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. Damocles346
    Nov 14, 2013
    8
    Though it did change the WAY we look at games in general, I have never been wowed by Half Life's gameplay. It gets an 8 from me standing on it's genre changing nature all by its own, but if you stood it up only on it's game play, I would probably give it a 6.
  2. Metalpizza123
    Jun 14, 2019
    8
    Playing it again in 2018, I don't know how i found this so fun when I was younger. The mission structure is boring, with repetitive combat with uninteresting enemies that lack variety. Certain sections seem thrown in just to show off the engine, without considering why it's even necessary. Physics puzzles may have been interesting back when it launched but even then I found it boring andPlaying it again in 2018, I don't know how i found this so fun when I was younger. The mission structure is boring, with repetitive combat with uninteresting enemies that lack variety. Certain sections seem thrown in just to show off the engine, without considering why it's even necessary. Physics puzzles may have been interesting back when it launched but even then I found it boring and insulting to the player. More often than not they're incredibly simple and is just busywork/filler to pad out the levels. However, it is still fun to run through its expansions, which refined a lot of the game's mechanics and feel more polished as a result. The story itself is honestly pretty bland, and never reaches the highs of the original. The characters occasionally feel flat and as a result feel more like necessities to drive the game, but overall the writing is pretty good. It Still lacks a compelling reason to keep invested. It's linear structure is not helped by otherwise boring level design, perhaps due to the limits of the combat system. A pity then, as some of the weapons and tools are legitimately quite fun and unique, and provide interesting ways to interact with the environment and enemies. Ravenholm is still a highlight where the tools and level design feel consistently fun. Play it in short bursts and the combat is pretty fun. However, after certain events in the game, you're forced to face gauntlet after gauntlet of combine enemies. This is easily the most unrewarding part of the game, forcing you to battle wave after wave of enemies that rarely change their tactics and with the level design failing to bring any interesting twists to the combat.

    Thankfully it's usually on sale pretty cheap on steam, and fairly regularly (with its expansions). It's still wonderful to watch people speedrun it and it's worth playing through, at least once. i would advise any modern gamer to play it more as a way to see how gaming evolved, rather than using it as a standard for games to compare to. Many games have learnt and built upon the changes made in this game. I do give it points for running wonderfully on many modern systems. I have now played it across 4 operating systems and it has run well across multiple brands of graphics cards. Graphics mean little to me in terms of gameplay but from an objective standpoint it has aged well, unlike many 3D games from the early 2000s. It won't blow anything away now, but it does look serviceable and much better than many games from its era. Sound design is good, but not memorable. Serviceable perhaps.

    It does have a wealth of fan made mods but that does not affect my score, as Valve did not create them.

    I guess Valve made a great game for its time, but for its time only. While other games have gone on to play well long after they have been released, Half Life 2 stands as a dated classic. If you want to play a game from this era that plays just as well as the first time it was released, I would recommend FEAR. It's almost the complete opposite. Storytelling is far better, with immersion done far better. It has aged worse, has numerous compatibility issues, and requires extensive tweaking to get working on modern operating systems. but it's fun to play, even today. Another example would be Max Payne 2. It has aged awfully, but remains fun to this day. But play half life 2. At least once. You'd be missing out otherwise.    … Expand
  3. mulv81
    Feb 3, 2015
    8
    I really enjoyed the first Half-Life, but the sequel was mediocre for the most part. The graphics were really top notch for their time, and today the Source engine is an incredible success and very well optimized. Aside from the gravity gun, the rest of the gun-play was not great. The story was mediocre, with one dull cut scene after another, some trope fostering a communist politicalI really enjoyed the first Half-Life, but the sequel was mediocre for the most part. The graphics were really top notch for their time, and today the Source engine is an incredible success and very well optimized. Aside from the gravity gun, the rest of the gun-play was not great. The story was mediocre, with one dull cut scene after another, some trope fostering a communist political overtone in an hyperbolic fascist Orwellian dystopia. Perhaps the most overrated game of all time, but still worthy of recognition and respect for the technically innovative Source game engine… Expand
  4. Tyrfalger
    May 1, 2015
    8
    As far as shooters go (I have become disillusioned with shooters), this was pretty decent. Good story, variety of weapons, level design and flow. However, playing for longer than a few hours made me slightly nauseous from motion sickness and I have only encountered a handful of games that made me nauseous. So adjust FOV/head bob accordingly.
  5. russiangamer
    Nov 7, 2016
    8
    Сегодня (7.11.16.) впервые прошёл данную игру.
    Услышал я про неё впервые ещё лет 8 назад, играл в демку, да и забил. Но вдруг решил пройти классику.
