First Encounter
Who ever thought a crowbar-wielding science geek would become one of the most popular videogame characters of all time? Gordon Freeman, the unassuming silent star of the 1998 blockbuster Half-Life, is back in butt-kicking action in Valve’s Half-Life® 2. Xbox® gamers have waited patiently to slip on Gordon's horn-rimmed spectacles, and the good news is that they get their chance to wield the Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator (a.k.a. Gravity Gun) later this year.
I sat down with a preview build of Half-Life 2 on Xbox recently. Although I wasn't playing a finished version, I saw enough of the stellar gameplay in action to know that when it releases, Half-Life 2 is going to wow Xbox owners. Read on for a sneak peek at this compelling action title.
Half-Life 2 is the real deal.
The City of Tomorrow
Half-Life 2 begins with Gordon's arrival in City 17—a dank work colony where human slaves of the alien Combine complete their chores in the not-too-distant future. Similar to the original, your first moments are spent exploring. Before the fighting heats up, you get a few minutes to roam the various check-in stations, courtyards, and grim hostels in town. The setting is so dramatic that, even with not much more than ambient sound and casual conversation, you feel as if you've been transported to an entirely different world.
Throughout the course of the game, you take up arms with the resistance and duke it out on expansive indoor and outdoor levels. Xbox owners won't feel cheated, as the levels haven't been significantly altered from the Windows PC original. Valve took great pains to harness the streaming capabilities of the Xbox console, so movement around the game's many intricate environments are fluid and seamless.
You've never experienced physics like this before.
Physical Attraction
All of the weapons from the Windows PC original, including the aforementioned Gravity Gun, are present in the game. Likewise, the Havok physics engine is running on all eight cylinders. Virtually every object in the game can be pushed, pulled, lifted, tossed, and thrown around like a toy. Gone are the days of pretty, static playfields. Instead, you're treated to unique gameplay that never plays out the same way twice. Trigger preset traps—or make your own. How you fight the wily critters in Half-Life 2 is up to you, but don't expect the bad guys to go easy on you.
The folks at Valve have a well-deserved reputation for coding some of the most convincing enemy A.I. in the industry, and Half-Life 2 is no exception. Your mere presence in an alien-infested zone causes hordes of slimy denizens to flock to your location. They don't simply run at you like mindless automatons, but sidestep your shots, take cover behind objects, and move in packs. Be quick on your feet to eliminate the seemingly endless waves of blood-thirsty creatures as you complete your objectives. Who knew being a scientist involved so much physical activity?
The characters and voice acting are top-notch.
Skin Deep
Half-Life 2 boasts some impressive vistas, but gorgeous level design is only part of the awesome visuals found in the game. Similar to its Windows PC counterpart, the Xbox version features meticulously detailed and animated character models. The dialogue spoken by the numerous NPCs (non-player characters) is flawlessly synced, giving the impression that you're listening to real people rather than emotionless puppets. Painstaking care was employed in animating every emotion and inflection of the cast, and it shows. Voice acting is of Hollywood quality, which isn't surprising since the list of performers include veteran actors like Robert Guillaume, Lou Gosset Jr., and Robert Culp, to name a few.
There were several moments during my brief session that I forgot I was playing a game, as I found myself trying to protect the young and spirited Alyx Vance as if she were an actual person. There aren't many titles out there that can pull off this sort of emotive dynamic, but Half-Life 2 is one of the few capable of squeezing feelings out of the most cynical shooter fan. You feel like you're a part of the story rather than a dispassionate observer.
The minutes ticked by at lightning speed, and before I knew it my time with Half-Life 2 was up. With new publishing partner Electronic Arts on board, it's only a matter of months before drooling gamers wrap their greedy paws around Gordon's trusty crowbar. Keep checking back for updated content on the game, as we explore its robust physics engine, supply you with gameplay tips, and provide walkthrough strategy coverage.
By Franklin Beans
