Half-Life 2

 PC
User Score
9.2

Universal acclaim- based on 12734 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11,541 out of 12734
  2. Mixed: 635 out of 12734
  3. Negative: 558 out of 12734
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  1. KennethW.
    Oct 25, 2004
    10
    This game looks awsome even better then doom 3.
  2. LukeM.
    Oct 31, 2004
    10
    Best Game Ever!!!!
  3. MartyH.
    Nov 15, 2005
    10
    Best FPS ever! Beautiful Graphics, impressive physics, good storyline, brilliant level design, and fun vehicles. Half-Life 2 has it all.
  4. BrendanK.
    Oct 14, 2005
    10
    I loved this game - even more than the originial. It has one of the best atmospheres ever, with lots of action and puzzles etc.
  5. DanielC.
    Jan 14, 2005
    7
    A good game, although only just average to today's standards. The excellent physics engine and awesome pixel shader effects make this game a real treat to play, but the overly-scripted events, insufficient AI, and bad plot ruin the overall experience. Having been spoiled by Far Cry, Call of Duty, Doom 3 and other shooters I can only give this game a score of 7.
  6. Rafael
    Jan 25, 2005
    10
    I´ve been playing this game only for a few hours but it´s enough for me to say that this is probably the best first person shooter game i ever played. I can´t wait for the day when they will release some kind of computer glases so you´ll be totally inside of a 3D game. This game is awesome!!!
  7. Alex
    Feb 18, 2005
    9
    Man... if there was a 9.5 rating... incredible game, Half-Life. its not really ment to be any sort of a horror/thriller game, but there are a few jumpy moments throughout. sweet gameplay, smart-AI, and smooth graphics are just icing on the metaphrical-super-delectable cake. the only problems i could find are the numerous (and often annoying) loading times, the 5-CD install, and Steam.
  8. NickL.
    Feb 24, 2005
    9
    Very good graphics compared to the first one very intense a little to gorey for me butt uther than that it is a good game get it.
  9. ZygoffW.
    Feb 27, 2005
    9
    Overall a great game with a few minor quirks that hold it back. While a great idea, Steam is more of a hassle than it really should be. The game itself is far too short and could use a more diverse cast of enemies.
  10. ChrisN.
    Mar 26, 2005
    10
    Well, I would just like to say to all you who complain about steam and how you have to set up an account to play... On the box it says internet connections REQUIRED, that means you need it, deal with it, if you don't like it dont buy the game.... The physics are amazing, the games storyline is linear, but thats how it should be, its not GTA nor should it be, Half-Life 2 is less than Well, I would just like to say to all you who complain about steam and how you have to set up an account to play... On the box it says internet connections REQUIRED, that means you need it, deal with it, if you don't like it dont buy the game.... The physics are amazing, the games storyline is linear, but thats how it should be, its not GTA nor should it be, Half-Life 2 is less than a challenge than Half-Life 1, when half-life 1 came out first person shooters weren't challenging and there werent that many good ones... if you look now there is a plethora of shooters and we have all become accustomed to them... Try playing Half-Life 1 again... I did before Half-Life 2 came out and it wasn't half the challenge that it was when i first tried it, we have just gotten too accustomed to them... Now concerning steam and the processes that we had to go through to play... Plain and simple; would you like to put six years of your life into a game, perfecting, working, develloping a game that is in all ways a master piece to have it stolen mby some college grad with a computer steal it, use it, play it without ever playing? does that sound just to you? Also as to the AI? on hard the ai is very smart, i once popped out a door, then saw four or five CP soldiers and a strider, then ran back inside and waited for them to come and attack me... one ran through the door.... shotgun to the head! I expected more to come through pop 'em off one by one, not going to happen... a nade comes through... i jumped behind a table that flew into me and hurt me... then again i waited.. the strider crouched down and looked into the doorway charged its beam and fired! its was impressive i closed the door and blocked it up with a few tables and the cps tried to break down the door they couldnt! they smashed the window and started to shoot me they lobbed grenades etc! this was NOT SCRIPTED!!! i tried it more than once... it happened differenly each time (including one time that then shot the boxes to break them and then kicked open the door,) Ok, last thing... i think people who say that the phsysics are stupid and that there are games with better graphics than Half-Life 2, Ok you are on crack... or have been hit in the head one too many times with a real crowbar... There is no game that can compare.... Far cry? Lol yah... right I own that game.. I have beaten it but the game doesnt have anything going for it other than a fun gameplay... its mediocre graphics wise.… Expand
  11. Dave
    Mar 26, 2005
    10
    An amazing game all-around, great physics great ai AMAZING graphics and an interesting and fun storyline.
  12. JethroI.
    Apr 11, 2005
    10
    This game is great.
