They're just kinda boring IMO, only driving down narrow corridors until you reach some roadblock where you repeatedly just get out -> do some shooting -> undo the roadblock -> make your way back to the vehicle -> drive down narrow corridor again -> repeat.

Halo at least feels mechanically different (the most common vehicle, the Warthog, is very physics-based so it feels much different than just walking, whereas the HL2 vehicles just kinda feel like moving fast) and usually used in conjunction with larger more open level design to make the vehicles feel more useful instead of strictly necessary, or in levels that give you heavy vehicles like tanks they are useful in taking out a large amount of enemy vehicles so it functions like a powerup and feels rewarding. Also you can get marines to ride with you and use the turret (or even have them drive you and you get to use the turret) so it shakes up the gameplay more.

[–] PaigePalisade@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel like for HL2, the vibe was more important than the gameplay for those segments. While you aren't technically doing anything too interesting, I still felt cool driving around.

[–] sergio@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 year ago

That's true, HL2 does have some great vibes, but Water Hazard and The Coast levels just seem to go on for much longer than they should, particularly some parts of Water Hazard where you're literally in a trench and don't have much to look at so it's just driving down barren concrete tunnels while holding W.

There are some memorable moments, like everyone remembers the brick stack that falls on the player, and I particularly liked the more industrial areas of Water Hazard, and there are also some that use the driving mechanics more like the boss fight with the helicopter, but IMO the vehicle sections in HL2 are very much the "On a Rail" of HL2.

oh and also in Water Hazard while slowly making your way to Black Mesa East you get to watch the sun go down with each level transition and that looks/feels cool