Half-Life 2: Coast Overview

[RB33]

[video]https://youtu.be/MFYahnB_9FI[/video]

A nostalgia video showing off the coast in HL2 from above, I made it. I thought why not. I didn't have a better name for it. Also the music really makes half the video, wouldn't be nearly as good without it.

[smurfy]

Dat draw distance and LOD

[RB33]

[QUOTE=smurfy;50836929]Dat draw distance and LOD[/QUOTE]
Old game now. I don't know if you can fix it. It would look a lot better then.

[pentium]

Man, what HL2 had for map size sure didn't have for map detail. Just looking down form above you really begin to notice how empty everything feels.

[FlamingBlizza]

[QUOTE=RB33;50836945]Old game now. I don't know if you can fix it. It would look a lot better then.[/QUOTE]

The HL2: Update mod fixes that IIRC

[Thomo_UK]

At the time these were some of the best levels to play.

So much to explore, which today doesn't really seem like a lot but I always enjoyed stopping at the old houses along the coast and in my mind they always told some story about the resistance, or people who lived there previously.

[Nifae]

[QUOTE=Thomo_UK;50836980]At the time these were some of the best levels to play.

So much to explore, which today doesn't really seem like a lot but I always enjoyed stopping at the old houses along the coast and in my mind they always told some story about the resistance, or people who lived there previously.[/QUOTE]

I would get so immersed in the game. I'd slowly explore everywhere searching for supplies as if I was in the game itself. I like the game series so much I spent 8.5 thousand hours roleplaying in the HL2 universe in GMOD. :v:

Definitely my favorite game series along with Elder Scrolls. The nostalgia waves hit me so hard thinking about them.

Thanks for not giving up on this universe. A lot of people don't realize the beautiful depth and lore it has. The storylines you can spawn from it. It's just magical. Maybe put some ambience on the background instead next time though.

[Rocâ„¢]

Huh can you do a complete, bug free playthrough of hl2 through gmod?

Always wanted to do that to build silly shit.

[Dr. Kyuros]

Music was pretty unfitting, should've gone with the tracks that played in their respective maps (i.e: Dark Energy when you take off and ride the cliffsides into the tunnel, Tau-9 for the crane section) or something. Still cool though.

I'm guessing the poor draw distance was because you needed to save performance due to piecing everything together? (level geometry, areaportals, etc)

[caseytube]

[QUOTE=pentium;50836975]Man, what HL2 had for map size sure didn't have for map detail. Just looking down form above you really begin to notice how empty everything feels.[/QUOTE]

to be fair source was at it's worst in large sized maps, which is why hl2 is for the most part a corridor shooter with some openy areas like ravenholm, the coast or airboat sections to mix things up a bit. i think valve tried to open it up while still keeping very small map size. honestly, it's the little areas with neat details that makes hl2 stand out. if it were just a beach, it'd be boring but those little houses along the way really stand out to me.

[Genkaz]

Thanks a ton for making the video, great for zoning out and just thinking about things.

[Dreyzie]

I'll never forget the completely safe swing set overlooking an open cliff. Wish I had a screenshot of it.

[Thomo_UK]

[QUOTE=Rocâ„¢;50837014]Huh can you do a complete, bug free playthrough of hl2 through gmod?

Always wanted to do that to build silly shit.[/QUOTE]

I travelled the coast on a fridge with skinny wheels with fence panel armour, strapping random bits together and bouncing around and sometimes into the deadly as fuck water because thruster control isn't exactly precise.

[Genkaz]

[QUOTE=simzboy;50837062]I'll never forget the swing set overlooking an open cliff. Wish I had a screenshot of it.[/QUOTE]

There is definitely something incredibly cool about the HL2 games in general, partially because they represent a European city in a highly nonstandard environment.

[Stiffy360]

[QUOTE=RB33;50836945]Old game now. I don't know if you can fix it. It would look a lot better then.[/QUOTE]

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[RB33]

[QUOTE=Stiffy360;50837151]sv_cheats 1

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Thank you. I will remember that if I make any more.

[smurfy]

[QUOTE=Dr. Kyuros;50837035]I'm guessing the poor draw distance was because you needed to save performance due to piecing everything together? (level geometry, areaportals, etc)[/QUOTE]

It was always like that in the game. You're probably remembering it looking better than it did

[Obama Yo Momma]

4:41 Rest in Peace Lazlo. You were the finest mind of your generation.

[TornadoAP]

Suggestion if you do any more: Actually go through the level exits, and then cut it so that the loading screens don't appear.

[Zephyrs]

[QUOTE=pentium;50836975]Man, what HL2 had for map size sure didn't have for map detail. Just looking down form above you really begin to notice how empty everything feels.[/QUOTE]

This is a big part of what makes Minerva: Metastasis soooooo good. The level design is absolutely filled with stuff, without being cluttered, and your path involves tons of windy backtracking and layering.

[Demache]

[QUOTE=smurfy;50837211]It was always like that in the game. You're probably remembering it looking better than it did[/QUOTE]

I remember thinking HL2 looked incredible. All the little props everywhere and great animations on NPCs, plus the high res textures. Stuff that was super uncommon at the time. And the coast was awesome because of how long it was and all the set pieces that were set up.

