once an event is triggered it will pan out the same every time, such as the scientists falling to their deaths in the lift at the begining of the game. Rather, the AI will be more focused on what is happening around it and deciding on how to react accordingly. An example given in the magazine is of a radio lying on the ground, hissing out static which draws a character towards it to have a listen. If the player were then to shoot out the radio then the AI will have to figure out what a reasonable reaction would be. Another example is of the AI being confronted with a door. In the past you were probably safe behind a door, due to the mysterious ability of doors to reset the baddies memory and make your existence, well, non-existent. This time you will have to keep in mind that the enemy can burst through the door, open it, burn it or drill a hole clean through. The enemies will be able to climb ladders and jump up to places that even the player can’t reach. Yes folks, this time you really are going to be fighting for your life.
Supposedly the system specs for this monumental game will be very reasonable. PC Zone's previewer claims to have played the un-optimised code on a 2GHz P4 with no stuttering, and the minimum specs are being touted as low as a P3 700 with 128MB ram and a 16MB graphics card. Which you can imagine will make the game look pretty crummy, but it does seem that you will not need an uber-PC to get the best out of the stunning engine. But you may want to have a sweet graphics card to enjoy all the amazing specular, particle and other assorted effects that are promised. The bad news is you only have five months to save up for that new card. Yes, the game is slated in for a September 30th release, this year, and since the Valve team have been hard at work on Half-Life 2 since the first one went out the door and have sunk most of the money made from the first one right back into the development of the sequel, that date should hopefully stand firm.
In a few weeks Half-Life 2 will be properly unvield to the world at the E3 event in LA. So you’ll just have to wait until then for further information, unless you buy the new issue of PC zone, which I heartily recommend. I’ve only just touched the surface of some of the depth covered, so there’s still plenty to find out. Not to mention those sumptuous screenshots. All in all, we’re expecting a triumphant return for the G-man in this 40 hour epic, oh and in case you’re wondering, no, this is not an Xbox exclusive.
Comments
Why don't you get off you lazy asses and hurry up with it!
Hurry up
I think u guys are missing the BIGGEST point. NO SCRIPTED SEQUENCES!
for all the morons going onabout counterstrike shut the heck up counterstrike was a mod developed by a person then bought by valve. without half life itself we wouldnt have half the first person shooter with any value to them and ud still be stuck on doom copies.
i speak for all those who play half life death match and we are sick of this counterstrike crap. we expect half life2 to be like the first and not screwed over and made towards counterstrike especially when cs isnt even valves direct creation.
a second cs based ont he new engine is a good idea but it was half lifes originality of game play not cs that made it HUGE.
umm no
'[b] even though Valve showed the game at ATI's booth at E3 it's not going to be exclusive to ATI - or Nvidia.,/b]'
think you got some facts mixed up
umm no
' even though Valve showed the game at ATI's booth at E3 it's not going to be exclusive to ATI - or Nvidia.'
think you got some facts mixed up
umm no
' even though Valve showed the game at ATI's booth at E3 it's not going to be exclusive to ATI - or Nvidia.'
think you got some facts mixed up
sorry about the tripple post, something weird was happening
LOOKS GOOD=)
The preview is more than a little popular - apologies for the slow load times as we try and keep the server up.
No worrys jason!! preview is awsome!! got any idea when we can expect new screens?
scans for screenshots? cheap cheap cheap.
You seen any that arn't scans? Errrrr... nope - thats because there arn't any.
Oh yeah, apart from the two that we have in there.
The graphics look nice, but I'll be looking for the gameplay of the original HL. Without it, HL2 will be the year's biggest disappointment.
Cant wait try this one out, half life remains on of the best games ive ever played. hope to hear soon about a counter strike 2 also with the new game engine.
This preview is nothing more then me ripping off the great article in the newest UK PC Zone. It is here for those of you like me who can't wait more then one unnecessary minute for their fix of game. It's also here for those who can't, or won't, buy print magazines. It's here for those of us who really loved Half-Life and have been looking forward to the sequel ever since we completed those jarringly crap xen levels. Five months to go folks.
This is not the most anticipated sequel ever.
So what is then?
This comment is for the negative replies...
