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Forums - PC Discussion - 10 reason half life 2 is one of the best games ever

Senlis said:
vlad321 said:
Peterisyum said:
i would never consider half life 2 a FPS more of a FPA, there originally was no multiplayer it was a mod added later. its like calling mp3 a fps. its control design is very similar, but the content is very different.

 

I'm trying to see how you could equate HL2 to Corruption, but I'm sorry, you'd need to explain better. The two aren't even remotely similar outside the first person perspective.

When you are talking about genres, it is mainly a matter of perspective. For example: We typically refer to games that have complicated character stats and experince systems as a Role Playing Game (RPG). However, in almost every game you play you are playing the role of somebody. Therefore, Call of Duty 4 is a Role Playing Game. So is Grand Theft Auto. In Quake III, I decide that going up high is not wise as it is more likely I will be killed. I can now call Quake III a strategy game.

We therefore categorize games into genres to describe what the game is like. FPS implies that the focus on the game is running around and shooting things. Games like these tend to be more action oriented and multiplayer based such as Quake III. FPS has a large emphasis on the shooting part. FPA (First Person Adventure) implies that the focus of the game is having an adventure. Couldn't really find a better way to describe this, maybe: completing a set of objectives that span a large, open world where there are many logical and environmental obsticals to overcome (even if it is linear, as long as it feels you are physically going from one spot to another). FPA tends to be single player based.

HL2 and Corruption are vary different. Just like how there are a bunch of different RPG and RTS games. But, according to my views outlined above, both HL2 and Corruption fits the FPA mold better than FPS.

 

 

This is making me feel old!

FPS meant single player, first person perspective with a gun - i.e Doom, Half Life, etc.  Its only more recently (from my aged point of view) that FPS has become so linked to MP (not that coop and MP weren't there from the start on PC).  In fact I think an earlier comment implied FPS meant online MP only with FPA = offline SP.  Funnily enough for me FPS still means SP with MP as a great add-on to have fun with your friends with when you're not focused on the SP campaign.

 

 



Try to be reasonable... its easier than you think...

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i`m currently playing the first one and i absoluotley agree with you!



N64 is the ONLY console of the fifth generation!

bet with *no one yet* that the combined first week of Monster Hunter 3 in america and europe will be 600k or more! winner changes looser sig and avatar for two months!

reminds me that I need to play the episodes....



OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Meh, the first one is the best.



HL2 + episodes = the only game I can play eternally !



 

Evan Wells (Uncharted 2): I think the differences that you see between any two games has much more to do with the developer than whether it’s on the Xbox or PS3.

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Reasonable said:

 

This is making me feel old!

FPS meant single player, first person perspective with a gun - i.e Doom, Half Life, etc.  Its only more recently (from my aged point of view) that FPS has become so linked to MP (not that coop and MP weren't there from the start on PC).  In fact I think an earlier comment implied FPS meant online MP only with FPA = offline SP.  Funnily enough for me FPS still means SP with MP as a great add-on to have fun with your friends with when you're not focused on the SP campaign.

 

 

I think Goldeneye was the last FPS game that was geared towards SP but also had great MP.

 




 

Senlis said:
vlad321 said:
Senlis said:

When you are talking about genres, it is mainly a matter of perspective.  For example: We typically refer to games that have complicated character stats and experince systems as a Role Playing Game (RPG).  However, in almost every game you play you are playing the role of somebody.  Therefore, Call of Duty 4 is a Role Playing Game.  So is Grand Theft Auto.  In Quake III, I decide that going up high is not wise as it is more likely I will be killed.  I can now call Quake III a strategy game.

We therefore categorize games into genres to describe what the game is like.  FPS implies that the focus on the game is running around and shooting things.  Games like these tend to be more action oriented and multiplayer based such as Quake III.  FPS has a large emphasis on the shooting part.  FPA (First Person Adventure) implies that the focus of the game is having an adventure.  Couldn't really find a better way to describe this, maybe: completing a set of objectives that span a large, open world where there are many logical and environmental obsticals to overcome (even if it is linear, as long as it feels you are physically going from one spot to another).  FPA tends to be single player based.

HL2 and Corruption are vary different.  Just like how there are a bunch of different RPG and RTS games.  But, according to my views outlined above, both HL2 and Corruption fits the FPA mold better than FPS.

 

 

By your definition DOOM is also an FPA then, no? HL is no more an FPA than DOOM or Quake,

DOOM:

1) There is no open world.  You go from one level to the next.  The overworld map is just a picture to make you feel that you are going from one area to the next.

