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Half-Life 2: Episode 2, the discussioning

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Posts

  • DarmakDarmak RAGE vympyvvhyc vyctyvyRegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    HL2 was groundbreaking graphically and gameplay wise when it launched. the Episodes are not. Not even Portal (the real star of the OB) is going to have such an impact.

    There ya go, I fixed it for you. :P

    Also, I still think Episode 2 looks fucking amazing. I don't care what anyone else says, it looks better than any other game I've seen so far (even Crysis, which I have a total hard-on for) and it runs better than I imagine those games will too.

    Darmak on
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  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Half-Life 2 is starting to look a tad bit dated (needs some high-res textures) but Ep1 and especially Ep2 are totally adaquate for today's market, IMO. I didn't even run the textures on "Very High"

    Undead Scottsman on
  • WeewolfWeewolf Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Half-Life 2 is starting to look a tad bit dated (needs some high-res textures) but Ep1 and especially Ep2 are totally adaquate for today's market, IMO. I didn't even run the textures on "Very High"

    If you have a mid-ranged system then there is no better looking game. When playing Doom3 or any of the other latest and greatest games they always look like crap on medium settings. Half Life 2 has the best mid-ranged graphics I have ever seen.

    Weewolf on
  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Just beat it. I liked it a lot, but, it fell short on a few points for me. I really was expecting more. I wanted new guns, more than just 1 new enemy, and a longer game. I guess what I really want is Half Life 3.

    End spoilers:
    I feel kind of cheated by that whole advisor bullshit. What are they? Just one big I win card for the combine? "Oh hey look at me, I can pin everyone to the wall so they can't do anything, tralalala, kill kill" Dog could have atleast killed the one he jumped on at the end.

    Am I also the only one who was expecting a G-man scene at the end as gordon's vision faded to black. Only one g-man conversation scene? Really? Bull.

    Also, am I the only one getting a sneaking suspicion that the vortigaunts might not really be humanities friends? I mean, we share a common enemy, but, I just get this feeling that the vorts aren't "good guys"

    And is anyone else getting sick of babysitting alex?

    Inquisitor on
  • ItalaxItalax Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Weewolf wrote: »
    Half-Life 2 is starting to look a tad bit dated (needs some high-res textures) but Ep1 and especially Ep2 are totally adaquate for today's market, IMO. I didn't even run the textures on "Very High"

    If you have a mid-ranged system then there is no better looking game. When playing Doom3 or any of the other latest and greatest games they always look like crap on medium settings. Half Life 2 has the best mid-ranged graphics I have ever seen.

    I think this is the point. I don't want to have to buy some ridiculously powerful PC to have to run these games. The Episodes run beautifully on most PCs and look great.

    Italax on
    PSN: Italax - Steam ID : Italax
    Sometimes I Stream Games: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/italax-plays-video-games
  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    There was at least two new enemies (three if you include the antlion guardian guardian; four if you include the new orange eye'd Combine troops.)

    Undead Scottsman on
  • CherrnCherrn Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Italax wrote: »
    Weewolf wrote: »
    Half-Life 2 is starting to look a tad bit dated (needs some high-res textures) but Ep1 and especially Ep2 are totally adaquate for today's market, IMO. I didn't even run the textures on "Very High"

    If you have a mid-ranged system then there is no better looking game. When playing Doom3 or any of the other latest and greatest games they always look like crap on medium settings. Half Life 2 has the best mid-ranged graphics I have ever seen.

    I think this is the point. I don't want to have to buy some ridiculously powerful PC to have to run these games. The Episodes run beautifully on most PCs and look great.

    Yeah, I sincerely hope I can run Ep 3 on my current computer at least as well as Ep 2 ran. It chugged in some places, but was mostly smooth. I sill think the games look terrific, and I don't really see much reason to improve the graphics in Ep 3 beyond this point - maybe do some more with indoor lighting, but otherwise keep it as it is.

