Anyone Not Played Half Life (the original)? [Archive]

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 10:04 AM

I'm about half way through the original Half Life for the 3rd or 4th time, and if you have not played it, you should give it a peak. Especially if you like shooters, a most outstanding solo survival setting, a viable gaming experience even 10 years after the original release, and one of the most influential games in video gaming history (my opinion).

At the Black Mesa Research Institute, a little experiment goes awry opening a dimensional riff, allowing bunches of aliens to fall through. Priority one becomes escaping the facility alive as you crawl though tunnels, access ducts, the underbelly of this immense facility. Then you discover the military has been called in to "take care" of anyone exposed. And there seems to be some kind of sinister government involvement. It's still fun! :)

If you have access Windows, say via Bootcamp and install Steam, you can buy it for $10 or the entire original anthology for $15.

Wiki link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(series)).

Steam Link (http://store.steampowered.com/app/70/).

Schmittroth

Dec 10, 2009, 10:13 AM

I don't have windows. Not getting windows. Still haven't played HL. Still haven't beaten HL2 on my console. I've got my rut and I like it.

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 10:22 AM

I don't have windows. Not getting windows. Still haven't played HL. Still haven't beaten HL2 on my console. I've got my rut and I like it.

Well, you'll just miss out. :)

Regarding HL2- lack of interest? HL2, Episode 1 or 2? I assume Episode 1 and 2 were offered as $ downloadable content on both XB and PS.

capoeirista

Dec 10, 2009, 10:22 AM

I don't have windows. Not getting windows. Still haven't played HL. Still haven't beaten HL2 on my console. I've got my rut and I like it.

Buy a boxed copy cheap from ebay, then play it with crossover/parallels/etc... No windows required!:)

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 10:29 AM

Buy a boxed copy cheap from ebay, then play it with crossover/parallels/etc... No windows required!:)

As I recall it was released in the day before dedicated video cards were required so it should run well. In Windows world, I've verified it won't run on XP. Did not bother trying it on Vista. I first ran it in Windows 98.

whooleytoo

Dec 10, 2009, 10:48 AM

It's out on consoles too, isn't it? Probably can pick it up for a few euros.

Consultant

Dec 10, 2009, 10:49 AM

HL2 is part of orange box.

Would like to play it but it's really buggy on steam / Vista 64.

-----
Physics of HL1 just looked too dated when I tried to play it.

xlii

Dec 10, 2009, 10:53 AM

Dagless

Dec 10, 2009, 11:05 AM

I played it when it first came out but I can barely remember how it all plays out. Bought it on Steam for 99p a couple of years back, got a few hours in but then my HDD failed and I had to start from scratch :mad:. But yea it's a fantastic game. When I was last playing it I just couldn't stop thinking about how old it is, but still how playable and brilliant it is. Which usually isn't the case for old games.

Got the 2 expansion packs for it too but they're on hold till I finish the main game.

The series is just phenomenal. Hands down the best FPS series.

capoeirista

Dec 10, 2009, 11:39 AM

As I recall it was released in the day before dedicated video cards were required so it should run well. In Windows world, I've verified it won't run on XP. Did not bother trying it on Vista. I first ran it in Windows 98.

Yup it plays very smoothly on GMA950, and I have got it to work in XP. It really is great. Sadly though, there was a bug when I played it through Crossover Games, and it froze repeatedly for me, just as you jump through the portal to meet the final boss. I would have been upset, but I've beaten it once or twice over the last ten years... I really should get round to playing HL2 but my 1st gen Macbook isn't cutting it. Maybe when I upgrade my laptop next year I'll get a chance.

As I recall, the PS2 version had an extra campaign unreleased on PC (although it may exist in mod form), where you played two women scientists from Black Mesa, in a story parallel to Gordon's. The PS2 version requires patience however as loading times are terrible and the 'quicksave' is anything but....

On another note, I've never gotten Blueshift to work in crossover. YMMV.

charlesbronsen

Dec 10, 2009, 12:59 PM

Well, you'll just miss out. :)

Regarding HL2- lack of interest? HL2, Episode 1 or 2? I assume Episode 1 and 2 were offered as $ downloadable content on both XB and PS.

Is there an expansion pack to HL2 besides Lost Coast?

mkrishnan

Dec 10, 2009, 01:05 PM

I'll try it when it shows up on the iPhone. :p

SilentPanda

Dec 10, 2009, 01:07 PM

Is there an expansion pack to HL2 besides Lost Coast?

