Date: 2007/12/07
Platform: PC (also available for XBOX 360)
My Specs: nVidia 8800GTX Ultra 768MB, Pentium Quad Core, 4GB RAM, Vista Home Premium, running 1600x1080 resolution, DX10. Using this configuration the game played with zero problems. Maybe half a dozen instances of framerate glitches during my whole time playing the game.
Genre: First Person Shooter (FPS)
Official Site: http://orange.half-life2.com//
Played So Far: Complete. (about 6-8 hours of play time)
Note: purchased as part of "Orange Box" pre-order
Half Life 2: Episode 2 continues the "episodic" trilogy which is itself a sequel to Half Life 2. This time around the game play has been improved substantially, and the pacing is a lot better than episode 1. Some of the graphics are just plain fantastic, and most are at least above average. There wasn't much I didn't enjoy this time around, and I'll probably play it again (unlike Episode 1). They did a great job of finishing off the episode while at the same time leaving a nice cliff hanger for Episode 3. You get a couple of new enemies to fight, but no new weapons which is a disappointment. Good stuff though, especially when bundled with the Orange Box.
Quentin
Discuss in our forums.
Half Life: Still not really as good as the original Half Life - I just enjoyed the combat in HL more. What the new series really needs is more versus soldiers combat and less versus monsters and puzzles.
Half Life 2: More HL2, polished to perfection.
Half Life 2: Episode 1: A vast improvement over episode one. Doesn't really drag for me like parts of Episode 1 did.
Bioshock: Bioshock is still the better game here, but it's also a different sort of game. HL2E2 still guides you by the ear through the various situations right up until the last board.
Crysis: Crysis has the graphics, and the first half is a blast, but ultimately Episode 2 is the better game.