Half-Life: Alyx

 PC
User Score
9.2

Universal acclaim- based on 2812 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,575 out of 2812
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 2812
  3. Negative: 179 out of 2812

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  1. Skals
    Apr 1, 2020
    6
    I've played a lot of VR games and Half-Life: Alyx is certainly one of the more polished ones of the lot. So why did I give it a 6? Well first of all, it fails to do anything new. I was excited for what Valve could come up with with their infinite resources, but unfortunately there's not much to set this apart from other VR titles. It comes with the same bugs i.e. hands disappearing, frameI've played a lot of VR games and Half-Life: Alyx is certainly one of the more polished ones of the lot. So why did I give it a 6? Well first of all, it fails to do anything new. I was excited for what Valve could come up with with their infinite resources, but unfortunately there's not much to set this apart from other VR titles. It comes with the same bugs i.e. hands disappearing, frame drops, tracking issues and so forth. The mechanics are great, they work well, from the gravity hands, to guns, and combat. However the game really drops the ball on level design. The core loop is extremely repetitive and gets tedious at times. The game is essentially a room simulator with constant lock & key puzzles. 1. You walk into a room, grab some resin, grab ammo, grab health pick ups. 2. You find an enemy fight an enemy or two, and kill them. 3. You find a locked door. 4. You find a way to unlock that door (which is usually a key card, power core, or re-routing some power) 5. You get to the next room and rinse and repeat. This is an extremely dull way of doing puzzles without much creativity, each puzzle gets slightly more complicated but they are all essentially the same puzzle copy+pasted. This is a far cry from the interesting level design of Half-Life 2.
    As for the story - it's there, stuff certainly happens. Can't fault the game in this sense. Voice acting is good, but can get annoying at times - each time you're about to run out of ammo Alyx exclaims "this is my last clip" as if you can't see the hud. This wouldn't be that bad if not for the fact that you're usually close to being out of ammo.
    On the subject of ammo - what were you thinking? I've had several encounters where I have no ammo at all, and I end up running around the level whilst under attack hoping to find some here or there, which isn't easy when you die from a few shots. I've also had an encounter with 10 combine soldiers where each one dropped health pick ups but no ammo at all. So I'm expected to kill all these dudes with health pick ups? When you run out of ammo that's it, there's no way to fight back, Half-Life 1 / 2 didn't have this issue as you had the crowbar. This is a big oversight as well.
    The game can be fun and interesting at times, but tedious and annoying at others.    … Expand
  2. Kvasi
    Apr 9, 2020
    6
    Played a couple of hours. It's a shooter in vr. Nothing more nothing less. It's polished sure. Is it fun? I had more fun with robo recall.
  3. Derek1st
    May 15, 2020
    5
    Easily, unequivocally, the best game I have every played. Period. Best story, best music, best combat, best everything
  4. OrwellWasRight
    Mar 3, 2021
    7
    It's a great tech demo but not a great game. The interaction with the world is nice and really shows what is possible in VR. The leveldesign is boring and dull and far inferior to previous HalfLife entries.
    The story is okay but nothing special. Dialogues are kinda cringy.I was expecting a lot more from a HalfLife game when it comes to story telling, atmosphere and leveldesign.
  5. TheTechGuy
    Dec 20, 2020
    5
    With all the hype I expected too much. Didn’t help that I’m not used to playing long with the VR set. I see why it was not released without VR support though. Nice touches. Too bad more people will not play though.
  6. PandaPowGames
    May 19, 2020
    7
    It’s good and a great return for the series and in VR it’s a lot more immersive but still a true Half Life 3 would be great
  7. BFG-1337
    May 6, 2021
    5
    The VR market is overpriced, and overrated.

    This is the most average game I've played yet, its so dull and uninspiring its kind of weird that its made by Valve, it honestly feels like a very polished school project.

    Ahh, what the OG developers could have done with VR.....
  8. Destruct_
    Mar 23, 2020
    7
    Great game great gameplay never seen such a detailed vr game but sometimes we have fps drops and the controls are not very good
  9. Missfish173
    Mar 31, 2020
    5
    glad that half-life is back since it was such a good game but it is a shame that it is only as a VR game.
  10. Rei-kun
    Mar 24, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. очень огорчила концовка....
    если это действительно намек на альтернативную концовку hl2ep2 - я разочарован вдвойне    … Expand
  11. Need1Taps
    Mar 25, 2020
    6
    Half Life Alyx sadly just feels like another half life DLC or mod, The story is excellent like any other half life game made by valve. The puzzles in Alyx are good for VR but nothing too special, but the games biggest flaw is the movement and combat. The continuous movement is very slow and annoying there is no sprinting, or jumping. When in areas you have to backtrack the game forces youHalf Life Alyx sadly just feels like another half life DLC or mod, The story is excellent like any other half life game made by valve. The puzzles in Alyx are good for VR but nothing too special, but the games biggest flaw is the movement and combat. The continuous movement is very slow and annoying there is no sprinting, or jumping. When in areas you have to backtrack the game forces you to walk at a snails pace or just teleport, and for a game that's supposed to be a story rich immersive adventure having teleport movement really takes out of it. Overall Alyx would be the best VR game to ever come out if it hadn't been released after Boneworks. The movement and gun play hold the game back so much that I have a hard time enjoying it. If you are looking for a great, immersive VR experience, I recommend playing Boneworks… Expand
  12. Wralda
    Mar 25, 2020
    6
    HL:ALYX это условная виртуальная реальность , ничем не выдающийся сюжет и привычная непримечательная графика как и у всех других современных игр. В итоге инноваций и особенностей у игры нет.