    Cherrn on
    All creature will die and all the things will be broken. That's the law of samurai.
  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    There was at least two new enemies (three if you include the antlion guardian guardian; four if you include the new orange eye'd Combine troops.)

    Oh, yeah. Sorry, I forgot about the new enemy from the tunnels. Mainly because they were obnoxious as all hell and I was glad to leave them behind.

    The orange eye effect was really nice, but I don't think I'll count color swaps as new enemies.

    Inquisitor on
  • HtR-LaserHtR-Laser Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    I think the orange eyes were just an indication that "this asshole has a shotgun," but they were a nice touch nonetheless.

    Also, someone fill me in on (HL2 and Ep1 spoilers):
    When did Eli lose his leg again? I can't remember this.

    HtR-Laser on
  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    HtR-Laser wrote: »
    I think the orange eyes were just an indication that "this asshole has a shotgun," but they were a nice touch nonetheless.

    Also, someone fill me in on (HL2 and Ep1 spoilers):
    When did Eli lose his leg again? I can't remember this.
    Sometime inbetween the Half-Life and Half-Life 2. We've never actually seen him in HL2 era stuff without it. Beyond that, however, they've never specifically said in-game and Laidlaw has said they aren't going to put it to an offical time. He either lost it during the incident, or while helping Kliener into City 17 are the two I've heard.

    Undead Scottsman on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    During the original Black Mesa event.

    The_Scarab on
  • HtR-LaserHtR-Laser Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Oh, okay. I guess I never really noticed it before. Probably because you mostly only see him from the torso up on the monitors.

    HtR-Laser on
  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Episode 2 spoilers AND portal spoilers:
    Seriously, spoilers for both games
    So, anyone else getting a feeling that the research done at aperture science might end up playing a very key role in defeating the combine in future half life games? I'm basing this off of what Kleiner said, and the end song of Portal specifically the line: "Think of all the things we learned for the people who are still alive"

    Inquisitor on
  • autono-wally, erotibot300autono-wally, erotibot300 love machine Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    Episode 2 spoilers AND portal spoilers:
    Seriously, spoilers for both games
    So, anyone else getting a feeling that the research done at aperture science might end up playing a very key role in defeating the combine in future half life games? I'm basing this off of what Kleiner said, and the end song of Portal specifically the line: "Think of all the things we learned for the people who are still alive"
    I think you mean "for the good of all of us, except the ones who are dead!" :p
    But yes, they set it up so you're off to find a ship full of aperture science research equipment. I, for one, can't say that I don't find that awesome.

    autono-wally, erotibot300 on
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  • XhaztolXhaztol Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Eli's fake leg looks a lot like the strange leg supports on the back of the girl you play as in Portal. Why the hell does she have those, anyway? It's kinda neat because it made me visualize humans as if they had backwards knees.

    ...man what.

    Xhaztol on
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  • ZekZek Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    So I just learned that the Little Rocket Man achievement involves bringing a lawn gnome you find in Chapter 1 with you throughout the entire game. And you have to drive slowly with the car so it won't fall off. That's just great.

    Zek on
  • evilthecatevilthecat Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    Episode 2 spoilers AND portal spoilers:
    Seriously, spoilers for both games
    So, anyone else getting a feeling that the research done at aperture science might end up playing a very key role in defeating the combine in future half life games? I'm basing this off of what Kleiner said, and the end song of Portal specifically the line: "Think of all the things we learned for the people who are still alive"
    the whole underlying story to hl2 was the fact that the combine never mastered portal technology properly; the used xen as an "interdimensional slingshot". the resistance had a much more direct form of teleportation. aperture science has an even more direct form of portalling.

    now then, the combine are on earth with no means to establish a link back home to get earth back under control... that one advisor sucks eli's brains out, discovering what borealis means..

    ep3 will be a rush between the combine forces and G&A making a dash for the portal device on the ship.

    evilthecat on
    tip.. tip.. TALLY.. HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
  • ZzuluZzulu Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    exactly what I thought

    Also, to clear certain issues up;
    Originally Posted by PC Gamer US
    Inside Valve, two teams will be responsible for finishing Episodes 1-3, a triumvirate that Newell says will wrap up Half-Life 2's current story arc. Episodes 1 and 2 began development simultaneously by seperate teams; when Episode 1 goes live, its team will shift gears to Episode 3. Episode 4 will have a stand along plot and is being developed outside Valve

    Zzulu on
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  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    I think different:

    I think the borealis is going to be some major plot twist. Like we all think whats on it is basically the portal gun from portal, but its like something totally unexpected. Like the GMan.

