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Difference between revisions of "Half-Life 2: Episode Two"

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(17 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
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|reception    =  
 
|reception    =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|half-life-2-episode-two|90}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|half-life-2-episode-two|90}}
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|half-life-2-episode-two|70}}
+
|taxonomy    =
|taxonomy     =
+
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions|None}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes|Singleplayer}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing|Real-time}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives|First-person}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls|Direct control}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres|Shooter}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles|Automobile}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles|Realistic}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes|Eastern Europe, Post-apocalyptic, Sci-fi}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series|Half-Life}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series|Half-Life}}
 
|steam appid  = 420
 
|steam appid  = 420
 
|steam appid side = 323160
 
|steam appid side = 323160
 
|gogcom id    =  
 
|gogcom id    =  
 +
|official site= https://www.half-life.com/en/episode2
 +
|hltb        = 4251
 
|strategywiki = Half-Life 2: Episode Two
 
|strategywiki = Half-Life 2: Episode Two
 +
|igdb        = half-life-2-episode-two
 
|mobygames    = half-life-2-episode-two
 
|mobygames    = half-life-2-episode-two
 
|wikipedia    = Half-Life 2: Episode Two
 
|wikipedia    = Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Line 26: Line 37:
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
{{mm}} [http://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Main_Page Unofficial Half-Life Wiki]
 
 
{{mm}} [https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Source-1-Games/issues GitHub Issue Tracker for Half-Life 2: Episode Two] and other Source-based games
 
{{mm}} [https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Source-1-Games/issues GitHub Issue Tracker for Half-Life 2: Episode Two] and other Source-based games
 
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/420/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
 
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/420/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
Line 39: Line 49:
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 +
 +
===Peixoto's patch===
 +
[https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Peixoto Peixoto's patch] forced resolution allows in high resolution without shrinking the HUD\menus. Super sampling anti-aliasing is also possible
 +
 +
 
===Skip intro videos===
 
===Skip intro videos===
 
{{Fixbox|description=Use <code>-novid</code> [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]]|ref=<ref name="Sui">{{refcheck|user=Suicide machine|date=August 11, 2016}}</ref>}}
 
{{Fixbox|description=Use <code>-novid</code> [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]]|ref=<ref name="Sui">{{refcheck|user=Suicide machine|date=August 11, 2016}}</ref>}}
Line 72: Line 87:
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two General Video.png|In-game general video settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two General Video.png|In-game general video settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Advanced Video.png|In-game advanced video settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Advanced Video.png|In-game advanced video settings.}}
{{Video settings
+
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/half-life-2-episode-two
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/half-life-2-episode-two
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = gold
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = gold
Line 98: Line 113:
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|antialiasing              = true
 
|antialiasing              = true
|antialiasing notes        = Up to 8x [[MSAA]].
+
|antialiasing notes        = Up to 8x [[MSAA]]. [[SGSSAA]] available with flag <code>0x000000C1</code>.
 
|vsync                      = true
 
|vsync                      = true
 
|vsync notes                =  
 
|vsync notes                =  
Line 104: Line 119:
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps                    = true
 
|120 fps                    = true
|120 fps notes              = No frame rate or refresh rate cap.<ref>[http://120hz.net/showthread.php?3258-New-120Hz-Games-Report New 120Hz Games Report]</ref>
+
|120 fps notes              = Frame rate cap can be changed by changing <code>fps_max</code> in  the [[#Enabling the console|developer console]]. To uncap FPS or cap FPS higher than 300 you must first set <code>sv_cheats = 1</code> before using <code>fps_max</code>. <code>sv_cheats = 1</code> will also disable achievements.<ref>[http://120hz.net/showthread.php?3258-New-120Hz-Games-Report New 120Hz Games Report]</ref>
 
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr notes                  = Rendered image uses {{term|SDR}} color space. In-game {{term|HDR}} option refers only to {{term|HDR Rendering}}.
 
|hdr notes                  = Rendered image uses {{term|SDR}} color space. In-game {{term|HDR}} option refers only to {{term|HDR Rendering}}.
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|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{ii}} HBAO available with flag <code>0x0000002C</code>.
  
 
===[[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|Borderless fullscreen windowed]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|Borderless fullscreen windowed]]===
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}}
 
}}
  
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Remapping.png|In-game key map settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Remapping.png|In-game key map settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Mouse Gamepad.png|In-game mouse/gamepad settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Mouse Gamepad.png|In-game mouse/gamepad settings.}}
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
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|controller support        = true
 
|controller support        = true
 
|controller support notes  = Use the console command {{code|exec 360controller}} to automatically setup Xbox controller support (if not already configured at startup).
 
|controller support notes  = Use the console command {{code|exec 360controller}} to automatically setup Xbox controller support (if not already configured at startup).
|full controller          = false
+
|full controller          = hackable
|full controller notes    =  
+
|full controller notes    = To make {{code|controller vibration}} work, download an updated version of the SDL2 file and replace it with the one in the HL2 folder. [https://www.libsdl.org/release/SDL2-2.0.12-win32-x86.zip SDL] This works for any Source engine based game.
 
