On Twitter you mentioned that you had some worries over people being annoyed about or uninterested in you remaking one of your older videos, so I just wanted to say I appreciate that you did. As hard as it is to really do, I hope you can continue to do more of what you really want to do; even if that includes more of these "do overs."
I'm with you all the way, even if this was a one for one revival It would be a commendable job and totally worth the time, the fact this video expands so much on it makes it feel like something totally new to me
@@MelvLee I would second that, although I am biased, with Fallout: New Vegas being one of my favourite games and the series being one of my favourites overall. And there is something to be said for preserving older videos, warts and all, as a meaningful reference point for the channel's development.
To be honest I did look at this video with a bit of apprehenision and lack of interest when I say remake, but I was wrong in my assumption. This was anabsolutely amazing video!
"The player wears Gordon like Gordon wears glasses"; this right here is why you are the best on the platform at these essays. Please sir, can I have some more?
and THEN he uses the turn of phrase to illustrate how unbelievably engrossing VR is!! he also uses a funny but sincere anecdote but that ease of immersion is already in your mind by the time that comes. Sincere genius!
@@MK.5198 agreed, wish more of my friends were willing to check out these long form essays as that line alone is pure brilliance, but i truly feel some of the brilliance is lost by hearing only that line
Okay, real talk? It's wild and genuinely fascinating to see you revisit your old video essay here; you really expand on it in some outstanding ways. Every part of this video is an improvement on an already rock-solid base, and it expands on your existing analysis in ways that both show maturation in form and thoughtful, meaningful reexamination of your past critiques. So... I can't speak for anyone else, but thanks for revisiting your old work here - it was absolutely worth it, and you've hit the ball out of the damned park!
@@misteryA555 tbf, Batman vs superman is actually a really good movie if you watch the extended cuts the problem is that the extended cut is even more complicated but makes the story make sense, also its 3 hours lol. And he also made Watchmen good. USC what anyone says, the original comic is Tooooo dark. He made a good compromise and as bad as I think the action scenes are the story and design is better than the comic.
Just a note on Minerva: Metastasis: just after Half Life: Alyx was announced, Adam Foster posted on his blog that yes, he was not only still at Valve, he had also worked on Alyx!
Sleep deprivation? You're doing it wrong. Take a shower, fluff up your pillow, play one of his videos and close your eyes. His voice is perfect for sending me off to sleep. I do the same with Ahoy videos.
Noah, your experience with Half Life: Alyx finally convinced me to bite the bullet and purchase a VR headset. Your comment about both previous Half Life titles being landmark, generational shifts in your gaming experience really resonated with me. I want Alyx to be the same for me. And you were right. It’s unforgettable. Thanks for being the best creator on RUclips.
The whole update was good, but the Alyx section was some incredibly insightful analysis on not just the game, but the current weird in between phase of vr game devlopment.
@@heyitsmort7744 Same. When he said that Half-Life 1 had to teach him mouse movement with the Hazard Course I was like "What?" as me and my brother grew up with it when we started going full PC gaming in the early 2000s so it was natural to us compared to keyboard only games like Doom in the 90s. The same will definitely happen with VR when it gets more accessible.
Ive always held the head-cannon that Gordon put himself through college on the GI bill. at 27 in 1998 he would have been just old enough to have been in the Gulf War
@@TS-ij9cz yeah, but the GI bill would have covered a chunk, there's no rule saying he had to be debt free by the time Black Mesa recruited him. The military would have given him the right connections, and only someone drowning in school debt would volunteer to wheel a cheese wedge into a laser 😅
Having to hold a freezer door shut physically in VR with Jeff on the other side of it was one of the most terrifying things I've done in a video game. It was like a nightmare made real.
@@GlennDaveyIt's been a few years, and maybe you've gotten to enjoy it by now, but if not I highly recommend the Quest 2. The resolution is higher than the Index at this point and it's perfectly serviceable for PC VR. Not to mention that even a below standard PC (1060Ti) can run games like Half Life Alyx at low/med settings. It really is accessible for at a level that nearly anyone can enjoy if they save for a short while and plan accordingly. I work at a pizza place and have a one bedroom apartment and bought one recently, and I'm having a blast! I did buy a PC secondhand before this though, with a 3060 so I did start ahead of the game but I believe that many of the people who would be interested in VR most likely have some sort of PC at this point.
There's an emotionality to your voice in this video, specifically when it comes to the additions (the new games and Portal 2) that really make this video for me. There's an excitement that could never have been in the previous video, because Half Life fundementally changed from a pleasant memory to a promise. Great work. I hope to see more opportunities for video remakes open up to you.
Haha, have you forgotten about the old ones where you can't hear him over the game audio? They were still enjoyable due to Noah, but sometimes it was like trying to enjoy a fine meal in the rain :B
@@KadoTheNorm I still like that he's a little bit rough. like Joseph Anderson is a great creator, but he edits out breaths and pauses.Those littlethings are part of what amkes Noah so great
51:54 Shouts out to Victor Antonov for his absolutely brilliant work on the combine architecture and design aesthetic. He created similarly iconic designs for the dishonored franchise also, and is one of my fave concept artists.
