halflife2.jpg Grab your gravity gun, Half Life 2 is making a second pass at consoles.
After a positive, but decidedly lukewarm, reception for the bare-bones Xbox release last year, the top rated PC game of 2004 will arrive on PS3 and Xbox360 at the same time the second episode for the PC is released.
Valve’s Gabe Newell spoke at an EA Press event today and said not only would the full Episode 1 and 2 be packed in with Half Life 2, but they’re also throwing in Team Fortress 2 and a new title called “Portal”
This could not come at a better time for me personally. I just finished Half Life 2 on Xbox tonight, and I’m itching to get my hands on Episode 1 (I’m in the Mac camp, so Valve’s games have been off-limits to me unless they get ported).
The Xbox release also lacked any multiplayer at all, which was a big difference from the PC version where you’d get Counter Strike Source and Half Life 2: Deathmatch. Still, the game by itself is glorious achievement to even get running a standard Xbox, I was happy to play, even with PS1 style load times and downgraded graphics (from the PC, compared to other Xbox titles, Half life looks fantastic)
For all its acclaim, this will be the first chance for many console players to try Half Life for the first time. And even though the game will be 2 years old by then, I anticipate a smashing success.
Wake up, Dr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the consoles!