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In case you’ve ever questioned simply what number of variations exist between the (surprisingly) many alternative variations of Half-Life 2 there are, then a brand new deep dive into each presents some fascinating solutions.
Youtuber Ocelot has gone by means of seven completely different variations of Half-Life 2, poring over every element from the sport’s opening to Black Mesa East. The video begins by wanting on the unique PC construct from 2004, which is not the model you may discover on Steam right this moment. That model, launched in 2024 to commemorate the sport’s twentieth anniversary, makes some vital visible enhancements to trick your mind into pondering Half-Life 2 has aged significantly higher than you assume. And whereas that is nonetheless true, it is outstanding to see how small, significant adjustments make a huge impact.
Curiously, it is also fascinating to see how a lot the present PC model has in frequent with the significantly older Xbox 360 and PS3 ports, right down to peculiar bugs and visible oddities that exist throughout all three. Maybe essentially the most noticeable issues the ominous opening with G-Man, and particularly the glow to his inexperienced eyes. This is not current within the unique or the twentieth anniversary version, and is subjectively higher in its “bugged” state in The Orange Field port.
The most fascinating port must be a Japan-exclusive arcade model of Valve’s shooter, developed by Taito, which Ocelot describes as barely the identical sport. It encompasses a condensed model of the marketing campaign, with most narrative or puzzle centric chapters ripped out and relegated to cutscene summaries. Some enemy encounters are totally new and weapons are acquired in several orders, all to assist a extra action-orientated design.
The sport additionally shipped with two extra modes, particularly Battle Mode, a multiplayer deathmatch mode with completely different character lessons, and Mission Mode, an level-based problem mode. From it is wildly completely different UI to its total presentation of this seminal first-person narrative shooter, it is fairly one thing to see in movement.
The newest model of Half-Life 2 is not fairly full, with working persevering with on the Half-Life 2 RTX undertaking that presently solely options Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt. It is a radical overhaul to the sport’s lighting, so it’s going to be fascinating to check the total launch with what you’ll be able to presently get pleasure from on Steam. Valve has but to announce Half-Life 3 regardless of quite a few stories that it’s in improvement, with the studio’s final entry within the franchise, Half-Life: Alyx, strongly hinting at its narrative route.