Me and some friends hopped on to DoD: Source a few months ago. Just in the tiny amount of footage of it you used, I recognised names in the kill feed. The playerbase is frighteningly small.
No game dies until that player count reaches zero. Dikatana still has a death match community, for example. Kudos to the people keeping the classics alive.
When I first played half life 2 I hadn’t even played the first game or knew who Barney was what you said about him is spot on he is such an immediately likeable character and feels like one of Gordon’s friends
2:01:42 this is amazing and somthing only vr can do. You can really see the joy in finally realizing you got Jeff and so gleefully and cheerfully dance your hand to the button, only to miss the first time lol
I can only imagine how often Noah wishes he could go back and _tweak this little bit here_ or _expand on that part there_ The fact that we’re sitting here with a “Half-Life Redux” video means something prompted him to go “fuck it, I’m going back this time,” and that’s _very_ exciting
Interestingly I found Jeff to be one of the most viscerally real, effective, and innovative chapters in any game I've ever played. I don't think Jeff ever killed me, so I do miss the cause of your major criticism. It was one of the most refreshing parts of the game for me, as combat was starting to hit some tedium, and exploration had become repetitive and stakeless. Jeff revived all of the sense of presence, careful thinking, and cohesiveness I associate with Half Life. Interesting to see the perspective of someone who hated it.
Agreed. From the footage you can see he never got good at Alyx so he probably died a bunch and got frustrated. I think this shouldn’t be your first VR shooter experience and you absolutely should build your “VR legs” up to using free movement. Jeff and the whole game would be a lot less of an experience just warping around. That he still enjoyed the game using warp controls and snap turning says a lot for how good the game was.
@@djdalby he never got good at any of the games, he legit said the nihilanth was too complex when you can just hide behind a pillar, shoot the crystals and then kill him
I died 5 times right at the start of Jeff's introduction and wasn't afraid of him in the slightest for the entire duration of our time together. It was fun but It fails to be horror after the first death. I even went into the game blind to make sure I wouldn't be biased in any direction.
I honestly think Jeff *was* a relatively weak portion of the game, despite never dying to him. There were a lot of effective emergent moments in his sequence, but the level design was often more annoying than clever. I remember a few points where I opened a container to get potential items, and it was full of those little clacky guys without any indication that they were there, which I assume was intended to create an unexpected moment of tension as you try to find a way to distract Jeff, but mostly just came off to me as punishing the method of exploration the game taught me
@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 - he is using that exact tactic, but it's still possible to get hit by the Nihilanth that way, or get hit by it's teleporter balls which is egregious. Also, a first-time player wouldn't know this.
This was an amazing video! Though I must say, I think you're the first person I've heard from who had a negative view on the Jeff chapter. Also, from the way you talked about it, I'm not entirely sure you came to the realization that the final sequence sort of... gave you the powers of a vortigaunt. The picking green energy off the walls and firing it at enemies immediately gave me that vibe and it was an experience I was very happy to have played through.
Finding this channel has been one of the most comforting and lifegiving things I've had in such a terrible time. Thanks for that Noah - it's appreciated so much
I don't really often comment anymore on things and God knows this will probably sink through the cracks, but the night this video launched I was in my final year of college in what was the most mentally down I have ever been I was cutting myself, alone and planning my eventual suicide attempt that luckily ended up failing with me waking up a few hours later. But as clear as day I remember watching this video that night it came out with all those thoughts ripping through my head and here years later I'm comfy on a Friday night still suffering a great amount of misfortune in my personal life but being reminded by this video that I can move on and that things will work out for the better.
Just so you know, I also made some lengthy videos in my life, but nothing with this scope of recording, scripting, editing while also maintaining a style to it. Your Thorough Looks are always amazing and make my day. Just wanted to let you know that your hard work is appreciated and we are thankful for your invested time. Every few months I even rewatch the NWN and Baldur's Gate ones. Stay healthy Noah!
I can't believe it's been seven years since I've watched that first one. You have no idea how wonderful having this update really felt. You should be so proud of what you are achieving here.
17:09 they're not even fully remorseless in HL1 either, there's a whole conversation where a soldier discusses how he didn't sign up to kill civilians and cover up the incident fun (or not so fun) fact is that in the same chapter, there's a group of soldiers that discuss on getting revenge on freeman for killing their brothers in arms, it's really cool how the game delves into how the soldiers are feeling and op4 only goes even more into that
Great update, particularly love your thoughts on Alyx. The story about you running into a wall to escape a VR grenade was especially vivid. Thanks for posting!!
As always, a superb look at technology, interaction design, communication and the future. I can't begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed and benefitted from your work, all of it. ALL of it. But most importantly, I appreciate your voice as a human being.