  13. TimN.
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    Amazing graphics and imersion. Easily the best looking FPS of all time. Also comes with Counter-Strike: Source...it's like getting two grade A games in one!
  14. ChuckH.
    May 19, 2005
    10
    This is the greatest game I have ever had the pleasure to play. Simple as that. Can't wait for the expansion pack.
  15. SamF.
    Jul 28, 2005
    9
    If You enjoy First Person Shooters then look no further. HL2 Not only has great AI But also has graphics that will make you think its Photorealistic. This is true especially for the Sewer Section that shows off the Water Effects and Ground with such detail it must be seen to be believed. The Only Negative is the installation which can take nearly 3 hours because not only do you have to If You enjoy First Person Shooters then look no further. HL2 Not only has great AI But also has graphics that will make you think its Photorealistic. This is true especially for the Sewer Section that shows off the Water Effects and Ground with such detail it must be seen to be believed. The Only Negative is the installation which can take nearly 3 hours because not only do you have to install 5 CD'S But you must Register through steam, it Must verify the keyCode and Decrypt files and then Update Steam Files and Then Update The Game itself. Valve after getting Burned by its code being stolen has made a foolproof method that almost no one can Get past. Each CD-Key must be Unique and Acompany a unique Screenname. This info is sent to Steam and if both are new it will Decript the game for play. This makes it Impossible to sell/buy a used Title. once you get past installation you will be rewarded witha great FPS that has all the fun of the First game with Much Better Graphics and Physics. A must have for any Fan.… Expand
  16. RyanP.
    Jul 31, 2005
    9
    Excellent game, superb graphics & a great storyline.
  17. BenG.
    Aug 24, 2005
    10
    This is one of the best games ever. I dont really understand why everone hates steam so much. It didnt cause me any trouble. Even if it did that doesnt make the game any worse.
  18. SebastianB.
    Nov 12, 2006
    10
    Extremly entertaining game with great graphics and physics!
  19. LukeM.
    Nov 2, 2006
    10
    Best Game Ever!!!!
  20. TheMagicalHippieKiller
    Nov 29, 2006
    7
    It is very rare for a game to have a story that people actaully care about. But I kinda stopped caring after I entered City 17. Half-life! Kinda Crazy, a little Creepy (little), pretty inventive (it's great that people will state how much they hate the orginal, but how many games have since added its elements to their own. How many heros can you name with a super suit with shields?) It is very rare for a game to have a story that people actaully care about. But I kinda stopped caring after I entered City 17. Half-life! Kinda Crazy, a little Creepy (little), pretty inventive (it's great that people will state how much they hate the orginal, but how many games have since added its elements to their own. How many heros can you name with a super suit with shields?) The gameplay is ok, but I wasn't interested in being a lame knock-off of neo from the matrix in glasses, i wanted to shoot aliens. Instead, we get the stupid ai combine, who will run from a grenade and straight into your fire. The puzzles are also just them showing off their new physics and gravity gun. By the way, the gravity gun is stupid. There. I said it. Shotgun rules ( even though it was downgraded... actually, ALL the weapons were downgraded) because this game is not much differen than the original: run forward, solve puzzles, and you'll rarely fight in large arenas, just close quarters. The dialouge scenes are annoying and way to long. Other than that, good graphics and pretty gripping gameplay, save the lack of variation amongst the enemies. Wait! There is one more bad thing. Ravenholm=not scary and pointless. This level was just an excuse for the gravity gun, but a handy crowbar, shotgun, and .357 are actually the best weapons, at least for me. Hopefully they will be more creative in the future and stop trying to make another bad post-apocalpyse-revelution-thing that we've all seen 1,000 times over. The game is very intense at points. Really intense. Ever try fighting a helicopter with a pistol in a radiated canal? Well, life gets a helluva lot worse for Mr. Freeman later on, but for us, it's pretty damn fun. Keep making stuff like that.… Expand
  21. DirkM.
    Oct 17, 2006
    10
    Great game! The best of them all! The physics are sooo real, that you think you're in the game yourself! I love this game!
  22. GordonJ.
    Dec 10, 2006
    10
    Adicting story, sexy graphics, realistic physics, realistic environment. Main character has same name as me. So it feels as though they're I'm really part of the game "Come on Gordon!" I play through it at the very least once a month.
