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Leisher 
Top 3%, yo.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2008,07:08 |
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Warning!! I will avoid any major spoilers for Episode 2, but there will be spoilers for Episode 1.
Episode 2 picks up right where Episode 1 left off with Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance pulling themselves out of the wreckage of the train. With the Combine actively searching for them, they decide to head to White Forest, a military base/research facility for the rebels. Almost immediately things go wrong...
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 assumes that you have played the other games because it isn't shy about throwing stuff at you right out of the gate. Actually, it's quite well paced in the way they give you a refresher on movement and your gravity gun while throwing action at you.
Of the enemies that are thrown at you, 4 are brand new to the HL universe. Three of the new enemies are Antlions. One is little more than characterization and a good excuse for light (Antlion larva, which can't even attack you, so I guess it's not fair to call this one an enemy), another will annoy the shit out of you almost immediately (in a good way), and the third (without spoilers) you probably saw in the trailer. The other new enemy is a new Combine "mini-me" version of a Strider called a Hunter.
Another enemy that is featured here is one that has been seen before, but that you might not remember. I won't spoil too much about it, but it really moves itself into center stage.
The action throughout is very fast paced with short intervals that allow you to catch your breath. Each location seems to be different in the way you need to play through it and the enemies you face. The endgame in particular is easily one of the best endgames for an FPS ever. It's a smartly designed ending without being anti-climatic in terms of enemies or having some "super enemy".
The storyline here is quite impressive. Without spoiling anything, let me just say that this is Half-Life's "The Empire Strikes Back".
From start to finish, the storyline flows nicely and does more to advance the overall Half-Life plot than Episode 1 did. I was actually quite shocked with how much of the Half-Life story was told in this episode. you'll see the vast majority of the major players, including a heart to heart with the G-Man.
If you've played the Half-Life games, then you need to pick this one up. If you haven't, why not? There is no higher rated series of games. I think it's also safe to say that there is no better continuing story being told in the entire gaming world.
9 out of 10.
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| Post Number: 2
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GORDON
90%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 36125
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Jul. 09 2008,20:01 |
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I enjoyed it.
I'll probably replay the entire series when Ep3 is a month away, or so.
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I don't give a fuck!
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| Post Number: 3
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Leisher
Top 3%, yo.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jul. 10 2008,08:27 |
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I think playing the Half-Life series should be mandatory for anyone who owns a console or PC.
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