The audio stutters in the dialog at 33:55 when you teleport around really brings me back to playing on the old family computer. Strangely cosy after all this time.
Not gonna lie 1:15 I got a little emotional watching the loading bar slowly fill, for a few seconds i was 8 again excitedly waiting for the game to load up on my dad’s work computer. I completely forgot this feeling.
You know, watching this and seeing just how it truly looked at the time, it really does put into perspective just how technologically mind-blowing HL2 really was. Seeing character and facial animation and physics that were this good in 2004 is still just nuts. Also shows just how well the game has held up to today.
Man I love this. Pretty much the way I played it in 2005-2007 in my early childhood. My second PC game ever. I always found HL2 super cozy game for evenings. Also had all tracks and sounds from it on my PSP
THIS is how I remember my HL2. 1024x768, frame drops, just incredibly beautiful. Playing this on my CRT monitor in the background for added effect, it's like a time machine.
half life 2 and its episodes oozes some kind of artistic quality i just dont know how to describe. half life 2s intro, half life 2 episode 1's intro, and half life 2 episode 2s g-man cutscene as the vortigaunts are reviving alyx all elicit this feeling to me. this suave luxury esque sophistication that i've yet to see any game recapture. sometimes they come close, cause they all want to be these AAA hollywood like experiences, but half life 2 just feels different. its UI, the background music, the characters, the timing of events and cutscenes, its all just this really sensual blend of good shit. i don't know how to describe it.
Nice video, thanks! This is what I was doing 20 years ago on the night of release. I think this was the first full game released on Steam for download. Before that, Steam was only for updating games we had bought on disc.
I remember playing and completing this game as an 8 year old back then, this is even a smoother performance than what I had, the frame drops, the tearing, the aspect ratio... Nowadays I complain when im at 59fps 0.1 low on 4k... How times change... Best game of all time!
I was 8 too when this came out. Played and beat it over time and it changed gaming for me. I have so many memories with Source games that I hold dear to my heart!
This is probably the single most - rose tinted, nostalgia driven, inaccurate memory but I swear to god the lower framerates did make the game feel more cinematic. I think I will always take my crispy smooth 165hz 1000fps modern HL2, but I remember this game ‘FEELING’ like a movie. My dad used to come watch me and ask me to reload certain parts because he wanted to see how the bullets hit the water or how an event was triggered by me moving into an area. Reminder me of how we used to watch movies together. Rip Dad, I know ur not dead but maybe more people will like this comment if they think you are.
Is there someone in this comment section who played it back when it was released? How was it graphics and gameplay wise back then? Did it feel as revolutionary as everyone says?
I played it for the first time on the Xbox 360 and was still blown away by the gameplay, graphics, and narrative. It was years ahead of its time for sure.
Is that the one with the ragdoll physics where they tighten up and go slack when dying? I torrented a version when it came out and it was like that, retail was different
It's a shame that the 20th Anniversary Update no longer needs Windows XP. Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1 are unavailable to support Steam, but what about HL2's minimum requirements? It's nearly outdated and misleading to test.
Period accurate screen tearing and physics framerate drop! Still awesome!
The period accurate load times is what got me
Something about it being played on period accurate hardware is just so satisfying.
Fr. I usually try to emulate it by intentionally setting frame rate low and using a 4:3 ratio, even if on a widescreen 1440p monitor lol
Unfortunately simply lowering the resolution usually makes it blurry rather than just pixels, since the individual pixels are mushed together
Those loading screens remind me of when I played the game on my shitty laptop. I'd say good times, but I don't exactly miss waiting 30 seconds
The audio stutters in the dialog at 33:55 when you teleport around really brings me back to playing on the old family computer. Strangely cosy after all this time.
Not gonna lie 1:15 I got a little emotional watching the loading bar slowly fill, for a few seconds i was 8 again excitedly waiting for the game to load up on my dad’s work computer. I completely forgot this feeling.
You know, watching this and seeing just how it truly looked at the time, it really does put into perspective just how technologically mind-blowing HL2 really was. Seeing character and facial animation and physics that were this good in 2004 is still just nuts. Also shows just how well the game has held up to today.
