Most anticipated game ever

After the huge success of its predecessor as much as is expected from any other computer game Half-Life 2. Valve has done almost impossible and with the new shooter meets only every conceivable wishes of fans of Half-Life and created another milestone in the first person shooter genre.
As in previous experiences her protagonist Gordon Freeman at the beginning of Half-Life 2 no action. Drive slowly in a kind of futuristic train through a city called City 17 and admire the expected fantastic graphics. This does not act like in Doom 3 or Far Cry to plastic and shiny, but exceptionally realistic. Special effects such as bump maps were used only where they make sense really. Highlight the new Source engine are the characters with certainty. They are almost perfectly animated and create an incredible atmosphere through their realistic facial features. Attention was paid to every detail. So the NPC always turn in their direction and look at when they talk to them. In addition, you can see their mood at the facial expressions.
The realistic, oppressive atmosphere is maintained over the entire running time of approximately 15 hours. If they do not follow the game starts the Anweißungen the Combine soldiers, these go with electric batons towards them. Besides meeting on the popular character Barney, who is already known from Half-Life 1. Along with it, they deny some fights on the side of a rebel force in City 17th
Exactly this situation is the starting point for the cinematic story of the game. A former colleague of Freeman, Dr. Breen, playing dictator and oppressed population. The course can not go through and a rebel group rebels against Breen all residents of the city. They come in addition to this force and apply as a sort of last resort in the fight against the dictator.
In addition to the amazing graphics Another technique aspect plays an important role in Half-Life 2. The physics is realistically simulated on almost every subject. Barrels that roll down a staircase, you already know from Max Payne 2, but that you can tear neon signs of houses, or any object from the brick to the heating can now inserting as a projectile, this one has never seen before. Best tools for such actions is their Graviton.
In addition to the known from the first part of such weapons shotgun, revolver or crossbow, there is now a device called Graviton, which allows you to use objects per se, and can hurl again. This playfully completely new possibilities, which make the game extremely varied result. So barrels are rapidly converted to the portable sign, or turned into paint bucket to unprecedented arms. Also can be set up interesting puzzles with the help of the graviton and the correct physics engine. For example, wooden boxes must be placed so that they abide by the boost they find in the water your body weight, so Gordon easily comes across the water.
Apart from the puzzles, Half-Life 2 more playful elements that make it as varied. For example, it is not only on foot. Over a longer portion of time one drives in a hovercraft through the sewers of City 17 and may thereby perform stunts on the even James Bond would be envious. There are also a lot of team-fights in which helps them to four Mitstreite fight the variety of opponents.
In addition to the Aliens and the Combine soldiers who are there already in Half-Life 1, now as the giant Strider are added. This tower above even the high-rises of the city and are heavily armored, similar to a kind of modern helicopters, which now and then seeks their life.
The AI ​​of the opponents and the rebels is extremely well done. The Combine soldiers for example are able to search for cover, throwing Gran acts or to support each other. Their colleagues are never meaningless beside them or even block them, but act independently and are thus always gratifying help.
Can actually also about the multiplayer mode nobody complain. Who liked Counter-Strike will also love to play Counter-Strike Source. The feeling has remained the same, the graphics are of course much better, and the physics engine has been incorporated into CS S. Only the higher latencies are likely to interfere with one or two ISDN players.
Sounds really the perfect match right? Well, not quite. The distribution software Steam could take your last nerve every buyer. If you want to play Half-Life 2, one is obliged to register on the Internet through Steam. That works now, although already significantly better than they were at the start of Steam and CS 1.6, but from crashes and disconnections is probably not protected. And who the license agreement, which you must accept when installing, just read through, is noted as Valve tried the customer in terms of Half-Life 2 to take away the last rights. Those without Internet access at home, so must dispense with the game and those like me who only has an ISDN connection, Hours of downloads has to accept. Can only hope that as few developers follow the example Steam.