I really appreciate the amount of time you put into these, and the perspective you hold on games as a medium for much more than just idle entertainment, keep it up man
At times it feels more like listening to poetry than analysis, which I think is a good thing. He is also just very calming in a very humble sort of way. He is insightful about games as art, rather than mechanical experiences. @@JohnDoe-in2gk
this has got to be one of my favorite videos of yours I've seen. your evocative narration really shines here with a franchise I can tell you have an incredible amount to say about, and the sometimes prohibitive video length lends a story-like quality to the video that legitimately had me hooked. I grew up after the era of Half-Life's dominance, and had never understood all the hype surrounding it. You have, singlehandedly, made me want to go back and experience that era of video game history anew.
Also as someone who watches a variety of VR streams your vr sections are very watchable, which is not the case for a lot of people. I think it speaks to your immersion that your movements are really natural and as such very enjoyable as a viewer experience
I cannot express just how happy your videos make me. The cadence of your voice mixed with the extraordinary deconstruction of these games makes these videos addictive to watch. Especially true in regard to the Half-Life Alyx portion. Been watching since the Fallout Retrospective like 7 years ago.
I'm shocked to hear that you didn't like the mines section of Episode 2, that was one of the most memorable parts of it for me. I wasn't having a great time until I figured out that the shotgun was extremely effective (and super satisfying) against the bugs. Then it became a total blast.
As someone who hasn't played almost any of these (lot of TF2, and most of Portal 1), but knows their significance by reputation, it's always a joy to get at least a simulacrum of a proper understanding of games important to the history of the medium through your work, and a special treat to see how their reputation and legacy has changed a over the years, to contrast the emotions these games evoke in 2021 as opposed to 2013, even if I disagree with your boundless optimism for more Half-Life content at both points in time.
I used to watch this video on repeat when I was a kid. This video was single handedly responsible for gobbling up a months worth of data when I wasn’t at my house one weekend. I don’t regret a single second of it, seriously, this is the best re-release of anything I’ve seen this year, maybe ever.
Man, I didn't know that your content was exactly what I wanted until I started watching, and I just can't get enough. The full form video-essay for these topics are incredibly satisfying and very informative, making for great listening.
Man, your essays are really something else. You often talk about really good games and not only are you good at identifying what it is that makes a clock tick, you also have the way with words and delivery to not only make me understand what you mean but feel what you mean. Just like a video game or any piece of art, they say, is to make you feel. Mostly, essays are knowledge or insight of art, your's are art on top of art. I often pause your videos because something you said was so vivid I'm unable to recieve new information before I settle down a bit. Thank you for doing this.
i like noah's videos, especially how interwoven he considers gameplay, story, and lived consumer experience. i also like how considerate he is of developer intentions and whether or not they work. lots of people think identifying intentions is sort of the end-all of criticism, and supplant whether or not the intention works or is enjoyable
As someone who has audio processing issues you remaking old videos even word for word would be so appreciated because that old mic is hard to listen to and distracts from the essays themselves especially since I listen to these like podcasts and am rarely watching because I mean…how am I gonna game LMAO
I can listen to you talk about games all day. You and SkillUp are my favorite video game youtubers, but I think I like you more since your videos are longer :)
I wept when Eli handed me that crowbar. I wanted to scream with joy. I wanted to hug him, tell him that I missed him so much. I've never felt such a rush of elation and exhausting joy as seeing that familiar face. Welcome back, Gordon. Thanks, Alyx. Couldn't have done it without you.
The intro theme of Half Life when you're heading into Black Mesa never gets old, Kelly Bailey nailed the music for all HL games apart from Alyx I understand.
What an incredible analysis. I've seen so many video essays on RUclips, and that's one of my favorite things to consume. This video is, by far, my favorite analysis of a game that I've ever seen. HL is far from my favorite game, but your praise for it really makes me appreciate the developers much more.
"It may be... that as much bad audio had been recorded on RUclips here, you may record something else, as you recorded the first." I'm all for remakes of the really old videos, as any excuse to hear your words is great. I really enjoyed what I *could* understand of "A Thorough Look At Fallout," and if there ever was a remake of that one, I'd hook it up to my veins. Anyways, great analysis.
I haven't really followed the Half-life Alyx, so the last part of your Video was extremely informative to me on what it is and what it means for the franchise and gaming media. For me, it is truly convincing when a person who grew up with early PC/Console games praises the new interactive format. You said that Alyx convinced you that VR is the future. And your video convinced me. Thanks for doing this.
Thank you for making the content you make. I'm unable to contribute in a more financially direct way but every time you pop into my sub box it makes my day infinitely better. Thank you for that
I was playing Half Life 2. It's still thrilling, and on hard, fiendishly difficult and challenging. Every level has a unique challenge. I've been dieing a lot. Definitely the best FPS I ever played.
There is just something about the way he talks that just makes me relax and listen closely. I sometimes watch a particular video a second time right after finishing it and I go back to older ones from time to time. If all the advertisements on TV were just him talking about products, I'd listen and relax. That would be so great.
Glad there was several additions, was wondering when an update would happened. I was surprised you didn’t mentioned Epistle 3 and how Alyx basically changed things in regards to that. Also, I’m glad you didn’t talk about Hunt Down the Freeman. The less said about that “fan game,” the better.
