Half-Life 2 (2004 Video Game) User Reviews

The most engrossing video game ever made.

[MovieAddict2016 · 10/10 · 14 October 2006]

"Half-Life 2" really elevates videogames to a new art form. For someone such as myself, who had taken a long hiatus from gaming, this was a refreshing revolution of the medium. There will always be the classic arcade games and the great Mario games for NES - but "Half-Life 2" takes gaming into a new dimension. This is the game that will blow away those of us who always thought games were simplistic. Its plot is better than 90% of action films today and it seamlessly blends realism with science-fiction.

Curiously enough "Doom 3" received more attention for blending cinema with gaming but I think "Half-Life 2" did so much better - there aren't cheesy cut-away scenes such as there are in "Doom 3" (which was still a fine game) and you actually feel like you ARE in an alternate reality. Valve - as they first did with the original "Half-Life" - provides similar scenes of plotting and character dialogue, but you never leave the POV of Dr. Gordon Freeman. And with the advancements in technology since the first game, "Half-Life 2" takes advantage of this to its fullest.

When I first got the game I couldn't play it. I was on a 2001 PC with outdated specs and had dial-up - Steam (which is a major pain and the only downside to this game) takes forever to download mandatory updates and "decryption" files in an effort to cut back on Internet piracy. The irony is that the game has made its way online anyway while people such as myself who purchased it often experience troubles with Steam because if you forget your password, or someone else uses it before you, you have to buy another copy of the game and they won't just replace the password itself.

Apart from Steam (the worst idea ever conceived by any gaming company) "HL2" delivers non-stop. I was surprised how the game combines so many different styles - first you start out in a bleak future-world reminiscent of "1984" and you join the resistance to fight the fascist ruling. The first few levels are eerie and brilliant; what's really scary is that they seem so realistic and not-so-far-away from where we are now.

Then it becomes a sci-fi game with zombie creatures and similar monsters. Then one level evokes atmospheric tension by placing you underground (think "Doom" minus the chainsaw) and then the game ends with a stunning apocalyptic-style war which also blends sci-fi and action together - yet all the while I felt like I could be playing a WWII battle game; the genre-bending is superb.

The storyline is solid and the game's engine is remarkable. The expansive surroundings and beautiful rendering is breathtaking at times. And the physics are the most realistic I've ever seen in any game, ever. It blows everything else out of the water.

The gravity gun at the end of the game is almost too good to be true - I've never seen anything like it in a game before.

At first I wasn't too sure about "Half-Life 2" because it has a fairly slow beginning; but by the end I couldn't stop playing. I re-played most of the game again and the second time around I really enjoyed the opening; it builds up a lot of tension and develops the storyline.

Overall this exceeds in the same areas that many games fail - it effortlessly combines every gamer's fantasy with mixed genres, great action, realistic settings and stunning graphics. I don't think any other game I've ever played has left such an impact on me. This is definitely one of the best games ever and possibly the best of its genre.

Best game ever-period

[impfac · 10/10 · 2 December 2004]

This game sucks you in and doesn't let go. Every detail has been attended too. See those barrels, that look like they can be moved? Guess what-THEY CAN BE!

The physics engine is nothing short of brilliant. Everything acts as you would expect in the real world.

The facial animations are great, as are the amazing textures (you'll wonder around with your flash light every time you find a new texture to explore).

The game play is fast and fun, but still has puzzles like the original.

I don't know what game these cranks are talking about, but from what I understand they do not know enough to get rid of graphic card specific problems and thus didn't like the game. The problem is their rig, drivers, or setting, not HL2. Plus, HL2 doesn't even have that high a system requirements. It runs better than doom 3 but looks far better.

verdict: **** (four stars out of four)

TheMilestoneInGamingHistory, TheBestGamingAction and actually TheBestPCGame

[armoreska · 10/10 · 1 November 2007]

PC Game: Half-Life 2.

Genre: Sci-Fi First-Person Shooter.

Developer: Valve Software.

Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games.

Release Date: 16.11.04.

Engine: Source.

Protagonist: Dr. Gordon Freeman.

Settings: City 17 and its outskirts, somewhere in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania or Ukraine).

Start of Half-Life is, PC Gamer certified, the brightest gaming moment ever. Start of Half-Life 2, the sequel to Half-Life, and the whole feeling till the end are the most positively shocking moments in MY history. Graphics, sound, music, the whole world around you – KO, brilliant. Still, 3 years after HL2’s release, there is no large commercial game that perfect. At the start of the game, the G-Man speaks to Gordon Freeman as part of a hallucination-like vision as he is pulled out of stasis. The world has been overtaken by an extradimensional military force known as the Combine. Gordon meets up with Barney Calhoun and sets out for Isaac Kleiner's lab while being chased by Combine Civil Protection.

Taking place in and around the fictional City 17, Half-Life 2 follows the scientist Gordon Freeman. Freeman is thrust into a dystopian environment in which the aftermath of the Black Mesa Incident has come to bear fully upon human society. Freeman is forced to fight against increasingly unfavorable odds in order to survive. In his struggle, he is joined by various allies, including former Black Mesa colleagues, oppressed citizens of City 17, and the Vortigaunts.

