"The best game of 2004, no doubt."

Half Life 2

“For many, the original Half Life is considered one of the best First Person Shooters ever. It was a great game that made the genre go leaps and bounds. The weapons, the characters, the plot, and most importantly, the gameplay. Now, many years after the original one of the most highly anticipated games of 2004 arrives. Does it live up to the expectations? Oh yes.”

Story
I'll take it that most of you have played Half Life so know the basic plot, a man called Gordon Freeman goes to work one day and after a terrible disaster aliens invade the research labs. It's up to you as Gordon Freeman to save the day. After killing the alien that was controlling the Vorgiuants, Gordon is sent to City 17 by the mysterious G-Man. On arriving he is hunted by the Combine (The enforcers of the city) and basically becomes an enemy of the city. Without ruining the rest of the story you too like Freeman have no idea what's really going on. You can choose to talk to the NPC's and discover the past but it's really up to you. Along the way your regroup with some familiar faces and a few new additions to the cast.

Gameplay
Simply amazing. While the game seems like an updated version of Half Life, the new enhancements are brilliant. The physics engine is one of the best in a game of this type yet. For example, you knock a barrel over; it will roll and fall just as it would in the real world. Enemies too, have rag doll physics so when they are shot; they roll and slump as they would in real life.

The beginning of the game is you're alone, with a pistol being hunted by the Combine. Nothing new, after this you will find a hovercraft which changes the gameplay so much, you are now chased and hounded by gunships while you speed down canals and take out the Combine. After this, you are given the legendary “Gravity Gun”, basically this item can pick up most objects and fire them in any direction, another brilliant way the physics are shown off. This gravity gun acts as a default weapon when you run out of ammo. Pick up a barrel, fire at the enemies. It never gets old. After this you are given a car which fitted machine gun, when that begins to get the norm you are given a squad to take care of, then finally the finale which I shall not spoil.

Whether the object is to clear out a spooky building infested with zombies, or to charge across a town square and take down a Strider (Huge walking alien) the game allows you to complete it in various ways. Low on ammo? Pick up some bricks and hurl them at the enemies. Enemies storming the room? Use their own mines against them. There is just so many ways to accomplish tasks. The only downside I can see is that HL2 was a lot easier to complete than the past game. Maybe it was because I had so much fun playing it?

Graphics
One of the best looking games I've played. The faces, the guns, the locations, the enemies all look fantastic and even I don't have that much of a decent computer compared to other people. As well as the amazing graphics there is no real slowdown, the loading times of some levels can be a bit slow but as for the game itself it runs a decent pace all the time. Another neat touch is the fact the game keeps track of every bullet decal, unlike other games that after so many rounds they will begin to disappear.

Controls
The standard FPS controls are here, mouse click to fire, right button for secondary fire and WASD to move. I had no problem with the controls; all did the job just fine. Aiming with the mouse was easy. I believe they can be customised as well.

Sound
One of my favourite parts of the game. The sound. If you hear the pant of a zombie coming from the right, the zombie is hiding in the dark on the right. The headcrabs edging closer have the same scary sound each time. The gunshots in the distance have this distorted effect that simply makes the world feel “real”. Put it this way, the sound has been done very well even if they do use many of the effects out of the previous game.

Replayability
The game can be completed fairly quickly, maybe it's because I spent so much of my free time on it. I had it complete within a week. There is only two times when I can think of when I was stuck and the game moves at a fast pace. Saying that I cannot wait to replay through it again, simply for the classic moments that never get old.

Multiplayer
I never got the game for the multiplayer, I like console gaming much more than PC gaming, but after being blown away by HL I couldn't wait for the console version so I got hold of a copy. There is a Half Life 2 multiplayer mode and Counter Strike Source depending on what version you have. I'm not a fan of either so I can't really comment but they do add to the replayability of the game.

Overall
Simply put it as this is the best game of 2004. Every level you play there will be something that will amaze you. Even on your second play through. There is so much to comment about this game that I could go on for hours. If you have a decent (Ish) PC, then you NEED this game.

Rent or Buy?
Buy this game as soon as possible. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

''Roll on Half Life 3"

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/04