So, anyone who listens to Podtoid will know that I played through Half-Life for the first time last week. Despite having a horrible time with the annoying game, its annoying enemies, the annoying intertia problems and some annoying platforming, I can't deny the game left an impression on me. I DID NOT WANT, but yet I became obsessed. So, I ordered The Orange Box and it is finally here.
I'm told it's superior in every way to the first Half-Life, so HL2 better not fucking let me down. Also, when my broadband comes back, I fully expect to see some of you cunts in Team Fortress plz.
Half life 2 is probably the best game ever. For reals. I also played through the first half life again a couple of weeks ago, and had the same problems(still enjoyed it though), be assured that half life 2 fixes everything. It's still got annoying enemies(hate manhacks and headcrabs with a passion), but they're annoying in exactly the right way. It's also got the best physics engine ever, everything just feels right, and the gravity gun is loads of fun. Also, even 3 years later, its still better looking than a lot of new releases.
Combined with TF2, portal and episodes 1-2, the orange box is possibly the best 50 quid or whatever you will ever spend on a game.
Hey, while we're on the topic . . . do I need to play the first Half-LIfe in order to understand what happens in all the HL2 installments? I haven't played a single game from the series, but I'm really itching to start playing the ones on the Orange Box. Will I ruin the whole experience if I don't play the first one?
Tristero: Nah, you don't need to have played HL1 really. I gave Jim a drunken ramble through the storyline the other week so that he could avoid playing it (I have the same issues with it that he now has), but it's all fairly basic. I'll PM you with a run through.
I will be surprised if you don't love HL2. Ravenholm, for me at least, is one of the most memorable segments I've played. You have a lot of very fun gametime ahead of you.
Trust me you'll enjoy it. Orange box was the first time I played a Half-life game and I loved it. The driving segments on the 360 are maddening though. I don't know about PC, but the vehicular controls are fucking terrible on 360.
Jimbo, you will like it brother...wait till you get to the Portals...those fucking things will drive you crazy and have you foaming at the mouth once you beat Portals then get to play the "Bonus" harder levels in Portal.
I wish I had yet to play HL2 for the first time, and the second time, and the third time, etc etc. Yes it's different and gets awesomer every time you play it.
See you in TF2 soon.... my name will be the one to the left of yours, with the bat icon in between!
Jim, if you don't like Half-Life 2, then you will officially be the most wrong person in the entire history of the universe. In fact, you will have hit the glass ceiling of wrongness, beyond what any man could hope to achieve. Wrong. Wrong. Anyway, I'll assume you haven't commented yet because you've been playing the fuck out of the game(s).
As for the story, it definitely (in my opinion) enhances the experience if you're aware of HL1's story, but it's not all that necessary. In many ways, Gordon Freeman knows just about as much as you do, when it comes to just what the fuck is going on in HL2.
Eh, I enjoyed Half-Life 1's storyline far more than Half-Life 2's. Not saying HL2 was bad, but HL1 was just my nostalgia childhood cake that I can never give up.
HL2 has a far superior voice acting script to it, and the visual quality of the game is of course superior to half-life 1.. but wait till black mesa source comes out (hl1 redone on the source engine http://www.blackmesasource.com Then you will see the true beautiful nature of Half-Life 1.
Btw, you need to play through opposing forces & blue shift right away. There is much to be explored in the half-life universe with those two expansions for half-life 1.
Jim, you should just get on Steam and buy the Half-Life anthology, which contains the two "episodes" dyslixic mentioned, as well as Half-Life and Team Fortress Classic. It's only $5 more than Half-Life is, on Steam. (Which means that it's $15. I don't know anything about Steam's UK pricing.)
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PC or 360 version?
Note I didn't ask if you got it on the PS3?
Have fun with that one!
Half life 2 is probably the best game ever. For reals. I also played through the first half life again a couple of weeks ago, and had the same problems(still enjoyed it though), be assured that half life 2 fixes everything. It's still got annoying enemies(hate manhacks and headcrabs with a passion), but they're annoying in exactly the right way. It's also got the best physics engine ever, everything just feels right, and the gravity gun is loads of fun. Also, even 3 years later, its still better looking than a lot of new releases.
Combined with TF2, portal and episodes 1-2, the orange box is possibly the best 50 quid or whatever you will ever spend on a game.