Lost Coast was more of a tech demo than an expansion. HL2 has episodes 1 and 2 out which are somewhat long (5-6 hours each) and episode 3 should come out... eventually...

sculfort

Dec 10, 2009, 01:58 PM

I would love to play... but sadly I get motion sickness after playing for about 5 minutes. It's not just half life, but any first person shooter where you see though the eyes of the player. I can only play the godlike games (starcraft, age of empires, civilization) where you look down on the action.

i can't blame my screen as I have a very nice 24 incher.

I get the same exact problem I really like these kind of games but have never been able to play more than 5 mintues without getting sick. That is our curse i guess.

txa1265

Dec 10, 2009, 03:40 PM

I'm about half way through the original Half Life for the 3rd or 4th time, and if you have not played it, you should give it a peak. Especially if you like shooters, a most outstanding solo survival setting, a viable gaming experience even 10 years after the original release, and one of the most influential games in video gaming history (my opinion).

I agree - I don't necessarily rate HL 1 or 2 as the absolute pinnacle of the FPS genre that some do (particularly #2), but they are *really* excellent games.

Earlier this year I replayed most of the 'class of 97 and 98' for shooters on my Netbook (for a series called 'netbook gamer' I'm doing at GearDiary)and it is amazing how well it has withstood the test of time in terms of gameplay.

shadowbird423

Dec 10, 2009, 04:15 PM

Lost Coast was more of a tech demo than an expansion. HL2 has episodes 1 and 2 out which are somewhat long (5-6 hours each) and episode 3 should come out... eventually...

Dont hold your breath untill late next year... At the earliest. :mad:

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 04:27 PM

It's out on consoles too, isn't it? Probably can pick it up for a few euros.

I'm referring to the original Half Life and I'm not sure if it came out on consoles. In Half Life you spend your time escaping the Black Mesa Research facility. In HL2, it's a brilliant shocker when you discover spoiler: the Earth was conquered by the aliens! :end spoiler and you spend your time escaping a European city. Episodes 1 and 2 are continuations of the story.

HL2 came out for both PS and Xbox I believe.

Dont hold your breath untill late next year... At the earliest. :mad:

I wonder what happened. Valve seemed to be chugging along quite nicely with their episodes.

Dagless

Dec 10, 2009, 04:35 PM

Lost Coast was originally a level from HL2 that was removed, Valve used it as a testing ground for new tech. It basically is a demo and not an expansion pack or anything.

I'm referring to the original Half Life and I'm not sure if it came out on consoles. HL2 came out for both PS and Xbox I believe.

I wonder what happened. Valve seemed to be chugging along quite nicely with their episodes.

The final stages of L4D1's development (since it was originally made by another studio), the continual TF2 updates, L4D2's accelerated development... I'd put the blame around there :o. And I don't think HL2 was released for the PS2, it made it to the Xbox and 360. HL1 was on the PS2, maybe Dreamcast too.
And it's not a European city, it's Russian ;) well from what I read years ago. Also: Why do all the best games start off with trains? HL1, HL2, FFVII. (don't even dare mention Max Payne and Blood 2 :p)

capoeirista

Dec 10, 2009, 04:46 PM

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 05:43 PM

So after posting earlier today I totally remembered about the fan remake of HL1.

http://www.blackmesasource.com/

Looks like it's been worked on for over 5 years though... I guess I wouldn't expect it anytime soon, although the forums on the site claim maybe next year...

Wow, I just played through all the levels the trailer at blackmesasource showed until you get outside. The human modeling is outstanding as compared to what I'm playing on Steam, (orig HL).

CylonGlitch

Dec 10, 2009, 05:59 PM

I'll go one step further. If you haven't played HL2, AND you have a steam account. PM me a reason why you deserve / want to play HL2. The one that I like the the best will get a free copy of HL2. I happen to have a gift code for it attached to my steam account, I can send it to anyone who I want. :D

Dagless

Dec 10, 2009, 06:03 PM

YanniDepp

Dec 10, 2009, 06:15 PM

I completed Half Life 2 last month. It's the best computer game I've ever played. I can't believe I haven't played it until now! We Don't Go To Ravenholm isn't a fun level to play late at night though :)

Now I'm playing my way through the first game. It's really great too, but I should have played them the other way round. HL2 is just more immersive. I love how you can hear the Combine soldiers' heart-rate flatline when you take them out :) And that Combine Dispatcher voice gives me the creeps (this voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II5q2iXauq0))

dukebound85

Dec 10, 2009, 06:15 PM

i havent

YanniDepp

Dec 10, 2009, 06:16 PM

Dagless

Dec 10, 2009, 06:53 PM

And that Combine Dispatcher voice gives me the creeps (this voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II5q2iXauq0))

Shes also the voice of Glados and the announcer in TF2. She gets around!