The first time I saw this video, I wasn't actually watching the screen. I was listening to it while playing 7 Days to Die or some other mindless malarkey. That was a mistake. Watching you play Alyx is easily my favorite part of this video now, and the main content that is the essay was already more than enough to have me entertained. Nice one, Noah.
Really glad you've decided to go back and re-do the older videos. Hoping Fallout is one of them, you've learned a lot about audio balancing since those days.
I've spent 2 years in China as a university teacher and my campus was on an old coal factory compound with some old buildings still standing. They really, really, really gave me a creepy HL2 experience.
it is curerntly raining and a bit chilly where i live so i made myself some coffee to relax and i found this in my sub box, better timing would be impossible
I've watched only a couple of your videos, Mr. Noah, but I'm simply dazzled by the longevity and the thoroughness of your reviews. You put a lot of time and effort in them and you deserve more recognition.
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On Twitter you mentioned that you had some worries over people being annoyed about or uninterested in you remaking one of your older videos, so I just wanted to say I appreciate that you did. As hard as it is to really do, I hope you can continue to do more of what you really want to do; even if that includes more of these "do overs."
I wish Noah can redo the very first Fallout video. The audio is just unbearable...
I'm with you all the way, even if this was a one for one revival It would be a commendable job and totally worth the time, the fact this video expands so much on it makes it feel like something totally new to me
@@MelvLee I would second that, although I am biased, with Fallout: New Vegas being one of my favourite games and the series being one of my favourites overall. And there is something to be said for preserving older videos, warts and all, as a meaningful reference point for the channel's development.
To be honest I did look at this video with a bit of apprehenision and lack of interest when I say remake, but I was wrong in my assumption. This was anabsolutely amazing video!
@@MelvLee I absolutely agree
“To wear the game as a hat, and hallucinate into it” is the best description of VR I’ve ever heard.
"The player wears Gordon like Gordon wears glasses"; this right here is why you are the best on the platform at these essays. Please sir, can I have some more?
No
and THEN he uses the turn of phrase to illustrate how unbelievably engrossing VR is!! he also uses a funny but sincere anecdote but that ease of immersion is already in your mind by the time that comes. Sincere genius!
Fuck off
@@MK.5198 agreed, wish more of my friends were willing to check out these long form essays as that line alone is pure brilliance, but i truly feel some of the brilliance is lost by hearing only that line
It's not funny nor it's smart, it's pretentious
please never stop with the handmade title cards/intros, they're always so charming
i can’t believe we have deluxe editions of Noah’s videos now. wonderful
Can't wait for the revised Fallout video
But he still keeps in the recording mistakes! Urgh
@@Oppen1945 It feels very authentic tbh
Okay, real talk? It's wild and genuinely fascinating to see you revisit your old video essay here; you really expand on it in some outstanding ways. Every part of this video is an improvement on an already rock-solid base, and it expands on your existing analysis in ways that both show maturation in form and thoughtful, meaningful reexamination of your past critiques. So... I can't speak for anyone else, but thanks for revisiting your old work here - it was absolutely worth it, and you've hit the ball out of the damned park!
Wow, I was waiting for a "but" through all of that, BUT didn't get the one I was expecting lol. Good, glad you are not a pud 😁
Forget the Snyder Cut--this is the definitive remaster of 2021.
fuck the snyder cut
who remembered the snyder cut in the first place
@@misteryA555 tbf, Batman vs superman is actually a really good movie if you watch the extended cuts the problem is that the extended cut is even more complicated but makes the story make sense, also its 3 hours lol. And he also made Watchmen good. USC what anyone says, the original comic is Tooooo dark. He made a good compromise and as bad as I think the action scenes are the story and design is better than the comic.
@@cryojudgement2376 I love the film immensely, but wouldn't call it a masterpiece, just very good.
@@JacobGrim never called it that, just a lot better than everyone thinks.
Just a note on Minerva: Metastasis: just after Half Life: Alyx was announced, Adam Foster posted on his blog that yes, he was not only still at Valve, he had also worked on Alyx!
The man, the myth, the reason for my monthly sleep deprivation, the hands-down best creator on this blessed platform! Striking again at 10PM!
how's it hanging fellow UTC+1 noah fan
Damn, you're in my same timezone
Well, except for, you know, MauLer, et al.
Sleep deprivation? You're doing it wrong. Take a shower, fluff up your pillow, play one of his videos and close your eyes. His voice is perfect for sending me off to sleep. I do the same with Ahoy videos.
striking a cardboard box with a wrench yeah
Noah, your experience with Half Life: Alyx finally convinced me to bite the bullet and purchase a VR headset. Your comment about both previous Half Life titles being landmark, generational shifts in your gaming experience really resonated with me. I want Alyx to be the same for me.
And you were right. It’s unforgettable.
Thanks for being the best creator on RUclips.
The feeling when I get your notifications is indescribable. You have affected my worldview for the better.
Agreed, I can't wait for Homeworld 3 retrospective!
The whole update was good, but the Alyx section was some incredibly insightful analysis on not just the game, but the current weird in between phase of vr game devlopment.
