Lambda 2

Just finished Half-Life 2. Add me roster of those who revere it. Back when it first came about, it sounded like just another FPS to me. Most of those who spoke highly of it seemed to be Valve fans anyway, and most of them seemed to be Counter-Strike enthusiasts. I also played the original Half-Life on the PS2 (wish it'd come out on Dreamcast!) and wasn't very impressed, though it certainly was a good game.

But I never have and perhaps never will play a first-person game that engulfed as much as HL2 did. I don't think I can avoid praising it in ways that you've already heard, so I won't bother to try. The most striking thing about the game is the use of the Havok physics. I adore it when I try to do something unconventional in a game and it lets me. Like rolling a barrel of oil towards an enemy, then firing at it to make it explode. Or picking up a table and using it as cover while I try to get closer to a gunner. Or piling heavy objects in front of a door to prevent unwanted guests from entering. HL2 doesn't just let you utilize your environment like this, it encourages you to. The level design is ... no, my vocabulary is sufficient enough to describe it. Let's just call it fucking awesome. From the seashore cliffs to the abandoned old farmhouses to the city apartment complexes the layout of every doorway, chair, car, debris, etc. charged my senses, my imagination, and my quick-thinking as I tried to use the lay of the land to outwit my foes. I quickly learned that the level design often required the use of appropriate weapons. Here's a spot for a mine. Shoot that guy up there with my machine gun. He's too far, use the scope on the crossbow. When they come through that doorway, blow 'em up with the rocket launcher. Shotgun the zombie, can't waste ammo so try to one-hit it in the head. Watch out, he's gonna throw that crate! Is there a headcrab in that corner?

This example of perfected FPS gameplay is accompanied by a vague and ambiguous story, almost, yet for obvious reasons not at all, like Shadow of the Colossus. The two games tell a story almost entirely through the gameplay: environments and enemies are a reflection of things that have previously occurred and if you examine them closely enough you might discover something that hints at deeper themes. Unlike SotC, however, HL2 speaks to you directly through its main protagonist's eyes. Because of this, oddly enough, Gordon Freeman's likeness, which has become universally known thanks to his appearance on the boxes on his games, is never seen in-game. Instead, his experiences are your experiences, and you can count on them being more than just shooting down the next bad guy. During each "cutscene," which are not cutscenes at all but rather pockets of plot in between action, you continue to have full control over Gordon as characters converse with and react to you. I was blow away by the versatile face movements and expressions that the main NPCs could garner during these "cutscenes," but if you're not as impressed, you have the option of walking and looking around the room. Sometimes it's even encouraged, as you can gather more info about what has transpired between Half-Life and Half-Life 2.

The story and the gameplay aren't really revolutionary or industry-changing, I think, although I'm saying this three years after the game was released so my perspective may be skewed. However, one cannot argue that, whether or not the game is revolutionary, it is an example of excellence. Most of the gameplay does not appear to be anything new (certainly not for a sequel), but is the epitome of that style of gameplay. Of course, the best thing is the wonderful level design; it's amazing how much it can add to a game. Towards that end it seemed to get a little sloppy, but perhaps that was just my take on trying to survive the harsh difficulties of the giant cannon-mounted Striders. The squad AI wasn't great, either; more often than not I wished they weren't accompanying me as they'd only get in the way and eventually die meaningless deaths.

The rest of the game is pure gold and the cliffhanger ending is driving me batty. I'm going to have to get a Steam account and start buying those Episodes. I'm somewhat worried at the moment that I won't have as much enthusiasm for the rest of my Xbox games now that I've experienced this one. Halo certainly isn't shaping up to be anything noteworthy.