Half-Life 2 Episode 2 Question

sushiboy

Yea, I know I am pretty late in playing HL2. I am thinking about getting a PS3 (finally) and would love to play HL2 (as I loved HL1). Although Wikipedia says that HL2 E1 is avail for PS3, I didnt see it for sale new or used at the few major game outlet websites I checked. I do see, however, E2 everywhere for only like $18-$20. My question is, if I were to pick up a copy of E2, would I be confused about the story (since I didnt play E1), or do they do a good job of filling you in on the events of E1? I hate it when I pick up a game and realize that it is already halfway in the middle of a story and therefore dont quite understand everything that is going on.

bficky

Why not just get The Orange Box for PS3? It has HL2, HL2:E1, and HL2:E2 (also portal and TF2) on one disk. I got it for Christmas on PS3 for $20 (~$17 used).

Steev

Yeah, you really should play through Episodes 1 and 2 in order. Also, I get the impression that you think that those two games make up the entirety of Half-Life 2. If that's the case, then realize that Half-Life 2 is a standalone game, and Episodes 1 and 2 are direct sequels to it.

And your best bet is getting the Orange Box which has all three, as bficky said.

Marikir

What you're seeing is that E1 is not for sale seperately on the PS3. You get it in the Orange Box. HL2, E1, E2, Team Fortress, and Portal.

Note: I heard the Orange Box on PS3 had some issues. I don't know if those were ever resolved. But, I'm still contemplating this box just for Portal alone, because it was just that good on my PC and I'd like my wife to see the game.

PeregrineFalcon

This is important enough to lime myself.

Do not buy Orange Box on the PS3.

Buy it on the PC. Unless you're running on an abacus I can guarantee you'll have a better gameplay experience. The port to the PS3 was utter shit.

Also, yeah, the timeline goes HL2, HL2:EP1, HL2:EP2. You'll be confused as fuck if you just jump into HL2:EP1 :P

TychoCelchuuu

Yeah, if you're posting on the Internet and you own a PS3 then you've got a computer, and it's a much better idea to buy the Orange Box for PC.

Shoegaze99

sushiboy wrote: »

I hate it when I pick up a game and realize that it is already halfway in the middle of a story and therefore dont quite understand everything that is going on.

Episode 2 picks up mid story. You want Half-Life 2, then Episode 1, then Episode 2.

In other words, the Orange Box.

FOR PC

Idoliside

Yes, plus with the Orange Box you'll get Portal and Team Fortress 2. The latter having downloadable content which the PS3 will never have

Jutranjo

It might have it, after a few months. And you'll possibly pay for it.
If you like online FPS at all, TF2 is really awesome, you don't get custom maps on the console.

Zzulu

I still have them as gifts on steam

bficky

PeregrineFalcon wrote: »

This is important enough to lime myself.

Do not buy Orange Box on the PS3.

Buy it on the PC. Unless you're running on an abacus I can guarantee you'll have a better gameplay experience. The port to the PS3 was utter shit.

Also, yeah, the timeline goes HL2, HL2:EP1, HL2:EP2. You'll be confused as fuck if you just jump into HL2:EP1 :P

I had heard this before I bought The Orange Box on the PS3, and attempted to avoid it by buying the HL2:GOTY Edition for my PC, but my PC couldn't run it. Granted, my machine is +6 years old and I'm not a big enough PC gamer to care to upgrade. Getting The Orange Box on PS3 was my only choice.

I'm at the second to last chapter in HL2, and while I can't compare it to any other platform, I have had no significant issues with the PS3 port. The loading screens seem to be a little long, but the game looks great (much better than what I saw on my PC), the controls seem to be as good as any other console FPS, and the sound is fine. The game has been patched a few times (before I got it), and I remember reading that some of the earlier problems (whatever they were) were fixed with the patches.

Kris_xK

I *believe* steam is having a 50% sale this weekend, meaning you could prob pick these up on the cheap.

Zombiemambo

Zzulu wrote: »

I still have them as gifts on steam

you should give me E1 and E2

I was the poor sucker who bought OB on XBOX360

Hahnsoo1

The PS3 issues have been resolved by patches. I've not seen any problems with the Orange Box. That being said, get it for PC, if you can. You'll come for Portal and Half-Life... but you'll stay for tuftoo.

Willeth

I've actually just got to the last few chapters on 360 and apart from the loading taking forever it's perfectly solid for a port.

The PS3 version is essentially a port of a port, but I'd still recommend the Orange Box if that's all you have. And the Orange Box is the only way you'll be able to play the Half-Life series on the PS3/360.

bficky

I never play FPSs online, so I couldn't care less about the lack of DLC for TF2 on my PS3 version. For me, I'd much rather play Half-Life on my 40" HDTV in the living room rather than on my ancient 17" CRT monitor in our office.

I'm sure the PC version is better for most gamers, but it wasn't better for me. You won't be disappointed in the PS3 port.

Marikir

Hmmm...now I'm seriously contemplating getting this for either my PS3 or my 360 since my graphic card died in my PC.

Nice to hear the patches came out for the PS3. Hmmm...tempting. It would give me something else on the 360 to play, I guess. I'll have to research which is better, I guess.

Space Pickle

Honestly, you could skip Ep. 1. It's short, covers a bunch of ground you've already been over and doesn't really add a whole lot to the HL2 story.

It ends with Gordon and Alex getting the hell out of dodge.

I thought Episode 2 was way better (and it opens with a little cinematic that explains the events of Episode 1 anyway).

TychoCelchuuu

Space Pickle wrote: »

Honestly, you could skip Ep. 1. It's short, covers a bunch of ground you've already been over and doesn't really add a whole lot to the HL2 story.

It ends with Gordon and Alex getting the hell out of dodge.

I thought Episode 2 was way better (and it opens with a little cinematic that explains the events of Episode 1 anyway).

Mannnn Episode 1 was better in every way except length and # of vortigaunts.

Dusda

TychoCelchuuu wrote: »

Space Pickle wrote: »

Honestly, you could skip Ep. 1. It's short, covers a bunch of ground you've already been over and doesn't really add a whole lot to the HL2 story.

It ends with Gordon and Alex getting the hell out of dodge.

I thought Episode 2 was way better (and it opens with a little cinematic that explains the events of Episode 1 anyway).

Mannnn Episode 1 was better in every way except length and # of vortigaunts.

More spoilers.

well, that and the Gman getting his ass kicked by the vortigaunts.

Idoliside

Im in the whole Ep2 was better. I mean the events at the end. Damn....

TheSuperWoot

Even ignoring plot I'd say Episode 2 was much better gameplay wise. There was a lot more variety in the stuff you did, at least from what I remember.

Cronus

Idoliside wrote: »

Im in the whole Ep2 was better. I mean the events at the end. Damn....

Definitely, but I don't think that Ep2 would be as good without Ep1. Granted I really liked both, but Ep1 really set up the second.

I'd also have to echo the sentiments of this thread and say get it for the PC. The Source engine is old enough that the HL series runs on almost any computer these days. You'll have a better experience, get access to all the mods, and have a larger multiplayer group to choose from.

Ampix

Ep1 is totally underrated, the teamwork with Alex, the little horror bits in it were all so good, it really showed me what Valve really is capable of. It's just that the beginning is rather weak, but it sure as hell picks up later. You really shouldn't skip anything though, I advise also playing Half-Life 1 though, even if it can be a bit slow.