Half-Life 2

 PC
Half-Life 2 Image
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 81 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
9.2

Universal acclaim- based on 12734 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: [Metacritic's 2004 PC Game of the Year] By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around him, from the physical environment[Metacritic's 2004 PC Game of the Year] By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around him, from the physical environment to the behaviors -- even the emotions -- of both friends and enemies. The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people -- people he cares about -- are counting on him. [Vivendi Universal]… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
Half-Life 2 Gameplay Movie 3

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 81
  3. Negative: 0 out of 81
  1. Gaming Age
    100
    Where it goes beyond a typical first person shooter is in its story telling. The graphics engine is so realistic that you feel like you are participating in a movie. The character's facial animation is incredible. It's done so well, you can get a sense of how the characters are feeling.
  2. Eurogamer
    100
    Half-Life 2 has astonished us from start to finish. Valve has done to the FPS genre what restaurants in Chinatown do to ducks; shredded it, smothered it in a delicious sauce of their own devising, and served it up in a way which you simply couldn't have imagined when looking at them in the pond.
  3. 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.
  4. Game Over Online
    97
    It's a beautiful game with fantastic design and writing that's a little short but delivers boatloads of action in what time you do end up playing.
  5. 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.
  6. Electric Playground
    95
    With tasty graphics and gameplay that is sheer madness, Half-life 2 is sweeter than a chocolate-and-honey lollipop coated with sugar, and it provides twice the rush.
  7. netjak
    85
    I think this is probably the worst teammate AI I've seen in an FPS since "Daikatana." It's like every one of your followers are the Redshirt sidekicks from "Star Munchkin."
    All this publication's reviews

See all 81 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,153 out of 2429
  2. Mixed: 162 out of 2429
  3. Negative: 114 out of 2429
  1. TUsion
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    The best PC game I have played to date! Incredible graphics, which can be run on surprisingly low-level systems, great story and interactivity.
  2. BenF
    Apr 20, 2010
    10
    This game is FPS at its best! No matter how many times you play it, youll either crap your pants or have your mind explode out of the sheer This game is FPS at its best! No matter how many times you play it, youll either crap your pants or have your mind explode out of the sheer awesomeness of this game!! Incredible puzzles, Frightful and disgusting enemies, superb dialogue, and best of all a gun like no other that allows you to turn every day items to super destructive items of terror!!! I dont care if you're the world's greatest gamer, if you havnt played this game...you havnt lived yet.… Expand
  4. JonathonH.
    Sep 16, 2007
    10
    Story is amazing. Followed Half-Life greatly. Insane graphics.
  5. DanilaV
    Jul 24, 2022
    10
    I think this is the best PC game of all time. It will be possible to pass it even after many years
  6. Stupid_Kato
    Jul 5, 2020
    10
    One of the best representatives of shooter games in its time. Even today I enjoy the water in this game
  7. O3liveon
    Dec 23, 2022
    9
    Well it's freaking Half Half 2. One of the most ultimate of ultimate classics. You don't have to be a gamer to know that Half Life is stillWell it's freaking Half Half 2. One of the most ultimate of ultimate classics. You don't have to be a gamer to know that Half Life is still after all these years at the pinnacle of gaming and story telling. Even at the time of this short review, December 2022, it's still an extremely fun game to play and the story is timeless and brilliant. What an incredible world! Saying you love this game isn't enough. With that said, old games are old, even though this still holds up to a pretty good extent - it's still an old game... And old games are old. If you haven't experienced these games there's no question. You must. YOU MUST! Sorry for yelling.
    A review like this could've been read at release, all that's needed is a single word - Perfection.
    But it's 2022 and again, old games are old... And yet, still gets a 9 from me. So good!    … Expand
  8. EvanT.
    Jun 14, 2006
    0
    The worst game ever it is all fake and the guns are crap. do not get this game!

See all 2429 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. Best of the Decade, Games

    The All-Time Best Games on Every Platform

    The All-Time Best Games on Every Platform Image
    Published: March 28, 2017
    Find the highest-scoring games exclusive to every platform, from the new Nintendo Switch all the way back to the Sega Genesis.
    More »
  2. Games

    30 Games That Emerged from Development Hell

    30 Games That Emerged from Development Hell Image
    Published: June 23, 2011
    After 15 years in development limbo, Duke Nukem Forever finally arrived in stores last week, though game critics aren't rejoicing. We look at that and other long-delayed games that eventually managed to shed their vaporware status, with results ranging from maligned to sublime.
    More »

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

Current PC Games

Full List »
8.8 ALFA: Antiterror
8.3 Stellar Tactics
6.7 Mon Bazou
All Current Games »