I just don't like Half Life 2. It's close to sinful to call myself studying video games and call one the greatest video games of all time, bad. But, I'm being honest; I see the game more as a gigantic guilt trip than an actual game where I care about the characters or events.
For those who unfamiliar with Half Life 2, you play as Gordon Freeman. A scientist who has become a symbol of hope for a rebellion in the dystopian world you play in. First thirty minutes, I was completely on-board with the idea of playing as THE symbol of hope rather than just a follower. It's also well done because the character is completely silent the whole game. It allows you to interpret what is truly going on this man head. He could be doing these things because deep down he just wants to see this world reformed. Or, you can see him as a suppressed psychopath who has been misunderstood by the resistance and is too disconnected from his peers to tell them. It's actually a very neat character study and about what video games can truly tell and show that other mediums can't. I also love the idea of throughout your adventures you encounter random members of the resistance that just help you because they truly look up to you and realize you're all that's left of hope. It completely depicts the idea that everyone plays some kind of part in the world and affects everyone in the grand scheme.
So, if I'm praising this game so much, then why do I hate it? I hate it because in-between these interesting themes are repetitive shooting, punching, and climbing sections. The game's monsters are just comprised of zombies, the face clamps from Alien, and huge bee things. There are other types of monsters, but that's the kind of monsters/animals you'll be fighting.
The combines are, I'll admit, pretty darn cool. Their gas masks are sort of attached to their face and the way they sort of just charge at you with no concern for their life is quiet scary. Here's where I praise the game and even if I don't like the game I have to admit the shooting in this game is the greatest I've ever played. Your health doesn't recharge on its own so you constantly balance your cover so you're not pinned; so when a combine rushes you aren't swarmed. Your ammunition is also limited, so you find yourself ducking and then doing a cinematic jump off of something and just start shooting and the guys below. It just feels wonderful.
But now it's time to talk about the thing that truly degrades this game, your followers. Along your adventure, you pick up some allies who care, protect, and look up to you. You travel alongside these people and suddenly feel responsible for their lives. Then, the game decides to push every slice of guilt onto you because when you start to get hurt, your teammates will swarm in front of you to protect you. So, now you stand over the three bodies of your trusted companions and it's all your fault for your reckless behavior that they're dead, or because you just wanted to try something new or needed to get to a checkpoint fast because you needed to stop playing. It's a cheap cop out of trying to make you feel sorry for your fallen friends that just makes you feel like a bad person by the end.
I don't hate this game because of its story or characters but because there just came this time when I became bored and annoyed with the game. I realized I could've re-watched a timeless classic, read a book, or spend some time with my family. But, by the end, it's just a well made shooter with interesting themes but dastardly intent.
For those who unfamiliar with Half Life 2, you play as Gordon Freeman. A scientist who has become a symbol of hope for a rebellion in the dystopian world you play in. First thirty minutes, I was completely on-board with the idea of playing as THE symbol of hope rather than just a follower. It's also well done because the character is completely silent the whole game. It allows you to interpret what is truly going on this man head. He could be doing these things because deep down he just wants to see this world reformed. Or, you can see him as a suppressed psychopath who has been misunderstood by the resistance and is too disconnected from his peers to tell them. It's actually a very neat character study and about what video games can truly tell and show that other mediums can't. I also love the idea of throughout your adventures you encounter random members of the resistance that just help you because they truly look up to you and realize you're all that's left of hope. It completely depicts the idea that everyone plays some kind of part in the world and affects everyone in the grand scheme.
So, if I'm praising this game so much, then why do I hate it? I hate it because in-between these interesting themes are repetitive shooting, punching, and climbing sections. The game's monsters are just comprised of zombies, the face clamps from Alien, and huge bee things. There are other types of monsters, but that's the kind of monsters/animals you'll be fighting.
The combines are, I'll admit, pretty darn cool. Their gas masks are sort of attached to their face and the way they sort of just charge at you with no concern for their life is quiet scary. Here's where I praise the game and even if I don't like the game I have to admit the shooting in this game is the greatest I've ever played. Your health doesn't recharge on its own so you constantly balance your cover so you're not pinned; so when a combine rushes you aren't swarmed. Your ammunition is also limited, so you find yourself ducking and then doing a cinematic jump off of something and just start shooting and the guys below. It just feels wonderful.
But now it's time to talk about the thing that truly degrades this game, your followers. Along your adventure, you pick up some allies who care, protect, and look up to you. You travel alongside these people and suddenly feel responsible for their lives. Then, the game decides to push every slice of guilt onto you because when you start to get hurt, your teammates will swarm in front of you to protect you. So, now you stand over the three bodies of your trusted companions and it's all your fault for your reckless behavior that they're dead, or because you just wanted to try something new or needed to get to a checkpoint fast because you needed to stop playing. It's a cheap cop out of trying to make you feel sorry for your fallen friends that just makes you feel like a bad person by the end.
I don't hate this game because of its story or characters but because there just came this time when I became bored and annoyed with the game. I realized I could've re-watched a timeless classic, read a book, or spend some time with my family. But, by the end, it's just a well made shooter with interesting themes but dastardly intent.