Half-Life 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I stopped keeping time after 2am so I can't be sure what hour it is, nor can I tell you when I ran out of the cannister of Malt Balls and Peanut M&M's I brought as supplementation. What I can tell you however (in the humble opinion of a dedicated PC gamer for 15 years), is that Half Life 2 is the the most mind blowing game I've ever played.
I was at E3 with my pyscho gaming buddy cleaning the Pizza flavored drool off his chin when we got a preview of HL2. Like most, I counted the days, cursed Valve and Sierra for delay after delay, put all my faith and hope into Doom 3, was underwhelmed, went back to playing Desert Combat...basically went insane with anticipation.
In the brief moments before firing up HL2 for the first time, I was hopeful, but expecting to be dissapointed.
And I was.
Really, no multi-player! I'm one of those that have an absolute allergy to single-player games. Small beads of angry sweat began to form on my back...
But I soldiered on, and in:
10 minutes I was impressed,
at 30 minutes I was completely immersed,
at 1 hour chills were running up and down my spine, and occasional girlish yelps of horror began emanating from my pitch dark office...
...by the third hour I came to the conclusion that HL2 was/is the most impressive game software I've ever had the privilege of living in. Some highlights:
1. The engine is truly revolutionary. Doom 3 has a darn good engine, HL2 in my opinion is vastly better. Indoor AND outdoor environments are near photo-realistic (I have a 3.2GHZ w/ 1GB RAM), the physics are jaw-dropping AND deeply integrated into the play of the game, texture and lighting, faces, water, you name it, this engine is now The Standard.
2. Vehicles. Well, not only do they have them, they're really fun to operate (or be chased by as the case may be).
3. The Gravity Gun. This weapon comes later in the game, and in my humble opinion, is easily the most fun weapon I've ever used. Picking up and throwing items, using it to activate latent elements of the environment (often as weapons) is unbelievably fun. Which brings me to:
4. Humor. This game has some really funny moments. I almost busted a gut when I ran out of heavy/sharp things to fire at zombified creatures that were teaming up on me in close quarters. I desperately pulled over a large can of paint, fired, and splattered huge gobs of white paint all over their (now more upset) faces. I died, but I died laughing. And finally:
5. Immersion. The screams were obvious signs of immersion, but beyond that, I noticed myself making facial expressions of anger, empathy, anticipation...all throughout the game I found myself genuinely caring. That's a first for me.
I really could go on and on, but I can't, literally, I fear that dawn isn't far from my window and I'd like to pretend that I myself won't be a zombie tomorrow.
Enjoy,
Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, California

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Half-Life 2 delivers a new level of realistic action and excitement. Players return to the world of Gordon Freeman, as he returns to the Black Mesa research facility. The aliens are pouring into our world, and Freeman becomes part of a resistance group to stop them. New weapons, new enemies and new characters are waiting -- along with major enhancements in animation, artificial intelligence and graphics.

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Trainz Simulator 2010: Engineers Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased Trainz 2010 in August. I have enjoyed the game very much, but I'll leave it to someone else to review the actual game. My purpose for this review is to warn purchasers that this is not the N3V/Auran version of the game as suggested by Amazon above. It is actually third-party software distributed by "Steam/Valve". This is significant, because I have learned that it is not possible to update this version of the game with the latest patches put out by the original game developer (Auran).
The version I downloaded from Amazon was Build #43361. Auran has recently issued patches to update the game to Build 43434 and now Build 44088, to address various problems and bugs that have been identified within the game. Build 43361 was left out of these update patches, and I have learned from the Trainz community that Auran and Steam don't seem to cooperate together when it comes to authorizing updates, so this version of the game may never be able to be updated beyond it's current build.
Although I enjoy the game, I'm disappointed that I will miss out on future improvements and fixes made to the game. Therefore, I recommend purchasing the game directly from Auran instead.

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Portal Review

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(More customer reviews)The game is a blast to play, if you are into physics-based puzzles. I'm not going to describe it, because it's well-described elsewhere (Wikipedia, for instance). So the question comes down to, "Is it worth buying?" And the answer is a qualified yes.
The game is short. Yes, really short. Compared to the typical puzzle game ("Myst", etc.), you blast through this in half the time (or less). But what is cut out is all the "envirnoment exploration". It has just as many puzzles as the typical puzzle game, but none of that walking around and looking at the scenery stuff. No bits where you have to go to island A to get the key that opens a lock in island B, which gives you the answer to a puzzle back on island A again, etc.
But it's not sudoku, either. GLaDOS is hilarious and menacing at the same time. Even with no other visible characters to interact with, the plot is a surprisingly important part of the experience. You start to get emotionally attached to the idea that you are a lab rat trying to get out of the maze before you get euthanized.
So, yes, it's worth the money. It's short, but intense. In the same way that an hour-long movie might be better than that same movie stretched out to three hours, I'm not sure the game would have worked if it was much longer than it is. In fact, I bought the whole "Orange Box" just to try this game, and I'm happy with the purchase. (That doesn't mean I'm not also going to play Half-Life, eventually.)
If I want to just kill hours on the computer, I can play solitaire. What I wanted was what I got -- an exciting and challenging set of puzzles with a surprisingly compelling plot as a bonus.

