No Half-life 2 Review Again In Gametm?

[squirtle]

the difference is that halo 2's story is donkey shit.

And HL2's is pure fucking Joyce isn't it.

Jesus.

[squirtle]

Hell, Farcry runs like shit on my machine, but I can see that it's a good game. but what the hey - it's rubbish on my PC so I only give it 4/10.

And why is that? Is it because your machine isn't up to the minimum spec? I'm geniunely curious here. If not, then your argument is a bit specious, really (i hope I've used the right word there ).

[oorbroon]

Actually, here's an interesting thing about the lateness/quantity of reviews.

Have you ever noticed how truly useless the multiformats really are in that they don't review every game that comes out? Edge, Games Master and Games TM all ignore the odd thing - a stray PS2 budget game, a minority PC game from Europe, all through laziness. They only look at the big hitters, such as the massively promoted games (hi there, EA/Ubisoft/Activision advertising spend) and the cult games that are interesting to hardcore readers or staff members. In fact, according to something that was in MCV a few weeks back, it's one of the single formats that has the most reviews per issue (on average, I think it was). So why do all GamesMaster, GamesTM and Edge miss out certain games? Is it space or laziness? I certainly would LOVE (honestly) a comprehensive magazine that reviewed every single PAL console and PC release it could get its hands on - and if they bothered to look at every game out there, they would be properly comprehensive.

[The Liberal Elite]

So I know what you are referring to, but holding that back for last 15mins of the game has to be one of the cheapest things I've witnessed. There was acres more opportunity to play with that in the first 95% of the game than what was offered to you in that last bit.

So, nyer.

it's not cheap at all! what would be cheap would be to give you that power from the beginning and just let you storm through everyone instead of having to pull back and consider what you're doing.

I mean, come on! at that point, it's the only thing you have and you're virtually invincible!

[oorbroon]

SPOILER TAGS.

[squirtle]

it's not cheap at all! what would be cheap would be to give you that power from the beginning and just let you storm through everyone instead of having to pull back and consider what you're doing.

I mean, come on! at that point, it's the only thing you have and you're virtually invincible!

So where's the challenge? Where?

Brave design by Valve to make you almost godlike at the end?

Or dull cop out where by you just want the damn thing to end because all the challenge has been removed?

Best bit of HL2 is the waterways section. It gave me everything I wanted. Great vehicle bit, tense on foot fighting, some decent puzzles, lush good looks and a real sense of doing something, of progressing. From then on in it just became a long, still good, trawl. I disagree with Edge's "perfectly paced" notion. It peaks at about a third of the way through.

[squirtle]

SPOILER TAGS.

We haven't said what were on about directly, though.

[The Liberal Elite]

And why is that? Is it because your machine isn't up to the minimum spec? I'm geniunely curious here. If not, then your argument is a bit specious, really (i hope I've used the right word there ).

it's a beefy little laptop, and just about ran it with everything on low, but there were some right spazzy glitches in it, like water disappearing and whole areas fuzzing about, which kinda ruined it for me. Far more annoying than a couple of seconds of jumping with HL2, anyway.

as for the story, well, horses for courses. I liked HL2's and can't wait for the third installment, where with Halo I couldn't give a shit. crap story, crap ending and shit teaser after the credits. If they hadn't made such a big thing about it on the making of DVD, I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but they went on and ON about how much work they'd done on it, and boy, did it not show at ALL.

[The Liberal Elite]

So where's the challenge? Where?

Brave design by Valve to make you almost godlike at the end?

Or dull cop out where by you just want the damn thing to end because all the challenge has been removed?

Click For Spoiler

It's all about the fact that the tables have been turned. it's the same reason I liked the ending of riddick - I don't see it as the challenge being removed at all, more a moment in the game where you're in charge for a change.

[squirtle]

Never saw the Halo 2 DVD. Halo 2 is redeemed, as was Halo 1, by the combat, which for me is the crux of why Halo 1 and 2 stand as the best FPS around at the moment. No other game does combat so well. Which is what I want from my FPS's.