Throughout the entire game, Freeman never speaks, the action is viewed through his eyes only (i.e., there are no cut scenes) and there are no discontinuities or jumps in time (from his point of view).

There has been some criticism of these narrative holdovers from Half-Life, since they effectively limit how much of the backstory is explained. Due to the lack of cut scenes, the player never directly sees what has happened in Gordon's absence. Ultimately, it is not clear to what extent Gordon exists as a separate character outside of the player's influence. Since the start of Half-Life, Valve has made sure that the player's and Gordon's experience are one and the same. An example of Valve's player strategy is shown during the scene in Eli's lab. Investigation of certain props (most notably the newspaper board) triggers Eli to give some explanation to their meaning and history, thus indicating that Gordon presents emotions that the non-player characters can detect.

Half-Life 2's gameplay is broadly similar to that of the original. Players make their way through a linear series of levels, encountering both human troops and hostile alien creatures. As in Half-Life, the gameplay is broken up with a series of puzzles; however, Half-Life 2 includes physics-based puzzles. For example, one puzzle requires the player to either turn a seesaw-like lever into a ramp by placing cinder blocks at one end, or to stack the cinder blocks into a crude stairway.

The use of physics extends into combat with the gravity gun. This unique weapon plays a crucial function throughout the game, granting the player an unprecedented amount of creativity in its use, such as picking up and throwing objects at enemies, holding objects indefinitely for use as makeshift cover, grabbing healthkits and ammunition from out-of-reach places, returning enemies' grenades, building makeshift bridges, flipping over an overturned buggy, or manipulating objects through Combine forcefields.

Vehicles are another major gameplay addition. Although Gordon battles through much of Half-Life 2 alone, he is at times assisted by friendly allies. For the most part these are human members of the resistance, but Gordon is also helped by Vortigaunts and later Antlions.

Many familiar enemies from Half-Life return in this game, such as headcrabs, barnacles, and headcrab zombies. However, the majority of the game is spent fighting the Combine, who wield large military forces against Gordon and the people of City 17. Combine forces are varied and consist of modified humans, biomechanical creatures, robotic weapons, including the use of headcrabs as biological weapons.

Several of the weapons featured in Half-Life 2 are carried over from Half-Life, including the trademark crowbar for mêlée fighting, the conventional firearms of the SPAS-12 shotgun, .357 Magnum revolver (resembles Colt Python handgun), crossbow, and rocket propelled grenade launcher as well as the Gauss Gun, or Tau cannon. Several new weapons are also introduced: the Combine AR-2 pulse rifle, H&K MP7 SMG, new H&K USP pistol, and most significantly, the Zero-Point Energy Field Manipulator, or gravity gun.

Original score by Kelly Bailey consists of 53 tracks in .mp3 format (some of them borrowed from HL) and 2 tracks in .wav.

Half-Life 2 Deathmatch was released later.

As of June 8, 2006, over four million copies of Half-Life 2 have been sold. Exact numbers for digital delivery service Steam and retail have not been revealed, but in general, the former accounts for 25% of Valve's business and is significantly more profitable per unit. Half-Life 2's public reception was overwhelmingly positive in terms of reviews, acclaim and sales. Half-Life 2 became one of the most critically acclaimed video games in history. It is currently one of the highest ranking PC games at Game Rankings with an average critic score of 96%. It was one of only four games ever to get 96% from PC Gamer UK, the best score they have ever awarded, and the game is only one of two games ever to get a near perfect score, 98%, from PC Gamer US, while the game became the fifth title to receive Edge magazine's 10/10 score. MobyGames – 95%. Gamespot – 92%. Absolute Games – 91%. My rates (compared to 2004’s level, of course):

Gameplay: 9.5/10.

Graphics: 10/10.

Sound: 10/10.

Score (OST): 9.5/10.

Story: 9.5/10.

Controls & Interface: 9.5/10.

OVERALL: 10/10.

If you like this game I also recommend: Half-Life, Half-Life Uplink, Half-Life Opposing Force, Half-Life Blue Shift, Half-Life 2 Lost Coast, Half-Life 2 Episodes 1,2,3, F.E.A.R., F.E.A.R. Extraction Point, Doom 3.

Half-Life 2 is a truly superb game that nearly anyone will undoubtedly enjoy.

[Silverturtle-1 · 14 July 2005]

H A L F – L I F E 2 Review

Half-Life 2 is the superb sequel to 1998's critically acclaimed Half-Life. The sequel sticks very close to the blueprints set by the original, but also surpasses it in nearly every way. The game has its fair share of problems, but these are overshadowed by the game's many, many strong points. Basically, I can't think of a game I could recommend more than Half-Life 2.

