The VR franchise returns
Valve’s VR is back to the Half-Life series with its newest title, Half-Life: Alyx. This action game is not a continuation of the first two game titles of the franchise but rather set between them. It will feature a familiar character from the series who will fight against a race of vicious aliens.
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Still showcasing action-packed survival gameplay, Half-Life: Alyx aims to give you the same thrill as the other two titles are known for. Note that this premium game requires a capable VR setup, including a compatible headset and a reasonably powerful PC to handle its immersive graphics and mechanics.
Return of familiar faces and places
The Half-Life games are VR games, and Half-Life: Alyx is the largest game in the series. With this, you can immerse yourself in deep environmental interactions, world exploration, puzzle-solving, and visceral combat. The story, as mentioned, is set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. It sees Alyx Vance and her father, Eli, secretly mounting a resistance against the brutal occupation of Earth by the mysterious alien race called the Combine.
As Alyx, the players will take the fight to the Combine and save the future of humanity. In addition, since the game is a return to the Half-Life universe, you will also get back to City 17, the premise of the past game. You will also get to the Combine stronghold, called the Citadel, which will also hold some of the game’s epic battles.
For one, the mysterious G-man will be back in this game, once again voiced by Mike Shapiro. Of course, it is hard to imagine a Half-Life game without him. Good thing, gamers don’t have to see that. The game will also see the return of the alien Vortigaunts, still voiced by Tony Todd. Ellen McLain, the voice of GlaDOS in the Portal series, returned as the sinister synthesized voice of the Combine Overwatch.
Bringing something new to the table
Of course, the game is not just about bringing the same faces and places to players. There is also something new to look forward to in Half-Life: Alyx. For one, unlike the Half-Life hero Gordon Freeman, Alyx will have plenty to say, as she will be a voiced hero. She will be an active participant in the conversation, incorporating narrative into the game and adding density to the storytelling.
However, Merle Dandridge—Alyx’s voice actress in Half-Life 2—will not be voicing Alyx this time, but Ozioma Akagha will. Akagha is known for voicing characters in popular games such as Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and Mirror's Edge: Catalyst. Since the events of the game happened before Half-Life 2, there will also be no Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator. Instead, Alyx will have gravity gloves. But like the gravity gun, these gloves can be used to lift, pull, and throw objects.
You can also use these gloves to rip the headcrabs off your face and throw them into a swarm of Combine soldiers. Yes, there are still headcrabs in Half-Life: Alyx, and it is scarier than ever, as they were designed to leap at people’s faces. Now imagine that while playing with a VR headset. Speaking of VR, the game supports all kinds of VR, so you are not limited to the Valve Index.
Be the hero that saves humanity
If you are a fan of the Half-Life games, then you should definitely give Half-Life: Alyx a try. This game will provide you with the game experience you have come to love and more. Plus, as a prequel, it will provide you with content that will tie up to some events in Half-Life 2. More so, it’s a VR game, so your playtime will be more immersive and more fun.