    Ниже мнение человека, который не проходил игру в 2004, 2005... а только в 2016, в конце 2016. Я не ньюфаг, прошёл игру с удовольствием, местами было скучновато, местами очень весело и эпично. -Геймплей тут вполне стандартный. Он неплох, но    Сегодня (7.11.16.) впервые прошёл данную игру.
    Услышал я про неё впервые ещё лет 8 назад, играл в демку, да и забил. Но вдруг решил пройти классику.
    Ниже мнение человека, который не проходил игру в 2004, 2005... а только в 2016, в конце 2016.
    Я не ньюфаг, прошёл игру с удовольствием, местами было скучновато, местами очень весело и эпично.
    -Геймплей тут вполне стандартный. Он неплох, но местами, а точнее ближе к концу, он становится довольно скучноват. До середины игры дают покататься на 2-х транспортных средствах- багги и лодка на воздушной подушке, довольно неплохое разнообразие игрового процесса. Плавно перейдём к физике. Физика шикарна до сих пор, а в 2004 просто взрыв мозга... , но порой она выдаёт такие нелепости или странности, что немного не по себе. вообщем за геймплей 7,5-8/10
    -Сюжет довольно интересный. Диалоги было интересно слушать, а финал так и вообще очень крутой вышел. А лицевая анимация просто шик, тоже до сих пор смотрится улётно, а в 2004... За сюжет 8/10.
    -Атмосфера и музыка. Атмосфера тут бывает настолько разная, что диву даёшься. То это налёт хоррора, повсюду какие-то хлюпания, шорохи, темнота. То это атмосфера одиночества, едешь по дороге на той же машине, а на ней никого, вокруг только горы и океан. Ну и атмосфера пост-апокалипсиса. Музыка хороша, порой задаёт тонус вести дальнейшую битву, она довольно динамична, местами просто расслабляет. 9/10 за атмосферу и музыку.
    Вообщем на данный момент игра всё ещё ОЧЕНЬ хороша, если вы не играли в неё и вы не ньюфаг, не презираете старые игры, а любите их, то я настоятельно рекомендую данную игру, кто знает, может она станет одной из ваших любимых!
    2004- 9-9,5/10
    2016- 8/10    … Expand
  6. Heaves
    Jan 8, 2016
    8
    Even in 2016, this game still stands up well against its modern equivalents as it is. It can be further enhanced with a few good mods to improve the graphics etc.
  7. Dagfinn
    Sep 22, 2018
    8
    A deserved classic. Great story and shooting and a bit of puzzling. Loses some points because the story will never be finished though.
  8. nayecritic
    Feb 1, 2016
    8
    i just buy and played this game maybe... 7 month ago? whatever.
    this game is very good but..
    sometimes i have lose way, and i'm losing way, i fell something horror,, and horror sound
    i hate that sound :(
  9. DreamEaglr
    Apr 8, 2020
    8
    Отличный движок, неплохой геймплей и классная музыка, но сюжет и вторая половина игры это тихий ужас.
  10. auditbadger
    Jul 30, 2017
    8
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  11. Axilley
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    good good good good good good good good good good good good good goodgood good good good good good good good good good good good good goodgood good good good good good good good good good good good good good
  12. ethanspeed
    Mar 27, 2019
    8
    Ok, I finished Half-Life 2 for the first time recently. I never really got into the game because of the mountains of other games that I needed to play, but I finished it recently and...It's really good. Best game of all time though? Not quite. The game isn't perfect, with the story and the gameplay having a lot of faults, but I'm very glad that it exists. If this game was not created, mostOk, I finished Half-Life 2 for the first time recently. I never really got into the game because of the mountains of other games that I needed to play, but I finished it recently and...It's really good. Best game of all time though? Not quite. The game isn't perfect, with the story and the gameplay having a lot of faults, but I'm very glad that it exists. If this game was not created, most of the shooters we see nowadays would not exist (for better or for worse) and I don't know what the gaming industry would be nowadays without this game. Half-Life 2 isn't perfect, but all in all, it's a revolutionary title that still stands up today as a great game.… Expand
  13. UncleEd
    Nov 30, 2017
    8
    I have found this one overrated. I know I have played it more than 10 years after the release date, but I still enjoy FPS classics such as Unreal, Duke Nukem 3D, whereas Half-Life 2 was a "not bad" experience at best. I don't get why the story is found so spectacular, which in my opinion is not. Yes, the graphics are good, gravity gun is interesting but the game gave me the feeling ofI have found this one overrated. I know I have played it more than 10 years after the release date, but I still enjoy FPS classics such as Unreal, Duke Nukem 3D, whereas Half-Life 2 was a "not bad" experience at best. I don't get why the story is found so spectacular, which in my opinion is not. Yes, the graphics are good, gravity gun is interesting but the game gave me the feeling of "hey, now we are using the gravity in our games and this is very innovative. so you should appreciate it as a classic". No... Half-Life 2 is not the best game ever made, it is not even a classic. It is, however, a fairly good game with good sound and atmosphere, average story and shooting physics and some spectacular graphics for its time. There are some chapters that are too long, such as the ones where you use an airboat, in which the game feels more like a tech demo where the devs are trying to impress. And the worst thing about the game, a huge minus, is that Half-Life 2 will likely give you nausea. In some chapters I felt sick and my face went pale. I have been playing shooters forever, never have I suffered a nausea in a game, which I believe indicates some serious design mistakes.… Expand
  14. LaroTayoGaming
    May 28, 2023
    8
    "Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman." The most iconic voice lines of this great game. Replay-ability and the great storytelling will just love this game a lot more.