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Portal is a new single player game from Valve, creators of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike.Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has earned over 15 Game of the Year Awards and offers gamers hours of unique gameplay.The game is designed to change the way players approach, manipulate and surmise the possibilities in a given environment; similar to how Half-Life 2's Gravity Gun innovated new ways to leverage an object in any given situation.Players must solve physical puzzles and challenges by opening portals to maneuvering objects, and themselves, through space.

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Half-Life 1 Anthology Review

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(More customer reviews)Half Life was an amazing game wtih great AI, a story that had you glued to your PC and good graphics. That was 1998. Today it's still a classic that any true gamer should play. But this package "Half Life 1 Anthology" is not the way to get it. This package contains:
Half-Life
Half Life: Blue Shift
Half Life: Opposing Force
Team Fortress Classic
It does not contain Counter-Strike. For a better value, I would get "Half Life Platinum Collection Second Edition". it contains:
Half Life
Half Life: Blue Shift
Half Life: Opposing Force
Half Life: Counter-Strike
Team Fortress Classic
Although only Counter-Strike seems like the only difference, having a real Half Life CD-Key is a big plus. Mods work, you get more extras and generally a better experience/ deal than a crippled package.
To Parents: This is a violent game. It fully deserves a M rating with lots of blood, dismemberment, realistic combat and gore. But there is absolutely nothing past that.


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This is the must-have collection for those who haven't yet experienced the thrill of Half-Life. Discover the danger and thrills of the entire Half-Life universe with this full suite of games, expansions, mods and more. A variety of real-world, experimental, and alien-world weapons32 player Internet/LAN supportWorldcraft 2.0 beta level editor included

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Half Life 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is a blast- no way around it. But Steam, Valve's annoying memory hog run in the tray adware copyright protection content delivery application is a constant source of screaming fits. Every time I sit down and I just want to play for 30 minutes or something before work or school, Steam throws an error and refuses to let me into the game, even going so far as to tell me that I do not own the game, or its "unavailable."
Valve is going to have to realize that treating customers like criminals is just bad business, and that Steam has GOT to go.
I can no longer reccomend this game despite it's being so much fun, because at least %50 of the time I try to get in to play it, I am unable for some error.

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Half-Life 2: Game of the Year Edition compiles all the best elements of this incredible game, with all-new player options and even better graphics. Start out with Half-Life 2, where you return to the alien research facility called Black Mesa. The aliens are now pouring into our world and you'll join the resistance movement to stop them. Battle it out with friends in crazy, realistic mulitplayer action with Half-Life 2 Deathmatch. Then test your tactical abilities with Half-Life: Source -- where the gaming kicks up anotch through the amazing Source game engine. With the Source engine, you get high-resolution textures, detailed character models, realistic physics and lighting, support for up to 64 players, shiny water effects & better objects - creating a more realistic gaming experience. The action continues in bigger, better form with Counter-Strike: Source

