What innovative & original elements did HL contribute to the FPS genre? - Games

[QUOTE=Sabrina;33999869]I took like a month to play it through because it was so [I]long and hard, kinda like my bf's genitals.[/I] [/QUOTE] This post is great, except where you had to add this

the point isnt who did what first, is who did something awesome, half life was awesome period

[QUOTE=CakeMaster7;33999889]This post is great, except where you had to add this[/QUOTE] All right, fixed it. Satisfied now? People can't take a bad joke sometimes.

[QUOTE=Randdalf;33985534]It was the first FPS game to have a proper well-told story[/QUOTE] Marathon says hi.

[QUOTE=Sabrina;34000073]All right, fixed it. Satisfied now? People can't take a bad joke sometimes.[/QUOTE] It wasn't that I can't take a joke, it was just that it was such an intelligent and well written post and then there's that in it. It just sticks out

[QUOTE=CakeMaster7;34000611]It wasn't that I can't take a joke, it was just that it was such an intelligent and well written post and then there's that in it. It just sticks out[/QUOTE] At least you got the point of it :v: I don't want to make my posts seem too serious, it's an internet forum after all. So I try to throw stupid jokes in there, often failing.

Half-Life was immersive in a way few games were before - and it had quite good graphics for it's time. Main example: the train sequence. Having an FPS start without combat or monsters, and continue that way for the first half-hour was unheard of at the time. Also: Half-Life had no cut scenes, but no dialogue text boxes either. It used dialogue from allies and the environment to guide you through the areas, and to reveal the story. This was innovative at the time. There WAS System Shock, but System Shock relied on text heavily for it's story. Half Life had none of that. And, in general, it was just a well put-together game. There's a reason it won over 50 GOTY awards when it was released - it was among the best shooters anyone had played at that point. Although it's a bit dated now, Half-Life undoubtedly had a large impact on shooters for many years to come.

First game to support, Software, D3D, and OpenGL. I believe. Anyway, here are some reviews that I find to be true. "It combines a balance of tense action, puzzle solving, story, and fun that has yet to be equaled on in the FPS arena" - Armchair Empire "It constantly presents you with variety, surprises, and new challenges to keep you hooked. It is a tour de force in game design, the definitive single player game in a first person shooter." - IGN "The closest thing to a revolutionary step the genre has ever taken. Through a series of subtle and artistic design decisions, Half-Life creates a reality that is self-contained, believable, and thoroughly engaging." - GameSpot So really, they didn't MAKE to much technology, but its the way they used it, the way they TOLD such a story and immersed the player, made everything believable and realistic. Just because Crysis innovated the graphics in games doesn't mean it was a GOOD game, it just means it innovated, Half Life innovated in the way that was important.

[QUOTE=glitchvid;34001042]First game to support, Software, D3D, and OpenGL. I believe. Anyway, here are some reviews that I find to be true. "It combines a balance of tense action, puzzle solving, story, and fun that has yet to be equaled on in the FPS arena" - Armchair Empire "It constantly presents you with variety, surprises, and new challenges to keep you hooked. It is a tour de force in game design, the definitive single player game in a first person shooter." - IGN "The closest thing to a revolutionary step the genre has ever taken. Through a series of subtle and artistic design decisions, Half-Life creates a reality that is self-contained, believable, and thoroughly engaging." - GameSpot So really, they didn't MAKE to much technology, but its the way they used it, the way they TOLD such a story and immersed the player, made everything believable and realistic. Just because Crysis innovated the graphics in games doesn't mean it was a GOOD game, it just means it innovated, Half Life innovated in the way that was important.[/QUOTE] I always thought of that Gamespot review as being so accurate

[QUOTE=Drak_Thing;33988526]Besides a shit load of awards, HL "revolutionized the FPS genre". Doesn't mean it has to be it's technology. There really isn't to many games that were singleplayer, had that well of a storyline, and was fast-paced. Alot of games had a "clunky" feel to them. Maybe Quake, but the story telling elements in HL were alot better. Technology wise, it was only praised for it's AI. The game itself took all the best elements of a FPS, put it together with a good story.[/QUOTE] This, essentially.

[QUOTE=BobIsCrappy;34001033]Half-Life was immersive in a way few games were before - and it had quite good graphics for it's time. Main example: the train sequence. Having an FPS start without combat or monsters, and continue that way for the first half-hour was unheard of at the time. Also: Half-Life had no cut scenes, but no dialogue text boxes either. It used dialogue from allies and the environment to guide you through the areas, and to reveal the story. This was innovative at the time. There WAS System Shock, but System Shock relied on text heavily for it's story. Half Life had none of that. And, in general, it was just a well put-together game. There's a reason it won over 50 GOTY awards when it was released - it was among the best shooters anyone had played at that point. Although it's a bit dated now, Half-Life undoubtedly had a large impact on shooters for many years to come.[/QUOTE] I second this, you make a good point I didn't think of.

Didn't HL introduce smooth transactions between maps? No cutscenes or elaborate loading screens. I'm probably wrong though, Quake 2 might have done it first.

[QUOTE=Cows Rule;34023277]Didn't HL introduce smooth transactions between maps? No cutscenes or elaborate loading screens. I'm probably wrong though, Quake 2 might have done it first.[/QUOTE] I think all of Quake 2's transitions were either through doors or down lifts so not quite as smooth but still smooth.

Your in the cut-scenes?

[QUOTE=CrumbleShake;34024499]I think all of Quake 2's transitions were either through doors or down lifts so not quite as smooth but still smooth.[/QUOTE] And the radio uplink cutscene inbetween chapters, like this one. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NovBOcaV9k4&feature=related[/media]

Don't quote me on this, but it may be the first game where you stay in first person for the entire thing? NO cutscenes, no third person moments, so on?