It changed my entire perspective on the future of the technology.
@@heyitsmort7744 Same. When he said that Half-Life 1 had to teach him mouse movement with the Hazard Course I was like "What?" as me and my brother grew up with it when we started going full PC gaming in the early 2000s so it was natural to us compared to keyboard only games like Doom in the 90s. The same will definitely happen with VR when it gets more accessible.
Well i can cozy up in my bed with noahs narration before going to sleep perfect.
Love to hear this while falling asleep and start anew for several days in a row until I heated everything
I also use his videos to fall asleep in the evening. He has a perfect voice to help me fall asleep.
The man should do some non fiction audio books, I'd love that.
@@fizzplease6742 agreed
I'm one of the 5 people that pay for RUclips premium, so I can turn the screen off on my phone and fall asleep to Noah.
1:51:52 "I am poking you with this fork for scientific purposes." 😄
And lo! He responds.
No Hunt Down the Freeman analysis? Disappointing.
Kidding, of course. This should be great.
Well now I need that video too
HDtF is hands down the best Kojima game
Listen, it's bad enough he had to play Half-Life Decay. Don't make the boy suffer any more!
You fucked up my face
@@S1deshowRob check out tehsnakerer's video on it
Ive always held the head-cannon that Gordon put himself through college on the GI bill. at 27 in 1998 he would have been just old enough to have been in the Gulf War
Explains why he just springs into action without any fuss and just starts cutting shit down was cause he fucked it up in the gulf war
But he has a PhD, from MIT. That would have taken at least four years on top of a four year bachelors
@@TS-ij9cz yeah, but the GI bill would have covered a chunk, there's no rule saying he had to be debt free by the time Black Mesa recruited him. The military would have given him the right connections, and only someone drowning in school debt would volunteer to wheel a cheese wedge into a laser 😅
@@guyinreallife6035 Good thing the 7 Hours War happened right after that. Can't have college debt if there's no college.
This is... huh. Maybe, that could explain part of it.
Having to hold a freezer door shut physically in VR with Jeff on the other side of it was one of the most terrifying things I've done in a video game. It was like a nightmare made real.
Sounds wild, seems like they're really finding the potential in VR, I'll have to check it one of these days
@@GlennDaveyIt's been a few years, and maybe you've gotten to enjoy it by now, but if not I highly recommend the Quest 2. The resolution is higher than the Index at this point and it's perfectly serviceable for PC VR. Not to mention that even a below standard PC (1060Ti) can run games like Half Life Alyx at low/med settings. It really is accessible for at a level that nearly anyone can enjoy if they save for a short while and plan accordingly. I work at a pizza place and have a one bedroom apartment and bought one recently, and I'm having a blast! I did buy a PC secondhand before this though, with a 3060 so I did start ahead of the game but I believe that many of the people who would be interested in VR most likely have some sort of PC at this point.
There's an emotionality to your voice in this video, specifically when it comes to the additions (the new games and Portal 2) that really make this video for me. There's an excitement that could never have been in the previous video, because Half Life fundementally changed from a pleasant memory to a promise. Great work. I hope to see more opportunities for video remakes open up to you.
Yes. Real passion for video games
I’m glad you make these, Noah. It’s nice to see you’re still going.
Noah is still afloat :)
"Meet again when the future gets closer. I can wait, the future always gets here in the end" broooo
" less garbage to watch." --> Never was, but your efforts to expand the video are highly appreciated.
Haha, have you forgotten about the old ones where you can't hear him over the game audio? They were still enjoyable due to Noah, but sometimes it was like trying to enjoy a fine meal in the rain :B
@@HadBabits lmfao awesome analogy. And yeah he was an all talent no production content creator for some time.
@@KadoTheNorm I still like that he's a little bit rough. like Joseph Anderson is a great creator, but he edits out breaths and pauses.Those littlethings are part of what amkes Noah so great
I love your analysis on the eventuality of half life 3. It’s not only comforting, it actually makes sense. Makes me appreciate HL Alyx that much more
Noah's Director's cut of his Half-Life retrospective... Instant Click!
51:54 Shouts out to Victor Antonov for his absolutely brilliant work on the combine architecture and design aesthetic. He created similarly iconic designs for the dishonored franchise also, and is one of my fave concept artists.
Me and some friends hopped on to DoD: Source a few months ago. Just in the tiny amount of footage of it you used, I recognised names in the kill feed. The playerbase is frighteningly small.
:( it's such a fun game
No game dies until that player count reaches zero. Dikatana still has a death match community, for example. Kudos to the people keeping the classics alive.
Hey I saw you giving yourself a hard time on Twitter. I just want to say Noah: Don't talk about my hero Noah like that! Or I'll come and beat you up
When I first played half life 2 I hadn’t even played the first game or knew who Barney was what you said about him is spot on he is such an immediately likeable character and feels like one of Gordon’s friends
2:01:42 this is amazing and somthing only vr can do. You can really see the joy in finally realizing you got Jeff and so gleefully and cheerfully dance your hand to the button, only to miss the first time lol
I can only imagine how often Noah wishes he could go back and _tweak this little bit here_ or _expand on that part there_
The fact that we’re sitting here with a “Half-Life Redux” video means something prompted him to go “fuck it, I’m going back this time,” and that’s _very_ exciting
Well, considering Half-Life itself has been significantly revived in just the past year, he has a lot to talk about.