Soon you will love your companion cube too ^^
Jim if you want to get some games in sometime, hit me up on XBL man! UK gamers FTW!
ps. I dont actually play orange box, LoL, but anything else is cool.
tag - EGC veXed
Oh the wonders the box has to show you. You're now embarking on the best few months you've ever had in gaming, I guarantee it.
I'll be there
I'm still ploughing my way through HL2! Loved Portal, almost worth the £30 on PC just for that game!
*Listens to Still Alive......again*
I'm still waiting for "The Black Orange Box"! : (
Yeah, we'll be dealing with the fallout from the Portal explosion for a while. That game is one for the ages.
I've only gotten about two hours into HL2 and have certainly been enjoying it so far.
youve...never played half life 2? Not to mention portals or tf2? Youre in for a such a treat. Im actually nearly jealous of you... not quite :P.
Welcome back to XBL. Try TF2, it's pretty good if you play with a team you're familiar with.
(dtoid street teams is a grand idea)
Hey, while we're on the topic . . . do I need to play the first Half-LIfe in order to understand what happens in all the HL2 installments? I haven't played a single game from the series, but I'm really itching to start playing the ones on the Orange Box. Will I ruin the whole experience if I don't play the first one?
It must be hard using all those other buttons than in Dynasty Warriors...
Also, I've never played Dynasty Warriors.
Tristero: Nah, you don't need to have played HL1 really. I gave Jim a drunken ramble through the storyline the other week so that he could avoid playing it (I have the same issues with it that he now has), but it's all fairly basic. I'll PM you with a run through.
@ Tristero: Not if you read the plot section on the Wiki article, that pretty much covers everything you need to know.
I will be surprised if you don't love HL2. Ravenholm, for me at least, is one of the most memorable segments I've played. You have a lot of very fun gametime ahead of you.
Trust me you'll enjoy it. Orange box was the first time I played a Half-life game and I loved it. The driving segments on the 360 are maddening though. I don't know about PC, but the vehicular controls are fucking terrible on 360.
ugly phil you didn't delete all that! Fail! But funny...
Yeah HL2 is SOOO poines! And I will gun you down or get your back as a Heavy in TF2.
Ugly phil wins!
Also, HL2 is made of unicorns and rainbows. It will rock ur socks off
I want to play against the Sterling! We must play!
GT: BL00DW0RTH
I bought the whole Orange Box just to play Portal. The others are a bonus.
Jimbo, you will like it brother...wait till you get to the Portals...those fucking things will drive you crazy and have you foaming at the mouth once you beat Portals then get to play the "Bonus" harder levels in Portal.
I'm with nademagnet. we must play!
GT:asbestosSNDWICH
well, play at some point in time. I'm currently playing through Metroid prime 3 now, but if I'm going to be online it will be on Friday for FNF.
PS. MP3:Corruption is fucking orgasmic!
I wish I had yet to play HL2 for the first time, and the second time, and the third time, etc etc. Yes it's different and gets awesomer every time you play it.
See you in TF2 soon.... my name will be the one to the left of yours, with the bat icon in between!
Jim, if you don't like Half-Life 2, then you will officially be the most wrong person in the entire history of the universe. In fact, you will have hit the glass ceiling of wrongness, beyond what any man could hope to achieve. Wrong. Wrong. Anyway, I'll assume you haven't commented yet because you've been playing the fuck out of the game(s).
As for the story, it definitely (in my opinion) enhances the experience if you're aware of HL1's story, but it's not all that necessary. In many ways, Gordon Freeman knows just about as much as you do, when it comes to just what the fuck is going on in HL2.
Eh, I enjoyed Half-Life 1's storyline far more than Half-Life 2's. Not saying HL2 was bad, but HL1 was just my nostalgia childhood cake that I can never give up.
HL2 has a far superior voice acting script to it, and the visual quality of the game is of course superior to half-life 1.. but wait till black mesa source comes out (hl1 redone on the source engine http://www.blackmesasource.com Then you will see the true beautiful nature of Half-Life 1.
Btw, you need to play through opposing forces & blue shift right away. There is much to be explored in the half-life universe with those two expansions for half-life 1.
I'm torn between condemning you for not having played it yet, or praising you for finally starting.
You never mentioned whether or not you got it for PC or Xbox 360.
You'll have to join us in our FNF
Jim, you should just get on Steam and buy the Half-Life anthology, which contains the two "episodes" dyslixic mentioned, as well as Half-Life and Team Fortress Classic. It's only $5 more than Half-Life is, on Steam. (Which means that it's $15. I don't know anything about Steam's UK pricing.)