Half Life 2: Lost Coast out now!

[Becky]

Valve has released a new single-player level, avilable free of charge to all owners of Half Life 2. The level is a showcase of High Dynamic Range (HDR) Lighting, so have your fingers crossed that your system specifications don't fall short. HDR technology accentuates both dark and light graphics, whilst boosting the level of detail seen in both.

The level can be downloaded via Steam.

Have a go, enjoy, and let us know what you think!

Read more on HDR and Lost Coast

 

[floppybootstomp]

I just played a little bit of it.

It does look, er, different, that's for sure. Haven't made my mind up what I think of this HDR lighting yet.

But any extra HL2, especially for free, is welcomed by me

And it must be a Beta, as I'm walking through some solid objects and some buildings are sort of hanging in mid air

Take a look at this screenshot:

 

[Ian]

Just played it, its only 15 mins worth - but its a nice freebie anyway!

That doesn't look right at all Floppy

The lighting is interesting, but I didn't see a massive difference between that and the normal game. Was better than a slap in the face though

 

[muckshifter]

I just played a little bit of it.

It does look, er, different, that's for sure. Haven't made my mind up what I think of this HDR lighting yet.

But any extra HL2, especially for free, is welcomed by me

And it must be a Beta, as I'm walking through some solid objects and some buildings are sort of hanging in mid air

Take a look at this screenshot:

Doh! You is suppost to shoot them Flopps ... never heard pigs can fly.

 

[Chris Pickering]

After a quick play through, without the whole HDR thing thanks to my poor standard graphics card, it merely confirms what I'd suspected, that not only 'game wise' is FEAR second rate when compared to Half Life 2, but engine wise too, Valve are stupidly far ahead of the competition too.

 

[Reefsmoka]

I had virtually every setting maxed out and it looked incredible. I've never seen anythign like it, the lighting was just so realistic, the glass, the water and everything :| . I cant wait for them to make a game using it, it definatly improves the overall feeling of the game.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Ok, finished that, yes, it was good.

But did anybody else go to the other side of the water and look around that industrial complex?

You can get to it by leaping into the water from the screen shot below, walking along the beach then swimming a short stretch of water.

Once there, I could walk through those vertical cylinders/towers. Would somebody put me out of my misery and let me know if they experience the same thing? And also if the buildings appear to float?

By the way, once you jump into the water to get there, you can't get back, cos you have to swim a further distance and you's get nibbled to pieces by little water worm leech type thingies.

 

[Ian]

Will try that after I get back tonight Floppy, tried to get across the water but those damn fishies were there. Will give it another go

 

[V_R]

But did anybody else go to the other side of the water and look around that industrial complex?

I got over there and yes the buildings do appear to float!!

But, i do think it looks good, very good. The HDR lighting does take a bit of getting used to though.

And it must be a Beta, as I'm walking through some solid objects and some buildings are sort of hanging in mid air

Me thinks so too, over the water i was walking through most of the buildings, and sometimes they partly disappeared.

 

[floppybootstomp]

VR, thank you, I was beginning to think there was something up with my system.

Phew

 

[V_R]

No problem.

May have to give it another bash in a minute.

 

[muckshifter]

Will try that after I get back tonight Floppy, tried to get across the water but those damn fishies were there. Will give it another go

Chuck a couple of grenades in ... BOOM ... dead fish.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Chuck a couple of grenades in ... BOOM ... dead fish.

Oh 'ark at him!

Easy as that is it? Haha....

You'd need more than a coupla grenades for a whole ocean full of the little blighters.....

What you need right now is the sound of ice chinking in a glass and removing the top from a bottle of rare old Glenfiddick

 

[muckshifter]

... bang bang, lay down you're dead.

... then use a flipping boat.

Sheesh, I dunno, got to think now have we.


Get to God status, then you can walk on the water.

 

[V_R]

Some more screeny's of the weiredness....

 

[Ian]

Ah ok - that wierdness is because we aren't supposed to be able to get to the other side Its just fake "distance" graphics that we only see part of, so when we get there its a bit messed up

I wonder if they put any secret bits in the level - wouldn't surprise me! Just need to find them!

 

[V_R]

Thats what i thought it was all about. I haven't found anything 'secret' yet will try again later.

 

[TriplexDread]

DAaaamn I missed out on this one!

Off to get it now......

 

[Ian]

Its well worth it for an extra 20 mins gameplay Your rig will handle it no problem

 

[TriplexDread]

I didnt have any of the problems described tho weird