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. DanielM.
    Apr 29, 2006
    10
    This game is mind blowing peace of art! Everyone should play this gorgeus game!
  2. NickD.
    May 12, 2006
    10
    Awesome... no other words can describe.
  3. AivarsL.
    May 12, 2006
    10
    Bestest game ever made :D
  4. CurtisC.
    May 12, 2006
    10
    As a kid turning teen i can not still believe how awesome the graphics are i mean this is better then the final fantasy series best game ever made enough said.
  5. AnonymousMC
    May 17, 2006
    10
    Oh my goodness! half life 2 is THE most fun i have ever had in a game . the physics are fantastic and are fun to play with. the storyline is scary and graphics go along way in expressing the feel of the game . THIS IS THE BEST GAME
  6. AnonymousMC
    May 18, 2006
    10
    It's a great game if you have the right stuff. I'm really not sure why everyone is comparing this to Far-Cry thousands of times, I have viewed textures, graphics and such: overall, if you can run Half-Life 2 without what probably 50% of the lower rated poster's computers are, preferably horrible 4200 Dells, Half-Life 2 is immense and the graphics are well made and justIt's a great game if you have the right stuff. I'm really not sure why everyone is comparing this to Far-Cry thousands of times, I have viewed textures, graphics and such: overall, if you can run Half-Life 2 without what probably 50% of the lower rated poster's computers are, preferably horrible 4200 Dells, Half-Life 2 is immense and the graphics are well made and just awesome. And since when does a shooter have to be so in particularly be a completely realistic in an environment of the jungle, or some place on Mars, or some really dumb variation of L.A? (I'm looking at you, Bloodlines.) What happened to the good old shooters like Metal Slug, hm? Sure, they weren't packed to their necks with plasma decentigration balls, dual powered shotguns, MP7's, or hoverboats, but what it the issue? Even if you count out the puzzles and map designs (Which, by the way, are practically flawless compared to some of the garbage I've seen from Halo and many other First Persons) the gameplay still heads in the correct direction. Then, complaints on the squads and commands; let me address that you don't even need squads if you're playing on normal, let alone easy. If just having some rebel guy following you and you press 'c' at the ground in front of you, he'll go. I found barely any uses of teamwork, with the exception of Grigori or Alyx, the special NPCs.
    What sort of makes me mad too is the fact people continue to say 'this game is overrated', 'this game is behind its time', 'this game is crap no thanks to Steam', personally, these are whiny comments. First of all, the game would probably not be overrated, if it weren't for the 2003 hacking. Second, it would not of been behind its time. If I do recall, some companies found part of the coding and used it for their own games. Next to that, the physics engine was remarkable for what it was way back when, when it drove awe into the people who watched E3 and the beta clips. I'm not sure what's wrong with registering to Steam either: You simply install the game, which takes NOT 4 hours, it takes 10 to 15 minutes before for my old, lousy Dell. Then you register the game, which shouldn't even take that long, if 3 minutes counts as yet another sarcastic 1 hour. If it takes the person installing Half-Life 2 at least 4 hours, then your computer dates back to the days Half-Life 1 could run on those awesome Pentium 1 Windows 93 computers. And complaining of load times? Get a computer upgrade, stop whining. If you save some money for at least 3 months, you could get a gigabyte of ram and a GeForce 7300 at its cheapest.
    Enough complaining, it's time to get on to Half-Life 2, and what it brought, and would of brought to this generation. I applaud Valve for simply releasing this; I was almost doubting a real release at all due to the beta hack. The guns, if I say, are awesome. The MP7 I would delightfully switch with an MP5K anyday, though.    … Expand
  7. DanG.
    May 18, 2006
    10
    The most amazingly realistic and engrosing game to come along in ages. HL2 is one for the history books!
  8. GeorgeZ.
    May 22, 2006
    10
    this is the best game i have ever played, it has excellent storyline, non-stop action, suspense, and excellent. this game will keep any gamer playing for hours!
  9. EvanC.
    May 23, 2006
    10
    This is a great game. I really like we dont go to raven holm. It had a nice element of realism.
  10. SamN.
    May 23, 2006
    10
    Wow.
  11. LukeM.
    May 28, 2006
    10
    Best Game Ever!!!!
  12. DrewS.
    May 31, 2006
    10
    It may be impossible to match the ambience this game created.
