| Well I just downloaded the extended E3 HL2 video from fileplanet last night. All the action shown was from Freeman's point of view, though we have known for a while that other characters (e.g. Alex) will be playable.
The physics engine looked AMAZING. I have serious doubts as to whether it will be playable on my XP1800@2.2GHz +512MB Samsung + Radeon 9700Pro 256mb. They showed how the materials used did not depend on what they were used on - there was a human figure created out of water with flames behind it. Very very cool. Apart from the poly count being like a computer game, the details looked like a movie.
They had the GMan talking in several languages - the muscles coded in his face meant it didnt matter what language was used - he mouth would move realisticly.
The tractor beam gun thing could ppick up just about anything or rip it from a wall, susped it in the air as a shield before firing out in front of you when you want. In one scene freeman was getting fired upon from above in a stairway, looking aorund, he ripped the nearest iron radiator from the wall, used it as a shield to walk up the stairs, then propelled it towards the soldier, leaving a bit of a mess.
And iff you create a whole in the current environment (blast a window or be near a hole in the floor) you can toss these egg/spore things that summon a bunch of aliens which will then attack anything that isn't you. He used them as decoys for drone guns.
I think HL2 will have it right, apart from needing an überPC to run on.
Can't say I believe its out soon. September time would be believable to me.
__________________ We never should have stuck our heads out of the grass in Africa.  |