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Half-Life 2: Episode Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)If you've played Half-Life 2, then you've probably at the very least heard of HL2: Episode One and Two by now. Its pretty hard to finish Half-Life 2 and not want more, and thankfully Valve has supplied us with two short but exciting extensions to the Half-Life universe without making everyone wait 5+ years for a Half-Life 3.
In case you've never played Half-Life 2, these episodes take place right where the original leaves off, and it would be advisable to purchase the original game first so you know what's going on. The best way to do that is through the Orange Box available for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, since you get these two episodes as well as the original and two other great games in the set for a good price.
And one more thing before I begin; I am not taking Steam into account on these reviews. I don't particularly relish the idea of having an internet program that locks the games I'm supposed to own in the closet and ultimately tells me whether or not I can play them or how many computers I can play them on, but I haven't had any major problems with Steam yet. It's something you should be aware of though if you're buying any PC versions of Half-Life games; you are required to "activate" them online at installation or you aren't able to play. It also appears that, for this particular set, the games must be fully downloaded from Steam when you insert this disc, rather than installing from there and simply patching, which would be much faster. If the idea of Steam bothers you, get a console version of the Orange Box if that's available to you.
Now, onto the episodes themselves... they're fantastic! Episode One picks up right at the "OMG what happens next!?" ending of the original and lays the foundation for an interesting new story arc. This episode features some slightly improved graphics and great facial animation, and manages to retain most of the orignal flavor of the original with some excellent story-telling scenes and action. The entire voice cast (of the characters still alive) makes a return too.
Unfortunately, while great, I didn't feel that Episode One lived up to it's predecessor. It was short and way too easy. There was also a point in the game where you are required to escort groups of citizens across a hot zone to a train station. I found this to be the worst part of the game since it required you to backtrack several times (something the original never required) and escort 2 or 3 citizens at a time. Plus, the boss battle at the end was just like a certain battle toward the end of the original HL2, except you're only fighting one (instead of like 5 at once) and there's plenty of cover (also unlike earlier), so I found it to be a real breeze and a poor choice for a final boss fight. I loved the character development Alyx underwent in this episode however, and I love the little details the game presents, like Alyx squinting and covering her eyes with her hand if you shine your flashlight in her face. Things like that go a long way to add a realistic feel to the experience.
I hate to use the term "epic," but it's really the only way to describe the next episode. Ep. 2 is a departure from the previous HL2 games as it doesn't take place in City 17 at all. You'll visit lots of places you've not seen before, like an antlion den, a mine, and a forest. I've heard some people complain that this episode doesn't contain the feel of the previous installments, but I found the change welcome and exciting. At the beginning of this episode and throughout, this episode further develops your female sidekick Alyx as a character and gets you more attached to her. IMHO, Alyx is the best female lead character I've ever seen in a video game. By this point in the series, I actually CARED what happened to her, so when she went though a couple of terrible experiences, I felt sorrow, anger, remorse, etc. Pretty amazing that somebody can make you care for something that doesn't really exist! The ending was amazing too; it'll really make you want to get Ep. 3 the day it comes out.
So in other words, if you played HL2 and enjoyed it, these episodes are successful at extending the excitement. You'll really be missing out on a great gaming experience if you pass these games by.

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The Half-Life 2: Episode Pack offers both of the new games created by Valve to expand the award-winning and best-selling action game franchise of all time. And, as an added bonus, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is also included for online play.Half-Life 2: Episode One returns you, as Dr. Gordon Freeman, to face the immediate repercussions of your actions in City 17 and the Citadel. Rejoin Alyx Vance and her robot, Dog, to once again aid the human resistance in their desperate battle against the totalitarian alien menace of the Combine.In Episode Two, you must battle and race against Combine forces as you traverse the White Forest to deliver a crucial information packet stolen from the Citadel to an enclave of fellow resistance scientists.

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Portal 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)(Note: This review contains ZERO spoilers) / Updated April 29, 2011
If you like puzzle games, this is about as good as it gets. There is no other puzzle game like this, and believe me when I say you won't be disappointed. The first Portal game was just an extra; this is a full-length game. The first thing you'll notice is the inclusion of co-op which adds an entirely new layer of fun to the game. Think about what you could do with 2 portals, and imagine how you would complicate the puzzles with 4 portals instead. My friend and I were having an absolute blast trying to figure out just how to position our portals in tandem to set up the solution for these increasingly difficult puzzles. It's challenging and fun at the same time.
There were a few times where we almost gave up, and then the solution suddenly presented itself and we were able to continue. This game is not for anyone who is looking for a relaxing stroll through the Aperture Science Facility. This game WILL test your patience and intellect, and it is significantly more complex than the original game. Don't let that scare you away though, this game is absolutely amazing. New gameplay elements such as funnels, light bridges and gels come alongside the return of the Portal gun and not only do they present some intriguing puzzle designs, but they will test your wit in new ways that surpass even the sharpest minds.
UPDATE: My friend and I have finished the co-op portion of the game and the puzzles spike in difficulty near the end. There are roughly 40 co-op levels in the game, and there are a few trophies to make you come back to a few of the more difficult challenges. The length of the co-op will vary depending on the skill of the player, but my friend and I managed to solve all 40 puzzles in about 11 hours. Some people will say that it takes 5-6, but that's probably on a second or third playthrough. If you've never seen the gameplay elements before, you will have to take some trial and error to figure out how they work before you can think about trying to solve the puzzles.
The single player campaign is excellent, though this also spikes in difficulty pretty significantly about 1/3 of the way through the game, and then again 2/3 of the way through. The game starts off with a quick tutorial, but this game assumes that if you are playing Portal, you already have a pretty good idea of how to think with portals. Some of the puzzles in the middle of the game actually had me turning off my system until the next night, at which point I was able to figure it out in a matter of minutes. One thing that I really love about this game is the fact that it never tells you where you are supposed to go, you have to look around and then figure out how to get there by using everything in your environment. This is ever more evident once you reach a certain point in the game. All of the stops are pulled out and the amount of mind-bending thinking that you have to do borders on insanity. It's never too difficult though, as the solution is always right in front of you. The trick is you have to figure out how to make it happen with varying degrees of complexity. Some puzzles will take you 30 seconds, and others will have you trying things over and over for 30 minutes. All while being incredibly fun the entire time! The single player campaign took me about 15 hours to complete, and I will certainly be playing it again soon.
The voice acting in both single player and co-op is superb, and GLaDOS is even more hilarious than the first time around. It's pretty much a guarantee that you will find the dialog humorous, whether it's listening to GLaDOS telling you that you will fail to solve the next test, or that Wheatley thinks you may have died from a horribly long fall and isn't sure what to do.
The PS3 version of this game also comes with Steam integration and this is a breeze to set up. I managed to log into my Steam account on my PS3 and I was able to see all of my friends and send messages, view achievements, etc. Best part is you can access this all within the game too, and it was very easy to set up. Just type in your name and password, and I was immediately connected. I haven't been able to test out the PC / PS3 playing together yet, but I'll be sure to update my review once I am able to try it out.
UPDATE: Since the PSN has been down since April 20, I have been unable to play online yet. I was quite fortunate to have linked my PSN account to Steam, as players are currently unable to do this right now. When the PSN is restored this game will certainly be received better by the community due to the online portion being completely dead on arrival.
It's been a long time since I've been able to have this much fun with a video game, and one with so much content (apparently Valve is planning on releasing DLC and a map editor for the game to allow creating new levels). The only gripe I have with the game is a lack of challenge maps. One of the best parts of Portal was to see if you could solve the puzzles in the fastest time, fewest steps and fewest number of portals. That is sadly missing from this game, and it would be totally awesome in co-op mode. The story and level design make up for this, but there isn't a whole lot to come back to once you've completed the game. Even still, getting 20-25 hours out of a video game is pretty good for a puzzle game considering the competition these days.
If you're even close to being on the fence about this game, I highly recommend that you give it a shot.


