Post by angelzeromatt on Aug 30, 2008 0:08:19 GMT -5
Welcome to the Real World - Episode V
Name: Half-Life
Console:PC (Old), Playstation 2 (New. Owned copy)
So, when it comes to something like reviewing, you get questions like "Well, if you think these games suck then what's your idea of a good game." Well, let me give you a succinct definition: A game that combines compelling story with great action and yet also a lot of brain games. For example, Half-Life. While I thought I would chastise this game with a leather whip with nine tails, I found myself immediately addicted to it. So, without further ado, let the games begin.
Story: 10/10
Story begins: You're a physicist named Gordon Freeman who's part of an underground research group called Black Mesa, brought in to help with experiments from time to time by being the hazardous-materials-suit wearer and doing the dirty work for the scientists. One day, average day, you come in to do some work for the scientists and the experiment ends up ripping a hole of some kind and overloading the whole base, causing things to go haywire. Meanwhile, you get teleported a few times into random places where you see alien creatures before returning to the ruined lab and have to fight your way through headcrabs and zombies to get out of the lab and onto the surface. Along the way, you have to enlist the aid of scientists, security guards, and your handy crowbar to get out. Let's skip on to where the military comes in and decides they have to kill everyone for confidentiality purposes, including you, Gordon. Yeah, so now you fight aliens and humans, too, making your way to where the remains of Black Mesa's science team are to stop the aliens from coming.
What can I say? It may sound like a cliche storyline, but I believe Half-Life is what made this story first and the rest became cliche. Instead of being a space marine or special agent or augmented superman, you're a run-of-the-mill physicist who has to learn to use various guns and alien weaponry to survive and save his colleagues from total devastation. Oh yeah, I think you save the world some, too, while you're at it, though I'm not quite sure if you really do or not. The storytelling of Half-life is really amazing because the entire time there are no cutscenes, even when characters are telling you things to do or story-important matters. The whole time, you are Gordon Freeman, the guy who says nothing to others unless you decide to talk to the screen. Definitely works better at putting you in the suit than Halo's supposed 'We want the players to feel like they're Master Chief' spiel which failed miserably when they gave him speaking lines.
Gameplay: 10/10
Can it be? Another perfect score? Yes, ladies and gentlemen. a perfect score! That's because, even on normal, the difficulty of the levels is based more so on your own intellect and problem-solving skills than simply how many more enemies show up or how many more bullets it takes to kill something. With an array of unique weapons that all satisfy their own role in gameplay, including the ever-so-handy crowbar and, interestingly enough, some insect things that will jump repeatedly on enemies until they die and then decide to attack you, too, if you're not careful. Can you not ask for anything better? Ammo and health placements are near-perfect in location, and the game requires full focus for you to survive. Not to mention the physics of the game are quite realistic.
Music/Sound: 9/10
The sound effects are extremely realistic, no overhyped explosion noises or gunshots. While there is a scarcity of music, the quick pace of the game is actually well-suited for a lack of ambience music and requiring more of a prelude-like track every so often when something happens. Though, still, the lack of music can, at times, be a little discomforting, it is mostly made up for by enemy encounters that keep you too busy to listen for the music.
Presentation: 10/10
As I said above, the absolutely best part of this game is its lack of cutscenes while it still tells the story. The absorption of the player into the role of Gordon Freeman is so powerful that you feel as if you're the one standing there, being spoken to, and looking around wherever you direct your vision. The puzzles and strategies that are asked of you to get through various areas of interest are so ingenious that it's like getting a breath of fresh air after inhaling too much Halo and DMC hype.
Overall: 9.5/10
While I shrink from giving perfect scores at all, I will give near-perfect scores, like for Half-Life. This games is solid proof that it is possible to have action, strategy, puzzles, and storyline all rolled into one package at perfect level and still maintain the feel that the player is actually the main character and not just taking control of him during gameplay, at which time he sucks as much as you while being superhuman in cutscenes.
Well, in this game, you have the super suit, but you are still a weak human who will die very easily if you pass through a laser or laser tripbomb unless your trusty HEV suit has some battery to its shield. I think this game might have saved me from the video game apocalypse that has been nearing ever since I started down the path of skull-finding in Halo 2. Praise to the savior, Gordon Freeman!!!
