As part of The Replay Experience Experiment, here is the fourth of a number of podcasts, discussing one of the games we have played.

In this case, it’s for Half-Life 2. Joining me on this podcast is Don.

We discuss Half-Life 2 from a number of different aspects. Believe it or not we nearly forgot to talk about Alyx!

Both Don and I will respond to any comments you may make, so please don’t hesitate to comment.

This post was written by James Partridge.
You may have noticed that some Valve games haven’t been working as smoothly as usual.

Well, there is a reason for this and James Partridge explains and offers some help.

MiddleVille is the second competition in the 3×24 series.

It continues from BeginningVille and comprises the main part of the (hopefully) final mod.

There are two entries in this mod, both continue from their previous entries.

Update: MapTap has been replaced by Gauge.

Alex and I have been working hard on the next version of MapTap (well, mostly Alex), and I have decided that from this version onwards, I will release each beta version.

In this case, it’s even more important than usual to get a wide variety of testers. This version should now detect the correct location of your Half-Life installation.

This final chapter details the climactic confrontation between Wallace Breen, Gordon Freeman and the leaders of the Resistance.

After being transported to Dr. Breen’s office, Gordon is reunited with Eli Vance and Alyx Vance, who are both being kept captive in Stalker pods as well.

Dr. Breen tries once again to gain the allegiance of Eli but, after being refused, prepares to send Gordon, Alyx, and Eli through a portal to the Combine Overworld.

This chapter details Gordon Freeman’s infiltration in the Combine Citadel.

It is also a playground for the newly charged Gravity Gun, having many Combine Soldiers and Elites to kill.

After making his way into the Citadel, through use of a ‘Stalker pod,’ Gordon is caught in a Combine weapon confiscation field.

You see that image to the left? It comes from the Half-Life 2 chapter Follow Freeman, which I have just finished playing. It’s the view from inside the Combine Nexus just as a Combine Gunship passes over the roof.

What struck me today, and quite hard too, was that playing a game like Half-Life 2 once is not enough. That may sound obvious to you but as somebody who is only just playing his way through the games for only the second time, it’s a very important point.

This chapter involves heavy urban combat, aided by resistance members, against Striders, Gunships, and both regular and elite Combine Soldiers.

Gordon Freeman teams up with Barney, together leading a battle at the Overwatch Nexus, and finally fighting their way to the foot of the Citadel.

There they encounter DOG, who is running rampant through the streets looking for Alyx.

DOG provides a pathway into the Citadel by lifting up a portion of a Combine Smart Barrier, allowing Gordon through.

Upon arriving in Kleiner’s Lab after teleporting away from the Depot, Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance discover they have been stuck in a teleport “loop” for a week’s time.

They find that the teleport caused the destruction of Nova Prospekt, and the blow they struck there was taken as a sign to begin the Uprising.

The two factions have been locked in combat for a week and all of City 17 is a warzone. Freeman goes on to aid in the battle, while Alyx remains in Kleiner’s Lab to help him escape the city.

The player is able to form small squads of citizens to help as they fight their way through the city towards Barney’s location.

Near the end of the chapter, Alyx returns to help Gordon but is captured by Combine soldiers and taken to the Citadel.