PC Gamer Reviews Half-Life 2

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Posted by Zonk on Wednesday October 6, 2004 @04:00AM from the please-avoid-taunting-the-head-crabs dept.

SnprBoB86 writes "Planet HalfLife reports that latest issue of the UK PC Gamer been release with a review of Half-Life 2. The game scored a 96% (the same score as the original Half-Life and 6 points higher than Doom 3). This is just after Valve announced the Steam packages that will be available for purchase and that people who buy Half-Life 2 over Steam will be the first to play the final release of the new Counter-Strike: Source."

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Yeah okay.... by hollismb · 2004-10-06 04:02 · Score: 1

Now can I get some freakin' news on the Xbox version?
1. Re:Yeah okay.... by hammurderer · 2004-10-06 04:40 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I will give you the news on the Xbox version. there isn't one you are looking at at least a year or more before any progress on the version for xbox. HL2 for Xbox is not looking too good right now because valve wants to focus on the steam engine and in order to do that they have to hold off on any development of a port for any system. Besides lets face it I dont think there is any console out right now modified or otherwise that could handle any version of HL2 maybe they will wait till Xbox-2. Who knows?
2. Re:Yeah okay.... by hollismb · 2004-10-06 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  That's a bunch of bull.... The Xbox is perfectly capable of running Doom 3, and even Farcry is being developed for it. Why not Half-Life? Sure, the Xbox version of Doom3 will look like 640X480 at medium detail, but that's still good for a console game. Same thing would probably be true of Half-Life 2.
3. Re:Yeah okay.... by aweraw · 2004-10-06 18:30 · Score: 1
  
  Have you played the console version of the original half-life? What a scam that was... I suspect the console version of HL2 will also be bastardized in the same way.
  
  Prediction: Doom 3 (or HL2) on any current console will be fucking crap.. those kinds of games just DO NOT translate well to consoles... it's a matter of the differing aestetics of console and PC platforms.
  
  --
  5468652047616D65
4. Re:Yeah okay.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-07 00:01 · Score: 0
  
  let me just say that HL2 would not run good on an Xbox i am not a downer of Xbox i own one and have nothing but good things to say about it. but look at the trackrecord of high processing games take unreal championship for an example it ran at 25 fps and it was very jerky. the Xbox has a 733 mhz cpu the min sys requirements are 1 ghz with a 64 to 128 mb video card last time i checked the Xbox has a 32 mb card. and besides an fps that wasnt first made for a console when ported is always terrible. HL2 should be for PC only and if you computer isnt good enough to run it well i suggest you buy something and upgrade because HL2 is going to be one of the best games of the 2004-2005 year.
5. Re:Yeah okay.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-07 03:43 · Score: 0
  
  The Xbox is not "perfectly capable" of running Doom 3. If you look at the comparison shots, the Xbox has horrible quality compared to even mid range PCs. Besides, you would have to be out of your mind to buy Half-Life 2 for a platform that doesn't have any mods.
Review Scans... by Pine+UK · 2004-10-06 04:05 · Score: 5, Informative

Scans can be found here
1. Re:Review Scans... by gl4ss · 2004-10-06 04:28 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  reading through it, it feels more like an advertisement than anything else.
  
  "light anda shadows blabla unlike anything before blabla oo explore those buildings". of course, you think they would have given the preview IF it didn't read like an advertisement? (but then again, that's how the mags have been for the last 10 years already)
  
  (besides.. the ingame characters _don't_ look spectacular in the pics - if anything they look low-poly-with-good-textures-with-shoddy-lighting)
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
2. Re:Review Scans... by mrpuffypants · 2004-10-06 05:29 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Also here: http://www.tomservo.net/etc/hl2.rar
Six points higher than Doom 3? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 04:25 · Score: 2, Insightful

That's really not saying much, since Doom 3 was such a poor game. But I think it will be good, I am really looking forward to this game.
Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never get by hph · 2004-10-06 04:31 · Score: 0

..this good again.

When I've played this game through, my days as a gamer will mostly be over. I mean , what game is there to look forward too? None that I know of. I would seriously like to know. The pirating scene, and the businesses counter-moves is a downward spiral that I really resent, and which take much fun out of gaming.
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by Firehawke · 2004-10-06 04:34 · Score: 1

The 'pirating spiral' as you call it has been going on for 20+ years, and gaming has had both its ups and downs. Sooner or later there'll be another lull in the cycle, like the one that took place right after they stopped using manual protection. Sooner or later there'll be another huge step forward that brings in a new generation of players with a new style of game.

