Review: Half-Life 2: Lost Coast [PC]

If you’ve got Half-Life 2 for PC, you may not be aware that you could qualify for a free download of Half-Life 2: Lost Coast.  This is a “missing level” that was originally going to take place within the original Half-Life 2 game, but didn’t make the final cut.  The level, however, is available for free (via Steam) for owners of Orange Box, Half-Life 2, or people with new Radeon video cards.  It’s also available for purchase as part of several Half-Life 2 packages, for as low as $9.95 in the Episode One Package.  This is a good technology demo, and is worth playing especially if you can manage to pick it up for free.

Graphics: 100/100

This is a tech demo, and as such, it is extremely beautiful to look at.  The game features high dynamic range lighting (HDR) which gives a new level of realism to the environment.  The lighting is superb, with a warm glow peering through windows or reflecting off the surface of the gorgeous water.  The character models are the same as Half Life 2, with the same impressive weapons and explosions.

Lost Coast also features a video stress test, which does a flyby of the area to determine what your average frames-per-second is.  It’s a nice feature that more games should include.

Sound: 90/100

The impressive graphics are complimented by quality sound effects.  You can hear the Combine troops in the distance, and you know immediately to turn to that side and prepare for a fight.  Headphones or a good surround sound system are a must for this game.  The soundtrack doesn’t really stand out here, although it presented a strange ambiance when you enter the church level.

Gameplay: 90/100

Half-Life 2: Lost Coast is, at it’s core, just a single level that would fit right in the middle of Half-Life 2.  As such, it’s extremely short.  If you’ve played the original HL2, you will have an idea of what’s going on, but it’s not really essential to the enjoyment of this game.  However, Lost Coast presented me with the same feelings I get with the rest of the Half-Life games.  I always feel like I’m stuck.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  In fact, this is what makes the Half-Life series stand apart from most first person shooters.  Unlike a game where you must simply blast your way down a path, Half-Life constantly throws you into an area where you are stuck, and you must figure out how to move forward.  These puzzle elements make Half-Life games a much more intelligent game than the Quake or Halo series, but it can be frustrating to some gamers who just want to keep blowing stuff up.

Replay: 40/100

The level can be run through in probably 15 minutes, so if you’re looking for a lengthy experience you’re not going to find it here.  However, the game does feature a commentary track, which allows you to listen to the developers describing different facets of the level and why they made them as such.  It is a great feature that Valve is incorporating in all of their games (it was also included in the Orange Box titles), and more developers should really follow their lead.

Overall, Lost Coast is a good game to show off your gaming rig, and is pretty fun while it lasts.  If you can nab it for free, or missed out on Half-Life 2, it’s definitely worth a look.