STORY: 9.5/10 The game starts you off at the train station of City 17; where it becomes very clear that something is not right. You have obviously been placed here by the G-Man for a reason, but as of now, you don't know that reason. In the beginning of the game, you have no means of defense for yourself, so the Combine, an alien force of some kind, can attack you however they please. But this just gives you more of an incentive to get your payback; and you shall get that payback very soon. The story itself is good and intriguing. You will be captivated from the very beginning to the end. The only problem with it is that the game leaves a bit too many questions unanswered. The ending is a little bit too much of a cliffhanger. There is a positive aspect to this, though. It means that Valve will almost certainly make a sequel. It would have also been nice to have even more run-ins with the game's excellent characters, as they were very memorable. Overall, though, the story is truly great.

SOUND: 9.0/10 Half-Life 2's sound is not the game's strongest point, but that's not to say that it is bad. In fact, the sound in the game is anything but. The voice acting in the game is top-notch, and you will surely be impressed by it. The characters in the game have a very nice script and deliver their lines very well. The sound effects in the game are also, for the most part, exceptional. The weapons pack a very punchy sound and are very nice. The soundtrack in the game isn't around all that much, but when it is, it is very apparent. It only plays about a dozen times during the game, but it makes those moments very memorable. The soundtrack itself, though, is only pretty good. It just doesn't seem all that fitting, but it is nice none-the-less. There are also same sound glitches every now and then, but they are not too bad. All in all, the sound in the game is very, very good.

GAMEPLAY: 9.5/10 Even if everything else in the game was great, if the gameplay wasn't good, the game wouldn't be good. But gameplay is another place where Half-Life 2 stands above the rest. In most ways, the gameplay of Half-Life 2 isn't revolutionary or innovative, but it sure is fun. The amount of variety in the game is also pretty impressive. The most interesting item in the game is the Gravity Gun. You are able to pick up objects and throw them, both in combat and in use for the game's several puzzles. The puzzles in the game are pretty simple, but are a nice change of pace. It would have been nice to see some more puzzles in the later stages of the game, though. There are also two rather lengthy sequences in the game that involve vehicles. The vehicles in the game are a little awkward to drive, but are, however, fun. The weapons are pretty well balanced, for the most part. The only real balancing issues are that the pistol can be a little too useful at times, and the last weapon given to you in the game feels very overpowered. You will go up against a variety of enemies in the game, from the menacing Combine soldiers, to zombies, to antlions. The Combine are the most advanced enemies in the game, from an artificial intelligence standpoint. The zombies just tend to lumber over to you pretty slowly. The artificial intelligence in the game is great. The game's length is also more than satisfactory; coming in at close to 20 hours for the average player. There are three different difficulty levels to choose from in the game; easy, normal, and hard. Easy will definitely be too simple for the vast majority of players, but hard should suit even the better players. You will be fighting alone for most of the game, but in the later stages you will sometimes have allies. The allies in the game are not as helpful as you might have hoped, but they are still a nice gameplay addition.

GRAPHICS: 10/10 From a technological standpoint, Half-Life 2 stands above all else. The graphics in the game are truly stunning, and are some of the best, if not the best, graphics out there. Everything from facial animation, to shadowing, to textures is astounding. The game also holds up at an impressive frame rate, even on older computers. The art direction in the game is also a sight to behold. Everything about the game conveys the look that was intended; and the result is nothing short of spectacular. All the explosions in the game are also great. Lighting and shadowing is also beautifully mastered in the game. The superb facial animations truly bring the characters to life like no other game has been able to do. But what is even more amazing than Half-Life 2's graphics, is its incredible use of physics. Graphically, the game is virtually unsurpassed.

MULTIPLAYER: 9.5/10 Originally, Half-Life 2 shipped with only Counter Strike: Source; but was soon updated with a death match mode. The better of the two is easily Counter Strike: Source, although Half-Life 2: death match is better than you might expect. Counter Strike: Source is just a graphically updated version of the hit game Counter Strike.

Overall Score:

9.6

out of ten.

Outstanding game!

[ruffinelli_ro · 10/10 · 9 June 2010]

I am a big fan of the original Half Life. I've beaten the game several times. It is one of my personal favorites. Now its sequels (Half Life 2, EP.1 and EP.2) are included among my favorite titles.

I really liked the episodes as well. They were too short though. The creators announced that in fact the three episodes (With the third one not released at this point) are just one long game. Of course that brings many negative aspects. For instance if you want to play all three of them, you may want to install them simultaneously, resulting in some big portion of your memory being occupied. But there will be plenty of time to talk about these games. Let's focus on this title for now.

This sequel had a lot of work. It had to surpass the original game. Half Life was a unique game. It has an amazing story, great characters, and was really entertaining. It also had a certain kind of "magic". It became a classic almost instantly. Its second installment kept a lot of the great details that made the original so good and improved them with other features that helped to create an immersing gaming experience. Half Life 2 is as good as the original.

The old characters returned, but with better skins. Some new and interesting characters are introduced. There new and cool enemies (Whose A.I. is good). The graphic detail is incredible. The water effect is by far the best I've ever seen in a game. They took a lot of time polishing this features and it shows. The only negative thing I can say is that this title is shorter than the original.

