Half Life 2: Episode Two and all the goodies with it.

[Cobar]

With the nearing release of HL2 episode 2, i decided to make a thread about all the games included in it.

As some of you might know, valve made a really odd choice on how to release episode 2. You have to buy a pack that contains the original hl2, episode one, episode two, portal and Team fortress 2. Fortunately, the pack costs the same that a normal game would.

Im anxiously waiting for TF2, since it has a class that suits me perfectly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5qJHZCz2I

Portal seems very... puzzling, to say the least.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpdCi5XpCsE

[Derek]

Just started playing HL2 a little bit this week.  I am having fun, of course, but I'm actually a little disappointed.  Mainly by the linearity and the loading.  The loading totally kills the momentum of the game and seems to occur very, very often.  The physics are wonderful, though!  I couldn't get enough of tossing objects around.

TF2 looks great.  The graphical style is just superb!

[shinygerbil]

Team Fortress 2... Team Fortress 2... That's worth buying any other amount of games just to play.

Team Fortress Classic has to be one of my most favourite games, simply because of the memories I have playing it, and actually meeting people IRL(tm) who used to play on the same server I did. My first online game, and a very positive experience, unlike a lot of online stuff today!

[PHeMoX]

I've been waiting for Team Fortress 2 for like ... forever .. basically, but eventhough it looks cool and had great humor I'm a tiny little bit disappointed about the fact that they've chosen not to keep the old 'style' but go for cell-shading. I agree that the current style looks better, but I liked the old style a lot too.

Oww and Portal looks awesome, can't wait for that game either actually. I've seen some pretty cool and challenging things in the currently released trailers/ teasers . ^^

[shinygerbil]

I tried playing Narbacular Drop, but my poor ol' lappy struggled a bit with the concept, I think. Still, it was fun. I look forward to seeing how they're gonna translate it into multiplayer!

The new TF2 style is not really to my liking, but it's kinda grown on me, so hopefully I can still see the game for what it is. I think it actually fits the game very well, it's just not what I'm used to. (Yeah, I had problems with Wind Waker. ;P )

[Assault]

Vavle should never do episodic content ever again. They fail miserably in it.

As far as Episode 2 goes; I'm interested in seeing how Team Fortress turns out.

[PHeMoX]

Vavle should never do episodic content ever again. They fail miserably in it.

Yeah, but I don't think gamers really want episodic games in the first place, unless it's Sam & Max ^^ , but then again Sam & Max simply rock.
Seriously though, a shooter as Episodic game just doesn't work. I'm not surprised SiN Episodes is gone now since it didn't sell well enough, which is so so unfortunate.

Valve says episodic games should give gamers the best bang-4-bucks but in reality it's just another concept of making money I guess. Right?

[Alec]

Not having played it my self, what did you guys find wrong with it?

[PHeMoX]

Well, Half-life 2 episode 1 basically was too much of the same Half-life 2 stuff

[Cobar]

The new setting of episode 2 should offer a refreshing change. And i can't wait to get to drive that modified car with a V8 stuffed in it

The strider buster sounds kind of lame tho.

[Quemaqua]

I seem to get less enthralled by Half-life stuff and more annoyed with Valve as time goes by.  I'm definitely not a fan of Steam, which certainly doesn't help, but while I enjoyed Half-life 2 the first time, I tried going back through it again later and just couldn't.  It was boring as all get out.  I'm not sure what the deal is, I just know I haven't had any interest whatsoever in the new episodic stuff.  As others have said, episodic isn't even what I want in the first place, but throw Valve's seeming inability to get regular content out on time, and you can color me disinterested.

[Toom]

I liked HL2 fine - although I still prefer the original, and am perversely excited about Black Mesa, particularly after the dreadful job Valve did with HL:Source - and I'm really looking forward to Ep2, Portal, and TF2. Ep2's promise of non-linear gameplay is a big step for the series, which has always focused on presenting a very tight story in a very focused manner.

Thing is, I already own HL2! I don't want to buy it again! Fuck that! That is nonsense! There's surely another way to get these things, right? Surely you can buy the games separately through Steam? Surely Valve are not stupid enough to expect everyone who already bought their game to buy it a second time? I call bullshit on this.

[Cobar]

"Shacknews is reporting that Half-Life 2: Orange Box, the collection of Valve developed games, will be released for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 on Oct. 9. The suite, sold at retail and through Valve's Steam download service, will consist of the shooter sequel Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the team-based multiplayer game Team Fortress 2, and the action/puzzle game Portal. PC owners who have Steam installed are expected to be able to download the new Valve games separately.

Electronic Arts is distributing the games at retail as a package entitled Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which also includes the original Half-Life 2 and last year's Half-Life 2: Episode One. It will sell for $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Previously, the company intended to sell a slimmer package, The Black Box, which would not include Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, but those plans were cancelled last month."

It seems they are not THAT stupid.

[Toom]

Oh excellent! I'd hate to have had to been That Guy who doesn't buy something they really quite wanted on general principle, but hell, I would've taken that hit if I thought it'd demonstrate to Valve that making people buy the same game twice is naked lunacy (and not the fun kind).

Thing is, I'd definitely buy Portal. The concept is an absolute riot, and it looks like it's been deliciously implemented; I'm really looking forward to experimenting with all the ways I can mess with the fabric of reality with that gadget. I'd probably buy TF2; I love the art style, and I enjoyed the hell out of TFC, but I almost never play shooters online these days, because, well, the internet is full of wankers, basically. I might buy Ep2, but I've not played EP1 yet, so it wouldn't be for awhile yet. Portal is the dealbreaker here, essentially, so I'm glad I can choose to buy it alone if I want to.

[PHeMoX]

Yeah, don't worry about it  , Portal and TF2 will be sold separately through Steam too, Valve already said so. (Besides, are there any games on Steam you can't purchase separately?