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Portal 2 is a unique first-person Action-Puzzle-Platforming game that tests player's ability to think and act creatively as they use the game's ingenious wormhole creating portal gun to produce their own paths through otherwise sealed surfaces and across the open spaces of the game. Sequel to the original Portal game -- the surprise add-on hit included in Valve Corporation's 2007 release The Orange Box -- Portal 2 continues the storyline from the first game, featuring both new and returning characters, and poses a range of new challenges making for a much deeper game. Additional features include a new two player co-op mode and an original soundtrack.

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Portal 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)If you enjoyed Portal as much as I did (and I enjoyed it a LOT), prepare to be blown away. Portal 2's single-player campaign is in every way far better than the original. It takes you through unbelievably creative levels with far more dynamics and levels than the first game. I don't want to say too much because honestly, if you are even considering this game then you need to witness it yourself.
The only real "con" I can say about this game is that it's campaign is short for the price tag. However, if you felt it was justified to pay ~$50 for Call of Duty 4 despite how short it was, then expect the same quality (if not better) with Portal 2. It's a short campaign, but it is absolutely amazing.
Many people have been complaining about the DLCs and other strange things so let me be the first to clarify this for you. Portal 2 has an in-game shop, not unlike Mannconomy from Team Fortress 2. What you can buy are little customizations for your co-op robots, things like skins or gestures. There are about 60+ negative Metacritic reviews complaining about this, saying it should have been included in the game. I honestly do not understand it. This content has nothing to do with the single-player campaign as far as I am concerned, and I really do not care about them. They are just little trinkets that make your robots pretty. I really...don't understand the enormous criticism over it. PC players (which is what I am) have complained about the "Please do not turn off your console" dialog as well, which shows up when you are saving the game. I can assure you that other than this, the entire game feels exactly as well tuned for PC as with every other Valve game. I can hardly understand why they are complaining about this so much when there are games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 or Assassin's Creed II that have significantly screwed PC player over on a magnitude far greater than this.
There will be many naysayers that will criticize some very trivial things about the game, and they are doing themselves a great injustice by not enjoying the single-player campaign without any false politics and drama about DLCs or what-not. If you enjoyed the first Portal, you will definitely enjoy this second installment, most likely more than the first. If you're worried about it being too short, wait a while and pick it up when it's $5 on Steam (which you know it will be eventually), or perhaps when it is even free. Either way, you deserve to play this game. Period.
P.S. I ran this almost perfectly on my netbook with a Atom 330/nVidia ION on full res and medium textures. My netbook can't even run L4D2 or Team Fortress 2, so Portal 2 can definitely run very well on many computers.

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Portal 2 is a unique first-person Action-Puzzle-Platforming game that tests player's ability to think and act creatively as they use the game's ingenious wormhole creating portal gun to produce their own paths through otherwise sealed surfaces and across the open spaces of the game. Sequel to the original Portal game -- the surprise add-on hit included in Valve Corporation's 2007 release The Orange Box -- Portal 2 continues the storyline from the first game, featuring both new and returning characters, and poses a range of new challenges making for a much deeper game. Additional features include a new two player co-op mode and an original soundtrack.

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