Original Half-Life 2 vs. RTX: A Comparison

Digital Foundry’s YouTube channel has released an in-depth, record-breaking 75-minute video that meticulously compares the visuals of the original Half-Life 2 from 2004 with Half-Life 2 RTX, a remaster being developed by Orbifold Studios. This project harnesses NVIDIA's advanced tools to deliver significant visual enhancements, including high-resolution textures, enhanced lighting, new assets, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 support. The remaster, which promises to breathe new life into the legendary game, will be available for free to players who already own Half-Life 2 on Steam, although a release date has yet to be announced.

Starting March 18, gamers can experience a free demo of Half-Life 2 RTX, allowing them to explore two iconic locations: the abandoned city of Ravenholm and the Nova Prospekt prison. A recent trailer showcased the remaster’s impressive ray tracing capabilities and DLSS 4 technology, which significantly boosts FPS performance.

The video by Digital Foundry provides an extensive analysis of gameplay footage from both Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt, frequently juxtaposing the remastered visuals with those of the original game. This comparison highlights the dramatic improvements achieved by Orbifold Studios' experienced modding team.

While the visual upgrades have impressed Digital Foundry’s experts, they did note occasional frame rate drops in certain areas. However, the overall transformation of Half-Life 2 into Half-Life 2 RTX is nothing short of remarkable, offering fans a fresh yet familiar experience of this iconic game.