The original HL was a total pleasure to play due to the time taken to apply clever programming with a great story.
It is so obvious the designers & coders were not hacks just out of school throwing code together where ever the fancy took them.
Sorry kids, it true, experience counts. But on a positve note, learn from HL2 as much as you can.
The fact the first HL was planned properly, HL2 will not be any less. Also, think about the time it has taken for the HL sequel to arrive in comparison to other sequels.
Great ideas, do not have time limits... I can't wait !
Excellent comment, well made.
This is not the most anticipated sequel everSo what is then?
Duke Nukem Forever ;-)
half life was boring, the only reason it was big was because of counter strike. without that it would be another old boring game. i aint arsed about half life 2 its counter strike 2 i care about.
LOL - without Half-Life there would be no Counterstrike!
Half-Life got game of the year, rave reviews and record scores in tens of publications before Counterstrike was even conceived!
What is? I've lost count. It'll not be too long before another publication or gaming web - site will comment about the next amazing game coming out stating, "The most eagerly anticipated sequel ever..." It's called hype my friends. That's not to say that Half life 2 isn't going to be great, we all know that it will be.
wait, so is this game going to be making an appearance on the x-box too? the article didn't make that clear.
OLD SCANS MY "FRIENDS".......................
http://www.ntfs.org/index.php?action=news&catid=3#news5171
Yeah, they must be a good 4-5 days old. Practicaly ancient for something that only came out of the NDA on the day this article was published.
"It's called hype my friends. That's not to say that Half life 2 isn't going to be great, we all know that it will be. "
So there was a point there?
HL was brilliant. HL2 looks amazing but if the AI aint as good as the first 1 it will last as long as unreal2 did. Fingers are crossed that it plays as well as it looks.
Bring it on! it looks awsome! make sure HL2 comes with DOD tho!
Half-life and it's mods... cstrike and team fortress have lasted me 3 years of play(of course not straight play i have my life) and i am still not bored... this game will be GOD i am i expect a lot and i am sure i wont be disapointed as well as none of you guys... *sigh* new computer needed...
hl2 took long enough and therefore i think it will not be as bad as other hasty titles the game is important though ! if it is bad then everything else is useless
Well, everyone knows this game is going to rock, well hopefully. BUT look on the bright side: if the games sucks, someone will make a CS2 and all will be right in the world.
hi im not real sure about what im supposed to put here but im putting something here anyways so yeah... and half life 2 will kick ass!!!
..I'm more interested in any mods that this pearl of an engine can cough up..
sumfing like Natural Selection or Counterstrike, but even better 8)
Never liked hl itself, but the mods more then made sure the game was worth the purchase several times over..
Boo-yah Doc, boo-yah.
"From what the reporter says, the AI will be nothing short of godly, as will the physics."
These, Doc, are possibly two of the most important aspects of HL2, apart from the brand new engine built from the ground up, the animation system bought from the makers of Toy Story 2, the new method of scripting, the game being built for modders..........
what is it with all the little kids saying how crap HL2 is gonna be. If any of em could read, maybe we wouldn't have this negative bull. :D
i'm not saying that hl2 is gonna to crap, its just i am tired of upgrading my computer just to play one game.
Will this new version Half Life2 help in updateing day of defeat and the other internet half-life games.
Thank you god, our dreams are coming true.
Half-Life 2 Will and Better Be Good,
Im sure it will own over doom 3 and others for a while but till that happens.
HALF-LIFE RULES!
half life graphics sucks but, the story line is cool. why don't you guys get a life and quit playing video games like little kids and be a man!! SK8 FOR LIFE
Does anyone have a url for scanned pictures of the PCZone article?
Is this a bigger sequel then Metal Gear Soild 2?
Oh there is one other thing.
If anyone here as an Ati graphics card you can forget about playing HL2 as its an GeForce only game.
If I can find the link I will post it here latter.
One thing you didn't mention in the preview.
HL2 will only work on nVIDIA cards Geforces etc. Sorry Ati Radeon owners.
hello make the game in the vents almost loaded with head crabs.
ummm... what is this crazy talk about only GeForce cards run it? do you think Valve would be dumb enough to screw themselves like that? By the way...the demo at E3 was run on a 9800 pro 256Mb card.
