November 19th 2024.
Half-Life 2 – everything ages
The gaming community is abuzz with discussions about Half-Life 2, a game that has stood the test of time. As one of the thousands of players who revisited the game over the weekend, I have to admit, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when it first came out. Sacrilegious, I know, but hear me out.
While the game was undeniably clever and surprisingly modern in many ways, I found it to be badly paced and, dare I say, boring. Every section seemed to drag on for too long, from the open-world vehicle segments to the Ravenholm chapter, the headcrab encounters, and even the antlion section that I remembered as being amazing at the time. It all felt repetitive and overly long.
To add to my disappointment, I also found the shooting mechanics and enemy AI to be lacking. Don't get me wrong, the game is a classic, but let's face it, not many games can remain fun and relevant after 20 years. Unless you're Tetris or Super Mario Bros., chances are your half-life is much shorter. But this only makes me more eager for the long-awaited Half-Life 3.
Late night reveal
Moving on to The Game Awards, I'm excited to see who takes home the coveted Game of the Year title. As a big fan of Elden Ring, I have to admit that I don't think Shadow Of The Erdtree should be eligible for the award. Don't get me wrong, it's a great game, but it has had its fair share of criticisms, especially when it comes to the bloated open-world. My bet is on Astro Bot, which seems to have more momentum and is fresher in people's minds.
I personally believe that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the better game, but with all the complaints and the extra time for people to pick it apart, I'm not sure it has a chance. But either way, I'll be happy with any of the three winning.
Not that I'll be staying up to watch the awards though. It always seems silly to me that it's on so late. I understand it's for the sake of American viewers, but surely there could be a better compromise than airing it at 3am in the morning.
A month of Fridays
As we approach Black Friday, I can't help but feel excited about all the potential deals and discounts. We've already seen some great bargains, like the cheap PS5 Pro and Nintendo Switch bundles, and now Nintendo is offering Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom at a discounted price. It's a bargain hunter's dream!
However, with two weeks to go until Black Friday, I can't help but wonder if things will get even cheaper. The problem with having a whole month of deals is that it's hard to know when to make a purchase. And I'm sure this hesitance is not only felt by consumers, but also by the companies offering these discounts.
Blood feud
On a different note, I can't wrap my head around Sony's treatment of Bloodborne. It seems like they either have a deep hatred for the game or they're building up to an epic remake reveal. But let's be real, when the PlayStation 5 first came out, a remake wasn't necessary. Now, it's a different story.
Simply increasing the resolution won't cut it anymore, it needs a full remake, just like Demon's Souls. At least, that's my opinion. I'm also curious about the rumored fallout between Sony and From Software, but with Sony being a shareholder in the company, it's hard to say for sure. Regardless, I can't wait to see what new game they're working on, especially since they've ruled out Elden Ring 2 and Dark Souls 4.
Look up
Before I end this letter, I just want to say how much I appreciate the new website design. I know change can be hard, but as long as GameCentral continues to exist, I'll be a loyal reader. And speaking of which, I was wondering if you'll be reviewing Loco Motive, which is set to release this week. It caught my attention and I value your opinion on it.
Thank you for all the great content, keep up the amazing work!
Stephen
I recently revisited Half-Life 2 over the weekend, and to be honest, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, it was clever and had some modern elements, but the pacing felt off and, well, kind of boring. Every section seemed to drag on for too long, from the open world vehicle parts to the Ravenholm section and even the antlion section, which I remembered as being amazing at the time.
I also found the shooting mechanics to be lacking and the AI for enemies to be subpar. Surprisingly, the most interesting part for me was the dystopian setting in the beginning of the game, while the action sequences were the weakest. But I suppose it's not a knock on the game, as very few games can remain enjoyable for 20 years. Unless you're Tetris or Super Mario Bros., it's hard to have a "half-life" of more than a decade. But hey, that just gives us one more reason to hope for a Half-Life 3.
Speaking of games, I'm really looking forward to The Game Awards and seeing who takes home the top prize. Personally, I don't think Shadow Of The Erdtree should be eligible for Game of the Year, even though I'm a huge fan of Elden Ring. My bet is on Astro Bot to win, as it has more momentum and is fresher in people's minds compared to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which has received some criticism for its bloated open world.
But, I won't be staying up late to watch the show. It always seems a bit silly to me that it's on so late, even though I know it's for the sake of viewers in America. Surely there could be a better compromise than 3am in the morning.
On a different note, I have high hopes for this year's Black Friday deals. We've already seen some great offers, like a cheap PS5 Pro just weeks after its release and some impressive Switch bundles. And now, Nintendo themselves are offering a discount on Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom. Bargain hunters are going to have a field day this month.
The only problem is, we're still two weeks away from Black Friday and I can't help but wonder if things will get even cheaper by then. I know it's not how it works, but with this constant Black Friday month, it's hard to know when to make a purchase. And I'm sure this hesitation is not good for the companies either.
Switching gears, have you noticed Sony's strange attitude towards Bloodborne? It's almost as if they hate the game, or maybe they're just building up to a remake reveal at an agonizingly slow pace. But now, with the release of the PlayStation 5, a simple resolution upgrade won't do. It needs a full remake like Demon's Souls. At least, that's my opinion.
And speaking of FromSoftware, I'm excited to see what new game they're working on. They've confirmed it's not Elden Ring 2, and it's unlikely to be Dark Souls 4, so it must be something completely new. I can't wait to find out more.
Lastly, I just want to mention the new website design. It's always hard to get used to change, but as long as GameCentral is still around, I'll continue to be a loyal reader. By the way, will you guys be reviewing Loco Motive, which is coming out this week? It caught my attention and looks promising, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
Thanks for all the great content, and keep up the good work!
Stephen
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