|controller remap          = true
 
|controller remap          = true
 
|controller remap notes    =  
 
|controller remap notes    =  
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}}
 
}}
  
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Audio.png|In-game audio settings.}}
 
{{Image|Half Life 2 Episode Two Audio.png|In-game audio settings.}}
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume notes    = Over-all game volume and separate music slider.
 
|separate volume notes    = Over-all game volume and separate music slider.
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|dedicated notes    =  
 
|dedicated notes    =  
 
|self-hosting      = true
 
|self-hosting      = true
|self-hosting notes = See [http://synergymod.net/Documents/Dedicated%20Servers Documentation: Dedicated Servers].
+
|self-hosting notes = See [https://synergymod.net/Documents/Dedicated%20Servers Documentation: Dedicated Servers].
 
|direct ip          = unknown
 
|direct ip          = unknown
 
|direct ip notes    =  
 
|direct ip notes    =  
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* Enable [[#Console_commands|console commands]], open console using {{key|~}} button and type in <code>bind "F11" "exec hiquality"</code> and press {{key|Enter}}
 
* Enable [[#Console_commands|console commands]], open console using {{key|~}} button and type in <code>bind "F11" "exec hiquality"</code> and press {{key|Enter}}
 
* When a new map loads, press {{key|F11}} to switch to high quality configuration.
 
* When a new map loads, press {{key|F11}} to switch to high quality configuration.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Pickup Icons cut off at the bottom===
 +
{{ii}} Misaligned HUD causing pickup icons to appear cut at the bottom in certain resolutions.
 +
{{Fixbox|fix=
 +
* Download [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/1891-half-life-2-episode-2-hud-fix/ HUD FIX] and extract it in <code>{{P|game}}\hl2\custom</code>
 
}}
 
}}
  
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|windows exe notes      =  
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
+
|macos intel 32-bit app = true
|macos intel 64-bit app = true
+
|macos intel 64-bit app = false
 
|macos app notes        = {{CN|date=August 2015}}
 
|macos app notes        = {{CN|date=August 2015}}
 
|linux powerpc app      =  
 
|linux powerpc app      =  
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===Mods===
 
===Mods===
{{ii}} For popular mods, see [http://www.moddb.com/games/half-life-2-episode-two/mods?sort=rating-desc Mod DB's "Half-Life 2: Episode Two Mods" section].
+
{{ii}} For popular mods, see [https://www.moddb.com/games/half-life-2-episode-two/mods?sort=rating-desc Mod DB's "Half-Life 2: Episode Two Mods" section].
  
 
====Research and Development====
 
====Research and Development====
{{ii}} Research and Development is a Source Mod that requires Episode Two, download it from [http://www.moddb.com/mods/research-and-development Mod DB].
+
{{ii}} Research and Development is a Source Mod that requires Episode Two, download it from [https://www.moddb.com/mods/research-and-development Mod DB].
  
 
==System requirements==
 
==System requirements==

Revision as of 04:21, 14 June 2021

Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Half-Life 2: Episode Two cover
Developers
Valve Corporation
Engines
Source
Release dates
Windows October 9, 2007
macOS (OS X) May 26, 2010
Linux May 9, 2013
Reception
Metacritic 90
Taxonomy
Microtransactions None
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Shooter
Vehicles Automobile
Art styles Realistic
Themes Eastern Europe, Post-apocalyptic, Sci-fi
Series Half-Life
Half-Life 2: Episode Two on HowLongToBeat
Half-Life 2: Episode Two on IGDB
Half-Life 2: Episode Two guide on StrategyWiki
Half-Life 2: Episode Two on MobyGames
Half-Life 2: Episode Two on Wikipedia
Half-Life mods and fangames (series)
Half-Life 1998
Half-Life: Opposing Force 1999
Half-Life: Blue Shift 2001
Codename: Gordon 2004
Half-Life: Source 2004
Half-Life 2 2004
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch 2004
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast 2005
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source 2006
Half-Life 2: Episode One 2006
Half-Life 2: Episode Two 2007
Portal (series)
Half-Life: Decay (unofficial port) 2008
Half-Life: Alyx 2020

Warnings

The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.

General information

GitHub Issue Tracker for Half-Life 2: Episode Two and other Source-based games
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Steam
DRM-free after installation through Steam client (notes may include more details)
DRM-free when launched directly from the executable with -game ep2 command line argument.[citation needed]
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
All versions require Steam DRM.
Soundtrack is available for free with purchase here.

Essential improvements

Peixoto's patch

Peixoto's patch forced resolution allows in high resolution without shrinking the HUD\menus. Super sampling anti-aliasing is also possible


Skip intro videos

Use -novid command line argument[1]

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Steam <Steam-folder>/SteamApps/common/Half-Life 2/ep2/cfg/
This game does not follow the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.

Save game data location

System Location
Steam <Steam-folder>/SteamApps/common/Half-Life 2/ep2/save/

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud
Approx. 100 MB available.
Syncs save games and settings.

