|
Tuesday 4 March, 2008
Gameplay 2:
Upon playing Half Life 2 for my second gameplay portion, I got to experience much more that the game had to offer. Later in the game, there are puzzles integrated into your somewhat linear path. This adds a new type of challenge to the game. Instead of the standard enemy-annihilation of shooters, the puzzles slowed gameplay down a bit and made you think both logically and creatively. This variety of challenge added depth to my gameplay experience.
I had a really fun time playing this game. Not only was the story interesting and level design intricate, the gameplay kept my attention and flowed very nicely. The game also came with Half Life 2 Deathmatch, which is a multiplayer version of the FPS that is played online. It is very fast-paced and exhilarating. This combination allows one to enjoy the physics engine and graphics of the Half Life 2 both in solo magic circle in the one-player campaign and also online with your peers.
Design:
Half Life 2 is an outstanding game in its design and set the parameter for quality in the gaming industry at the time. It uses the Source game engine, which is an adaptation of the Havoc physics engine. This allows game makers to create a highly interactive and complex gameworld that follows real-world physics more accurately than any game prior.
There are a variety of items lying around the gameworld in which one can interact with. For example, there are bottles and bricks on the floor of one alleyway that will smash into pieces if picked up and thrown or thrashed against a wall. Each has a unique sound effect and the broken pieces themselves can be moved around. This detailed aspect of the game really enhances its appeal.
On a related note, the game incorporates an innovative weapon: the gravity gun. This gun allows the player to attract loose items in the game (such as those mentioned above) and hurl them at enemies or other targets to complete puzzles. This can be very fun and effective. One example of utilizing this technique would be attracting a barrel of flammable liquid to you and then launching it towards an enemy, who would proceed to explode in flames. This interactivity goes great along with the intricate level design seen in the game. There are a variety of levels and beautiful scenery that make the player feel like they are traveling far distances to reach their goal. This game is hands-down a wonderful experience that should be shared by serious and casual gamers alike.
|
