It's times like these that remind us just how old Half-Life 2 actually is. A man by the name of Filip Victor (seriously, great name) has been working hard on bringing the improved visual fidelity of the Source engine as seen in Episode Two back into the game that will seemingly never die.
Should you decide upgraded graphics are a necessity for your 30th play through of Half-Life 2, you can attempt to get the required files from this thread. Basically, you'll come out with the game looking comparable to the officially updated HL2 found in The Orange Box on Xbox 360.
That means improved lighting (yes, HDR), tweaked models and textures, plus 32 glorious Steam Achievements. The video up there conveys the ever-so-slight changes, which are easier to spot when compared side by side with the original, unaltered game.
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I much prefer the massive overhaul by another modder that enhances textured, extends view distance and generally makes the game look like a new release.
Anyone ever hear of Fakefactories Cinematic mod. has done all this before. With HDR and replaced all textures and replaces the old soundtrack.
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I wish valve had just updated all the pre-episode 2 games after releasing the orange box like they said they would. Since most of episode 1 is underground, those dynamic flashlight shadows would have been nice. Isn't the work already done since they updated the Xbox versions? Bah.
In any case, here's to hoping the 4-year dev time for episode 3 means a major Source Engine overhaul.
Fakefactory sucks, with its lame models and music douchefaggotry.
This mod here basically ports HL2 to the 2007 edition of Source. It features everything from motion blur and flashlight shadows to the FOV slider.
The only problem is that the new models don't use the original HL2 animations, so many, uh, "cutscenes" will be altered. This will be fixed, there's no doubt.
@Sirkickasalot I will respectfully disagree with your lack of attention to detail appreciation, and lack of noticing that they are basically the same but one has 9 gigs of texture upgrades with all the things that this mod does but also if you notice a majority of those achievements are things that happen by default by just completing the game which is rather pointless. Now I will agree that the whole package seems to focus a little to much on the model upgrades of Alex which I feel is a little unnecessary. To that same degree I offer you a bag of fresh dicks to feast upon with your utterly worthless opinion.
As previously stated: Fakefactory's Cinematic Mod easily beats every other Graphics Mod für Half Life 2.
By now I refuse to play the original one, because I can't stand the original graphics any more. It just looks so much better.
I don't know guys. Seems to me this mod doesn't so much boost the graphics but simply makes the sun shine brighter. I guess I'll have to experience this one for myself.
Fakefactory gives HL2 a new "darker" (read: shitty), "minimal" and "edgy" look. It modifies many maps and assets in completely idiotic ways - who the hell would like to play the beach assault from the second half of the campaign at sunset? Excuse me for wanting to play what is just an UPDATE that doesn't fuck up with anything else instead of a giant conversion in the vein of Stalker's OL.
Additional eye candy is good until it RUINS THE STYLE of what it upgrades. The artistic direction of FF is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I don't like it, so I embrace this mod.
And at least this one is tested and supported, unlike the non-homosexual version of FF, and its creator is not a 43-years old perv that doesn't take any criticism well.
FF is good as a tech-demo and novelty item, but it changes the core game way too much.
Well its good that this was made, since Valve said they'd get this finished like someone else mentioned, but you know, Valve time is a strange concept.
@Corny As Hell
"I will respectfully disagree . . ." ". . . I offer you a bag of fresh dicks to feast upon with your utterly worthless opinion.
Huh...
To get in on the Fakefactory Raegwar, I checked out some pictures of the mod (had never heard of it before), and found the majority of the photos to be of the new (eyeshadow'd? Come on) Alyx model in just about any variation of tops that looked about half-finished. Very practical for starting a revolution, I must say.
While I'll admit that some of the texture upgrades are neat, I think a lot of the people espousing its merits probably couldn't really see them with all the bust in the way.
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Contest:
3:30 PM on 01.06.2010
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This is nice though.
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In any case, here's to hoping the 4-year dev time for episode 3 means a major Source Engine overhaul.
This mod here basically ports HL2 to the 2007 edition of Source. It features everything from motion blur and flashlight shadows to the FOV slider.
The only problem is that the new models don't use the original HL2 animations, so many, uh, "cutscenes" will be altered. This will be fixed, there's no doubt.
By now I refuse to play the original one, because I can't stand the original graphics any more. It just looks so much better.
Thanks for the Heads Up Jordan
Additional eye candy is good until it RUINS THE STYLE of what it upgrades. The artistic direction of FF is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I don't like it, so I embrace this mod.
And at least this one is tested and supported, unlike the non-homosexual version of FF, and its creator is not a 43-years old perv that doesn't take any criticism well.
FF is good as a tech-demo and novelty item, but it changes the core game way too much.
I've seen Fakefactory's Cinematic mod, it is a nice tech demo, but dang, you have to have a GOOD PC setup to even run it.
If I ever can get a better PC, I may have to check this one out...
"I will respectfully disagree . . ." ". . . I offer you a bag of fresh dicks to feast upon with your utterly worthless opinion.
Huh...
To get in on the Fakefactory Raegwar, I checked out some pictures of the mod (had never heard of it before), and found the majority of the photos to be of the new (eyeshadow'd? Come on) Alyx model in just about any variation of tops that looked about half-finished. Very practical for starting a revolution, I must say.
While I'll admit that some of the texture upgrades are neat, I think a lot of the people espousing its merits probably couldn't really see them with all the bust in the way.