How would HL2 compare with MGS2?
 

I actually finished MGS2 like the night before first playing HL2. So its a bit of a natural reaction for me to compare.

What I found was that even though HL2 is superior to MGS in coding by far (i.e. lighting, physics engine, object detail) it was nevertheless less realistic. For instance, the guards seem to know where you are behind a wall or object no matter how hard you try to flank them on the other side. There were random instances where I walked up to a guard and he was looking the other direction, but its no something that I could have control on.

Another case is that there were a lot of details that were added in the relatively simple scripts of MGS2 (sneezing, gun point hold ups, guards taking a piss or just bludging) which adds to the realizm and maybe even replayability, whereas yet in the more powerful and efficient codes of HL2, things were just simple and straight foward - i.e. kill enermies in a single way, no other possiblites.

What I mean that HL2 could have is lets say you are in a rebel base, and people a briefing you a mission. If you use your gravity gun and smash up all the furnitures, then the A.I. could at least have some reactions to your actions. Or you could make noises by tapping on walls or using gravity gun to throw objects to divert the attentiond of guards, so you can safely progress through a point without killing anyone. Or maybe even listen to guards having conversations while hiding behind a wall.

Its just my opinion. I know HL2 was developed mainly with the MOD community and multiplayer in mind, but singleplayer would be a lot more replayable and fun if more time where spent adding alternate routes and realism details.

thats one reason why the MGS series are so good

but I think is just style of the developers

I really can't see the Combine pissing over walls ever being a part of the game. ;)

MGS is definitely my favorite series, best games of all time in my opinion. Technically HL2 is superior but the AI in MGS games is amazing. Even MGS2 has superior AI to HL2 and other games, and MGS3 is mindblowing because it's even more dynamic. Another clear advantage that MGS series has over all other games is in pure polish.

I like MGS better than HL, but they both have great attributes. Just depends on your style of play.

The AI in the MGS series is extremly simple.

We know your in this position and we are going to send a guy on a random path to search for you. And when the timer has run out we'll act like nothing happend.

agree with topic maker the attention to detail in mgs is mind-blowing,ben play mgs3 no more 15 feet cone vision and the ai in hl2 isnt better imo anyway than mgs2

When did HL became a stealth game?

Precisely, it's NOT.

Different type of game. MGS, i believe, focuses more on stealth then on pure action.

However, i did notice that the combine in HL2 do react to sound and can be snuck up on. I remember a part where a combine came outside to investigate, hit him with a radiator from the grav gun and his friend came running out.

I think they're two vastly different games that really shouldn't be compared. Half-Life 2 is primarily action/adventure and MGS2 and 3 are both more stealth style games. They've got very different premises and different areas of the game have to be made at different levels of quality because of that (as MGS needs top-notch AI, while HL2 needs generally great gameplay).

I'd have to agree that the games are too different. If MGS were a pure first-person shooter, you could slaughter everyone effortlessly.

Why are you comparing HL to a stealth game?

FFS, MGS3 doesn't come out over here till March, and to add insult to injury i'm going to new york before then, but I wouldn't be able to play a US copy :cry:

Are you joking? First of all the combat AI is incredible. In MGS2 it was impressive but in MGS3 you see squads of soldiers come in as reinforcements. They effectively flank you, find cover, know when to throw grenades, get injured and will actually leave the play area, if you shoot their radio they will find another one, they will recover another gun if they run out of ammo or you shot it out of their hands, etc. The AI is also affected by whether or not you blow up the supply post in the area, they fight differently if they're starved or low on ammunition. You will never see a group of soldiers walking to you or firing at you, the only time they're in the open is when the fight first begins, they shoot at you some and then run for cover. If there is no cover they go for tall grass and lay down. It's just so amazing. There is one time in MGS3 where you can fight two squads of 6 guards simultaneously on a mountain top, it's just breathtaking to watch them work.

AI is the one area where MGS stands tall above all other games.

The MGS series is probably the greatest videogame series I have ever played. It has something I look for in every game: A great story and amazing gameplay. HL2 fills the blocks for this too, but MGS takes it all.

Why are my comparing stealth game to HL2? Why would you call MGS a stealth game? Both games puts you in a similar position, you need to get past point A to point B without getting killed. It just so happens in HL2 your character can bit a lot more bullets from enermies, but it doesn't make both games dramatically different.
Besides my comparison concentrates not only on gameplay, but mainly on attention to game details, such as realism which HL2 should easily have more of than MGS2 given its superior code design and hardware.