Tracing back into history for the FPS fan, the typical route that this particular gamer would have followed probably looked something like this:
Doom
Duke Nukem 3D
Quake
Throw some Unreal in there
and then came Half Life
For me, I skipped right over the entire Quake/Unreal days and dove right into Half Life coming from Duke3d. This game was like a revolution in time. Even though Doom and DN3d could have been customized or modded, Quake paved the way for mods and Half Life mastered it. The rest is history. Initially, it was really the single player portion of HL that really immersed FPS fans, I dont care what anyone says.
That said, I've evolved into a war-type of FPS fan. WW2 mostly, probably because of one sweet mod called Day of Defeat for HL. Ever since then, I've moved to Medal of Honor, Battlefield 1942 and some of its incredible mods.
I guess the point of all this is that I'm not so sure that I am going to "jump" at buying this game. Sounds interesting, but I get this feeling that I am done with the whole "alien invasion" theme. I'm sure some really kick-ass mods will come of this game, but perhaps I'll wait until I read about them first. Is it me? Why do I get the feeling that I am going to buy HL2 just for its mods?
One of the primary reasons that I bought BFV was that I was convinced that even if the game sucked, there were likely to be some great mods ported from Battlefield 1942 - like EOD (which I find great fun), and Battlegroup 42 (which is supposed to be great fun).
Besides if you wait for the mods, you might be able to get the game cheaper than the $50 that it will likely initially cost.
Yeah I agree with you guys a little bit. I don't play single player games anymore ever. But, if HL2's single player is ANYTHING like HL was, I will play it a ton. I've never seen a better single player storyline/ action/ level design like HL single player. It was part FPS, part puzzles, part outright scary shit... really good stuff.
From a single player point of view, I am really enjoying FarCry. I don't get into too many FPS games, especially single player, but it has sucked me right in.
As far as HL2 goes, the thing I think they have going for them is the backwards compatibility they are buidling into the game right from the beginning. When the game is released, it should support some of the mods already in existence for HL. This is a great move. It builds on their already unbelievable userbase for CS, DoD and TF and gives the mods new life. I have been saying for quite a while that the true way for BFV to be successful is for it to be backwards compatible with BF42. The official WWII mod is a step in the right direction. I just hope they take it all the way. Not just some of the more popular maps, but all of the maps, from all three BF42 games. Heck, I would even pay another $50 for that; as crazy as it sounds.
Like Sarge, I am eagerly awaiting EoD for BFV. I really enjoyed EoD and think the maps are some of the best I have ever seen for a BF42 mod. It was the reason I prefered EoD over DC. The maps made the mod more than just a conversion. It made it truely a whole new game. The good news is an EoD test server has been spotted online. Let's hope EoD will be released soon for BFV.
Man, if they port Natural Selection from HL to HL2 watch out. That was a really awesome and pretty looking mod that stretched the previous engine for all it's worth. It's a lot like Aliens vs Marines type of conflict, but your team gained powers as they controlled more areas of the map. Humans would get advanced rifles/ mobile suits, aliens would evolve newer forms, stealth ability, etc.
Also, the Human side used a Commander function. Whoever entered the command turret would no longer play as first person, but exit out to a full screen map showing the position, health and armament of everyone on your team. As new weapons were available, you could drop them to troops anywhere on the map to bring your best right to the front lines. VERY fun in the right hands.....
NS was good. I played it some with Akaiian, who was pretty seriously in to it. I found it difficult as I felt so weak as a marine in comparison to the aliens. I dunno, I only played it about 5 times before losing interest. Your analysis is right on, though. That was some wildly original stuff that really pushed boundaries.
The number one reason that I am looking forward to HL2 is the physics engine and that alone. I could honestly give a rat's ass about the SP storyline or the rest of the MP world bringing out mods as long as it's as solid and dynamic as I'm hoping. The reason I don't care is that I don't anticipate the core game being THAT much different than HL, aside from the graphics. I will love everything that is released for it, this I can guarantee. If the SP experience is half as interesting as Doom 3, that's all I need to buy it. I find Doom3 fun and scary, but not that engrossing due to the mindless nature of it. I'm hoping HL2 incorporates more story driven events and side stories and more things to interact with that alter your path. That, and I can't wait for the physics engine.
I suppose by now they've completely scrapped TFC2? That's SUCH a bummer for me, you guys have no idea. A legacy has died. Am I reading correctly that TFC will work with the HL2 engine? My word.
Seems that it will...
TFC2 as Valve originally made it though was coming out before HL2 and using an undisclosed engine. With the recent push to finish HL2 maybe we will see it reborn. I sure hope so. That was one of my favorite mods for anything ever....