Half-Life 2: Episode 2
Game:
- Verdict: I.Am.Freeman!
- Fun Rating: Fun
- Players/Mode: Single-Player/Campaign
- Game Duration: 11 hours
- System: PC, Xbox, PS3
- Developer: Valve
- Website: http://orange.half-life2.com/hl2ep2.html
(from the game’s website)
“As Dr. Gordon Freeman, you were last seen exiting City 17 with Alyx Vance as the Citadel erupted amidst a storm of unknown proportions. In Episode Two, you must battle and race against Combine forces as you traverse the White Forest to deliver a crucial information packet stolen from the Citadel to an enclave of fellow resistance scientists.”
Brain:
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Would I play this again? | X | |
| Would I play the sequel to this game? | X | |
| Would I recommend this game? | x | |
| Was the story good? | X | |
| Was the music good? | X | |
| Were the graphics good? | X | |
| Was this game offensive? | X | |
| Was this game difficult? | X | |
| Was this game frustrating? | X | |
| Was this game worth your time? | X | |
| Was this game worth your money? | X |
Spew:
What the game gets right
The script was terrific, the story picked back up superbly, and the soundtrack was just as fantastic as Half-Life 2 (if only the music would play for the entire battle or level instead of some predetermined time).
The driving was fun and the encounters were exciting and nicely balanced. Once again the Valve-ian developers have succeeded in making me care about computer AI in a scripted world.
What the game gets wrong
Achievements. Now, I agree that in some respect achievements (mini goals that the game tells you about as you accomplish them) are fun to go for and this would be one of the things that is actually a nice, but unnecessary, addition to the game. But, there’s no way to turn off the notification. It gets a little jolting as one moment I’m racing up the mountain, desperately trying to drive this beast of a car in a fury to save the world and the next I’m sitting at my computer, playing a game, mentally checking off little progress indications. By all means keep the achievements, just let me have the option of hiding the notification.
And while we’re on the subject of discontinuity and picking nits, if the script is designed to make me hurry off to the next area, please cause something bad to happen if Gordon starts taking his time to search bodies, throw things at houses, or stand around naval gazing. Is time of an essence or not?
Sum it up
While the game itself wasn’t frustrating, playing it on a laptop is since the graphics capability just isn’t there (as is the case with the majority of games out there).
Where Episode 1 was found wanting (slog slog slog your way out of the city), Episode 2 made up for in spades. I’m excited again to become Dr. Gordan Freeman, fearful for the fate of those in the Resistance and, in general, really looking forward to the next one.
In closing, here’s my favorite quote of the game (which completely describes my play style):
“What pit would be complete without a Freeman climbing out of it?” Indeed.
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Rate this Game
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4)
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