This flythrough really shows how dated it is though. While this looked great and detailed in 2004, this would barely pass as a alpha map now. :v:

[TornadoAP]

[QUOTE=Demache;50842157]I remember thinking HL2 looked incredible. All the little props everywhere and great animations on NPCs, plus the high res textures. Stuff that was super uncommon at the time. And the coast was awesome because of how long it was and all the set pieces that were set up.

This flythrough really shows how dated it is though. While this looked great and detailed in 2004, this would barely pass as a alpha map now. :v:[/QUOTE]

I've recently revisited Half Life 2, and one thing that caught my attention is the animation quality, because holy fuck is it amazing. It feels so lifelike and real, and even the most inconsequential of characters is animated to it's fullest. In a world where we have animation ranging from almost passable as real to fucking Bioware games, Half Life 2 is god in this category.

[J.C.DentonUNATCO]

[QUOTE=TornadoAP;50842366]I've recently revisited Half Life 2, and one thing that caught my attention is the animation quality, because holy fuck is it amazing. It feels so lifelike and real, and even the most inconsequential of characters is animated to it's fullest. In a world where we have animation ranging from almost passable as real to fucking Bioware games, Half Life 2 is god in this category.[/QUOTE]

It really is mind boggling that some games coming out today can't do what Half-Life 2 did in regards to animation, facial technology, and physics in 2004.

[xZippy]

[QUOTE=Obama Yo Momma;50837265]4:41 Rest in Peace Lazlo. You were the finest mind of your generation.[/QUOTE]
Remember when Winston got hit? He was not the same person after that.

[Mr. Someguy]

[QUOTE=RB33;50836945]Old game now. I don't know if you can fix it. It would look a lot better then.[/QUOTE]

You'd need to do a lot of fixing. There was a FP based mod team that tried, but they didn't get very far. It went on hiatus indefinately, at least until Source 2 comes out.

[ignhelper]

The start of HL2 was the most incredible. When you enter City 17 and step out of the train station, my mind was FUCKING BLOWN.

Also, Smod gave me hundreds of playing hours. Was so fun to just fuck around

[Mr. Someguy]

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;50842796]The start of HL2 was the most incredible. When you enter City 17 and step out of the train station, my mind was FUCKING BLOWN.

Also, Smod gave me hundreds of playing hours. Was so fun to just fuck around[/QUOTE]

Nova Prospekt was my favourite, for so many reasons. You realize how hostile the world has become, Antlions are the main example here, and how simple wildlife can bring a massive military base to it's knees. Also the fact that the prison has dedicated "Land-Sea Intercept Teams" (as labeled by the Overwatch voice) manning a series of MG Bunkers facing the ocean implies there is some unknown sea creature or creatures that pose a significant threat to them, and that it is capable of entering land. I wonder if Valve will ever shine light on what Nova Prospekt's Land-Sea Intercept Teams were watching for, or if even Valve has forgotten these small details.

Another is it gives insight to the Combine's inner-workings. You see how they respond to disasters, you hear Overwatch and the unseen Commander relaying orders to the troops, and the surprising lack of internal security aside from a couple companies of soldiers, a battalion max. You see crumbling infrastructure and headcrab infestations in this supposedly high security area, you see escaped prisoners who have succumbed to the headcrabs, and even a couple Soldiers who were killed by hazardous infrastructure and headcrab zombies, problems that went completely ignored.

And of course, it's the point where you stop running, and start attacking!

[Shozamar]

I always liked the bit where you enter the citadel after being in the streets. Outside it looks like the rebels are really having an impact and maybe winning. Yet as soon as you enter and see how calm and massive everything is not to mention the hordes of soldiers and unidentified synths ready to be deployed, you get put back in perspective. It's only really your deathstar-style fuckery at the top that turns the tide. Just fantastic, immersive storytelling.

[Darth-Veger]

[QUOTE=xZippy;50842508]Remember when Winston got hit? He was not the same person after that.[/QUOTE]

[video=youtube;PYJ5VWwQ5mE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYJ5VWwQ5mE[/video]
The song is so eerie and beautiful at the same time

[pentium]

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;50842843]Nova Prospekt was my favourite, for so many reasons. You realize how hostile the world has become, Antlions are the main example here, and how simple wildlife can bring a massive military base to it's knees. Also the fact that the prison has dedicated "Land-Sea Intercept Teams" (as labeled by the Overwatch voice) manning a series of MG Bunkers facing the ocean implies there is some unknown sea creature or creatures that pose a significant threat to them, and that it is capable of entering land. I wonder if Valve will ever shine light on what Nova Prospekt's Land-Sea Intercept Teams were watching for, or if even Valve has forgotten these small details.

Another is it gives insight to the Combine's inner-workings. You see how they respond to disasters, you hear Overwatch and the unseen Commander relaying orders to the troops, and the surprising lack of internal security aside from a couple companies of soldiers, a battalion max. You see crumbling infrastructure and headcrab infestations in this supposedly high security area, you see escaped prisoners who have succumbed to the headcrabs, and even a couple Soldiers who were killed by hazardous infrastructure and headcrab zombies, problems that went completely ignored.

And of course, it's the point where you stop running, and start attacking![/QUOTE]

I doubt Valve even remembers they even made the game at this point. They're too deeply buried under the pile of cash Dota2, TF2 and CS:GO has made them.