Video

In-game general video settings.
In-game general video settings.
In-game advanced video settings.
In-game advanced video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Interface scales poorly.
Field of view (FOV)
Values between 75° and 90° horizontal can be set via ingame slider.[2] For higher values use this guide.
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See Borderless fullscreen windowed.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Up to 8x MSAA. SGSSAA available with flag 0x000000C1.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
Frame rate cap can be changed by changing fps_max in the developer console. To uncap FPS or cap FPS higher than 300 you must first set sv_cheats = 1 before using fps_max. sv_cheats = 1 will also disable achievements.[3]
High dynamic range display (HDR)
Rendered image uses SDR color space. In-game HDR option refers only to HDR Rendering.
HBAO available with flag 0x0000002C.

Borderless fullscreen windowed

-window -noborder[1]
  1. Find Half-Life 2: Episode Two in your Steam Library
  2. Right-click the game name
  3. Select Properties
  4. Select Set Launch Options...
  5. Input -window -noborder
  6. Press OK
  7. Launch the game

Input

In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.
In-game mouse/gamepad settings.
In-game mouse/gamepad settings.

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Use the console command exec 360controller to automatically setup Xbox controller support (if not already configured at startup).
Full controller support
To make controller vibration work, download an updated version of the SDL2 file and replace it with the one in the HL2 folder. SDL This works for any Source engine based game.
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
PlayStation controllers
Tracked motion controllers
Generic/other controllers
Additional information
Button prompts
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M
Steam Input
Steam Input API support
Hook input (legacy mode)
Official controller preset(s)
Steam Controller button prompts

Audio

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Over-all game volume and separate music slider.
Surround sound
7.1, 5.1 surround sound, 4 speaker surround.[4] 7.1 output may require DirectSound3D restoration software.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
"Silence the audio while the game window is in the background" check box.
EAX support
Set snd_legacy_surround 1 in console, 4 speakers in options, and use DSOAL for binaural HRTF mixing.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
Online play
10 Use Synergy.

Connection types

VR support

3D modes State GG3D Notes
Native 3D
Nvidia 3D Vision
TriDef 3D
iZ3D
vorpX
G3D, DirectVR
Officially supported game. Momentarily not on official vorpx game list, but assuming through some forum talk the game should be 3D.A profile is available at the factory profile list.
Headsets
SteamVR
This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer (compatibility list).
Oculus VR (LibOVR)
Available under Video Settings. See Oculus Rift for more information.
Windows Mixed Reality
This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer.
Devices
Tracked motion controllers
Traditional controller
See Input for details.
Keyboard/Mouse
3RD Space Gaming Vest
Novint Falcon

Oculus Rift

By default VR mode will run full screen, to switch back to a borderless windowed set the vr_force_windowed convar.

Issues fixed

Purple and black broken textures

A generic fix for this issue can be found on our Source engine page.

Low draw distance

Default draw distance is too low resulting in noticeable pop-ins of vegetation during the driving sections.
Use console commands[5]
  • Download hiquality.cfg and put it in <path-to-game>\ep2\cfg
  • Enable console commands, open console using ~ button and type in bind "F11" "exec hiquality" and press Enter
  • When a new map loads, press F11 to switch to high quality configuration.

Pickup Icons cut off at the bottom

Misaligned HUD causing pickup icons to appear cut at the bottom in certain resolutions.
Instructions

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 6, 7, 8, 8.1, 9
OpenGL 2.1 OS X and Linux only.
Shader Model support 2, 3
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
[citation needed]
Linux
[citation needed]

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok Heavily modified variant.
Audio Miles Sound System
Cutscenes Bink Video Used for startup videos and in-game movies.

Console commands

Games running on the Source engine can utilize Source Engine Console Commands for various tasks.
Enabling the console in Source games[1]
  1. Launch the game
  2. From the main menu select Options
  3. Select the Keyboard tab
  4. Click the Advanced button
  5. Check the box next to Enable developer console (~)
  6. Click Apply

Notes

Press ~ to open the console.
Some commands may first require you enabling sv_cheats. You can do so with sv_cheats 1.
Users without a US keyboard could experience some problems.

Launch options

View this Steam Support Article regarding launch options as well as the relevant Valve Developer wiki page for further information and a list of useful Source engine launch options.
Enabling a launch parameter[1]
  1. Find the game in your Steam Library
  2. Right-click the game name
  3. Select Properties
  4. Select Set Launch Options...
  5. Input your selected launch options and separate each command with a space
  6. Press OK
  7. Launch the game

Mods

For popular mods, see Mod DB's "Half-Life 2: Episode Two Mods" section.

Research and Development

Research and Development is a Source Mod that requires Episode Two, download it from Mod DB.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7
Processor (CPU) 1.7 GHz
System memory (RAM) 512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 4.6 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce FX 5700
ATI Radeon 9500
128 MB of VRAM
Windows 2000 was previously supported, but as future updates for this game and Steam occurred; the support was dropped, even with retail copies.
Must be run without Steam to play on XP and Vista.
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.5.8, 10.6.3
Processor (CPU) 1.7 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 4.6 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 8
ATI Radeon X1600
Intel HD 3000


References