Yes they would do if nVIDA negotiated a lucrative contract with the publishers.
REMEMBER UNREAL 2!
What are the chances of Half LIfe appearing on PS2? The PS2 is powerful enough, esp since the new model will see the gpu and cpu combined, effectively making the gpu run at 300 mhz, like the cpu. At the moment, the gpu is only 100mhz or thereabouts although clock speed doesn't really mean anything. The emotion engine is only a 300 mhz processor, yey performs 6.2 gflops, twice as many as a 3Gz Pentium 4 processor. Have Valve looked into the possibility of Half Life on PS2?
given the minimum specs for Half Life 2, it would seem quite possible to create a PS2 version of the game, given that the Emotion Engine is a very powerful processor that hasn't been fully tapped into yet, and the new version of the PS2 will have what in effect will be a more powerful GPU. Have Valve said anything about porting the game?
i hate u
this is a ace game whens it coming out i read it got hacked into ? :(
:-) of course its good looking its ace
hallo
i think that the first half life was good but half life 2 is going to be brilliant nice review
looks nice.... but dont think the gameplay is to nice =/
Personaly i look more forward to Counter-Strike 2 =))))
Yeah, it looks pretty cool, but I saw S.T.A.L.K.E.R. screens and trailer... well, to tell the truth HL2 unfortunately sucks... Pity. Maybe it will be great FPS, bu it will not be a leader in graphics. Vehicles and weapons are so bad.
can't wait twitching in exitment twitch twich muscle spasm can't wait twitch twitch yeah well you get the point i cna't wait
yeh it looks crap
sorry have 2 quote this:HL2 will only work on nVIDIA cards Geforces etc.
dude u odveously know jack sh** i am a computer enginner my profession is graphics card tweaking and games testing.Why would ATI send out HL2 voucher with the 9800XT classic if that card cant run it lol i have a 9800XT myself and it runs anything without spikes or glitches
also if u guys didnt know dont let the 9800xt (CLASSIC)
word turn u off it if is more powerfull and faster the the normal 9800XT
I personally think hl2 and d3 will both "pWnZ0R" :)
hl2 with the gameplay/physics and doom3 with those scary graphics.
as for leonardo (see above post), i was getting worried until i saw an msn e-mail address. I guess it's typical these days for any idiot to pump garbage into the 'net with some lame-ass isp. Doesn't he even know how steam works? If i ever give out my key (wait, ummmmm, my pirated version, lol), please
You --(x_x)--> Me
(that would be a cs headshot, if the ascii art isn't working)
this game is gonna rock on the xbox:-)
as well as on the pc. never played on half life 1 tryin to get it for pc though!! hows the story
i thought half-life: the game of the year edition, half-life: blue shift, half-life: counter strike and the army one dat i cant remember da name were brill so i fink half-life 2 will be too.
There has been alot of expectations for this game, some magazines even proclaim that it will clear the eyes of the industry and make it better.
There is too much riding on this game, VU knows it that's why they have been pumping so much money into this project, in doing this they have 'bought' innovation, i.e the lip-synching technology and facial animator, just to name a few. People have high expectations for this game, some requirements will be filled; but it will be a disapointment nonetheless. Not because it was a bad game, but because our expectations were just unreal.
And as for the port of the original Half Life, this would be extremely difficult to execute at such a pace; I have designed some games, and the act of porting an old game onto a new engine is not done by entering a few command lines; all the models need to be redone, the maps and textures need renewal as well.
look at S.T.A.L.K.E.R Shadows of Chernoble
hmmmm... graphics looks co0L!! but i like the story better... i hope that there will be a book about the half-life saga. Or even better..... a MOVIE!!
Half-Life all sequel and expansion.... the best game ive ever played, thanks valve!
Lol this is funny I am just now reading this after about a year after half-life 2 has been released... and omg guys you were all idiots. hl2 came in a bundle with and ATI radeon card lmao and the graphics were upgraded way better and Counter-strike 2 no.... its Counter-strike:Source!!!! wow back then when you guys posted you were idiots....
CS:Source Rules way more than HL2!!!!!!!!