Half Life thread - Discussions about Valve's FPS magnum opus(es) and any related content (spin offs, expansions and etc)

[Star Classic]

If they do go through with having Alyx and Eli swapped for HL3 then I would prefer that, not because of how it would affect the story, but more in that it would probably make HL3 more solo focused.

Like I don't hate Alyx as a character, but I liked it in HL2 where you were mainly alone most of the time with there being sections every now and then where you had a companion. I feel like the Episodes were a lot weaker for me because Alyx accompanies you for most of the game except for some specific sections.

I'm half and half on that.

On the one hand, yeah I think HL2 is good when you don't have a companion to worry about. Thankfully when they do give you a companion it's not a matter of babysitting them either since they can handle their own. Outside of the squad levels mind you.

But I disagree on the take about the Episodes. I actually think both EP1 and 2 are better than HL2. I'd even say that EP2 is the best game in the entire series. Everything is better in the episodes, especially the companion sections since they were designed around them. I think the reason people don't care much for EP1 is because of how short it is. But cutting out a like a good 4-5 maps will do that to your length.

However, EP2 is better because it also is a bit like HL2 in having companion sections alongside solo sections, and when you do have those sections with companions its by far some of the highlights of the game, IMO. I find that EP2 just has the best of both and finds a happy medium.

 

[Quintex96]

I'm half and half on that.

On the one hand, yeah I think HL2 is good when you don't have a companion to worry about. Thankfully when they do give you a companion it's not a matter of babysitting them either since they can handle their own. Outside of the squad levels mind you.

But I disagree on the take about the Episodes. I actually think both EP1 and 2 are better than HL2. I'd even say that EP2 is the best game in the entire series. Everything is better in the episodes, especially the companion sections since they were designed around them. I think the reason people don't care much for EP1 is because of how short it is. But cutting out a like a good 4-5 maps will do that to your length.

However, EP2 is better because it also is a bit like HL2 in having companion sections alongside solo sections, and when you do have those sections with companions its by far some of the highlights of the game, IMO. I find that EP2 just has the best of both and finds a happy medium.

EP2's soundtrack is also full of bangers which also helps

 

[Creative Username]

EP2's soundtrack is also full of bangers which also helps

don't forget that ep1 has some bangers too

 

[Hitman One]

EP2's soundtrack is also full of bangers which also helps

Sector Sweep/Vortal Combat niggas where we at.

All these years on, Vortal Combat still makes me want to play HL2 and the episodes through again.

 

[Foltest]

HL soundtrack over all is really excellent.
Same with the black mesa remake.

 

[Quintex96]

Sector Sweep/Vortal Combat niggas where we at.

All these years on, Vortal Combat still makes me want to play HL2 and the episodes through again.

for me, it's Last Legs

 

[Blackstar]

Shout out Kelly Bailey, composer of the soundtracks of HL1, 2 and the episodes.

 

[thhrang]

Is it really gonna happen? I'll believe it when I see it.

The evidence for HLX is very, very, very, very, very compelling, spanning from a shitton of datamined code, to Valve hiring (& rehiring!) a bunch of industry veterans for years now, to Barney/G-Man's voiceactor directly teasing it on Twitter in December. HLX even survived Valve's notorious winter break, where a bunch of their big projects have been left to die. The most recent lines of scraped code appear to indicate that it now is in the final stages of production.

 

[Star Classic]

EP2's soundtrack is also full of bangers which also helps

How did I forget that too? Easily Bailey's best soundtrack, shame he dipped right after. HL3 maybe a 10/10 but I refuse to give anything higher than an 8 if Bailey isn't involved in AT LEAST the soundtrack.

 

[Hitman One]

for me, it's Last Legs

OUTTA MY WAY HUNTER FUCKING SHITS
[REVVING INTENSIFIES]

 

[Creative Username]

How did I forget that too? Easily Bailey's best soundtrack, shame he dipped right after. HL3 maybe a 10/10 but I refuse to give anything higher than an 8 if Bailey isn't involved in AT LEAST the soundtrack.

don't shit on mike morasky like that he can make bangers too

 

[Star Classic]

don't shit on mike morasky like that he can make bangers too

I didn't say I hated Mike, but he's already at a disadvantage against Bailey. Not to say he doesn't have bad tracks, Alice Matter is easily a top 5.

 

[BibiLivesMatter]

The evidence for HLX is very, very, very, very, very compelling, spanning from a shitton of datamined code, to Valve hiring (& rehiring!) a bunch of industry veterans for years now, to Barney/G-Man's voiceactor directly teasing it on Twitter in December. HLX even survived Valve's notorious winter break, where a bunch of their big projects have been left to die. The most recent lines of scraped code appear to indicate that it now is in the final stages of production.

I'll just repost what I said in the Vickers thread a second ago here cause this is more in topic:


What really intrigued me from this video, is the assumed advancement in NPC AI. How they change reaction to things in their environment from sight, hearing, and even smell. If this is legitimate that would be insane. I was confused with what he meant of an npc can change navmesh swiftly. Is this referencing the character look can change from being damage or getting dirty or is this referencing some body morphing enemy? With how it sounds with the advancement of physics, NPC AI, and environment reaction. This must be something that Newell envisioned in leap of technology he wanted for Half-Life 3.

Wonder if Freeman will have some new technology that can influence or change the environment and some mechanic in leading resistance npcs? Wonder if you be playing multiple characters in this new game too. Cause Alyx became their recent employee and G-man seems to imply dissatisfaction with Freeman.

 

[AnOminous]

I'm still not worshipping niggers bud.

Nobody wants you to worship shit they just want you to quit drooling all over the place.

 

[Creative Username]

How they change reaction to things in their environment from sight, hearing, and even smell.

hl1 actually had so much of this kind of thing that somebody ran an entire youtube channel off it for years

I was confused with what he meant of an npc can change navmesh swiftly. Is this referencing the character look can change from being damage or getting dirty or is this referencing some body morphing enemy?

Didn't watch any of those videos but I know that what he's talking about is neither of those things. A navmesh is an invisible surface over the floor that NPCs use to navigate from point A to point B. If it can change swiftly, that means they expect dynamic map changes more often than in the older games. That speculation about Freeman being able to change the environment might not be completely unfounded...

 

[Soggy Floppa]

don't shit on mike morasky like that he can make bangers too

Alyx was good but it strayed too much into Portal 2 territory than Half-Life imo.

 

[Nguyen Van Phuoc]

I thought HLX was going to be flat screen?

There's probably gonna be some form of VR mode, also Deckard seems to be positioned as a VR Steam Deck in that it's supposed to be good at playing flat and VR games, you can see this in some leaked controller prototypes, they now feature a traditional setup of buttons:

 

[thhrang]

l

 

[Star Classic]

View attachment 7092836View attachment 7092839 l

I'm glad the HL community at large has somewhat pushed back on this and realize that the RTX one looks like dogcrap. I like the new SMG model though.

 

[Lone MacReady II]

Shout out Kelly Bailey, composer of the soundtracks of HL1, 2 and the episodes.

And a guy who ended up creating scenarios for the game based on his own recommendations. When someone makes tunes like KAON, you listen to him.