Game-play(cont)
The multiplayer format included with Half-Life 2 is not based on the single player campaign. Called Counter-Strike: Source, it’s basically an updated version of the original Counter-Strike game and includes new maps as well as updated versions of some of the most popularly played CS maps. The one disappointing spot for me, is that there is no multiplayer mode that is based on the Half-Life 2 single player game. That doesn’t mean that it’s not possible though. I would expect to see upgrades of all the popular mods, (i.e. Day of Defeat) as well as some new ones.
Graphics & Audio
What has been said once, will be said again. The graphics in today’s games are nothing short of spectacular. Like Doom 3, the visuals in Half-Life 2 are stunning. On a newer/high-end machine the graphics move from scene to scene in movie-style format that are arguably as good if not better than many of the CGI special effects used in Hollywood movies.
The amount of detail and design in the graphics quality can be seen right away in the various game settings and in the minute detail that characters are given. These graphics, as with many new games, come at a price. A high-end graphics card is required to realize the full potential of the game and I would not purchase if I were using just the minimum requirements.
Audio and sound effects are as well top notch, with a cast of celebrities voices of Louis Gossett Jr, Robert Guillaume, Robert Culp and others. The sound effects of combat situations as well as non-combat sequences is best heard in a digital surround sound environment. A good bit of the music seems to be updated a little but for the most part taken from the original.
Conclusion
All the excellent games released this year such as Doom 3, Farcry, and PainKiller, raised the expectations for Half-Life 2. So, much so that I doubted it could meet them. In my Doom 3 review I asked and answered the question: “How good can it really be? Really good, really really good.” But not as good as Half-Life 2. After a reported $10 million production, Valve has exceeded expectations and have the best game of the year and quite possibly best game period.