@@InnsannaStories Makes me wish for a new FEAR so he can tear those sequels a new asshole all over again.
@@LicoriceLain Instead, they shall toil in the Warner Brothers mines and be misused for all eternity..
@@audiosurfarchive Yeah...about that. May not be the case for much longer.
Interestingly I found Jeff to be one of the most viscerally real, effective, and innovative chapters in any game I've ever played. I don't think Jeff ever killed me, so I do miss the cause of your major criticism. It was one of the most refreshing parts of the game for me, as combat was starting to hit some tedium, and exploration had become repetitive and stakeless. Jeff revived all of the sense of presence, careful thinking, and cohesiveness I associate with Half Life. Interesting to see the perspective of someone who hated it.
Agreed. From the footage you can see he never got good at Alyx so he probably died a bunch and got frustrated. I think this shouldn’t be your first VR shooter experience and you absolutely should build your “VR legs” up to using free movement. Jeff and the whole game would be a lot less of an experience just warping around. That he still enjoyed the game using warp controls and snap turning says a lot for how good the game was.
@@djdalby he never got good at any of the games, he legit said the nihilanth was too complex when you can just hide behind a pillar, shoot the crystals and then kill him
I died 5 times right at the start of Jeff's introduction and wasn't afraid of him in the slightest for the entire duration of our time together. It was fun but It fails to be horror after the first death. I even went into the game blind to make sure I wouldn't be biased in any direction.
I honestly think Jeff *was* a relatively weak portion of the game, despite never dying to him. There were a lot of effective emergent moments in his sequence, but the level design was often more annoying than clever. I remember a few points where I opened a container to get potential items, and it was full of those little clacky guys without any indication that they were there, which I assume was intended to create an unexpected moment of tension as you try to find a way to distract Jeff, but mostly just came off to me as punishing the method of exploration the game taught me
@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 - he is using that exact tactic, but it's still possible to get hit by the Nihilanth that way, or get hit by it's teleporter balls which is egregious. Also, a first-time player wouldn't know this.
The Cheers intro, gotta love it
This was an amazing video! Though I must say, I think you're the first person I've heard from who had a negative view on the Jeff chapter. Also, from the way you talked about it, I'm not entirely sure you came to the realization that the final sequence sort of... gave you the powers of a vortigaunt. The picking green energy off the walls and firing it at enemies immediately gave me that vibe and it was an experience I was very happy to have played through.
Finding this channel has been one of the most comforting and lifegiving things I've had in such a terrible time. Thanks for that Noah - it's appreciated so much
Noah’s enthusiasm for experiencing Alyx for the first time very much mimics my experience but in much better words
Having the thumbnail effectively the same as Noah's OG half life video, one of the first I saw of his, is a nice, nostalgic touch
Agree'd.
... also, is it just me, or is your avatar sorta familiar?
@@d3punkt5 ye
@@d3punkt5
There's now a _spot the imposter bit_ happening for all eternity in this thread
I don't really often comment anymore on things and God knows this will probably sink through the cracks, but the night this video launched I was in my final year of college in what was the most mentally down I have ever been I was cutting myself, alone and planning my eventual suicide attempt that luckily ended up failing with me waking up a few hours later.
But as clear as day I remember watching this video that night it came out with all those thoughts ripping through my head and here years later I'm comfy on a Friday night still suffering a great amount of misfortune in my personal life but being reminded by this video that I can move on and that things will work out for the better.
this literally made me tear up. so happy youre able to even feel a bit of comfort now!!
Just so you know, I also made some lengthy videos in my life, but nothing with this scope of recording, scripting, editing while also maintaining a style to it. Your Thorough Looks are always amazing and make my day. Just wanted to let you know that your hard work is appreciated and we are thankful for your invested time. Every few months I even rewatch the NWN and Baldur's Gate ones. Stay healthy Noah!
Im so glad you included Minerva, the map design is so great.
Holy, this is so perfectly timed... I was just finishing up my Half-Life marathon!
I can't believe it's been seven years since I've watched that first one.
You have no idea how wonderful having this update really felt. You should be so proud of what you are achieving here.
Damn, you're a real G.
17:09 they're not even fully remorseless in HL1 either, there's a whole conversation where a soldier discusses how he didn't sign up to kill civilians and cover up the incident
fun (or not so fun) fact is that in the same chapter, there's a group of soldiers that discuss on getting revenge on freeman for killing their brothers in arms, it's really cool how the game delves into how the soldiers are feeling and op4 only goes even more into that
Great update, particularly love your thoughts on Alyx. The story about you running into a wall to escape a VR grenade was especially vivid. Thanks for posting!!
First time RUclips actually have me a notification for an upload when it happened. And it's gonna be a good one
As always, a superb look at technology, interaction design, communication and the future.
