My Stats:

Setting: Easy
Time from start to finish: 26 hours (over two weeks)

Ease of Learning:

The game starts slowly enough with enough hints and tips to get you moving. However it doesn’t treat you like a moron either, and throws you fairly quickly into action. You’ll find yourself progressing forward, learning the controls and feeling challenged without feeling like an idiot. That’s important for me, as I am easily frustrated yet can’t stand it when things are too easy. Half Life 2 balances this really well so for that it gets full marks.

[rating:5/5]

Visuals:

The game takes place in a post apocalyptic future. Destruction is everywhere. The visuals in the game reflect this wonderfully. It has a very gritty ambience that really permeates it. The textures are so well done, it almost seems like you could reach out and touch them.

The human models are a bit odd and creepy, but the environment is awesome. Also it’s not alot of blood and guts if you’re the type that doesn’t like those things, however there are some periods of adult language and suggestion.

[rating: 4/5]

Overall:

Now that I’ve covered a couple details I found to stand out, let’s just talk about the game. It’s 14 chapters long, sort of a Sci-Fi story, that includes some zombies and big bug creatures. It also gives you a vehicle here and there to get around on. I never really felt overwhelmed to the point I couldn’t continue. Having never played the original, the story was new to me, but they managed to catch me up with enough details from the other characters in the story.  So I didn’t feel like I had really missed anything.

As I mentioned earlier, the level of challenge was just right. Even set on easy, it wasn’t so easy that I’d breeze right through it. There were times I had to consult a walkthrough (I recommend this one highly). There were times I had to save and walk away because I was frustrated. but that for me isn’t a negative. I want a game to challenge me. It also isn’t just run around a shoot things, which I’ve found since trying Left 4 Dead 2 single player, doesn’t appeal to me. Alot of it is layed out as a puzzle you have to solve to keep going. Whether it be using a weapon to move debris out from a hidden pathway, or dodging and maneuvering just the right way using cover to take down a difficult enemy.

No matter how challenged I was, I always wanted to see what happened next.  If you are looking to try out a shooter for the first time, this is one i would recommend.

[rating:5/5]

The N00b Review: Half Life 2 brought to you by Lady Jess - (Have You Seen My Stapler?)

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These guys, when fighting get sent in first. Much like a hunter pet in WoW.

However, later in the game, I was assigned a different sort of help. A squad, of actual people.

These guys expect ME to lead. I did not realize this until I sent them into battle and they all dropped dead.

It is a very good thing this isn't my actual job. I think I'll leave that to the pros, like Hubby.

*also, I have added a new plugin to this site called "I Like This". If you click through you'll see it at the end of each post. So now, when you want to comment but don't really know what to say, you can just "Like" it. The way it should work is the posts with the most likes get listed in a sidebar widget. Cool eh?

Lead From The Front Jess brought to you by Lady Jess - (Have You Seen My Stapler?)

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It was the last straw…

That shut him up…

Teach you to annoy ME dammit.

I Told You Once… brought to you by Lady Jess - (Have You Seen My Stapler?)

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Anyhow, the title. Yes, I failed miserably this weekend.

• Ran out of ammo for every gun I have
• got SO lost in Chapter 6 I ended up back at the beginning of the chapter.
• BLEW MYSELF UP WITH A HAND GRENADE!!
• Tried out Left 4 Dead 2 for the first time, and SHOT my team mates. REPEATEDLY!

Maybe I should go back to bed and start  the weekend all over. Oh, no, wait, that would make New Computer Day further away again.

The One Where I Fail at Alot brought to you by Lady Jess - (Have You Seen My Stapler?)

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So, anyhow, I’m happily shooting my way through Half Life 2. I’m all proud of myself for getting to Chapter 5 right? I enter this lab, and the guy talking to me has a voice I know. And I don’t mean I just saw him last week in a movie. I mean I sat here and recalled a show from some 20 odd years ago by hearing the voice of this guy…

I actually sat here and said out loud…"OMG it’s BENSON!!!" Followed Directly by "and RAFIKI!!"

OMG Guys! Rafiki gave me a Gravity Gun!! And people think Gaming and Hollywood don’t mix it up. Now, I have to go feed these dogs before they eat me for dinner.

I Know That Voice!! brought to you by Lady Jess - (Have You Seen My Stapler?)

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Just Sayin…

The Breench That Stole Christmas brought to you by Lady Jess - (Have You Seen My Stapler?)

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