Half-Life vs Half-Life 2

[Evo]

Over on Rock, Paper, Shotgun Alec Meer has written an interesting little piece explaining why he prefers Half-Life to Half-Life 2. It is a very interesting piece, read this little snippet:

Oddly, I find HL a much more convincing journey too. Being trapped underground excuses the linearity, while HL2’s more open topography requires more uncomfortable compromises such as being unable to smash through the thin wooden fences throughout Ravenhom. (For all its spooky atmosphere, Ravenholm was the one element of HL2 I actively disliked. It was shooting for the sort of setpiece-based diversity HL1 does so well, but it felt so ghost train-contrived, especially in the maze-like layout of the level).

Personally I am with Alec, while Half-Life 2 was great from a critical perspective I much preferred the original game to play. Check out what he has to say and tell us what you think about this highly controversial issue.

[Kamikazie]

You know what I would like? HL on the HL2 engine.

I just came.

[Iron_cube]

The author appears to have played Half-Life Source, instead of HL1, judging from the screenshots. The outdoor areas have new skyboxes which make the areas huge, I think it's flawing his statements.

Originally Posted by Kamikazie

You know what I would like? HL on the HL2 engine.

I just came.

It's called Black Mesa Source.

[highlander]

I liked HL over HL2

[Lobster]

Isnt this just a case of not making sequals to great things though, I mean, take Bioshock for instance, its a great game that alot of people have alot of respect for, but they talk about making it into a Trilogy, even though they are destined to never live up to the first.

[Kamikazie]

Originally Posted by Iron_cube

It's called Black Mesa Source.

This is true...

/me goes to steam to play

[Evo]

Originally Posted by Iron_cube

The author appears to have played Half-Life Source, instead of HL1, judging from the screenshots. The outdoor areas have new skyboxes which make the areas huge, I think it's flawing his statements.



It's called Black Mesa Source.

I honestly doubt Alec wouldn't have played the very original game, he is a games journ

[Iron_cube]

Yeah, I just found it weird he'd use HLS screens for his article

[Samon]

I pretty much disagree. Half-life 1 is such a chore to play through these days. It's wildly inconsistent with dragged-out, mundane stretches of gameplay and whole chapters that are utterly pointless in the long run.

Half-life 2 has a greater degree of consistency, complexity and depth, and is also much more fun to play through than its forerunner.

[delusional]

Half life 2 needed more bosses like the tentacle in half life.

[Barnz]

Half-Life, because of many reasons.

[Mikael Grizzly]

Originally Posted by Samon

I pretty much disagree. Half-life 1 is such a chore to play through these days. It's wildly inconsistent with dragged-out, mundane stretches of gameplay and whole chapters that are utterly pointless in the long run.

Half-life 2 has a greater degree of consistency, complexity and depth, and is also much more fun to play through than its forerunner.

Except HL1 gives off a survival vibe, whereas HL2 does not.

In terms of atmosphere, I prefer HL1.

[Barnz]

Dark humour, something Half-Life 2 doesn't have.

[Mikael Grizzly]

And of course there are the setpieces. HL2 has its Striders, but HL1 has the tentacle beast. The former are an incredible sight, heavy with menace and the defining statement on how the Combine manage to keep Earth in check. But once you fight them, they become just another enemy with so many hitpoints, and even worse the way to take ?em down involves a magic box of infinite rockets. The Tentacle beast though ? that you can?t fight. You can distract the stupid blind thing by lobbing grenades, but you can?t hurt it. Able to kill you in a single strike and fearsomely fast for something so huge, it?s an unforgettable monster.

And this.

[PaoloM]

Originally Posted by Mikael Grizzly

Except HL1 gives off a survival vibe, whereas HL2 does not. In terms of atmosphere, I prefer HL1.

You got it.
HL1 = alone in a tale of mistery
HL2 = guerrilla man (but the first chapter is thrilling)
I love both, but HL1 has more magic and I played it in 2007. OK, it was HLS but I am talking about mood, not graphics.