The plot is great also. It is almost too linear though. We now follow the adventure several years after the events of the first game. The population is being enslaved and is our duty to help them before annihilation. To make the game even more appealing, the creators added the spectacular gravity gun, which is an extraordinary weapon (Well, not a weapon per se). It has the power to lift heavy objects and neutralize their weight. This weapon is almost as important as the characters. We wouldn't be able to solve some of the most interesting physics puzzles without it, and is extremely fun to use. And I almost forgot, the physics are great.

It was extremely difficult to reach the first Half Life game in terms of quality, but I think that this game pulled it off. It has that certain "magic" also. And is highly enjoyable. I recommend this title. It might not disappoint anyone.

True masterpiece

[oraveczaron · 10/10 · 26 December 2021]

I thought Valve could not top the first Half-Life but I was wrong, very wrong.

While the sequels of a lot of games fail miserably Valve managed to make a game in which the graphics, the characters, the game physics, the enemies were all amazing, but the cherry on the top was the story.

I think there was only one small mistake which was not giving Gordon any voicelines.

Best Game Ever

[cryptapollo · 10/10 · 19 March 2023]

This game is so good the storyline and action is really good. Its VERY ahead of its time. I replayed it over 10 times and never get bored of it. This game really needs a movie or tvshow. I think this game might be the best in the franchise. THEY NEED TO MAKE HALF LIFE 3 imagine half life 2 but more modern😮. All the voice acting fits well and what makes me confused that valve was able to get hands correct but rockstar wasnt. I think this game deserves more love. 10/10 physics 10/10water textures 10/10 storytelling 100/10 over all. Half life 2 need s more than 2 episodes it need 20 episodes. If the game was 50$ it will be still worth it.

Very good

[PeteRoy · 10/10 · 19 November 2004]

Half-Life 2 is a very good game, with very realistic environments, textures and most important, PHYSICS.

In this game everything moves like it would in real life, or close enough, you can drag boxes, bodies, guns, health packs, grenades, everything, you can use the gravity gun to hit a monster with a health pack, or a radiator, or a box of beer.

The story is very good too and the characters are very well played.

Gordon Freeman, Gman, Aliens will be seen again in this game and much more.

Recommended.

Best game ever made...

[vampiclord · 10/10 · 30 April 2008]

This truly is the best game ever made.

First of all, for it's time it had AMAZING graphics, and the Source engine is still powerful enough to have the same graphics as all new next-gen games! The audio is great, the story is great, the gameplay is great, the dialouges are great, everything is GREAT!

The first scene in Half Life 2 is truly a great time in gaming history. You can feel the atmosphere of terror, fear and corruption as you exit the train and enters City 17.

From the very beginning to the last seconds of the game you will hopefully enjoy playing it as much as i did.

If you love First Person Shooters, you will love Half Life 2.

F*ck Halo, this is Half-Life 2!

[brandon_lee420 · 10/10 · 28 December 2009]

This is an amazing experience like I have never felt before. A PC game lover, like myself, has to play the sequel to the the most important game of all time and it's mandatory that they give Half-Life 2 ten stars. It's excellent in every perspective and you will have a grand time playing a solid, action, scary, and yet a wonderful game which will have you playing for hours without end. It beats its predecessor in everything from the story, to the enemies, and the characters and so on. I am a professional gamer and I know what good games are and Half-Life 2 is one of those masterpieces which will have dozens of new generations playing it. If Half-Life 2 becomes rare to buy, people will be paying millions to buy one of the last copies and that just shows how important Half-Life 2 is. The mute protagonist (Don't ask me) Gordon Freeman has a personality and tactics like no other video game character and he is one of the reasons why this game shines from those other crappy games e.g. Halo. He might be nerdy looking with an unusual beard that shows video game characters are not what you expect in real life. The graphics are pretty impressive however it's graphics could not match with Mass Effect 2's but that's because new graphic technologies are being invented every day. Any Half-Life 2 haters probably complain about one single thing and it annoys them so they give it six stars. Don't read their negative reviews because scientists have confirmed that negative stuff ruins your brain 100%.

"Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman.". You wake up on a train headed for City 17, hoping to be free from the Black Mesa disaster but City 17 is corrupted and Combine troops are in every corner waiting for one little mistake. You meet Alyx and her father Eli Vance and a familiar face also pops out, Dr. Kleiner. Pretty soon you are on the run from the combine hoping to free city 17 from the clutches of it's master, Dr. Breen, and everything depends on you. What you do not realize is that a long and hard task awaits you that has zombies, combine, Ant lions, and many many more enemies.