Man I love this. Pretty much the way I played it in 2005-2007 in my early childhood. My second PC game ever. I always found HL2 super cozy game for evenings. Also had all tracks and sounds from it on my PSP
the airboat ignition just makes ya feel some type of way
THIS is how I remember my HL2. 1024x768, frame drops, just incredibly beautiful. Playing this on my CRT monitor in the background for added effect, it's like a time machine.
That’s an incredible assortment of desktop icons.
So many children games rated around ages of 7 on the desktop and then there's just Half-Life 2.
This game looks like it came out at least 3 or 4 years later than it actually did and it still looks visually great 20 years later.
That wallpaper man 😢 Good memories from my uncle's XP desktop.
Game ran like hell but I loved every minute of it 😅
half life 2 and its episodes oozes some kind of artistic quality i just dont know how to describe. half life 2s intro, half life 2 episode 1's intro, and half life 2 episode 2s g-man cutscene as the vortigaunts are reviving alyx all elicit this feeling to me. this suave luxury esque sophistication that i've yet to see any game recapture. sometimes they come close, cause they all want to be these AAA hollywood like experiences, but half life 2 just feels different. its UI, the background music, the characters, the timing of events and cutscenes, its all just this really sensual blend of good shit. i don't know how to describe it.
This goes to show that although the episode updates improve the graphics of the game, it still looked absolutely stunning even on release.
Nice video, thanks! This is what I was doing 20 years ago on the night of release. I think this was the first full game released on Steam for download. Before that, Steam was only for updating games we had bought on disc.
5:04:03 Finest mind of his generation
i miss 2004
The quality gives me venturiantale vibes for some reason
Legend game 20th anniversary 😢😂
I remember playing and completing this game as an 8 year old back then, this is even a smoother performance than what I had, the frame drops, the tearing, the aspect ratio... Nowadays I complain when im at 59fps 0.1 low on 4k... How times change...
Best game of all time!
I was 8 too when this came out. Played and beat it over time and it changed gaming for me. I have so many memories with Source games that I hold dear to my heart!
Fully accurate most of us had to stay playing HL1 cuz couldnt afford new compy
it's beautiful..
you magnificent bastard you. I done filled up on 'member berries watchin' this.
I used to play this game as a Kid
THE ETERNAL LOADING!!!
i play half-life in 2003. half-life 2 in 2007
This is probably the single most - rose tinted, nostalgia driven, inaccurate memory but I swear to god the lower framerates did make the game feel more cinematic.
I think I will always take my crispy smooth 165hz 1000fps modern HL2, but I remember this game ‘FEELING’ like a movie. My dad used to come watch me and ask me to reload certain parts because he wanted to see how the bullets hit the water or how an event was triggered by me moving into an area. Reminder me of how we used to watch movies together.
Rip Dad, I know ur not dead but maybe more people will like this comment if they think you are.
How you managed to install this version?
Should have played with 256mb ram for period accurate post load stuttering.
awesome!
what were your graphics settings?
This is unrealistic. The game launched as soon as you clicked it.
Bit rate needs to be higher
Its very nostalgic! The early PS3 level graphics and all 😂❤
the game came out 2 years before the ps3 lol
@Blanket420 I didn't say it was SPECIFICALLY a PS3 game... But it's graphics look like a PS3 game... Nothing wrong with that...
@nicholasdelaney1407 I meant it in a way that, along with the gameplay and physics being ahead of its time, so were the graphics lol.
Is there someone in this comment section who played it back when it was released? How was it graphics and gameplay wise back then? Did it feel as revolutionary as everyone says?
I played it for the first time on the Xbox 360 and was still blown away by the gameplay, graphics, and narrative. It was years ahead of its time for sure.
There is a torrent which contains the non steam retail version..I have it, but it's only meant for educational purposes :)
Is that the one with the ragdoll physics where they tighten up and go slack when dying? I torrented a version when it came out and it was like that, retail was different
@@kidnothing5826 thats cuz of a update later on
It's a shame that the 20th Anniversary Update no longer needs Windows XP.
Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1 are unavailable to support Steam, but what about HL2's minimum requirements? It's nearly outdated and misleading to test.
1600x1200 era
It looks better, lol.