  15. Domino---
    Dec 13, 2018
    8
    This game was a revolution, and a big one. No Clip actually just published a documentary about it to explain how it influenced the entire industry. Sadly it's not aging well and I just finished it for the first time.
  16. sebastianali
    Oct 18, 2020
    8
    Half Life 2 es uno de los mejores FPS que existen. En primer lugar, vamos por los gráficos. Los gráficos. En pleno 2004, los gráficos, las físicas son de lo absolutamente mejor que he visto nunca, y si bien puede estar anticuado para estándares actuales, es la ambientación y el diseño de niveles lo que lo hace destacar a día de hoy. En cuanto a la historia, es excelente y va de la mano conHalf Life 2 es uno de los mejores FPS que existen. En primer lugar, vamos por los gráficos. Los gráficos. En pleno 2004, los gráficos, las físicas son de lo absolutamente mejor que he visto nunca, y si bien puede estar anticuado para estándares actuales, es la ambientación y el diseño de niveles lo que lo hace destacar a día de hoy. En cuanto a la historia, es excelente y va de la mano con la jugabilidad y la progresión e interacción de los mapas, similar al primer juego pero mejorado (aunque la inclusión de nuevos personajes que supuestamente son de antaño como Eli Vance, que si bien son carismáticos, el juego no los introduce de manera correcta y eso no me ha gustado). Sin embargo, hay algunas cosas que empeoraron con respecto a la primera entrega. La jugabilidad en parte me pareció peor: si bien alabo la inclusión de vehículos (entretenidos y con mucha adrenalina) o la arma gravitatoria (muy innovador por cierto), hay menos variedad de armas, lo que da menos estrategia a la hora de combatir y se convierte en algo genérico, ademas de carecer de modo multijugador a diferencia del primer juego (y no, el multijugador por consola con trucos o con mods no cuenta). Quitando eso, es un juegazo, ademas de marcar un antes y un después en el genero, habiendo envejecido de manera espectacular. A nivel jugable sera inferior al primer juego, pero a nivel de narrativa y ambientación le gana por mucho.… Expand
  17. rezo_21
    Sep 19, 2021
    8
    ====================IIIIIIIIII GAME SCORE : 80 IIIIIIIIII====================
  18. FrpMan
    Dec 19, 2020
    8
    Zamanı için harika oyun. Lakin geç oynadım o yüzden o kadar etkilenmedim. Fizik motoru bugün bile harika.
  19. SolidSovereign
    Jul 5, 2019
    8
    Unpopular opinion: I liked Half Life 1 better. The level design to Half life 2 is much better but nothing can capture the feeling that I felt when I first played HL 1
  20. Pyro552
    Oct 24, 2019
    8
    While the game is amazing the first 3 or so times, it gets a bit boring to sit through conversations between characters so i normally just find myself messing around while the cutscene plays out. Physics are pretty fun to mess with and looks more like a 2012 game than 2004. Holds up great though, unlike Half-Life 1. Seriously, tell me one person who dosen't just dick around on a 2ndWhile the game is amazing the first 3 or so times, it gets a bit boring to sit through conversations between characters so i normally just find myself messing around while the cutscene plays out. Physics are pretty fun to mess with and looks more like a 2012 game than 2004. Holds up great though, unlike Half-Life 1. Seriously, tell me one person who dosen't just dick around on a 2nd playthrough of Half-Life… Expand
  21. Monort
    Dec 31, 2019
    8
    The best fps game. Gorgeous Graphics, awesome atmosphere, awesome episode designs, outstanding physics, awesome story and more. Get And Play.