The enemies are very smart in the game, mostly the combine because they are humans. The classic head crabs along with the fast zombies are probably the best video game enemies that you have to face. Even though what the Aliens lack in intelligence they make up in damage. The fast zombies charge at you an claw, scratch, and tear you to bits without any intelligence. Sometimes when you are in dark places, especially the night, a head crab or fast zombie will pop out of nowhere giving you a heart attack and when you kill them , you feel something soft in your pants! The guns are amazing and without them the game is pointless. You have tons of alien and combine weapons which you will use to tear through enemies in order to reach your goal. The pulse-rifle can cause the most damage in the game apart from the rocket launcher and it's quite easy to defeat an opponent with it. The weapon which I have been waiting to get hold of the most is the Gravity Gun. The Gravity Gun is fantastic and a major help in the game as you try to defeat enemies with it by deflecting bombs back, and piercing them with something sharp. The Gravity Gun is awesome at the very end of the game. Half-Life 2 is the only masterpiece of a game ever made. ****/****

Good sequel.

[swedzin · 8/10 · 2 July 2012]

This was one of the most expected video games of all time. I wasn't pretty thrilled because I have never played the first "Half Life". It was a shame, to go with the sequel first. But, after that the first one, I got connect the two of them and I say... cool. Half Life 2 holds brilliant graphics, more defined characters, as you can remember, in first game, there were only three distinctive characters Dr. Kleiner, Barney Calhoun and G-Man. This time, we got Dr. Wallace Breen, he is the main villain, Dr. Vance, good friend of Freeman's, Alyx Vance, she is an extremely sexy daughter of Dr. Vance, very likable character (and she has a big, powerful cyborg dog) and Dr. Judith Mossman. The previous characters from the first game are also here, to give you a "warm welcome" into this sequel.

Now, compared to the first game... which was a instant classic first person shooter evolution in 1998, it was simple game, while this one, it is more... movie-like. Yep, the plot is more complex, with more surprises and great ending. Plot is very good. The atmosphere is varied from empty ruined streets to creepy tunnels, sewers and graveyards... and it's awesome. The music, sound effects are cool, action is perfect, only this time, you get to carry less weapons, and you must use them wisely, yep there are moments in the game when you need to use your brain. That's good. The engine is upgraded. You also get to drive cars and boats. Cool. And this time Gordon Freeman is like a messiah, everybody expects to save them from the tyranny of Dr. Wallace Breen. The enemies varies from Breen's combine forces (police officers if you will) to some new tough, large and sometimes elusive and creepy monsters. Some of them, from the first game still hangs around, good to see them here. And that was great too.

Anyhow... you just can't get any disappointment from this game, it's brilliant, and you will be amused by playing it. Do it and enjoy.

Easily one of the greatest games ever made!!

[patrick-goforth-406-769781 · 10/10 · 5 January 2014]

I didn't initially play Half-Life 2 when it originally came out, since I wasn't old enough to play the game at the time. I finally did play the game in 2008, with the release of the Orange Box on the Xbox 360. And after I played the game for several days and beat it, all I could say was "wow". I had heard all the hype, but still I was blown away by the great story telling, game play, and vastness of the world, that made you feel immersed.

Strengths: The story, writing, and characters are some of the best ever seen in a game, by the end I found my self really caring about Alex, her dad, and the main character Gordon Freeman, among many others. I hadn't played the first game, but the plot basically is that after the black mesa incident that release aliens called the combine onto earth in the first game, they have taken over, and Gordon Freeman must join with the resistance and topple the combine. Overall great dialogue, great atmosphere, particularly in the ravenholm level, and a world filled with such detail it immerses you totally in the experience. The game play may seem a lot different since we've had the COD type shooters since this game came out, but the shooting is fantastic, and the gravity gun is easily on of the best weapons in all of video games. The graphics also feature great facial animation, and detail in the world, and the environment is huge with tons of variation in the combat, which includes great vehicle sections, and weapons that feel like they pack a punch.

Negatives: There's only two real negatives I can think of, one is the fact that Gordon Freeman never speaks, which I got over pretty quickly, but for a game made in 2004 you would think they would give Gordon some dialogue, but its not to big of a deal. The second is the ending which felt somewhat abrupt when I first played it, but after playing the two follow up episodes of Half Life 2 it doesn't bother me as much, as the first time.

In conclusion, Half-Life 2 is one of the best game ever, it helped advance storytelling, graphics, and game play in video gaming, and I think this game shows critics of video games that games like this, Shadow of the Colossus, Bioshock Infinite, and The Last of Us, help show the true potential video games have as a storytelling medium. Overall 10 out of 10, even with some very minor complaints.

Decent

[nallcho · 7/10 · 4 August 2021]

The game was innovative for its time but the gameplay and story is nothing spectacular.

Not as good as people say it is.