Shame that your laptop can't run Far Cry though. Tis a good game. And believe me when I say that HL2 suffers from more than couple of seconds of jumping. I've said it before, but Anti Citizen One was barely playable.

[JohnC]

I suggest a new system whereby they come around your house and review the game's performance.

Then the following month, they put an excel spreadsheet on a disc with the results for each of the 30,000 computers with an average score which should be used as the final score for the game.

It's clearly the only way to be sure.

Hell, Farcry runs like shit on my machine, but I can see that it's a good game. but what the hey - it's rubbish on my PC so I only give it 4/10.

If a game doesn't run right on thousands of machines which are well above the specs, there is something wrong with it. I agree that in general problems don't make a game bad. HL2 is a very good game. But when it comes to technical problems on as large a scale as this has, it should be noted. Many games have lesser bugs noted. So why is HL2 above that?

All games will be rubbish on some PCs. But when a game runs rubbish on such a huge scale perhaps it should be a score-altering problem. It's like the game wasn't tested properly and as such wasn't finished properly.

[The Liberal Elite]

Never saw the Halo 2 DVD. Halo 2 is redeemed, as was Halo 1, by the combat, which for me is the crux of why Halo 1 and 2 stand as the best FPS around at the moment. No other game does combat so well. Which is what I want from my FPS's.

Multiplayer, maybe, but whilst we're on about the combat the single player was a borefest at times. I count about 5 levels duller than the library in their librariness. what about that one where you kept going down in that lift? fucking HELL!

[squirtle]

Click For Spoiler

It's all about the fact that the tables have been turned. it's the same reason I liked the ending of riddick - I don't see it as the challenge being removed at all, more a moment in the game where you're in charge for a change.

Click For Spoiler

That's a fair point. But with Riddick it was only temporary. And then you got set upon by about 5 guards when you had to get out of the Heavy Armour, or whatever it was called. I just think it could have been utilised better in a different area. Imagine the havok you could have caused in Ravenholme, or the waterways bit, or using it to knock the legs out of striders and the like. Just imagine how much more fun that could have been rather than dodging in and out of that underground bit and letting off the odd rocket.

[squirtle]

Multiplayer, maybe, but whilst we're on about the combat the single player was a borefest at times. I count about 5 levels duller than the library in their librariness. what about that one where you kept going down in that lift? fucking HELL!

The bit with the flood first appearing?

I loved that bit. It was just a constant onslaught. Loved it. I never really noticed any bit of Halo 2 where I thought, "God, this is boring." I was geniunely, genuinely enjoying every minute of it. I was a little disappointed up to the halfway mark that there had been nothing as open as AOTCR, but that all changed with the Library level with the Arbiter.

[strider]

I certainly would LOVE (honestly) a comprehensive magazine that reviewed every single PAL console and PC release it could get its hands on - and if they bothered to look at every game out there, they would be properly comprehensive.

Can you even comprehend how many games come out each month and how many staff you'd need to helm such a magazine

[Beertiger]

Don't get me wrong, HL2 is a cracking game. But it's not the be all and end all. The combat still sucks - It's just point and click and wait for them to fall over.

AH you've summed up my one problem with it in a nice concise paragraph.

[Jack]

it looks exactly the same as the first game.

Are we talking about Metroid Echoes or Half-Life: Source?

[Boyatsea]

Anyone else wanna argue that Edge might be disappearing up it's own arse again?

Yes and so close to the reshuffle. I think they're just trying to make up for treating PC gamers so poor over the years. Shame they're doing it in such an obviously obvious way.

Hey, here's an idea.. maybe they just.. wait for it..

.. liked Half Life 2!

[Hyperforce]

Why do some say this is the first time they've done this? Didn't the same happen with Sonic Heroes?

Good for them and after the Edge review I wouldn't be surprised if there's some fishy business going on. Half Life 2 isn't the be all and end all of gaming. The single player game is dull.

[Stolly]

Yeah it's almost like a PC game (finally) getting a 10 has upset one or two console gaming purists. Its been said before (following criticism of the original Halo 10 for example on the Xbox) its only their opinion.

