Half-Life 2 NDA Lifted - Online Previews Available

captainstupid writes "The first Half-Life 2 previews are hitting the Web, and Shacknews seems to have the first post-NDA preview." There's also a preview at IGN.com, and another at Gamespy, plus yet another at Gamespot, giving us a whole cornucopia of different looks at what may be the most keenly awaited PC game of the year.

Comments

Hmm

[tomthebomb]

Hopefully, this game is a genre-changer, like Half-Life was, and not a flop, like Unreal 2 was. I have very high expectations for HL2, because HL was my favorite game for a very long time. Judging from screenshots I've seen, it will have very good graphics, maybe even Doom 3 class, but will probably require a powerful computer. Hopefully, this engine will be mod-able, as the original HL engine was, because the Counter-Strike and Natural Selection teams could do so much more with the HL2 engine judging from the screenshots...let's just hope this game isn't another Unreal 2.

how old is the reviewer from shacknews?

[Tibor the Hun]

he needs to take some composition classes, or have someone proofread his material. i couldn't even finish his article, it was terrible...

Screenshots

[Intruger]

The screenshots don't look bad. They have high poly counts/texture, but the lighting model looks too primitive (compared to some of the upcoming game eg. Stalker,Doom3,DeusEx2,FarCry,etc), as if it supports only diffuse shading. The thing that would be really great is if it could play Half Life 1 mods, so I can play Counter Strike on it, till I wait for Team Fortress 2.

massive polygon count?!

[(H)elix1]

With all of these considerable graphical upgrades, we were pleased to hear that the minimum system specs are currently targeted at a 700 MHz PC with 128 MB RAM and a DX6-level video card, meaning you won't need a NASA supercomputer to run Half-Life 2.

Rejoice! I've got some decent hardware, but it is SOOO nice that the focus is not on a massive polygon count. My god, they might have spent time on -oh, level design, story, and a few other things that actually make the game fun. Half-Life was worth every penny - including additional copies I've picked up over time (bundles were cheaper, go figure). I hear folks drooling over Doom III, but hearing the insane hardware requirements it is rumored to need, I suspect I'll pick it up when it hits the bargain bin. I avoided C&C Generals because I hear others had issues with 'low end' cards like my (new for me) ti4200. Unreal II came and went because it sounds like the AI and levels stunk. I'll be plunking down cash for this one because the previous version was such a blast. I figure the mod scene will pick up on this one as well.

One of the few good things to happen today. What is next, Starcraft II?

Linux?

[riggwelter]

I've recently got into FPS games as a distraction from MUDs as a result of the Linux version of Unreal Tournie 2003, does anyone know if there's a Linux version of HL2 planned (or rumoured)?