Physics Engine: Enhancement or Distraction?

[Kronzky]

I'm sure everybody loved playing with the physics engine - stacking up things, throwing stuff around, etc...

But - while on the surface it certainly seems more realistic to have a full-fledged physics engine, does it really make the game more immersive, or does it act as more of a distraction?

For me - once I stepped out of the train at the beginning of the game, the first thing I did was to pick up all kinds of items, stacking them up, throwing them around, and later pelting the Combines with it
But I also realized that this totally ruined the mood. This was supposed to be some opressive and fear-evoking setting, with guards everywhere, humongous overhead screens, and flying monitor cameras all over you. But once you're allowed to throw boxes at guards (without any serious repercussions) that whole immersion thing went burst.

Sure, most puzzles were totally dependent on the physics engine, and it was certainly fun smashing things to pieces, but rather than feeling like an undercover saboteur in a very hostile environment, you felt more like a kid on a playground.

I would say the two places where the physics engine was most mood-destroying were the train station at the start, and the whole ending chapter where (SPOILER ALERT) you get the super gravity-gun to show off the Havok-Engine. Two places that were totally designed to make you feel like you're a nothing, something little, insignificant, that can be stamped out like a bug. But once you get the super g-gun, and you start hurling people around, it all becomes nothing more than slapstick.

Perhaps it's just because it's still so new (or perhaps I'm just too immature), and once we're all used to it we will be able to mainly ignore it, and use physics like we do in the real world. But for now, and for a title like HL, where the atmosphere is supposed to matter, it seemed somewhat distractive to me.

What do you think? Did the physics spoil the mood for you, or did it make the setting more believable?

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

They enhanced the game very much for me. When the combine told me to pick up the can, I threw it at him.. and he beat the shit out of me. I learned my lesson (at least until I got my crowbar)

 

[The Mullinator]

I knew that exact problem would happen to me before I bought HL2 so I made sure that while I was playing I would not "play" with the physics. I would not try and do fun and creative things with them when there was no need for it and as a result it never ruined the atmosphere for me. It just enhanced it.

I plan on playing through again where I will be playing with the physics and I know for sure it would definitaly ruin the original mood for me but oh well.

 

[Crushenator 500]

I thought the physics were great

They DEFINATELY added something to the game, especially in ravenholm

 

[Absinthe]

It never shattered immersion for me, and I think it contributed greatly to the gameplay.

I never really played around with physics that much in the trainstation. And when I tossed stuff at the Combine guards, they chased after me and beat me with their sticks. I didn't see the problem there.

As for the citadel, I think the entire point of the super gravity gun was to make you feel like a badass. Didn't strike me at all as slapstick. Just empowering and fun.

 

[ryudom]

at the end i don't think you were supposed to feel insignificant. going on that ride thing was pretty crazy. the super grav gun did make you feel like god thought, the citadel was probably the coolest level ever, in any game.

 

[Solver]

I just didn't play with physics too much first time playing it, but the options that the engine opens are great and enhance gameplay. Being able to throw stuff at enemies is great., or solve some puzzles thanks to physics. Much more realistic than the jump puzzles and many other puzzles found in other games.

Later on, it's also realistic. You're Gordon, and Gordon is smart. It would be smart probably to block doors or something else that you can do.

 

[Dead-Inside]

It's not like you can't die in the citadel, it just means you suck if you do.

 

[Fishlore]

Since the game runs well and scales well to various machines I'd say it's an enhancement. Having said that though, if performance took a hit due to the physics I'd say distraction. After an hour the "wow" factor was 100% gone.

I definitely wouldn't require this physics system in future games I play. The physics don't mean anything to me if the story and gameplay were to suck (which they don't). You might as well have them though if the game can still perform at a high level.

 

[dkelly]

After an hour the "wow" factor was 100% gone.

I couldn't disagree more.
I think, for me, the biggest "wow" I saw in the whole game was the 'train ride' in the .. coffin thingy.. in the citadel. There were many other times throughout the game where my jaw literrally dropped. Having said that, I'm not easily impressed.

As far as physics taking away from the mood.
It didn't for me, as I didn't really play around too much with it, besides throwing stuff at the guards (who then beat the shit out of me). It did, however, take the mood away for my brother (who sat and played with the baby and the teetor-totter sp? for a half-hour, no joke). He still really liked the game though.

So I guess, regardless of the mood killing (in certain cases). The game is still enjoyable to all.

 

[MrWynd]

I felt the physics only enhanced the gameplay. When I was being chased, or running from striders I never bothered with messing around with physics. When I wasn't in such a rush it was fun to mess around with stuff and solve puzzles rather than feel that "oh this is a slow part before the action"

 

[Yellonet]

The game is way better with the physics than it would have been without them. And you don't throw stuff at the guards... play the roll! You don't want any attention.

 

[Cukel]

Nowadays, after _The_ Half-Life 2, I feel pure disgust to games without such an interactive enviorment. Just to think that you could use almost anything as a cover or a weapon or something just thrills me. The WOW-factor was there throughout the game, physicpuzzles had always like "brilliant! this is fcking genious!" touch in them. My god, I love this game.