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Wednesday 5 March, 2008
GAMEPLAY 2
The game got exponentially more intense as the levels advanced and Gordon gets closer and closer to the surface. The levels also got more complex and required an expanded sense of puzzle solving and incorporated both stealth and guns blazing approaches to getting through the levels. The weapons even got diverse, as I was able to use alien technology and some top-secret handheld teleportation devices. One level I was required to shoot down a helicopter with a laser guided missile from a recently acquired rocket launcher. I loved how the nature of the weapons themselves play a role in accomplishing the objectives. Well, there actually are no objectives - thats another very compelling aspect of Half-Life. Just as there is no cinamatics or cutscenes, not any voice acting on behalf of Gordon Freeman, there are no set objectives. This made the gameplay more realistic because in a real life scenario, you wouldn't have your work cut out for you so simply and it certainly wouldnt be written down for you. It also gave the game a sense of freedom, and the storyline had such an impact on the gameplay that I really felt like a fugitive scientist just trying to get out alive.
Some levels even take Gordon to the depths of space to annhilate the alien threat - each rendered hauntingly beautiful. Despite the limited graphics capabilities, the alien planet (Xen) has an immense sense of depth to the point of oblivion. The developers were incredibly successful in setting the tone for the game.
DESIGN
Half-Life is considered to be one of the best games of all time, for very apparent reasons after playing it through again. Gordon's identity is so mysterious that it becomes open-ended for the player - the lack of information about him leaves it open for my own imagination to take the role of Gordon Freeman. The storyline is also incredibly immersive - I can't help but think of how feasible the sequence of events is.
Half-Life raised the bar in terms of AI as well. Enemy soldiers work in teams and used what appeared to be real military tactics - flanking, taking cover, throwing grenades almost too accuratley. The aliens come in all shapes, sizes, and have a variety of killing styles. The scientists all have brainy personalities and give essential background information on whats going on. The audio component of the game is very effective in creating the fearsome and uncertain atmosphere of Black Mesa.
If I could change anything, I would want to give some kind of explanation why Gordon is so proficient in shooting, killing, and surviving. As dynamic and immersive as the game was, I never understood why a nerdy MIT grad could take out squads of Black Ops or mince giant alien spiders with a crowbar. For all the implications and little mentions in Half-Life to explain the enviornment and circumstances, this was the one aspect that had me stumped. But hands down, this is one of the best games I've ever played and would reccomend it to any gamer.
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