When comparing Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory vs Half-Life 2 (and episodes), the Slant community recommends Half-Life 2 (and episodes) for most people. In the question“What are the best Linear games on Steam?” Half-Life 2 (and episodes) is ranked 1st while Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is ranked 19th. The most important reason people chose Half-Life 2 (and episodes) is:
When Half Life 2 came out it set the bar super high for character animation that still rivals some games today.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Suspenseful hunt and chase dynamic between player types in multiplayer mode
The spy character plays exactly like Sam Fisher in the single-player game, so you're a Splinter Cell commando, and you view the action from a third-person, behind-the-back camera perspective. The mercenaries play the game from the traditional first-person perspective, much like in tactical action games like Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six 3.
Pro Amazing character animation
When Half Life 2 came out it set the bar super high for character animation that still rivals some games today.
Pro Guns are varied and interesting
Almost every gun is fun to shoot and is distinct. The crossbow is super awesome for it’s power and the gravity gun offers variety in puzzles and what you can shoot with. Want to hit someone with an explosive barrel? Pick it up and throw it with the gravity gun!
Pro Great Sci-Fi story
Aliens, portals to other dimensions, oppressive regimes, oh my! This game brings a great flavor of dystopian sci-fi as you fight part of the rebel cause to deliver justice with your Gravity Gun to the many species afflicted by the evil Combine. Also Half Life ties in somehow with the Portal series which makes it even more awesome.
Pro Commentaries
Hear from the creators about the making of Half Life 2 Ep1 and 2. Everything from level design to technical details are discussed. More developers need to use this.
Pro Very moddable
Entire games have been made from Half Life (such as Counter Strike) and the tradition continues with it’s sequel! In fact there’s a game essentially about making your own things made from a modded Half Life 2 and that game is called Garry’s Mod.
Cons
Con Short campaign with abrupt ending
The campaign will only last around 10 hours, which is pretty short for a AAA game, on top of this the ending is quite abrupt making for a lack of closure for some.