We may or may not be around then, but nevertheless no reason to take such a negative view of things, right?
Never mind the score, feel the quality by __aamkky7574 · 2004-10-06 04:41 · Score: 4, Insightful

Not only is the final score higher than Doom 3 but, more importantly, the text of the review is far more positive. The Doom 3 review, while ending in a high score, was full of caveats (fully justified by what is, in the end, a rather dull trudge through corridors); the Half-Life 2 review is basically 8 pages of "man, this is beautiful".

P.
1. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by gl4ss · 2004-10-06 05:07 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  it's an exclusive advertisement.
  
  or didn't you notice how it says "YOU GOTTA BUY THIS" and "DON'T MISS THIS! GET IT!" over and over again?
  
  (and as for how the tone is made, here's one example: he says that the npc's react realistically to everything he does, but then it's said that it's a good thing that some guy doesn't care if you trash his place up totally with the gravity gun)
  
  and really.. rechargeable energy thing that's shared with running for the flashlight? that could have used a bit more stingy complaining.
  
  ***the Half-Life 2 review is basically 8 pages of "man, this is beautiful".*** which is exactly which makes it pretty much WORTHLESS as a review. how about touching _actual_ issues like telling what kind of a powerhouse you need to run it?
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
2. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by Ahnteis · 2004-10-06 05:44 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  If you want to know what hardware you need, you could read the CS:Source forums since there are a lot of people actually playing the beta right now.
  
  Just because a review is positive doesn't mean it isn't accurate.
3. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by gl4ss · 2004-10-06 06:49 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  if a review is _totally_ without any critique at all yelling "buy buy buy".. then 99% of the time it is inaccurate in more places than one. calculate in the fact that it's an exclusive (valve sponsored/approved) it can't be critical. wouldn't be the first title to receive over the top ratings while merely being a good game.
  
  and cs:source is not the same thing as the full HL2 will be, not in device requirements or otherwise.
  (in aspects like polys pushed through or ai needing to be calculated)
  .
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
4. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by Leffe · 2004-10-06 07:31 · Score: 1
  
  I bet you bought Doom 3 ;)
5. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by relyter · 2004-10-06 09:31 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Reminds me of the Div3r reviews that came out a while back (there was even a slashdot story about it http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/06/28/ 1745250&tid=127&tid=98&tid=10) is which exclusive reviews for the game were given under the condition that the game be given AT LEAST a 90% (or comparable) score. This completely defeats the purpose of having game reviews, as the people reviewing are REQUIRED to be impartial...
  
  Rant not withstanding, I personally have been looking forward to this game for several years and have already upgraded my box in anticipation... HL was great and I have no reason to expect anything but the very best from valve.
6. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by black+mariah · 2004-10-06 09:43 · Score: 1
  
  How about reading the end of the fucking article where they give you a recommended system spec? If you want full-on hardware shootouts, wait a couple of weeks for HardOCP to get on it.
  
  --
  'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
7. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 15:57 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  It gives a recommended system spec based on their experience on the last page of the review (down the bottom). It says:
  
  "2.4 GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, DX9 3D Card, net connection"
  
  Not exactly specific, but it is there.
8. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by gl4ss · 2004-10-06 23:38 · Score: 1
  
  *"2.4 GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, DX9 3D Card, net connection"
  
  Not exactly specific, but it is there.*
  
  not exactly useful spec either. "dx9 3d" could mean just anything speedwise.
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
9. Re:Never mind the score, feel the quality by robnauta · 2004-10-06 23:58 · Score: 1
  
  A DX9 video card usually means one that supports new features of DX9 that were not in DX8. In other words, vertex shader 2.0 and pixel shader 2.0/3.0
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by richie2000 · 2004-10-06 04:47 · Score: 3, Funny

what game is there to look forward to?
Duke Nukem Forever. And you will still be looking forward to it when you're sitting on the porch of the Shady Pines Retirement Home, complaining about how everything was much better back in the old days.

--
Money for nothing, pix for free
Fair and Balanced by carcosa30 · 2004-10-06 05:24 · Score: 2, Insightful

Gee, imagine that... PC Gamer reviews a blockbuster title in an overwhelmingly positive way!

Wow, I do hope it's as good as they say though. Would be nice for a game to come out that doesn't suck dog balls. Or maybe I'm getting old.

