Post

My hot take: HL2 vehicle sections are better than EP2's section. While EP2 is more impressive in scale, it lacks that semi open world feel HL2 had. EP2's optional places to explore are limited to two levels that is when we get our radar. When he have to stop, its required to proceed further. But in Half-Life 2 there are some optional houses to explore, that are not required to go to move forward. I don't have any issues with linear games, I just enjoy semi open worlds more.

Gertrude Freemont
Gertrude Freemont
Dec 21, 2022

Def agree. The HL2 vehicle sections are some of my favorite in the series for the optional areas. I also really liked the White Forest Inn in and radio tower in Ep2, but those are required stops. I always imagined a potential HL3 or Ep3 being a semi-open world where you would pilot a combine vehicle to various arctic settlements and outposts to solve territorial-scale puzzles. The closest I have seen to this is Dark Interval’s wasteland demo. They are working on that type of semi-open gameplay. You can drive a combine APC, and I particularly love the reuse of the radar mechanic from Ep2 to ping various rebel outposts nearby. I can’t wait to see what the DI team cook up.