[qqp-23137 · 4/10 · 15 July 2018]

Half-Life 2 was really revolutionary for it's time, but when you revisit it you see that it really didn't age well. Modern games wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for this super ambitious title, but Half-Life 2 just doesn't stand up on it''s own, when I played it for the first time I thought it was amazing especially for a 2004 game, but when I replayed it I noticed things that I didn't notice before. This game is the perfect mix of shallow and generic weapons, repetitive firefights, braindead AI, and boring puzzles. And the fact that you can't skip the cutscenes where the characters just talk about something that I could have already done if they weren't talking about it still really does make the game that much more boring because the story SUCKS, all these people have never seen you in person and they're risking their lives for you to get to the next part of the level, it baffles me that these people somehow know who you are when you were in a coma for 100 something years, all the people who would have known you are already dead. And you aren't even the main protagonist, most of the cool stuff is done by your overly sexy girl companion, you just watch her do things you could have done if the game wasn't so poorly designed. Another thing is that the combat is boring and repetitive, even on the hardest difficulties the firefights are easy as hell, the AI can't actually shoot you if you're hiding behind a prop, and they're always placed next to an object that you can blow up and kill them. And somehow these alien super soldiers can die to some random rebel guy with a gun nowhere near as advanced as alien technology? Overall, the game is very important to the history of first person shooters and other source engine games, but Half-Life 2 just isn't that good to stand up on it's own.

Best PC Game Ever (or at least one of the best)

[gs_player · 8 December 2004]

First off, let me clear up a few things. Ignore "A poor game and STEAM is crapware." That person clearly doesn't know what they're talking about. Yes, your forced to install STEAM. But the program is on the CD/DVD (depending how you got it). Second, the graphical problems they're having are a problem with THEIR compputer. Either Matrix29 has a poor video card or outdated drivers. I have a poor FX5200, and I've had no graphical problems. It runs great. Of course, I have it on low settings, but still it runs great. Finally, STEAM (From Valve, not Sierra) is a good program.

Anyway... I'll just talk about my experiences, not anything about the story. Half-Life 2 runs great on lower end systems. I'm getting at least 25 - 30 fps(frames per second). This shows how Valve wanted great graphics and technology while having a large amount of gamers being allowed to play. And the water...well, it's the best looking water EVER. Good A.I. Take note that on easier settings, the A.I. wont be as good. The story is great. It really doesn't require you to have played the original Half-Life to understand the story.

So, in closing, this is a must own for any PC gamer. Just for the fun physics, or tossing stuff and getting your a** beat by metro cops in the train station.

Hands down...the best PC game ever has arrived.

[kittoo4202004 · 10/10 · 24 December 2006]

Honestly, I don't know from where to begin and where to end. There is so much to say. I will start from where I feel I should. As soon as it begins, you know its a masterpiece. You feel you are there and as you progress, you feel what Valve intended to make you feel. You feel like everyone is under control of the combine, the earth is taken over and people are afraid of even just talking!!!! You go near them and press 'E' and some of them will say- 'I don't want them to watch us talking'. Strange, but awesome. You move further and you notice Combine breaking into houses, beating people, striders walking (that was cool) and people afraid that they are next ('This is how it always happens. First the building, then the whole block.') Then the action begins, and it is never so hard in initial levels. It is like they are making you ready for the actual combat. Then you encounter some cool physics puzzles, one or two choppers while sitting on an Air boat. I like the buggy level most. I see the graphics are almost photo-realistic. I will someday, explore the world. I just won't fight. I will leave my buggy, will move towards the shore and will stay there. Just to see birds flying and to hear distant sounds of water and waves. Then I will go to the highest point, to see how it looks from there. In between, you begin to feel that you are indeed the hope. The only free man- Gordon freeman. So well crafted were the maps and the game-play that you not only play, you feel. I can only admire the genius of those guys at Valve studios. As you move towards base areas, the battle begins with fury. Rebel groups join you (or you join them) and striders stands between your way. In the end, City 17 becomes yours, and you know it is only the first big hit on the Combine. If you have ended the game, you can't wait for the next installments, to once again become the only free man and to free the earth.

h.e.v .suit? Best suit in the world

[groucho-marx45 · 10/10 · 11 December 2006]

Who Is The Man Who Can't Be Killed By Any Thing.

He has to be the coolest guy on the planet.

He Owns the Coolest Suit EVER.

He Can Kick Your Ass With A Crowbar.

He's A Bitch To Some Weird Guy.

Gordan Free....Well Forget That Last one he's still incredibly cool and never says a word.

This Is Half-Life 2 one of the best games on THE PLANET.It Has Great Graphics ,Brilliant game play,A GRAVITY GUN!!,Great Characters,A GRAVITY GUN,Phisyics That feel like real life,A GRAVITY GUN,Amazing Weapons and need i say it again A GRAVITY GUN.The story revolves around one man trying to take down a government but not really.

By That i mean that's not your exact mission.You have to go through levels but most of them are basically ''You Have To get to a lab,quick a door.Oh know an explosion has blown it up before you could get through darn.You go the incredibly dangerous and long way'' And that's about it but way they do the levels is brilliant so it's well worth it.

I give it 100/10

Best game ever made period.

