He also missed Knights of the Old Republic 2, but there's no need to fix that.

Decent for a game? Perhaps. Actually, yes, decent for a game.
EDIT: Well, obviously, SPOILERS ABOUND. I just figured most is acquainted with this...
The 'awesome for FPS' argument is completely retarded though. HL1 did the giant leap of immersion and storytelling in an FPS, HL2 did *nothing* to improve that sense of immersion - it added a retarded 'human-wannabe-perfect-waifu' sidekick and the story went haywire into a glory fest of spectacle and pure drivel to keep you hooked for more milking. And now you're waiting for Ep3, a.k.a. a shoddy conclusion to a rickety structure of a sci-fi plot.
It was a laboratory accident. There were aliens. You had to get out. It was awesome, plain and simple. Retardedly simple with just hints of something bigger - that's why it worked just fine in HL1 and why I value it much more than HL2.
I had hopes for HL2. People told me the story was awesome. I was late to the party, I *must* be missing something. I heard of the 'intricate details' that are so 'commonly missed'. The first half was interesting, seeing City 17.
But then you leave City 17...
In HL1, there's a point. You're a scientist who messed shit up. Escape.
Leaving City 17 for the rebel base and then afterwards just feels like HEY GORDON WE GOTTA SAVE MY DAD. HEY GORDON WE GOTTA RUN. HEY GORDON WE HAVE THESE CODES. I'LL STAND IN YOUR WAY WHEN MOST INCONVENIENT AND LOOK PRETTY. Not to mention that the ending to Ep2 is utter trolling and a pathetic attempt to prolong the 'episodic' releases. Gordon a.k.a. you is just a mindless busy worker bee.
In HL1, Gordon=you, that is, you really feel like you're there for a purpose. In HL2, you have scene after scene of pointless dialogue that could've been replaced with a loading bar and some text - the "story" everyone keeps talking about is contained into those - what - 3 times the so-called GMan appears, along with some 'enigmatic' lines from the Vortigaunts and Eli before he's 'tragically' murdered. It's idiotic because it expects you to take it as a mouthful when it's barely a spoon.
Now, please note - I loved playing HL2, I considered it a challenge (because I'm not well versed in FPS) and as part of my gaming history class 101, I loved the atmosphere, the music, the shooting, the design, everything is great - but the story is complete crap.
And don't tell me it's not obvious - you'll end up killing Alyx (hopefully) because she's infected by a GMan implant/virus/spore/whatever that the Vortigaunts spread around without knowing (but Gordon is immune for some reason which is why he was chosen by GMan for stasis), right before you obtain whatever the Borealis holds (like, black matter or something that Magnusson will try to keep for himself and will provide a level or two with 'distractions'). The ending will be either a choice ending or just Gordon 'freeing' the world of Borealis by sacrificing himself and severing his ties with GMan. And there will be something to leave open for a future continuation. Mark my words.
...Just sayin'. /rant

You know, there is a nice thing called 'spoiler warning' for rants like that. It's really a nice thing, 'cause the fact you didn't enjoy the story doesn't mean someone else can't. Obviously.

There, added a warning. Sorry, I just figured most people...did play it.
Yeah, that kinda goes against 'I'm late to the party' feel of the thread. Sorry, it's late. I rant when it's night.
:/

It's ok, I feel pretty much the same way, d00d. I should have been more careful anyway. :)

Sure there is. Overall it may not be what the first game was, partly due to LucasArts forcing Obsidian to rush the game, but it has some excellent parts and is still a fine game.

