We've got Hostiles!
After what seems like a lifetime, I finally made it out of Office Complex. When I left off last time I was going around and around in the freezer, pondering my way out. I was able to go back to the first room of the freezer, climb in one of the vents, across the moving platform into some other vents, and finally out to an open room with a lot of action going on.
After getting through that room with the security guard helping me out with some alien killing action, I get up some stairs, get a shot from a scientist, and find a room with a lot of goodies. In one room I find another shot-gun, some ammo, and some much needed health packs. After killing some aliens I find an interesting elevator shaft.
At first I had no idea how I was going to get by this as I realized I couldn't call the elevator up or down. I see a scientist hanging from the top of the shaft and as I'm pondering, he falls screaming. There is a ladder on the opposite wall of the shaft, so I use my running + jumping skills and made it to that ladder (yes I fell and died a few times). After navigating several ladders I'm almost to the top.
After reaching the top of the elevator shaft ... I broke a vent at the top with the crowbar and fell into a dark elevator. When I got out the door I realized I was finally in another part of the game ... We've got Hostiles!
I didn't make it far into the next section, but was excited to be out of Office Complex. I have some ammo and am building up grenades, so I hope I can figure out how to use them all at the right time. The big monsters I'm facing at the moment are the T-Rex looking aliens that are shooting lasers or lightning or something like that.
I didn't get much time to play this week but I'm glad I at least got to a new challenge. This game is taking a lot more time than I thought and I realize that a lot of it has to do with me and my time commitment. Regardless of the time constraints, I will finish this game.
Things I learned today included that you really can run and jump to catch ladders, there's always a way out of a dead end, it just takes time to find it, and also, right when you think you'll never find ammo and energy again, a plethora falls into your lap.
more to come ...
After getting through that room with the security guard helping me out with some alien killing action, I get up some stairs, get a shot from a scientist, and find a room with a lot of goodies. In one room I find another shot-gun, some ammo, and some much needed health packs. After killing some aliens I find an interesting elevator shaft.
At first I had no idea how I was going to get by this as I realized I couldn't call the elevator up or down. I see a scientist hanging from the top of the shaft and as I'm pondering, he falls screaming. There is a ladder on the opposite wall of the shaft, so I use my running + jumping skills and made it to that ladder (yes I fell and died a few times). After navigating several ladders I'm almost to the top.
After reaching the top of the elevator shaft ... I broke a vent at the top with the crowbar and fell into a dark elevator. When I got out the door I realized I was finally in another part of the game ... We've got Hostiles!
I didn't make it far into the next section, but was excited to be out of Office Complex. I have some ammo and am building up grenades, so I hope I can figure out how to use them all at the right time. The big monsters I'm facing at the moment are the T-Rex looking aliens that are shooting lasers or lightning or something like that.
I didn't get much time to play this week but I'm glad I at least got to a new challenge. This game is taking a lot more time than I thought and I realize that a lot of it has to do with me and my time commitment. Regardless of the time constraints, I will finish this game.
Things I learned today included that you really can run and jump to catch ladders, there's always a way out of a dead end, it just takes time to find it, and also, right when you think you'll never find ammo and energy again, a plethora falls into your lap.
more to come ...
Labels: fps, half-life, new chapter, overcoming obstacles, owned
10 Comments:
Ooh, things are about to get good! We've Got Hostiles is where the game starts to really pick up, and you'll be seeing/doing/shooting at some new and different things (and people). Can't wait to read your next post!
I'm glad to see that you've stuck to it. this is where the game starts to get really interesting.
Fantastic! Those weird aliens that shoot electricty are called "vortigaunts", and they're supposed to look something like this.
I found your blog in a link from
an article about why video games won't have the same cultural impact that other forms of entertainment have.
I never got around to playing Half-Life and its neat to see it through your eyes. I'm looking forward to reading more of your adventures.
Have fun.
Good luck, man. I introduced my wife to Portal at Xmas time. The only games she plays are usually in the "causal" category. It was quite revealing to see her struggle with things that would be evident to me. I think there are conventions to the genre that gamers (like myself) know very well. People who do not usually play games (other than casual) do not know those conventions and have to learn.
It is not unlike the conventions of the theater. People who are used to it know the conventions. When the villain steps away from the king and tells the audience that he's going to murder the king tonight, everybody knows that in reality the king would have heard him because he's speaking loudly and is standing 3 feet away from the king. But by theatrical convention we know that the villain's confession is just for the audience.
Wow....
Your words bring a smile to my face.
Half-Life was one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I have encountered, and the way you pass along your experiences is great. You are really capturing the essence of that game, and I can not wait to read the rest of your adventures.
keep it up, and good luck!
by the way, I also found your blog from the same article as benrifkah
I've been a gamer my whole life and it really is amazing the type of things we take for granted when we sit down to play a game. It's so interesting to see someone sit down with a game like this who doesn't come with all of that knowledge we've amassed over the years.
Please keep up with your blog and don't give up. You're doing a great job of talking about your progress, but you havn't mentioned much about your enjoyment. Are you finding it exciting and fun as well as just a learning experience? The original Half-Life does have some story in the background, but it's not very apparent as you play. I'd be curious if Half-Life 2 or another game with more up-front story would be more enjoyable for you.
If you need any help or just someone to discuss your experience with, my AIM is goodcarma713. Good luck and happy gaming. :)
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(@Idd & Non-gamer) I also introduced my girlfriend to Portal shortly after it released, and she was so intrigued by it that she taught herself FPS gaming just so she could play it!
As someone currently working in game QA, it's really something to see a game played through the eyes of a complete neophyte. There really are things we take for granted... and in some ways we also lose the thrill of small discoveries and victories. A bullsquid is just two shotgun shells to me... but to someone who's never seen one or had to shoot one, it's probably a real triumph. Awesome. (:
PS -- You're going to get a real kick out of the chapter "Forget About Freeman." ^^
Great blog! It's surprisingly interesting to read about the first forays of a non-gamer into something I take for granted. Please don't stop writing!
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