  22. geekslayer
    Aug 25, 2020
    8
    Плюсы:
    - атмосфера игры держит в напряжении постоянно, не отпуская ни на секунду
    - потрясающая графика на момент выхода. Заточенность под графические процессоры от ATI была новинкой в мире игр. Мимика персонажей и их лица вообще (как и модели) лучше, чем в Doom 3, а пейзажи, можно сказать, несколько выигрывают у Far Cry - звук в игре заставляет прислушиваться ко всем мелочам -    Плюсы:
    - атмосфера игры держит в напряжении постоянно, не отпуская ни на секунду
    - потрясающая графика на момент выхода. Заточенность под графические процессоры от ATI была новинкой в мире игр. Мимика персонажей и их лица вообще (как и модели) лучше, чем в Doom 3, а пейзажи, можно сказать, несколько выигрывают у Far Cry
    - звук в игре заставляет прислушиваться ко всем мелочам
    - физический движок Havoc - это нечто
    Минусы:
    - заскриптованная подача сюжета, всё очень линейно
    - граната, брошенная в вертолет, застревает в крутящихся лопастях, а когда труп падает в воду, его кровь не растворяется в воде, окрашивая ее в розовый цвет, а пятном падает на дно
    - самого главного героя (или даже часть его тела) не видно до конца игры. Если Гордон берет что-то в руки, то предмет зависает в некотором отдалении от него
    В целом, отличный FPS для своего времени, но вряд ли его можно назвать революционным. Крепкая 8/10.    … Expand
  23. yeezymane
    Apr 1, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Графика - 8/10
    Игровой процесс - 9/10
    Сюжет - 8/10
    Музыка - 6/10    … Expand
  24. yangfanhong
    Feb 9, 2022
    8
    Epic game！The physical engine was so advanced at that time and it was so fun.
  25. Haeder
    Jul 20, 2020
    8
    This game is surely something And I have been wanting to play it for a while now and I have just gotten the time to do so, Let me go through it one by one:
    Firstly, The graphics, The graphics of this game is Good-looking maybe not the best by today standards but it's still good and the facial animations are nice to have, The level design on the other hand is more interesting, Sometimes    This game is surely something And I have been wanting to play it for a while now and I have just gotten the time to do so, Let me go through it one by one:
    Firstly, The graphics, The graphics of this game is Good-looking maybe not the best by today standards but it's still good and the facial animations are nice to have, The level design on the other hand is more interesting, Sometimes you get stuck not knowing where to go? and sometimes you just have to stop and admire the brilliant level design, The voice acting is lower then normal only exception is G-Man his voice is just gorgeous, The story is pretty neat and the gameplay is unique, The guns are different from each other and each got Its own use case, The gravity gun is so awesome, and the vehicles that you can drive are well made, The AI is smart, For me the gameplay is the strong point in this game.

    Valve clearly knows how to make a good and a bad game and this game is one of the good ones, maybe not the best but it's surely good.

    tl;dr
    Pros:
    + Neat story
    + Beautiful graphics
    + Smart AI
    + Awesome gameplay
    Cons:
    - Level design is sometimes confusing
    - Voice acting is way less than I would expect from the company that made Portal (and any other story-based game)
    - Some weird bugs overall    … Expand
  26. Rustick
    Jul 7, 2022
    8
    для своего времени шедевр сюжет весьма неплох геймплей радует кроме транспортных миссий
  27. KitterKatster
    Nov 14, 2021
    8
    Its terrible that this game from 2004 still has the best physics. Well maybe not best BUT IT USES THEM thus making it the best. Some of the later levels drop in quality which is a shame. Weapon and enemy variety is less so then HL1 which is a shame. Pacing is alot slower then HL1, which isn't necessarly a bad thing but on your 5000th playthrough u kinda host_timescale it.
  28. ewenr
    Jun 29, 2020
    8
    For me, Half Life 2 didn't quite capture the magic of the previous game but it was very enjoyable none the less.
  29. Hanekoma
    Jul 3, 2020
    8
    As the first fps game I played, it left a deep impact on me. Of course, for me, who was only 6 years old, the game was a bit bloody, but I still like it.
  30. WaldieX
    Jul 4, 2020
    8
    I remember I bought Half-Life Complete just for GMOD textures and then I wanted to try it and I enjoyed this game. Gameplay was great and as a fan of FPS games I liked it. Graphics was great it you keep in mind it was FRICKING 2004 GAME! Physics of this game are great and I feel like it is better than in some 2020 games. I enjoyed it and I will play it again, I will give Half-Life 2 8/10.
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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

All reviews »
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 »