Many years from now, gamers will look back at 2004 and remember it as being a remarkable time for PC and console titles. Games such as Far Cry, Doom 3, Sims 2, Warhammer 40 000: Dawn of War, Halo 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas saw the industry attract fresh interest after several years in the doldrums.
With apologies to Doom 3 fans (and yes, I am one of them), from a gaming perspective, the year will best be remembered for the arrival of Half-Life 2 on the PC. Building on the success of the original released in 1998, developer Valve has done everything in its power to create a title that encapsulates what gaming is about.
Letting it speak for itself
To describe Half-Life 2 as a first-person shooter will not only do it an injustice, but will also not reward Valve for what it has created. Finally, a game has been released that combines a stunning graphics engine, ultra-realistic physics and a well laid-out narrative that, while not perfect, is captivating enough to put many Hollywood script writers to shame.
Anyone who has ever read George Orwell`s 1984 will feel right at home in Half-Life 2. If Valve should be remembered for anything, it must be the way it has created an atmosphere that is as bleak and oppressing as anything that has come before it.
The fact that I am willing to overlook the countless hours it took to install the game should speak for itself. Installation is quite possibly the biggest criticism that can be levelled at Half-Life 2.
As I discussed in a recent column, Valve saw it fit to require gamers who purchased the title to activate it online. While I will not go into all the detail again, it does bear repeating that it took me approximately five hours to install the game.
Where to begin?
Installation issues aside, Half-Life 2 will immediately get your attention and keep you enthralled until the final gunshot is fired.
Nearly every review around the world is giving the game a rating in excess of 90%, with many respected online publications awarding Half-Life 2 an unprecedented 100% rating. While the validity of giving a game a perfect rating could be debated, the aura surrounding the title should get many people interested in playing it.
A concern for many players was just how resource-hungry the game was going to be. The good news is that, like Doom 3, it is very scalable and gamers will be able to customise the detail settings to get it working on even mid-range machines. On the flipside, if you do possess a powerful PC, Half-Life 2 will gladly accept everything your machine can throw at it.
Arguably, Half-Life 2 is one of the best-looking games ever to be released on PC. The water effects are beyond comparison. The graphic artists also paid attention to the little details. For example, early in the game you enter an old apartment building. Walking into any of the apartments causes dust to rise. What is more, the sun shining through the window reflects off the dust particles to create a truly stunning visual effect.
Weighing up gravity
One of the more innovative features of Half-Life 2 is the physics model. Just about anything you see in the game world can be manipulated. Having trouble getting to a window on the first floor? No problem, stack up a couple of boxes lying around and create a makeshift ladder.
In fact, many of the puzzles in the game revolve around manipulating the environment to get the preferred result. To assist you with this, Valve has included a gravity gun that is one of the best features of the game. It allows you to move heavy objects to your heart`s content.
Get it now!
Half-Life 2 raises the bar in the gaming industry. Bar the woeful online activation system, Valve and publisher Sierra have produced one of the best games ever.
If you have not done so already, I suggest you get the game and see what all the fuss is about. You will not be disappointed.
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