Half-Life: Alyx - Final Hours
- July 9, 2020
- Geoff Keighley
Get on SteamHalf-Life: Alyx - Final Hours offers an immersive and suspenseful VR experience in the Half-Life universe. This Valve-developed prequel to Half-Life 2 follows Alyx Vance as she and her father battle the Combine forces. The game showcases impressive graphics, engaging gameplay mechanics, and a gripping story that will leave players on the edge of their seats.
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Reviews
- The interactive storybook provides a fascinating and in-depth look into the development of Half-Life: Alyx and the inner workings of Valve over the past decade.
- It features exclusive content, including concept art, videos, and a 3D tour of Valve's offices, making it a unique and engaging experience for fans.
- Readers appreciate the well-written narrative and the insights into the challenges faced by the developers, which enhances their appreciation for the game.
- Some users found the interactive elements gimmicky and preferred a more straightforward reading experience without the need for constant scrolling.
- There are complaints about the lack of voice narration and the presentation style, which some felt was more like a lengthy article than a documentary.
- A few users experienced technical issues, such as crashes and performance problems, which detracted from their overall enjoyment of the content.
- story166 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The "story" aspect of the interactive storybook "The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx" is praised for its engaging and well-written narrative that delves into the development of the game and the history of Valve as a company. Reviewers highlight the rich insights into the creative process, including unused content and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, making it a compelling read for fans of the series and those interested in game development. However, it is noted that the story contains significant spoilers for "Half-Life: Alyx," so it is best experienced after playing the game.
“The story is perfectly written, the dialogues are perfect.”
“A wonderful, well-told story of the challenges in making Half-Life: Alyx.”
“This is an absolutely amazing read that covers the experiences Valve had developing Half-Life: Alyx, and it sheds light on the original story of the game and shelved games.”
“Calling it an 'interactive storybook' is a bit of an oversell.”
“No game, just a story.”
“The story, however, is just crap.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest title is described as a significant evolution, particularly in the realm of VR, showcasing innovative movement mechanics and engaging interactions. While some users express a desire for more playable content, the insights into the development process and the integration of gameplay elements into the narrative are praised, highlighting a well-coordinated effort by the development team. Overall, the gameplay experience is seen as riveting and a potential turning point for future titles.
“Just pure gameplay and a never-before-seen VR experience.”
“Riveting gameplay.”
“It's not a tremendously long read; 2-3 hours tops, perhaps, but it offers remarkable insight into the inner workings at Valve, as well as how the initially troubled development of Half-Life: Alyx blossomed into a well-oiled machine that upended Valve's laissez-faire culture and brought 80 developers into a concerted effort to make what I consider to be the finest narrative and gameplay experience of 2020.”
“I only wish there will be some gameplay to play.”
“How did we segue from level design, gameplay, and using objects to your advantage to movement in VR?”
“I guess I'll have to wait for in-game commentary, but damn I wish there was more making-of, behind-the-scenes prototyping, development, gameplay to learn and draw inspiration from.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Final Hours of Alyx" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and excellent design, featuring rich 3D elements, interactive artwork, and high-quality sound. While the interactive storybook format includes engaging videos and puzzles, some users feel that certain elements could have been better executed. Overall, the combination of impressive visuals and interactivity creates a captivating experience for fans of Valve's projects.
“The visuals are stunning and the interactivity is amazing.”
“As a software app, Final Hours of Alyx is interactive, impeccably well-designed, gorgeous, and with excellent use of sound and graphics, with rich 3D elements from inside Alyx itself.”
“Lots of nice interactivity, videos, and stunning artwork to explore as well.”
“I'm not entirely sure why I cannot force this game to run on my integrated graphics instead of my mobile RTX 2080.”
“I would have valued printed artwork on fine quality paper over some weird puzzle.”
“If you're a fan who's interested in a short e-book with a graphical interface about Valve's projects, hardware, and history, you'll love this.”
- music10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding the ambient sounds and background music occasionally too loud, creating an unsettling contrast with the silence during other moments. While the inspiration from Nine Inch Nails' "Leaving Hope" for the original soundtrack was appreciated, many users expressed a desire for more musical content throughout the experience. Overall, the music aspect is seen as needing balance and additional variety to enhance the gameplay.
“It brought me great joy to know Nine Inch Nails' 'Leaving Hope' was an inspiration for the OST of Alyx. Thank you for your fantastically detailed writing once again on this project, Geoff.”
“Would've liked more sound, maybe some more music though.”
“At times, the ambient music and background noises for animations and interactive pieces were way too loud, whereas the pure silence during the rest of the experience was unsettling but could be filled by the Steam Yule log.”
“Would've liked more sound; maybe some more music, though.”
“Franchise veterans like Dario Casali and David Speyrer are backed with impressions from relatively new employees like animator Jay Benson – who, Geoff reports, flunked out of university and got his start by animating Team Fortress 2’s sniper dancing to C+C Music Factory’s 90s dance music monument 'Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).'”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking laughter and tears as it explores the journey of Valve as a company. Those with a long-standing attachment to Valve find the experience particularly moving, while others may not connect as strongly if they lack that emotional investment. Overall, it is described as a heartfelt tribute that enhances the gaming experience.
“I laughed, I cried, it moved me.”
“Fantastic journey through not only the development of the game, but touching on Valve as a whole.”
“Very touching story of the game company that I love with my whole heart!”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the sound design significantly enhances the experience. The background audio effectively contributes to the immersive environment, making it a worthwhile aspect to revisit.
“At times, there is background audio which helps set the atmosphere throughout the book.”
“Worth the read and actually good to come back to just to hear the sounds and atmosphere it has.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to re-reading puzzle-solving elements, which can be exacerbated by a slow scrolling speed when using keyboard and mouse. This has led to some frustration, although it is often viewed as a minor issue.
“Scrolling through with keyboard and mouse can get really tedious due to a fairly slow scroll speed.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through its clever design choices and the amusing explanations behind them, showcasing the developers' playful approach to game mechanics. Players appreciate the lightheartedness woven into the experience, which adds an enjoyable layer to the overall narrative.
“Having completed Alyx myself, this offers a clear look into the sometimes hilarious reasons for why certain things are a certain way in the game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for improved graphics options and optimization fixes, indicating that current settings may not meet their expectations for performance and visual quality.
“A small graphics option or optimization fix would be nice.”
“A small graphics option or optimization fix would be nice.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express strong dissatisfaction with the monetization model, indicating that they would prefer to endure excessive ads on platforms like YouTube rather than continue using the game due to its intrusive monetization practices.
“I would rather watch a YouTube video with 20 ads than use this any longer.”