I can't begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed and benefitted from your work, all of it. ALL of it.
But most importantly, I appreciate your voice as a human being.
I really appreciate the amount of time you put into these, and the perspective you hold on games as a medium for much more than just idle entertainment, keep it up man
You do the strangest formatted and edited videos. It's really charming, and I can't find anything like it.
how so?
At times it feels more like listening to poetry than analysis, which I think is a good thing.
He is also just very calming in a very humble sort of way. He is insightful about games as art, rather than mechanical experiences. @@JohnDoe-in2gk
The fact that you summed up Half Life vanilla in only 17 minutes, incredibly elequently, is so great
There's something so cosy about your videos, they are important in this mad world. Thank you for making them
We need more revisited videos, this is awesome. Hope you never stop making these essays.
I appreciate this "remake" as I just finished Half-Life Alyx and was hungry for some analysis from someone I respect. Cheers Noah!
I am going through a really hard time. Thank you for uploading this.
"The player wears Gordon like Gordon wears glasses" and "preceding over the end of the world in a turtleneck sweater" Noah just does not miss bro
God, nothing makes me happier than a new video from Noah.
this has got to be one of my favorite videos of yours I've seen. your evocative narration really shines here with a franchise I can tell you have an incredible amount to say about, and the sometimes prohibitive video length lends a story-like quality to the video that legitimately had me hooked. I grew up after the era of Half-Life's dominance, and had never understood all the hype surrounding it. You have, singlehandedly, made me want to go back and experience that era of video game history anew.
1998...I'm uncomfortable with how long ago that was.
Same... Im 29 and I feel old
@@AutumnWind92 I'm 32 and my back hurts like...just all of my waking life.
@@lucyann1573 Only your back? You are lucky then, my knees almost sound like creeking door in the gold source engine.
@@AutumnWind92 Oh you're in the crappy knees gang to? I'm right there with u I'm literally wearing a stretchy knee brace as we speak lol
@@lucyann1573 I had a dumb smile on my face for a second so you earned my sub, thanks
A great revisit Noah! Really cool to see a retrospect that takes Black Mesa and Alyx into the perspective
Also as someone who watches a variety of VR streams your vr sections are very watchable, which is not the case for a lot of people. I think it speaks to your immersion that your movements are really natural and as such very enjoyable as a viewer experience
Thank the Vortugants: Noah blesses us with an updated version of one of my favorite videos he's ever made!
I really enjoy remakes like this or just you building on top of previous Thorough Looks. They're a great way to see how a series have evolved.
I really love that these videos do not feature any animations, titles, intro, etc. Everything is practical. Love love love it.
I cannot express just how happy your videos make me. The cadence of your voice mixed with the extraordinary deconstruction of these games makes these videos addictive to watch.
Especially true in regard to the Half-Life Alyx portion.
Been watching since the Fallout Retrospective like 7 years ago.
I'm shocked to hear that you didn't like the mines section of Episode 2, that was one of the most memorable parts of it for me. I wasn't having a great time until I figured out that the shotgun was extremely effective (and super satisfying) against the bugs. Then it became a total blast.
As someone who hasn't played almost any of these (lot of TF2, and most of Portal 1), but knows their significance by reputation, it's always a joy to get at least a simulacrum of a proper understanding of games important to the history of the medium through your work, and a special treat to see how their reputation and legacy has changed a over the years, to contrast the emotions these games evoke in 2021 as opposed to 2013, even if I disagree with your boundless optimism for more Half-Life content at both points in time.
Aw man, I just finished watching the previous version this morning. What a great way to spend an evening. Thanks Noah :D
The conclusion to the whole review is beautiful and poetic. I think your Alyx review by itself is some of your best writing and delivery yet.
I used to watch this video on repeat when I was a kid. This video was single handedly responsible for gobbling up a months worth of data when I wasn’t at my house one weekend. I don’t regret a single second of it, seriously, this is the best re-release of anything I’ve seen this year, maybe ever.
Nice re release, cool. Must have watched the original 100 times. Happy to go back anew :)
I rewatch this video often because it ends up being a nice treatise on the future of VR games and the concept of paradigm shifts in gaming. So good!
Noah, I really appreciate your work. This channel is one of the most remarkable things on the internet.
Last time I was this early, Half-life 2 wasn't released yet.
Last time I was this early, people thought half life 3 would be out anytime.
Damn, you were really early
Man, I didn't know that your content was exactly what I wanted until I started watching, and I just can't get enough. The full form video-essay for these topics are incredibly satisfying and very informative, making for great listening.
when i saw this in my notifications i said "OOOOO" out loud like a tool. i hope you're proud of yourself lol
I'm straight up addicted to your videos, I keep binging them and I think it's effecting my social life lmao
"saving the world is just more fun with Mopar"
Truer words have never been spoken.