Only time story or characters matter is if you actually care.
Gordon "Errand Boy" Freeman.
It's rather ironic he's named 'Free man'
Anything could be further from the truth.
You know what I would like to see? Innovation.
Now hear me out. Let's say a concept that rarely works. A sidekick.
What is a sidekick?
A sidekick is there to supposedly help you, like Robin for Batman.
What happens in the end?
Robin is in the way. Robin is, most definitely going to die at the end.
But since Robin was in the way all the time, you're probably just going to hate the guy, or be annoyed.
So the ending comes along and what do you know.
It's like, Robin or the Damsel in distress!
MAKE YOUR CHOICE.
Well Robin was a pain in the ass so I'll go with the dame.
Robin dies.
Nobody cares.
Sidekicks usually aren't helpful. They're slow, they're clumsy, they're stupid.
Instead of a dramatic ending, I always wondered about one thing.
When I played Goldeneye, as old games were. Things were in levels.
Get to the end of the level and it's Mission Accomplished!
The thing I wonder about, why is it Mission Failed when you know, it didn't go as you had planned?
I mean, take Half-life 2. Just as an example.
If this would have anything 'realistic' about it. Their chances of survival, especially Alyx.
Would be very slim.
I mean she runs around in jeans and a jacket, it's not much for protection.
What? There's like aliens, those other guys with the guns, and zombies.
Let's say Alyx, you know, dies. But instead of giving you a message that's says
'Mission Failed!'
Why not just continue the game?
I mean, it's not like 'Freeman' would just fall over and die.
He would continue. He would kill off the zombies and he would go on and save the world or something.
One thing about it, they would be be vulnerable!
They could die at anytime, anywhere, by anything.
Wouldn't that make the most dramatic ending for their part?
Instead of the long drawn out ending.
I mean, how can you care about something, that can't die.
That's not human, you know. We die. We die all the time.
Vulnerable.
People might say that would take a lot of stuff to actually do that.
But I don't know.
Just something I've been thinking about.
I mean this is just one thing.
Let's take those timer stuff. If you don't get there 'in time', (Why do I have a timer anyway? Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be variable instead? Why does the world fade to black because one person died?)
the person dies. And your hear a shot, a gunshot! A BAM that echoes through the tunnel.
And then you see it, the gun, the villain, and the (dead) girl you love (I'm writing, shut up)
That, would make one hell of a villain. Now that's how villains are supposed to be.
Bad. It's like they have this set of rules for them. 'Alright guys, be evil but not TOO evil!'
You know, there is a saying that a film is only as great as the films villain.
Now, how great is the villain if you know, never really does any bad stuff.
How come?
Because the 'hero' always gets there in time.
Kind hard not to when he has a timer just the second he will blow up the bomb, or kill the girl.
I always thought it would make it much better, really.
I mean, the ending isn't dramatic.
It always happens, it's predicable. Someone dies. Always at the end.
Cry on cue.
And for the record, fuck Half-life 2.
I can't believe how many people think it's good.
It isn't. It really is, at best, average. If that.
If you would compare the two, you know, to see the difference.
It would go like this.
Half-life 1. Had like many older games, ladders, levers that need to be pulled and buttons to be pushed. Along with some simple puzzles on the way.
Half-life 2. Same thing. And the puzzles were identical. Nice...
Half-life 1. Good AI.
Half-life 2. Bad AI.
Half-life 1. Good soundtrack.
Half-life 2. Not as good. (I thought anyway)
Half-life 1. Diverse, interesting enemies.
Half-life 2. NO.
Half-life 1. You're not a freaking errand boy.
Half-life 2. You are the errand boy.
Half-life 1. Good weapons. Plenty of ammo. (In older games there weren't ammo for guns.
Just keep shooting baby! Things will die and go boom.
Half-life 2. You have a shotgun (Only thing you get ammo for) and the gravity gun. (GG the thing everyone talked about when it got out by the way. "OH, and has the GRAVITY GUN, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS AWESOME.)
Half-life 1. No sidekicks. Unless you count the guards. I liked them. You can kill them.
They die. I like that.
Half-life 2. Has sidekick. (Can Alyx even die?)
Half-life 1. Just enough difficulty. (Normal difficulty to be precise.)
Half-life 2. Very easy. Even if you play it on hard. Don't like that.
When Half-life 2 got out, people talked about two things.
The gravity gun. (Not the characters and the story)
And you can't pick up enemies with it. I know, it would really be so 'balanced'. I get that.
Obviously.
You know though... Who cares?
It's fun.
Let's use a simple formula.
Fun > Balance
And what was the other thing. Uh.
I don't know. I can't remember.
People just went on talking about how great the gravity gun is.
Uh, yeah!
Can't pick up enemies, fun fun.
Really though, why can't it do that. Even if it was those lighter enemies.
Like those spider crabs, you know. Try eating my face when I blast you to the wall.
You know what's worse than fanboys?
Nothing.
Genocide is like, pretty ok compared to fanboys.
And all those fanboys that absolutely love Half-Life 2.
Argh!
They just go and on.
Not to speak of will try to convert anyone to your faith.
Seriously, Freeman is like your Jesus, and I guess G-man is Satan.
Honestly, I'm sick of hearing how good Half-life 2.
It's been years and I still hear those assholes tell me how good it is.
Fanboys should be banned on sight, from the internet, then shot.
You don't see me go on how good Goldeneye is compared to every new game that comes out you assholes. There's a reason for that.
Nobody cares.
Now, go on with your lives.
And if someone says Half-life 2 is a good game, or even remotely close to anything good in life.
You tell them: Whatever

I wanted to read that, I really did, but please, for the love of all of us people in the internet who ran out of coffee and the store opens at 9 (in another half an hour), please, please format your text like a normal human being in sentences and paragraphs.
I wanted to read all that but I got tired around the 9th line. It seems to spread out and jumping from point to point that it's hard to follow and the layout doesn't help that one bit.

Here's a short summary:
Sidekicks suck
HL2 not as good as HL1
Hero always wins
Fanboys suck
I can't format text

Well, half-life WAS always about shooting stuff on rails with almost no choices as far as story goes, if you wanted innovation, just play Deus Ex, really. Everyone expected HL2 to be a shooter on rails, because that's just what Half-Life games do.
There's a reason why so many people love HL2 and just so few hate it: It WAS fun. I do agree that the first part was better, but as far as diversity goes, HL2 wins. It's pretty much on par with weapons - yeah, HL2 has no great organic weapons, but let's face it, gravity gun IS fricking sweet. And antlion thingy. Don't you forget about antlion thingy. Also, you complain about game being too easy, yet want GG to be able to pick things up - you know, that's just what balance IS for. And I think weapons in HL2 are hardly balanced anyway, while weaponry in HL1, WAS pretty balanced, as far as ammunition vs. usefulness went.
So yeah, I am hardly a fanboy (well I AM a fanboy, just try to insult my beloved Planescape!), but can see why people love HL2. They just don't expect anything more that what it is - a shooter on rails. Because it is a very well done shooter on rails, with the best cinematic experience of it's time. It's very rafined, VERY diverse (and don't tell me otherwise, every chapter was different somehow) and as far as shooting stuff goes, fun, fun, FUN game. YES, because you can throw TVs in the general direction of evil.

Time to make a confession: I've never played a single Half-Life game. They've been on my to do -list forever along with a hundred other games. I blame my young age and Morrowind. They are a pretty unhealthy combination because I've used pretty much all the little time I've had with MW. No regrets though.
Can you guys imagine what it's been like to avoid Half-Life spoilers all this time? Crap, I've really got to get into those games soon. So many games, so little time. That's about to become my mantra.

G-Man did "hire" Gordon...

hehe.
also replaying HL2 right now.
It got graphics update didn't it. Playing it at maxed out 1650 res. settings. very beautiful at times. great shadows.

Yep, also episode 1. I have noticed the change as well, textures are waaaaay better, as well as particles and shadows, as you have mentioned. Shadows in original Source kinda sucked...