Original Half-Life 2 vs. RTX: A Comparison

Digital Foundry's YouTube channel has released an extensive, 75-minute video that meticulously compares the original Half-Life 2 from 2004 with Half-Life 2 RTX, a remaster being developed using NVIDIA's advanced tools. The project, led by Orbifold Studios, a team of seasoned modders, aims to deliver significant visual upgrades. These enhancements include refined lighting, new assets, ray tracing, and the integration of DLSS 4 technology. This remaster will be available for free to those who own the original Half-Life 2 on Steam, although a specific release date has yet to be announced.

Starting March 18, players can dive into a free demo of Half-Life 2 RTX, which will feature two iconic settings: the eerie, abandoned city of Ravenholm and the formidable Nova Prospekt prison. A recent trailer has already showcased the remaster's impressive ray tracing capabilities and the performance-enhancing DLSS 4 technology.

The hour-long video from Digital Foundry offers a deep dive into gameplay footage from both Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt, drawing frequent comparisons between the remastered and original versions. These comparisons underscore the dramatic visual improvements achieved by Orbifold Studios.

Orbifold Studios is focusing on implementing high-resolution textures, advanced lighting systems, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 to enhance Half-Life 2 RTX. While Digital Foundry's experts have been impressed with the results, they did note some occasional frame rate drops in specific areas. Despite these minor hiccups, the overall transformation of the game is remarkable, revitalizing the classic experience of Half-Life 2.