Man, your essays are really something else. You often talk about really good games and not only are you good at identifying what it is that makes a clock tick, you also have the way with words and delivery to not only make me understand what you mean but feel what you mean. Just like a video game or any piece of art, they say, is to make you feel. Mostly, essays are knowledge or insight of art, your's are art on top of art. I often pause your videos because something you said was so vivid I'm unable to recieve new information before I settle down a bit. Thank you for doing this.
"the player wears gordon, like gordon wears glasses."
now that's some GOOD ASS WRITING!
holy shit, brilliant.
Onat he said that in the old one as well.
Why is everyone so surprised by that?
@@michimatsch5862 i may not have watched the "old one" maybe?
>_>'
@@onatgz Are you implying you missed a video from Noah-Caldwell-Gervais?
You are a despicable specimen and shall henceforth not talk to me.
i like noah's videos, especially how interwoven he considers gameplay, story, and lived consumer experience. i also like how considerate he is of developer intentions and whether or not they work. lots of people think identifying intentions is sort of the end-all of criticism, and supplant whether or not the intention works or is enjoyable
This is a masterpiece content for RUclips, not that shit in recommendations. Thanks for exemplier work!
these videos are actually so goddamn good it's unbelievable
As someone who has audio processing issues you remaking old videos even word for word would be so appreciated because that old mic is hard to listen to and distracts from the essays themselves especially since I listen to these like podcasts and am rarely watching because I mean…how am I gonna game LMAO
I can listen to you talk about games all day. You and SkillUp are my favorite video game youtubers, but I think I like you more since your videos are longer :)
I wept when Eli handed me that crowbar. I wanted to scream with joy. I wanted to hug him, tell him that I missed him so much. I've never felt such a rush of elation and exhausting joy as seeing that familiar face.
Welcome back, Gordon. Thanks, Alyx. Couldn't have done it without you.
A nice remaster. The old video was great but after half life alyx this feels right on time and appropriate.
The intro theme of Half Life when you're heading into Black Mesa never gets old, Kelly Bailey nailed the music for all HL games apart from Alyx I understand.
Alyx was Mike Morasky's work
@@glueplay he did a great job watching playthroughs!
Funny thing is I think that entire track comes from a sample library
What an incredible analysis. I've seen so many video essays on RUclips, and that's one of my favorite things to consume. This video is, by far, my favorite analysis of a game that I've ever seen. HL is far from my favorite game, but your praise for it really makes me appreciate the developers much more.
"It may be... that as much bad audio had been recorded on RUclips here, you may record something else, as you recorded the first."
I'm all for remakes of the really old videos, as any excuse to hear your words is great.
I really enjoyed what I *could* understand of "A Thorough Look At Fallout," and if there ever was a remake of that one, I'd hook it up to my veins.
Anyways, great analysis.
I genuinely think this is one of the best RUclips videos I've ever watched, and I've been here since 08
loved your first look at half life, looking forward to this one
I haven't really followed the Half-life Alyx, so the last part of your Video was extremely informative to me on what it is and what it means for the franchise and gaming media. For me, it is truly convincing when a person who grew up with early PC/Console games praises the new interactive format. You said that Alyx convinced you that VR is the future. And your video convinced me. Thanks for doing this.
Thank you for making the content you make. I'm unable to contribute in a more financially direct way but every time you pop into my sub box it makes my day infinitely better. Thank you for that
I was playing Half Life 2. It's still thrilling, and on hard, fiendishly difficult and challenging. Every level has a unique challenge. I've been dieing a lot. Definitely the best FPS I ever played.
I don't think I've been so frustrated by a game and yet loved it at the same time.
This guy could've straight up been a voice actor for one of the scientists and not have had to contort his voice.
There is just something about the way he talks that just makes me relax and listen closely. I sometimes watch a particular video a second time right after finishing it and I go back to older ones from time to time. If all the advertisements on TV were just him talking about products, I'd listen and relax. That would be so great.
Glad there was several additions, was wondering when an update would happened. I was surprised you didn’t mentioned Epistle 3 and how Alyx basically changed things in regards to that.
Also, I’m glad you didn’t talk about Hunt Down the Freeman. The less said about that “fan game,” the better.
The first time I saw this video, I wasn't actually watching the screen. I was listening to it while playing 7 Days to Die or some other mindless malarkey. That was a mistake. Watching you play Alyx is easily my favorite part of this video now, and the main content that is the essay was already more than enough to have me entertained. Nice one, Noah.
This is the first review of Half-Life and Half-Life 2 that can mention "the inevitable release of Half-Life 3"
Really glad you've decided to go back and re-do the older videos. Hoping Fallout is one of them, you've learned a lot about audio balancing since those days.
[rings bells aggressively and shouts from third story apartment window.]
Noah is back! Noah is back!
I've spent 2 years in China as a university teacher and my campus was on an old coal factory compound with some old buildings still standing. They really, really, really gave me a creepy HL2 experience.
it is curerntly raining and a bit chilly where i live so i made myself some coffee to relax and i found this in my sub box, better timing would be impossible
I've watched only a couple of your videos, Mr. Noah, but I'm simply dazzled by the longevity and the thoroughness of your reviews. You put a lot of time and effort in them and you deserve more recognition.