    The_Scarab on
  • KazhiimKazhiim __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Shower curtains.

    That is what they'll find. Thousands and thousands of shower curtains.

    Kazhiim on
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  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Xhaztol wrote: »
    Eli's fake leg looks a lot like the strange leg supports on the back of the girl you play as in Portal. Why the hell does she have those, anyway? It's kinda neat because it made me visualize humans as if they had backwards knees.

    ...man what.

    According ot the portal commentary, people kept asking why the main character from portal could fall huge distances and not take any damage (unlike other Half-Life characters), so Valve put the metal shock absorbers on her legs and people quit asking.

    Undead Scottsman on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    I want to see more of these portals the combine set up in the oceans to drain Earths water. this is why the coastline of Highway 17 is so low, the sea level has dropped.

    Like a giant mile wide whirlpool draining the ocean through to the combine homeworld.

    The_Scarab on
  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    I think different:

    I think the borealis is going to be some major plot twist. Like we all think whats on it is basically the portal gun from portal, but its like something totally unexpected. Like the GMan.
    The Borealis is clearly where Aperture Science hid the secret of the Heimlich Counter Maneuver. Some power is too great to be harnessed by mere men.

    Dehumanized on
  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    I think different:

    I think the borealis is going to be some major plot twist. Like we all think whats on it is basically the portal gun from portal, but its like something totally unexpected. Like the GMan.

    I think the borealis was intended to be the ultimate form of transportation: an entire ship that could teleport. But something went wrong and it accidently teleported along with all hands and part of the drydock into a location unknown.

    Undead Scottsman on
  • ZzuluZzulu Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    probably technology there that enables you to fight the advisors, oh and some portal stuffs that you have to destroy before the combine gets their paws on it.

    I'm also hoping for a mech myself, with which I fight the advisors with.

    but then again, I'm always hoping for mechs

    Zzulu on
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  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    I want to see more of these portals the combine set up in the oceans to drain Earths water. this is why the coastline of Highway 17 is so low, the sea level has dropped.

    Like a giant mile wide whirlpool draining the ocean through to the combine homeworld.

    If they still exist in the current continuity (which, since they never made it into the game, is a distinct possibility), then they'd probably have been shut off when the Citadel blew.

    Undead Scottsman on
  • KazhiimKazhiim __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    You know what?

    The Aperture/Black Mesa thing is the only element of the plot that bothers me. For the most part, Freeman's ignorance of everything going on around him has made sense. He's been stuck in the gman's little pet dimension for a while.

    But Freeman would have known about a rivalry between the two companies. If chumps like Eli and Kleiner knew what Aperture was doing, Freeman should have known.

    Kazhiim on
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  • ZzuluZzulu Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Kazhiim wrote: »
    You know what?

    The Aperture/Black Mesa thing is the only element of the plot that bothers me. For the most part, Freeman's ignorance of everything going on around him has made sense. He's been stuck in the gman's little pet dimension for a while.

    But Freeman would have known about a rivalry between the two companies. If chumps like Eli and Kleiner knew what Aperture was doing, Freeman should have known.


    Chumps? Freeman was the new guy and they were the head scientists of the facility

    Zzulu on
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  • PharezonPharezon Struggle is an illusion. Victory is in the Qun.Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    I hated the ant lions tunnels. =(

    Pharezon on
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  • KazhiimKazhiim __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Eli and Kleiner are chumpalicious.

