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The Backloggd account of MagnificentMrMad. Come here for awful takes and the like

FAVORITE GAMES ARE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR

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5★

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Found the secret ogre page

GOTY '23

Participated in the 2023 Game of the Year Event

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Played 250+ games

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Participated in the 2022 Game of the Year Event

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GOTY '21

Participated in the 2021 Game of the Year Event

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Favorite Games

Tekken 8
Tekken 8
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

342

Total Games Played

021

Played in 2024

001

Games Backloggd


Recently Played See More

Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Mar 24

Half-Life 2: Episode One
Half-Life 2: Episode One

Mar 22

Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2

Mar 20

The End Is Nigh
The End Is Nigh

Mar 17

Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower

Mar 17

Recently Reviewed See More

Compared to HL2 and Episode One, Episode Two improves on damn near everything. From better pacing to all around smoother encounters, the fat thats been trimmed really shows which makes most of Episode Two an enjoyable romp. Only blemish would be the new enemy type the Combine Hunters, who are just a bit too spongy for my liking and kinda drag whatever encounters they're in (which is mainly the strider section). I also still just do not care for the story of 2, with so much being introduced and just not being that interesting (though the ending is still pretty insane). Still I'm glad that Half Life 2 ended on a good note and shows that Valve can learn from their mistakes.

7.5/10

A pretty shit epilogue to Half Life 2.

Take everything wrong with the game (pacing,weak level design,shitty gimmicks) and somehow make them WORSE and you have Episode 1. For being less than 3 hours its genuinely baffling just how fucking dreadful going through it can be. The first two levels (out of FIVE) are just retreads of Half Life 2s finale with little sprinkles of originality (mainly platforming and light puzzles). It doesn't get much better after that, with the only real new mechanics being roller mines (which suck) and Zombine (who are annoying but otherwise fine) alongside unnecessary padding. Having to depend on Alyx so much in the levels really makes things so much worse, which reaches its peak with the absolute dogshit sniper section that forces you to wait for Alyx to take her sweet time to snipe (which could fuck you over since ammo is oddly stingy in the middle of Episode One). I'd like to say that things get better in the final level but NOPE. Exit 17 might just be one of the worst final levels in a shooter, with the crux of it being a pretty low energy escort mission ending in another ass strider encounter which ends on another cliffhanger.

If I had anything actually nice to say about Episode 1 it'd be just how nice it looks. Source really has held up after 20+ years of being an engine and the improvements look nice. Will also say some of the tracks go pretty damn hard, with the Hospital music being a great battle piece and the best section of the expansion. Otherwise this shit sucks and might just be the worst thing Valve has put out (that I've played).

3/10

The greatest PC game of all time? Fuck no.

Half Life 2 is a pretty impressive tech demo but besides that a lot of it feels like a downgrade from 1. The biggest offender is just how atrocious 2s pacing is in comparison to the original, with so much control being taken away in order to show a story (that imo doesn't really do much) or show some neat Source engine tech. While I wouldn't call 1 perfect (shit like On A Rail is pretty boring) it didnt get THAT bad. Half Life 2 has some truly abhorrent sections like both vehicle sections and ESPECIALLY Nova Prospekt which make going through 2 a slog. Its a shame because I do feel that HL2s gameplay is pretty fun, with a solid arsenal (albeit a bit too big) and the atmosphere fucking rocks throughout. I can only hope the Episodes salvage HL2 for me because otherwise its one of the most overrated games I've ever played.

6/10