YanniDepp

Dec 10, 2009, 06:56 PM

Shes also the voice of Glados and the announcer in TF2. She gets around!

Isn't she a classical singer or something? She's great at voice acting anyway.

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 07:53 PM

I'm running the original Half Life on XP. I got it off Steam though, which is designed for XP - Seven.

Actually that's the Steam version that runs on XP. I could not get the original HL disk to install and run in XP. When I used my original serial number to register the game on Steam, it downloaded a complete fresh Steamizied copy. ;)

Cougarcat

Dec 10, 2009, 08:19 PM

Well the Black Mesa Source mod was supposed to come out this month, but it's been delayed a bit. Not that I'm surprised, but I'm holding off playing HL1 and I want to play it! :)

Huntn

Dec 10, 2009, 08:41 PM

Well the Black Mesa Source mod was supposed to come out this month, but it's been delayed a bit. Not that I'm surprised, but I'm holding off playing HL1 and I want to play it! :)

Oh, it's a mod? What game do you need to run it, HL2?

Cougarcat

Dec 10, 2009, 08:55 PM

Oh, it's a mod? What game do you need to run it, HL2?

Any Source game.

Beric

Dec 10, 2009, 09:12 PM

Big-time strategy game fan here. Never played HL. Mirror's Edge is the "shootiest" game I've ever played. Gets my heart beating, so pretty intense for me. :D

toolbox

Dec 10, 2009, 09:52 PM

I run mine on Xp too - I am mid way thought it too at the moment about my 5th time playing it. am just about to be teleported to Xen.

Good thing i have next week of work to play opposing force and blueshift

Zortrium

Dec 11, 2009, 11:16 AM

I picked up HL1 for $1 awhile back during a sale after having played through HL2 a couple times. I've got a saved game midway through but was never into it enough to finish it -- probably a combination of the old graphics and lack of epic HL2 style scripted sequences.

charlesbronsen

Dec 11, 2009, 02:33 PM

So in your folks opinions is HL2 episode 2 better than episode 1? Either way I must find the time to play Episode 2 as I really did enjoy the first one.

Dagless

Dec 11, 2009, 09:42 PM

So in your folks opinions is HL2 episode 2 better than episode 1? Either way I must find the time to play Episode 2 as I really did enjoy the first one.

The second one is much better IMO. The story really goes up a notch too.

Zortrium

Dec 12, 2009, 03:47 AM

Episode 1 had really great characterizations but relatively crappy gameplay, especially the second half (which was basically a big giant yawn before petering out on a lame-o final fight). Episode 2 didn't have the same kind of character interactions that made me go 'wow' but had much better gameplay and variety and probably the best wide-open combat arenas in the series (thinking of the White Forest Inn and the finale mostly).

Winni

Dec 12, 2009, 07:58 AM

As I recall it was released in the day before dedicated video cards were required so it should run well. In Windows world, I've verified it won't run on XP. Did not bother trying it on Vista. I first ran it in Windows 98.

You must have a different Half-Life than me, then. I've played Half-Life on Windows NT 4, Win 98, Win 2000, XP and Vista. Just stay up-to-date with the patches and make sure you have a compatible video driver - which is what you have to do for any PC game.

Anyway. I think the original Half-Life is the best computer game ever made.

Huntn

Dec 12, 2009, 09:15 AM

So in your folks opinions is HL2 episode 2 better than episode 1? Either way I must find the time to play Episode 2 as I really did enjoy the first one.

As a continuation of the story, I liked them both equally.

You must have a different Half-Life than me, then. I've played Half-Life on Windows NT 4, Win 98, Win 2000, XP and Vista. Just stay up-to-date with the patches and make sure you have a compatible video driver - which is what you have to do for any PC game.

Anyway. I think the original Half-Life is the best computer game ever made.

I'm pretty sure when I installed HL on my PC running XP I patched it up but could not get it to run. (It's been a while) If I could I'd much rather play the game outside of Steam. I agree it's the best solo shooter adventure game I've ever played.