[pldude89 · 10/10 · 17 April 2007]

I've been playing video games basically all my life. Counter-Strike I've done professionally, and obviously love first person shooters. Many games I've played so far had always missed the main point or the whole idea that one special thing that makes the game so perfect and very unique. I think HL2 is that one and only game that has the most powerful game story behind it in the world. Not only the nonstop action but the whole storyline and understating of the game is what makes is so special. One of the best games ever made? That line is 100% right... and is what HL2 is all about. I'll be very happy to see more games like this come out.

Believe the hype - as of 2018 still the best game of all time.

[robertmaybeth · 10/10 · 31 August 2018]

One of the rare sequels (the first Half-life" from 1998 still works and has even been updated to play well on modern hardware) that exceeds the original. Gordon Freeman is one of the best first-person heroes and manages to do it without saying a word (he lets his crowbar do the talking).

Believe the hype. Having been burned on other games that promised everything - yet deliver very little - I still replay HL2 every few years. This game has it all: pacing, suspense, strong yet not overbearing characters, subtle plot development, delightful surprises and amazing plot twists. The game is perfectly directed and gameplay never becomes trite or overwhelming... and manages just the right blend of difficulty, novelty and surprise.

Will we ever get a sequel? Probably one of the most teased sequels ever, but one we may never see, as Gabe Newell (the billionare owner of the "Half life" franchise as well as the "Steam" game site) says there will never be another. But at least there are two stand alone "Episodes" (HL ep 1 and 2) if you find you just can't get enough of the Half life world. And at $9.99 US (today in 2018) it's a bargain. Don't miss it.

Half-Life is back and it's better than ever

[Reineke86 · 10/10 · 28 January 2008]

20 years after the events of "Half-Life" Gordon Freeman is put out of his stasis and brought to a mysterious place called "City 17". Apparently after the horrible accident that happened at Black Mesa in Part 1 the world was taken over by a human-like species called the Combine. Also the creatures from Xen are still alive and they've taken over whole villages. Gordon meets up with some old friends from Black Mesa and is told that he has to save the world again.

In my opinion Half-Life 2 doesn't have the cerebro storyline the first part had. But the new graphics, characters and weapons make it one hell of a ride.

The Best Game Ever Made!

[bmwxcoupe · 10/10 · 19 November 2004]

This game is a very great game, even played on my P3 700 before I got a P4 3.0. This game's graphics are so amazingly realistic, the physics are very realistic, the game-play is awesome, plot is great, everything adds up to making HL2 the best game ever made!

*Spoilers Start*

The game starts as the G-Man greets you into city 17, without much of a story. When you are sent to Dr. Kleiner's Lab, a plot starts to brew, as you must get to Black Mesa East. On your way, the plot thickens as it is realized that the human race is in danger of termination, and the Combine find out that rebellion is starting by the citizens of City 17. They soon focus attention toward you, Gordon Freeman. It takes a while, but you make it to Black Mesa East and meet Eli Vance. You are sent to save the Human race, back to City 17 and all-out war is starting between the Combine and the People who are against them, along with Gordon. Most are wearing a plate with the Hazard Suit's Logo (the Half-Life logo), and are starting to be victorious. In City 17, Striders start to attack the Humans. Once in the heart of City 17, you hear the Administrator begging for you to give up and convince the humans to stop rebelling. You them eventually make it to the Citadel, where the Administrator ends up capturing you, Alyx, and Eli Vance. He then makes an escape, and you must stop him from escaping and destroying City 17. Once you get through, you blow up the Citadel, the Administrator dies, and time freezes with the G-Man coming from nowhere. He starts a speech "Time, Dr. Freeman? Is it really that time again? It seems as if you only just arrived. You've done a great deal in a short time, You've done SO well in fact, I've received some interesting offers for your services. Ordinarily i wouldn't contemplate them, but these are EXTRA ordinary times. (mm?) Rather than give you the illusion of free choice. I will take the the liberty of choosing for you, if and when your time comes around again. I do apologize for what must seem to you as an arbitrary imposition, Dr. Freeman. I trust it will all make sense to you in the course of, well, i'm really not at liberty to say. In the mean time, this is where i get off."

*Spoilers End*

Overall, this game earned a 10*/10*. I recommend this game for all gamers.

Its not the best PC-Game ever but it is good.

[DragonKfir · 10/10 · 26 September 2006]

I did not take a particular liking to Half-Life-1 except in Counter Strike. It was an above average game with good productional values and very balanced gameplay but it was nothing that would make one jump out of his chair. A lot of other people did and given how well made Half-Life-2 is, their impressions are bound to elevate it to something like the "Best PC-Game ever" but its far from that.

You've probably already heard about all the good things in this game so we'll just get into the things you should not expect from it,

1. Story - Pretty much nonexistent. Whatever little you wind yourself in is an excuse to shoot through a level. There is no real story on the lines of Undying for example.

2. Big Bosses - There's only one medium sized boss. No Gonarch, Gargantua, Nihilanth etc The final battle is more like a puzzle.

3. New weapons - Very few new weapons. Emphasis is on extensive use of the Gravity Gun.

4. No attitude, Voice, general coolness (ala Duke).

5. No cutscenes, cinematics and the ending is idiotic.

Its sad because if this game had actually had any of the above, even it may seem trivial to some, a wider audience might as well have found it the best game ever.