    Kazhiim on
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  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Aperature was competing in teleportation research. Gordon worked in teh Anomolous Materials Lab and knew nothing of the teleportation research going on at Black Mesa. (It's an important plot point/revelation, alongside the fact that Black Mesa had been messing with Xen critters for awhile before the incident.)

    Hell, right before you enter the Lamda Labs a scientist says something like "You'll have to make your way through the teleport laboratories. You're not authorized to know about them, but I can already see you know a great deal more than any one man should!"

    Undead Scottsman on
  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Kazhiim wrote: »
    You know what?

    The Aperture/Black Mesa thing is the only element of the plot that bothers me. For the most part, Freeman's ignorance of everything going on around him has made sense. He's been stuck in the gman's little pet dimension for a while.

    But Freeman would have known about a rivalry between the two companies. If chumps like Eli and Kleiner knew what Aperture was doing, Freeman should have known.

    I don't really think there was anything in the presentation of Aperture in HL that has really indicated how much Gordon knows.

    Spoiler'd just in case, pretty minor:
    In HL1 there was way too much crazy stuff going on for them to go into their rival secretive underground research firms (and since Black Mesa was far more successful at obtaining government contracts, they don't need to have slideshows lying around saying "APERTURE SUX", and in HL2 Aperture just hadn't been relevant until the Borealis was discovered, just like any other company that appears to have fallen through the cracks in the wake of the portal storms and 7 hour war. Gordan could quite possibly be aware of it, I don't think that there was anything presented in ep2 that struck me as "Gordan is totally out of the loop, so they're catching him up."

    Dehumanized on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Wait, wasnt gordon like a brand new employee of Black Mesa the day of the incident? Hence why breen chose him to create the resonance cascade, cause he was new.

    which would explain why he knows little about the aperture rivalry.

    The_Scarab on
  • P10P10 An Idiot With Low IQ Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Zzulu wrote: »
    exactly what I thought

    Also, to clear certain issues up;
    Originally Posted by PC Gamer US
    Inside Valve, two teams will be responsible for finishing Episodes 1-3, a triumvirate that Newell says will wrap up Half-Life 2's current story arc. Episodes 1 and 2 began development simultaneously by seperate teams; when Episode 1 goes live, its team will shift gears to Episode 3. Episode 4 will have a stand along plot and is being developed outside Valve
    Adrian Shephard in Episode 4 confirmed?

    P10 on
    Shameful pursuits and utterly stupid opinions
  • ZzuluZzulu Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Zzulu wrote: »
    exactly what I thought

    Also, to clear certain issues up;
    Originally Posted by PC Gamer US
    Inside Valve, two teams will be responsible for finishing Episodes 1-3, a triumvirate that Newell says will wrap up Half-Life 2's current story arc. Episodes 1 and 2 began development simultaneously by seperate teams; when Episode 1 goes live, its team will shift gears to Episode 3. Episode 4 will have a stand along plot and is being developed outside Valve
    Adrian Shephard in Episode 4 confirmed?

    Nothing is confirmed except that episode 4 wont be developed by Valve. We can only hope it will feature Adrian

    Zzulu on
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  • KazhiimKazhiim __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    maybe episode 4 is portal two

    who knooooooows

    Kazhiim on
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  • P10P10 An Idiot With Low IQ Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Zzulu wrote: »
    Nothing is confirmed except that episode 4 wont be developed by Valve. We can only hope it will feature Adrian
    Well, Gearbox developed Opposing Forces, not Valve, so...

    P10 on
    Shameful pursuits and utterly stupid opinions
  • ZzuluZzulu Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Could also be a new company with a new title. Perhaps the portal character? Perhaps something entirely different? It's years away though so who knows

    Zzulu on
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  • KazhiimKazhiim __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Wait


    wait shit

    was barney in episode 2? At all?

    Kazhiim on
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  • ZzuluZzulu Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    don't think so

    Zzulu on
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