[Hyperforce]

Imagine Edge not reviewing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas because of their little spat with Rockstar.

Yeah, Edge would just 'accidentally' give it a 6.

[Boyatsea]

Yeah, Edge would just 'accidentally' give it a 6.

Heheh.

See, an example of Edge-humour!

(Incidently, it was Grand Theft Auto III.. )

[Wallpaper]

Gamer didn't buy Zone when I was on staff, chum*.

To be honest, I still wouldn't mention them in a magazine I was running. I'm not even sure if Gamer mention them directly now. I'd imagine it's frowned upon, for exactly the same reasons I gave above.

Look at that: You have a dig at me and I furnish you with more pseudo-insider information about videogames magazines relationships. Am I not a cutie?

KG

right to clear up

I've nothing against yourself, its just future publishing. They just seem to want to own the video-games magazine publishing market, perfectly acceptable because after all they are a business out to make money, but instead of catering to all needs and wants, just making sure they're the only option( things like buying out everyone that actually puts up a fight, making their most independent magazine: Edge’s staff walk out because of something they wouldn’t comply with, and also how much of an influence did future have on Games tm not being invited to Valve for Half Life 2 reviewing?)

I apologise immensely for taking my annoyance out on yourself, tbh I’m actually a fan of your work and applaud you for such things as standing up to peoples' opinions of Deus-Ex IW and seeing through the initial mainstream paintjob that had been applied.

[squirtle]

Yes and so close to the reshuffle. I think they're just trying to make up for treating PC gamers so poor over the years. Shame they're doing it in such an obviously obvious way.

Hey, here's an idea.. maybe they just.. wait for it..

.. liked Half Life 2!

Boy At Sea in defending Edge shock!

I don't care if the game got a 10. Matters not a jot to me. What is more of concern is the only two articles in Edge this month to actually mention the mess of the installation through Steam and the stuttering are in Red Eye (who's views do not represent Edge) and Crashlander, a comic at the back.

GamesTM mentioned the shitty servers the month after they reviewed Burnout 3. This was a good thing to do. Surely Edge should have mentioned something about the stuttering seeing as it's to do with the biggest game of the year! according to why so many people are getting annoyed with GamesTM for not reviewing it, if you see what i mean.

[squirtle]

Are we talking about Metroid Echoes or Half-Life: Source?

Metroid.

Shocking, I know.

[Beertiger]

Yes and so close to the reshuffle. I think they're just trying to make up for treating PC gamers so poor over the years. Shame they're doing it in such an obviously obvious way.

Hey, here's an idea.. maybe they just.. wait for it..

.. liked Half Life 2!

I was talking about it getting Best Innovation and Best Visual Design awards. The ten's fine. EDGE review scores are toss anyway but their awards are usually spot on.

[The Liberal Elite]

Metroid.

Shocking, I know.

sorry - I didn't know that there was a definitive answer to whether i could like metorid or not...

[furq]

A review is going to be placed on our website (due to reader demand on the forum) is this enough to placate you?

You should have done this in the first place (once you realised the review code would miss the mag's deadline).

You could have had a review online within a few days of release, which would have been before most magazines.

And then you could have summarised the web review in the following issue of the mag, and referred to it in future.

Whatever, it doesn't seem very clever drawing readers' attention to the fact that Valve/Vivendi don't think GamesTM is very important...

[strider]

You should have done this in the first place (once you realised the review code would miss the mag's deadline).

Except that we'd be breaching exclusivity deals...

You could have had a review online within a few days of release, which would have been before most magazines.

See above

And then you could have summarised the web review in the following issue of the mag, and referred to it in future.

a good idea if it wasn't for the above

Whatever, it doesn't seem very clever drawing readers' attention to the fact that Valve/Vivendi don't think GamesTM is very important...

I've not said that and to my knowledge nor has anyone else for the mag in this thread.

[furq]

Except that we'd be breaching exclusivity deals...

I've not said that and to my knowledge nor has anyone else for the mag in this thread.

Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish. There's nothing to stop you - or anyone else - buying a game on the day of release and reviewing it online.