Name: Half-Life
Console:PC (Old), Playstation 2 (New. Owned copy)
So, when it comes to something like reviewing, you get questions like "Well, if you think these games suck then what's your idea of a good game." Well, let me give you a succinct definition: A game that combines compelling story with great action and yet also a lot of brain games. For example, Half-Life. While I thought I would chastise this game with a leather whip with nine tails, I found myself immediately addicted to it. So, without further ado, let the games begin.
Story: 10/10
Story begins: You're a physicist named Gordon Freeman who's part of an underground research group called Black Mesa, brought in to help with experiments from time to time by being the hazardous-materials-suit wearer and doing the dirty work for the scientists. One day, average day, you come in to do some work for the scientists and the experiment ends up ripping a hole of some kind and overloading the whole base, causing things to go haywire. Meanwhile, you get teleported a few times into random places where you see alien creatures before returning to the ruined lab and have to fight your way through headcrabs and zombies to get out of the lab and onto the surface. Along the way, you have to enlist the aid of scientists, security guards, and your handy crowbar to get out. Let's skip on to where the military comes in and decides they have to kill everyone for confidentiality purposes, including you, Gordon. Yeah, so now you fight aliens and humans, too, making your way to where the remains of Black Mesa's science team are to stop the aliens from coming.
What can I say? It may sound like a cliche storyline, but I believe Half-Life is what made this story first and the rest became cliche. Instead of being a space marine or special agent or augmented superman, you're a run-of-the-mill physicist who has to learn to use various guns and alien weaponry to survive and save his colleagues from total devastation. Oh yeah, I think you save the world some, too, while you're at it, though I'm not quite sure if you really do or not. The storytelling of Half-life is really amazing because the entire time there are no cutscenes, even when characters are telling you things to do or story-important matters. The whole time, you are Gordon Freeman, the guy who says nothing to others unless you decide to talk to the screen. Definitely works better at putting you in the suit than Halo's supposed 'We want the players to feel like they're Master Chief' spiel which failed miserably when they gave him speaking lines.
Gameplay: 10/10
Can it be? Another perfect score? Yes, ladies and gentlemen. a perfect score! That's because, even on normal, the difficulty of the levels is based more so on your own intellect and problem-solving skills than simply how many more enemies show up or how many more bullets it takes to kill something. With an array of unique weapons that all satisfy their own role in gameplay, including the ever-so-handy crowbar and, interestingly enough, some insect things that will jump repeatedly on enemies until they die and then decide to attack you, too, if you're not careful. Can you not ask for anything better? Ammo and health placements are near-perfect in location, and the game requires full focus for you to survive. Not to mention the physics of the game are quite realistic.
Music/Sound: 9/10
The sound effects are extremely realistic, no overhyped explosion noises or gunshots. While there is a scarcity of music, the quick pace of the game is actually well-suited for a lack of ambience music and requiring more of a prelude-like track every so often when something happens. Though, still, the lack of music can, at times, be a little discomforting, it is mostly made up for by enemy encounters that keep you too busy to listen for the music.
Presentation: 10/10
As I said above, the absolutely best part of this game is its lack of cutscenes while it still tells the story. The absorption of the player into the role of Gordon Freeman is so powerful that you feel as if you're the one standing there, being spoken to, and looking around wherever you direct your vision. The puzzles and strategies that are asked of you to get through various areas of interest are so ingenious that it's like getting a breath of fresh air after inhaling too much Halo and DMC hype.
Overall: 9.5/10
While I shrink from giving perfect scores at all, I will give near-perfect scores, like for Half-Life. This games is solid proof that it is possible to have action, strategy, puzzles, and storyline all rolled into one package at perfect level and still maintain the feel that the player is actually the main character and not just taking control of him during gameplay, at which time he sucks as much as you while being superhuman in cutscenes.
Well, in this game, you have the super suit, but you are still a weak human who will die very easily if you pass through a laser or laser tripbomb unless your trusty HEV suit has some battery to its shield. I think this game might have saved me from the video game apocalypse that has been nearing ever since I started down the path of skull-finding in Halo 2. Praise to the savior, Gordon Freeman!!!
