Half-Life – The Fight Comes To Dreamcast

Multiple award-winning blaster set to blow Dreamcast owners away.

Posted by Staff
Half-Life, winner of over 50 accolades within the PC press, is set to wow a new wave of games players. As of September, Dreamcast owners will also be able to experience the Havas Interactive game's unrivalled first-person action as the Half-Life franchise makes its long-awaited console debut.

With current worldwide sales topping 1.5m units, the PC version of Half-Life is recognised as a true video game classic. Developed by Valve, Half-Life won it's legions of fans through its fast-paced gameplay, stunning plot twists and incredible visuals. These features will play an integral part of it's successful move to Dreamcast, with Sega specialists Captivation Digital Labs currently putting the finishing touches to the game.

Cast as a weedy scientist called Gordon Freeman, Half-Life tells the story of an alien invasion as seen through the eyes of the unlikely hero. A failed experiment has created a rift in time, through which hordes of slavering monsters are emerging. Initially with only limited security clearance and a paltry weapon, Gordon finds himself the lone hero in a running battle and left to gather his wits and whatever weapons come to hand. With the action using a stunning first-person viewpoint within a 3D landscape, the player must do whatever it takes to end the alien threat. But everything is not as it seems and the presence of Government SWAT teams further complicates matters…

This sets the scene for a stunning first-person blaster that mixes gun-toting scenes against seemingly impossible numbers of aliens with deft puzzles and cinematic cut scenes. Captivation has also taken the opportunity to add a wealth of key new features to the Dreamcast version. In addition to Gordon's mission, the team has joined forces with esteemed Half-Life add-on specialists Gearbox to implement an all-new, secondary mission starring an equally unlikely star. The new level features a security guard called Barney who also finds himself left to deal with the alien invasion and duly throws up a number of new surprises and plot twists. A training mode has also been included to test out the game's many offensive moves.

The Dreamcast game will also benefit from a lush, more vivid-looking appearance and intuitive gameplay. The Sega version of Half-Life boasts significantly more detailed graphics, incredible lighting effects and better AI. Creatures will attack in packs and split up to catch players unawares, while different species will ensure the player is always on the look out for bigger and better weaponry.

Half-Life for Dreamcast is already being described as the most anticipated game of the year for the Sega machine. With a huge following on PC, the Dreamcast version is certain to ensnare a new wave of fans with its stunning gameplay and incredible aesthetics. Those with itchy trigger fingers should seek salvation in September.

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