Windows Half-Life VS Half-Life: Source

Well, I'm sure you've heard by know the debate between these two games, so I've decided to do a head-to-head between these two titles.

The system this was tested on: Asus A7N8X-E; 2100@1.94; 2x256 RAM; Radeon 9800PRO AIW.

The games used we're the Half-Life Platinum Collection allong with the Half-Life 2 Collectors Edition.

Settings: 1280x960@32, 6xAA, 16xAF, maximum textures set in both menu's. Basically, everything cranked to maximum.


Alright, now you know how I tested it, what I tested it on, so lets get to the pictures! I'll start by showing a shot from the orignal followed by a shot from the source version. Now, remember, the original I'm presenting has the high-definition package installed.


Original:

New:



Original:

New:



Original:

New:



Original:

New:



Original:

New:




What I think of it all:
Things improved: better opening menu (they're actual scenes from the game, most with real moving, interacting characters), ability to set AA/AF though menu, limited better physics (not much, basically limited to some ragdoll effects and a couple others, in the original you could still blow dead enemy's apart), some NPC's (like the toxic waste handlers) have improved graphics, "dirty" look more evident.

Things not improved: longer load times (it takes my system about 40-50 seconds at most to open up the original. I can make toast while waiting for the new one to open - I know because I did it), poorer character graphics, most wall textures not improved, and finally: you need the disk in the drive to play the new one!!





Comments? Things to add?

 

no more disk in drive - new steam patch removed that. i never got this because i played through HL1 before HL2 was released, so no real reason to shell out. looking at those screens, looks like i didn't miss out on much. one question - why did they not use the HL2 models for barner, kleiner and the gman? i guess they would have had to remodel all the other characters, but i'm sure it would have been just a case of retexturing the HL2 models?

 

yah u used the updated models from blue shift ( i think from wat i remember any way the HI-Def pack???? - correct me if am wrong) hehe nice work any way hehe tbh I still like the the original HL compared to HL-S mainly for loading times and just the feel of the game

 

Malf, those don't look like they are at the same resolution.

 

id say 1 is at 1600x1200 and other is at 1024x768, hardly a proper comparison

 

Not quite sure what you're smoking, but I can assure you that they're both at 1280x960. Key reasons: neither game supports a 1600x1200 resolution, at 1024x768 you'd see pixilation on closer objects (and very pronounced pixilation on further objects), and as well, if you're basing this guess upon the different text sizes, HL:S doesn't resize the in-game text's like the original does. Have you ever played either one? This would really help in any such argument.


By the way, I took these at the same time, but didn't feel the need to clutter up my post with them:

Original:

New:

 

Well if you want a more thorough comparison that takes into account more than the first 3 minutes of the game, go here.

The major graphical differences consist of lighting, fluids, and particle effects.

 

It's well known that there is very little difference between the two games at the beginning, you'll see more (slightly) improvement in the later levels.