  13. AnonymousMC
    Jun 11, 2006
    10
    The push back in dates were disappointing. And so was the ending. STEAM blows unless you have the right equipment for it. But throughout the bad ending and STEAM not delivering what I so rightly deserved [I bought the game], the gameplay, the graphics, and the all out layout of this game made every bad detail worth it. I give it a 10. 9 wouldn't do it. Anything lower would be a littleThe push back in dates were disappointing. And so was the ending. STEAM blows unless you have the right equipment for it. But throughout the bad ending and STEAM not delivering what I so rightly deserved [I bought the game], the gameplay, the graphics, and the all out layout of this game made every bad detail worth it. I give it a 10. 9 wouldn't do it. Anything lower would be a little [okay, a lot] unjust. It isn't perfect, but for todays standards, this game left me breathless, and it left me for me. Like a game should. Similar to God of War. Gameplay kept me hooked, the storyline going somewhere, the graphics were, dare I say, orgasmic. Hats off to you Valve. And STEAM, fix yourself up. The HL series lost fans to you, but fans loyal enough stayed with it and say the same as I. Can't wait for what else you have in store.

    - Always waiting,
    [ e X i l e ]    … Expand
  14. MichaelP.
    Jun 15, 2006
    10
    Exciting, edge-of-your seat game that immerses you in the very realistic, alternate world of Gordon Freeman.
  15. GraemS.
    Jun 19, 2006
    10
    A very gripping experience, taking you through this futuristic underground railroad. The ammunition capacity is realistic, the length of the game is great, the sound is pretty cool, and the graphics are near top-notch. But them greatest of all is the story. This game has one of the most fantastic and entertaining stories I have ever experienced! This is a truly revolutionary game, (in A very gripping experience, taking you through this futuristic underground railroad. The ammunition capacity is realistic, the length of the game is great, the sound is pretty cool, and the graphics are near top-notch. But them greatest of all is the story. This game has one of the most fantastic and entertaining stories I have ever experienced! This is a truly revolutionary game, (in terms of enjoyment) and should not be missed by anyone who enjoys the genre(s). The great thing about the Source engine is that you can be playing off of a medium-low end computer and still enjoy decent gameplay. But if you want to max it out, I recommend using a quality rig. ottom line: This is a fantastic, amazing, enthralling, and revolutionary game.… Expand
  16. AnonymousMC
    Jun 24, 2006
    10
    What is it about hl2 that makes it so awesome? The fact that every aspects of a good fps has been covered, from graphics to puzzles, and presented masterfully. Furthermore, unlike other games, the requirements we'rnt high upon release, i ran it on a ti4200 and 2.4 gig p4 and it still looks fantastic. Episode one rocked too, so keep it up!
  17. DeanM.
    Jun 26, 2006
    10
    the variety of half life with less obvious puzzle tedium. graphics have made the game even more immersive than the original. oh and giving it a permanent place in my heart.
  18. BrandonR.
    Jul 11, 2006
    10
    Perfect by comparison to other FPS games, HL2 is the best game to ever hit the PC. It engages the player through so many different levels - everything from the anticipation of fear to the fun of using military tactics to command your team of resistence volunteers against an alien-dominating society. Nothing better than HL2 has yet been produced to date.
  19. TomppaHakla
    Jul 15, 2006
    10
    This is the best action shooter game ever!!! Nice graphic's and NICE STORY!!! i can't stop foe playing this again and again and again..
  20. MatheusR.
    Jul 19, 2006
    10
    the best game i see in my life.
  21. SamN.
    Jul 23, 2006
    10
    Wow.
  22. WilliamF.
    Jul 26, 2006
    10
    This game is amazing... Graphics.. Story... and its so realist, you feel like youre in the game!
  23. FabioL.
    Jul 31, 2006
    10
    Currently lacking time for a proper comment,all I can say is it can definetly be considered one of the greatest games of all time.
  24. WillL.
    Jul 31, 2006
    10
    The greatest game ive ever seen or played. (On a great PC like mine that is.)
  25. DmitriN.
    Aug 11, 2006
    10
    Best game of the world - forever!!!
  26. TeodorIkonomov
    Aug 14, 2006
    10
    The Best Game Ever
  27. NickR.
    Aug 14, 2006
    10
    Amazing. Simply amazing.
  28. RandyM.
    Aug 23, 2006
    10
    Absolutely incredible. Half-Life 2 is an amazing experience the whole time. I was constantly finding myself with my jaw to the floor. Simply amazing.
  29. CristobalA.
    Aug 29, 2006
    10
    This the best game that can scare u can make u laught and other thingss but the bad thing is that what valve publish as the video preview doesnot come in the half life 2 and thats make u think other things but this the best game ever did and the episode
  30. EraldoM.
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    No doubt this is the best 3D first person game due to its revolutionary CG technology, combined with a high degree of physics processing realism (acceleration, inertia, rotation and deformation of vehicles, gravity, material stress, explosions etc). Also, the player interactivity with AI objects is still the best one.
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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 »