  23. PeterH.
    Dec 12, 2006
    10
    Absolutly bloody amazin! Perfect sequal to the original Half-Life valve have done it again, pitty it only taken then like 5 years to produce this masterpiece. Graphics: Truely Amazin - even on the worst settings, but phonomanal on the highest. Shaddows, objects, faces buildings, all detailed to impress, and it does that!! Game-Play: Brilliant, the physics in the game are realistic, solve Absolutly bloody amazin! Perfect sequal to the original Half-Life valve have done it again, pitty it only taken then like 5 years to produce this masterpiece. Graphics: Truely Amazin - even on the worst settings, but phonomanal on the highest. Shaddows, objects, faces buildings, all detailed to impress, and it does that!! Game-Play: Brilliant, the physics in the game are realistic, solve realistic problems and travel a vast distance in order to complete the game. weeks of fun if the difficultly level is increased. Overall this is the best Half-Life game to be released to date. Good job by Valve.… Expand
  24. NalRecords
    Dec 2, 2006
    10
    The best game I've ever played. Great history, great graphics, great playability, great everithing.
  25. PrzemekX.
    Dec 21, 2006
    10
    Fantastic game, plot well .. like reading a good book 10/10 nothing add nothing take away !
  26. MaxV.
    Dec 22, 2006
    9
    It's got it all. Flexible engine that allows for great puzzles The whole range of AI. From guntooting grunts to raving zombies. Dynamic sounds that just adds to the gritty visuals of a worn and conquered planet. The first good female NPC performance, ever. So why not a full 10? Well I do believe that games should be an alternative to movies, not it's replacement. A tad less It's got it all. Flexible engine that allows for great puzzles The whole range of AI. From guntooting grunts to raving zombies. Dynamic sounds that just adds to the gritty visuals of a worn and conquered planet. The first good female NPC performance, ever. So why not a full 10? Well I do believe that games should be an alternative to movies, not it's replacement. A tad less linear or even the illusion of open-ended gameplay would have pushed it all the way to the top.… Expand
  27. AaronB.
    Dec 27, 2006
    10
    Still after almost still two years after release. This is still the best playing best looking first person shooter out there. Even better than the newer FPS's like FEAR, Gears and Prey.
  28. JackH.
    Dec 28, 2006
    10
    This game has extreme graphics beyond anything I have ever seen on the PC. My graphics card is not really the best top of the range one and I can still get amazing graphics even though my FPS can be low at times.
  29. BernieM.
    Dec 28, 2006
    9
    This game has been pretty good and the graphics shocked when i first saw me. It was shock for me because i had a really good computer, but a really bad graphic card. So I decided to stop playing knight Online and games with that graphic quality. With a bit of luck, i could buy a radeon 800x graphics card, and i started playing 1st person shooter games. This game lost a point from me This game has been pretty good and the graphics shocked when i first saw me. It was shock for me because i had a really good computer, but a really bad graphic card. So I decided to stop playing knight Online and games with that graphic quality. With a bit of luck, i could buy a radeon 800x graphics card, and i started playing 1st person shooter games. This game lost a point from me because you needed to load all the areas of the game. Each time you finish an area (like the strider battle in ¨Follow Freeman¨ you needed to load the next area. The gamplay of this game has been also perfect, very smooth moving, (Not such as Halo that you felt ¨a little heavy¨) and the vehicle driving is also very good, very comfortable. Regards Bernie Malay PS: I hope they upload the loading problem!… Expand
  30. KinimodH.
    Dec 28, 2006
    10
    Half-Life² is THE Game which ruled everything. I played Half-Life too, like the one user, which said HL² was boring. IT is COMPLETELY different to HL BUT the game has improved, it shows up new faccettes of the game snd that is the most relevant thing. I liked the boat Part and the Part in which you drove the car. This was somthing new to the Half-Life series. In HL1 You just Half-Life² is THE Game which ruled everything. I played Half-Life too, like the one user, which said HL² was boring. IT is COMPLETELY different to HL BUT the game has improved, it shows up new faccettes of the game snd that is the most relevant thing. I liked the boat Part and the Part in which you drove the car. This was somthing new to the Half-Life series. In HL1 You just hopped into an Train and drove this way ... BORING... but to drive your way yourself ... GREAT !!!! For all Real Action Fans , there was the RAVENHOLM and NOVBA PROSPECT Part., IT is the BEST GAME EVER and Half-Life series will improve further and rule the Gaming industry with every new part.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2004
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2004
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 81 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 81
  3. Negative: 0 out of 81
  1. CPUGamer
    100
    Nothing less than a revolution in the gaming industry that will keep gamers busy for years to come, just as the original did.
    Read full review
  2. Play.tm
    95
    An ephemeral and controversial ending, along with the few issues described above, means that for me, Half-Life 2, while a compelling and highly enjoyable game, falls short of the size of impact that the first title had on the gaming world.
    Read full review
  3. Playboy
    100
    A graphics overhaul delivers detailed facial animations and sophisticated physics that leave battle zones strewn with debris after intense shootouts with shuffling corpses, overfed curstaceans and other assorted foes. [October, p.37]
See all critic reviews »