GameTrailers - Level

Quote from Rick_D

b) anyone who dislikes hl2 dislikes videogames

Or just doesn't like HL2...

I don't dislike it, I just think it's overrated, HL1 is vastly superior.

The thing about HL2 is it was just as groundbreaking and excellent as HL1 was when it came out. I remember being repeatedly wowed by that game. Held up today it doesn't seem so special (although it remains an extremely robust game), but that shit was insane back in its day. Same can be said for HL1 — few gamers of today will see the big deal, but those of us who remember that first train ride in 1997 or whatever will never forget it.

Quote from Izuno

HL2 Ravenholm and U2 Train are definitely two great levels... but to add to that:From original Half-Life:

1) the dam level...wasn't there a helicopter? shit that was awesome

2) the underground area on the train tracks in the tunnels fighting the soldiers (hmm...might be vague description...been years since i last played)

3) the cliff level. wasn't much of an actual level but I found it cool and innovative at the time

But really the entire game was a giant lesson in level design. Not everything by itself was a work of art, but how it all fell together worked so well.

Oh shit did I just quote myself? Happens.

Anyway, I think Thrik and I agree on this one. What Valve understood was the use of 3D space to challenge the gamer without completely befuddling said gamer, nor spoonfeeding said gamer. Many games now lack that "creative spark" that the Half Life level designers had back in the mid-nineties.

Back in my day, we didn't rely on QTE as gameplay and that's the way we like it. And we gamed with no shoes in the snow, uphill, gravel...used leaves for toilet paper...

There was definitely an Apache on the dam level. What I always remember from HL first is Xen, I really, truly loved the shit out of this part of the game. The cliff section was pretty cool too, I wish it was a bit longer.

On to the HL/HL2 debate, I think I love them both as much. They are different in both gameplay and artistic direction, but they both gave me an intense gaming experience. I strongly disliked HL2 at first, but I have come to love it. I just wish it was more faithful to its original design though, that was way darker and more hostile. I always have stars in my eyes when I read passages from the Air Exchange or the original post-soviet, dark and vertical City 17 design.

Quote from 2d-chris

I didn't enjoy hl2 ... :santahurg:

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