The player can learn this through cleverly placed hints in the environment. These abilities are required to solve puzzles later in the game, and can also be used to great effect in combat, as any non-static object within proximity to the player has the potential to be used as a makeshift defense, such as a file cabinet, or a deadly projectile, such as a gasoline can or buzzsaw blade. Part-way through the game, Gordon acquires the Gravity Gun, which allows him to draw distant objects towards himself or forcefully push them away, as well as the ability to manipulate larger and heavier objects that he cannot control without the weapon. Alternatively, the player can build a crude staircase with the blocks, so the puzzle may be solved in multiple ways. For example In chapter three, "Route Kanal", the player is required to stack cinder blocks on a makeshift see-saw ramp to proceed over a wall. Solutions involve objects' physical properties, such as shape, weight, and buoyancy. Instead of button-oriented puzzles from Half-Life, environmental puzzles are also introduced with makeshift mechanical systems, revolving around the player's new ability to pick up, move, and place objects. Two sections of the game involve driving vehicles. Many of the game's new features utilize its detailed physics simulation. For some portions of the game, Gordon can be joined by up to four armed Resistance soldiers or medics and can send his team further from him or call them back. Gordon can kill most enemies with his weapons, or make use of indirect means, exploiting environmental hazards such as explosive pressurized canisters, gas fires or improvised traps. Others use predictable but powerful attacks, while others hide before swiftly attacking the player. Despite the game's mainly linear nature, much effort was put into making exploration rewarding and interesting many optional areas can be missed or avoided.Ī diverse set of enemies is present, which usually require being approached with different tactics: some coordinate in groups to out-maneuver or out-position the player others, such as the Manhack, fly directly at the player through small openings and tight corridors. The player also starts without items, slowly building up their arsenal over the course of the game. It has similar mechanics to Half-Life, including health-and-weapon systems and periodic physics puzzles, except with the newer Source engine and improved graphics. Like the original Half-Life (1998), Half-Life 2 is a single-player first-person shooter in which players control Gordon Freeman. Along the bottom of the screen, the player's health, suit charge level, and their ammunition is displayed. In 2020, after canceling several further Half-Life projects, Valve released the prequel Half-Life: Alyx.Ī screenshot of the player engaging a group of antlions with a pulse rifle.
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Half-Life 2 was followed by the free extra level Lost Coast (2005) and the episodic sequels Episode One (2006) and Episode Two (2007). It won 39 Game of the Year awards and has been cited as one of the best games of all time. Half-Life 2 was released on Steam on November 16, 2004, and received acclaim. A year before release, an unfinished version of the game was stolen by a hacker and leaked online the leak damaged team morale and slowed development. Valve announced Half-Life 2 at E3 2003, with a release date for that September it was delayed by over a year, triggering a backlash. They integrated the Havok physics engine, which simulates real-world physics, to reinforce the player's sense of presence and create new gameplay, and developed the characterization, with more detailed character models and realistic animation. Valve president Gabe Newell set his team the goal of redefining the first-person shooter genre.
Development lasted five years and cost US$40 million. Half-Life 2 was created using Valve's Source engine, which was developed at the same time. Players control Gordon Freeman as he joins a resistance movement to liberate the Earth from the control of an alien empire, the Combine. Like the original Half-Life (1998), Half-Life 2 combines shooting, puzzles, and storytelling, and adds features such as vehicles and physics-based gameplay. It was published by Valve through its distribution service Steam retail editions were published by Sierra. Half-Life 2 is a 2004 first-person shooter game developed by Valve.