2) There are no logical or environmental obsticals to overcome.  Just colored doors.

3) The emphasis on the game is in shooting aliens, nothing else.

4) Repetitive gameplay that is better geared towards multiplayer.

Now you may be talking about DOOM3.  In that case, change #1 to open world.

HL2:

1) The world is open, even if you have to travel in linearly.

2) Many puzzles to overcome.

3) The emphasis is on completing the objective.

4) More varied environment for single player.

HL2 is more of an FPA than DOOM.  I don't know if I am describing it very well.  Just look how boring and repetitive DOOM3 is on single player.  That is because they tried to take FPS rules and turn it into a single player game.  It ends up being one room after another of "walk in and shoot stuff".  HL2 varies it up much more and turns it into more of an adventure (<--key word).

Like I said before, FPS and FPA are loosly defined.  I don't see why you would insist HL2 is not an FPA since it is the emphasis on adventure that made it a great single player game.

 

I'm pretty sure DOOM couldn't have had better puzzles other than find the key and figure out how to get to that one platform, given the technology. So for it's time it too was an FPA. Same with quake, there was a lot of jumping puzzles. Also it wasn't on shooting aliens, it was to press the EXIT button or switch, and figuring out how to get to the keys that enable you to do so.

And no, HL2 world was NOT open. Also I the tech actually allowed something other than jumping to be considered a puzzle. Removing the ridiculous advancement in tech, DOOM and HL2 are basically the same. DOOM3 was very adventurous in itself, atmosphere it set up was amazing and traversing the dead halls of the UAC base was definitely a special feeling. Zelda is an adventure, Metroid is an adventure, HL is not.



Tag(thx fkusumot) - "Yet again I completely fail to see your point..."

HD vs Wii, PC vs HD: http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=93374

Why Regenerating Health is a crap game mechanic: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=3986420

gamrReview's broken review scores: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=4170835

 

vlad321 said:

I'm pretty sure DOOM couldn't have had better puzzles other than find the key and figure out how to get to that one platform, given the technology. So for it's time it too was an FPA. Same with quake, there was a lot of jumping puzzles. Also it wasn't on shooting aliens, it was to press the EXIT button or switch, and figuring out how to get to the keys that enable you to do so.

And no, HL2 world was NOT open. Also I the tech actually allowed something other than jumping to be considered a puzzle. Removing the ridiculous advancement in tech, DOOM and HL2 are basically the same. DOOM3 was very adventurous in itself, atmosphere it set up was amazing and traversing the dead halls of the UAC base was definitely a special feeling. Zelda is an adventure, Metroid is an adventure, HL is not.

according to Webster, an adventure is

1 a: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

therefore, HL2 is an adventure.

 




 

Senlis said:
vlad321 said:

I'm pretty sure DOOM couldn't have had better puzzles other than find the key and figure out how to get to that one platform, given the technology. So for it's time it too was an FPA. Same with quake, there was a lot of jumping puzzles. Also it wasn't on shooting aliens, it was to press the EXIT button or switch, and figuring out how to get to the keys that enable you to do so.

And no, HL2 world was NOT open. Also I the tech actually allowed something other than jumping to be considered a puzzle. Removing the ridiculous advancement in tech, DOOM and HL2 are basically the same. DOOM3 was very adventurous in itself, atmosphere it set up was amazing and traversing the dead halls of the UAC base was definitely a special feeling. Zelda is an adventure, Metroid is an adventure, HL is not.

according to Webster, an adventure is

1 a: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

therefore, HL2 is an adventure.

 

So is DOOM so is Quake so is Killzone so is anything "hardcore." In fact, FPS as a genre doesn't exist.



Tag(thx fkusumot) - "Yet again I completely fail to see your point..."

HD vs Wii, PC vs HD: http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=93374

Why Regenerating Health is a crap game mechanic: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=3986420

gamrReview's broken review scores: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=4170835

 

Barozi said:
@tmbh
There is already a version 9.51

http://www.hlportal.de/?site=files&do=showfiles&cat_id=87
Well this is a German site, but I'm sure you'll find the download button

 

That Cinematic mod is cool!  Runs fine so far on my rig @ 1920x1200 with everything on high etc.

Load the original game first then the new to compare.

That new 9.51 patch adds some new skins to some of the characters which changes them a bit too much for me (based on the pictures I have not downloaded and installed that patch)

Some of the new music is from The Dark Knight, works quite well.  Put a smile on my face!

Gonna have the do a complete play through. AGAIN!