--
Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
PC Zone review by clamatius · 2004-10-06 05:37 · Score: 4, Informative

The U.K. magazine PC Zone also reviewed HL2 in their latest issue.

They gave it a score of 97%, which is the best score they've ever given a game.
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by gl4ss · 2004-10-06 05:37 · Score: 3, Insightful

having played pc games for 15+ years(from a kid, basically)..

they will get "this good" again and again.

magazines are just now _AGAIN_ at the point where they need to re-adjust totally. but since the mags are dead as a good source for information anyways..

in the '90s there were couple of games that scored 99% in nearly everywhere.

and yes, games have been playable since. and don't forget that even then MOST GAMES WERE CRAP. they still are.

--
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
I'm all out of bubblegum by slumpy · 2004-10-06 05:53 · Score: 1

wow, no duke nukem forever jokes yet....c'mon guys

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http://www.commaecho.com
1. Re:I'm all out of bubblegum by wileycat · 2004-10-06 06:07 · Score: 1
  
  blah blah blah Duke Nukem Forever blah blah blah
  Come on guys, I know we've all given up on DNF, isn't there some other vaporware we can bash? I'm tired of Duke.
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by n3bulous · 2004-10-06 05:58 · Score: 1

http://www.callofcthulhu.com/

--
"The area of penetration will no doubt be sensitive." ~ Spock
slashdot effect by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 07:19 · Score: 0

Update 2:50PM EST:
You will be downloading the images from the closest server (geographically) on the system, which virtually eliminates the "slashdot effect."

Error 503 Service Unavailable

img3.exs.cx: Too many open files

Theory meets reality again...
Be Careful with Review "Exclusives" by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 07:29 · Score: 3, Informative

I work in the videogame mag industry, and you should be weary of any early review exclusives like this. I am not suggesting that Half Life 2 is a 50% instead of a 96%, but anytime a magazine snags a review copy of a game far earlier than everyone else, you can bet there's a price.

Heads up is all I'm saying.
1. Re:Be Careful with Review "Exclusives" by Lisandro · 2004-10-06 13:24 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed. This happens time after time after time with hot new releases; it's no coindicence whenever a magazine gets an exclusive review scores are always above 90%. Still, i think HL2 will be a damn fine game.
2. Re:Be Careful with Review "Exclusives" by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 13:27 · Score: 0
  
  I think you meant to say "wary" there, spud.
Bittorrent Scans by kagaku · 2004-10-06 07:44 · Score: 1

http://66.90.75.92/suprnova//torrents/2718/HL2%20R eview.torrent

I used this to download the scans a few days ago, I'm pretty sure this won't get slashdotted. :)

--
everyday is another shooter.
1. Re:Bittorrent Scans by kagaku · 2004-10-06 07:48 · Score: 1
  
  Ugh.. Next time I'll click preview and actually try the link; it seems they block 3rd party sites from downloading torrents via direct links. Here's a link that'll work:
  
  http://www.outrigged.com/misc/HL2Review.torrent
  
  --
  everyday is another shooter.
2. Re:Bittorrent Scans by Perky_Goth · 2004-10-08 11:05 · Score: 1
  
  yep, suprnova apparently got pissed at sites like bitoogle.
You miserable git by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 08:51 · Score: 0

Sorry, sorry.

You miserable, whinging git
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by focitrixilous+P · 2004-10-06 09:21 · Score: 2, Insightful

Face it, the Half Life franchise is well worth Half-Life 3. I think the big companies may go down in DRM flames, but somewhere, someone will make video games. Indie gaming is the future! Look how well it worked for music!

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SAILING MISHAP
if Valve sends me an advance copy of HL2 by WormholeFiend · 2004-10-06 10:51 · Score: 1

I can guarantee them a 100% double plus good review.
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-06 15:03 · Score: 2, Interesting

What a load of sentimental bullshit. For the last couple of years game publishers have been obsessed with just making a good looking game but now that the technology is there they can focus on improving story lines.

Personally I am looking forward to Civ 4, AOE 3, maybe Dungeon Siege 2, KotOR 2, maybe Sid Meiers Pirates.

And I really don't see how the pirating and anti-piracy moves has done anything to the game. If anything the game industry has been pretty sedate compared to some other software companies (i.e. Intuit).
Re:Play it, enjoy it, savour it. Games may never g by HunterWare · 2004-10-07 02:48 · Score: 1

Not to mention GTA:San Andreas and Halo2....