The Best FPS Game Of All Time

[antonwaas · 10/10 · 29 January 2018]

Valve´s Greatest Achievement that brought Gaming to the next Level. Still really impressive after all those Years. Fans of the Series wait since H2 Episode 2 for Half Life 3.

This is not Half-Life

[gerhajdu · 7/10 · 24 July 2006]

I liked Half-Life. I am still it's fan. It was frightening, intelligent and challenging. I don't tell any news it is one the best FPS ever made. Maybe I'm too hardcore Half-Life fan but the so called Half-Life 2 is not Half-Life 2.

And I have a question: is THIS the next chapter of Half-Life? Maybe the creators -Valve- thinks so but I don't. Where are the intelligent enemies? Where is the frightening atmosphere? Nowhere. I believe they wanted to make a bit different Half-Life (instead of another research station story), but they didn't just made a very different one, they made something that has to do with Half-Life like for example Quake does to Doom. The entire game so unsightly and unreal that it's almost forlorn.

Though the physics are truly great and there were a few good level to play, the idea to make a revolutionary physic-driven gameplay has utterly failed. When you get the Gravity-gun, that can move objects, you can expect with rights to use it as a weapon- that would turn the schematic FPS gameplay upside down. The truth is, you can't use Gravity-gun as a real weapon. Why? Because the best you can do is throwing boxes and barrels that don't do much damage. If you want to keep an object in front of you to protect it can fall from about 3 shots. If you want to throw an exploding barrel to your enemy it can explode in your own "hand". The gravity-gun doesn't work as a weapon. The best usage is solving some physic-puzzles. I ask Valve: Why? The truth is you must use your boring, schematic FPS weapons to the end(except for last level) Weapons are not that made original Half-life a classic. If Gravity-gun would be always like at the last level -a real weapon- I'd admire what Valve did. But not this. This is disappointing.

So if you want Half-Life then you are searching at the wrong place. Maybe you will enjoy it but I repeat: it is everything but not Half-Life and even not a faithful continuation of that. This is the greatest disappointment of all time. Valve have shown they can make awful games too. They have managed that.

Half of What I Wanted

[preston_peace · 4/10 · 17 February 2015]

I just don't like Half Life 2. It's close to sinful to call myself studying video games and call one the greatest video games of all time, bad. But, I'm being honest; I see the game more as a gigantic guilt trip than an actual game where I care about the characters or events.

For those who unfamiliar with Half Life 2, you play as Gordon Freeman. A scientist who has become a symbol of hope for a rebellion in the dystopian world you play in. First thirty minutes, I was completely on-board with the idea of playing as THE symbol of hope rather than just a follower. It's also well done because the character is completely silent the whole game. It allows you to interpret what is truly going on this man head. He could be doing these things because deep down he just wants to see this world reformed. Or, you can see him as a suppressed psychopath who has been misunderstood by the resistance and is too disconnected from his peers to tell them. It's actually a very neat character study and about what video games can truly tell and show that other mediums can't. I also love the idea of throughout your adventures you encounter random members of the resistance that just help you because they truly look up to you and realize you're all that's left of hope. It completely depicts the idea that everyone plays some kind of part in the world and affects everyone in the grand scheme.

So, if I'm praising this game so much, then why do I hate it? I hate it because in-between these interesting themes are repetitive shooting, punching, and climbing sections. The game's monsters are just comprised of zombies, the face clamps from Alien, and huge bee things. There are other types of monsters, but that's the kind of monsters/animals you'll be fighting.

The combines are, I'll admit, pretty darn cool. Their gas masks are sort of attached to their face and the way they sort of just charge at you with no concern for their life is quiet scary. Here's where I praise the game and even if I don't like the game I have to admit the shooting in this game is the greatest I've ever played. Your health doesn't recharge on its own so you constantly balance your cover so you're not pinned; so when a combine rushes you aren't swarmed. Your ammunition is also limited, so you find yourself ducking and then doing a cinematic jump off of something and just start shooting and the guys below. It just feels wonderful.

But now it's time to talk about the thing that truly degrades this game, your followers. Along your adventure, you pick up some allies who care, protect, and look up to you. You travel alongside these people and suddenly feel responsible for their lives. Then, the game decides to push every slice of guilt onto you because when you start to get hurt, your teammates will swarm in front of you to protect you. So, now you stand over the three bodies of your trusted companions and it's all your fault for your reckless behavior that they're dead, or because you just wanted to try something new or needed to get to a checkpoint fast because you needed to stop playing. It's a cheap cop out of trying to make you feel sorry for your fallen friends that just makes you feel like a bad person by the end.

I don't hate this game because of its story or characters but because there just came this time when I became bored and annoyed with the game. I realized I could've re-watched a timeless classic, read a book, or spend some time with my family. But, by the end, it's just a well made shooter with interesting themes but dastardly intent.