    Мне запомнился диалог между Аликс и Расселом , где шла речь о оценке жизни на Земле во время оккупации и до нее . Аликс оценила жизнь в оккупации на 2 балла , а Рассель поставил 6 баллов    HL:ALYX это условная виртуальная реальность , ничем не выдающийся сюжет и привычная непримечательная графика как и у всех других современных игр. В итоге инноваций и особенностей у игры нет.

    Мне запомнился диалог между Аликс и Расселом , где шла речь о оценке жизни на Земле во время оккупации и до нее . Аликс оценила жизнь в оккупации на 2 балла , а Рассель поставил 6 баллов жизни в свободные времена . Этот диалог , на мой взгляд , скрытно намекает нам на оценку разработчиками своей игры. Можно предположить , что 6 баллов они дали Half-life 2 , а 2 балла ( по оценке самой Аликс ) своей новой игре . Это подтверждает цена игры ( и предзаказ ) , ее содержание и отношение самого Гейба . Он лично считает лучшей игрой портал и доту 2.

    Графика ничем не выделяется и совершенно обыкновенная на фоне остальных современных игр . Эта проблема делает похожей игру на очередной кусок говна из "unity" в стиле HL2. Яркость цветов не подходит оккупированному , разрушенному , нищему миру . Архитектура , интерьер и дизайн несовместимы и не отражают последствия более 10 летней оккупации Земли . Мы не видим обилие мусора , грязи , плесени , паутины , ржавчины , костей , следов от пуль на стенах и других важных и неободимых элементов для "полного погружения" . Виртуальная реальность в данной игре является лишь набором слов и простым манипулированием сознанием людей и никакой речи о ней и быть не может. Вы не можете взаимодействовать со всеми предметами , например с каким-нибудь шкафом , горшком от цветов и с другими бытовыми вещами. Музыка в игре является ремиксом саундтреков из HL1 и HL2 , то есть оригинальной музыки тоже нет. Сюжет в игре очень слабый . Сцена с Gman в конце самая худшая . Просто сравните ее с последней сценой Gman из HL2:EP2. Атмосфера игры не имеет ничего общего с Half-life2 .

    К опытной компании Valve мы должны относиться строго и не прощать им грубейшие ошибки.
    HL:ALYX это полное разочарование для фанатов серии и очень слабый продукт для Valve . Абсолютно все в это игре сделано плохо . Окружение , среда , музыка . графика , возможности все лишино оригинальности и помимо прочего не соответствует миру Half-Life2.    … Expand
  13. robomartion
    May 16, 2020
    7
    Half:Life Alyx is nothing special, and that's really what it needed to be. It lacks the atmosphere cohesiveness and the character that made the Half:Life the series what it is. Fun VR mechanics such as throwing and smashing bottles are a great tech demo and proof of concept but behind these gimmicks is a an empty and often frustrating experience. Valve still has the skills to make highHalf:Life Alyx is nothing special, and that's really what it needed to be. It lacks the atmosphere cohesiveness and the character that made the Half:Life the series what it is. Fun VR mechanics such as throwing and smashing bottles are a great tech demo and proof of concept but behind these gimmicks is a an empty and often frustrating experience. Valve still has the skills to make high fidelity, polished experiences but do they still have the soul to make engaging, memorable games that leave an impression on the player and stand the test of time? Whether it's a sign of the times or a hint at a deeper change within Valve itself, frankly, I don't think so.

    As for the VR experience, I am more inclined to see games that utilise the VR environment to create highly atmospheric, tangible, immersive experiences that play on the senses such as fear, awe or something in between rather than highly interactive ones where the VR experience amounts to a lot of fiddling with objects and puzzles as opposed to being immersed and convinced you really are in another world. It's a shame that Valves offering focuses so heavily on carrying broomsticks around and throwing bread rolls at pigeons and not really much on the actual virtual experience itself.

    The environments of Metro Exodus are more detailed than Half: Life Alyx, its atmosphere more compelling and the sense of urgency and agency far more heightened resulting in an engaging experience that's far beyond what is seen in Half-Life Alyx - and thats all in a game that is not even in virtual reality. It shows that just because you use a VR to experience a game won't make it more immersive without the care and attention on the game's atmosphere.

    It might sound comical but I see Until Dawn: Rush of Blood as a vastly more compelling VR experience. Heck many of the Playstation VR experiences from just a couple of years ago, including titles like Ocean Descent, I believe were on a better track to creating the VR experiences we dream of. Half Life Alyx could easily have been a game which is controlled with mouse and keyboard and experienced on a 2D screen. A lot of work went into perfecting Half-Life Alyx's interaction and it's a shame as they largely fail to incite the feeling of immersion you get even from comparatively introductory experiences such as Ocean Descent.

    It's also a shame that Half Life Alyx is only now bringing attention to VR when previously it was more of a niche experience even when there are already many highly realised virtual reality games. It is good however that Half-Life: Alyx is bringing the spotlight back to what was quickly again becoming a disregarded technology. I personally would like to see a PT like experience in VR or another immersive ocean experience with high fidelity graphics. As for purely interactive VR experiences that are pushing the boundaries with what is possible within a VR environment I think Boneworks goes far above and beyond Valve's offering here.

    All-in-all like Half-Life Alyx just doesn't live up to the promise or expectations of a truly immersive virtual reality experience. Does it have innovative interaction in high fidelity environments? Yes. Is it an immersive, memorable experience worthy of the Half-Life universe? No.    … Expand
  14. Deragonsu
    Mar 24, 2020
    6
    Básicamente Half life con VRs, es una pasada, sin duda, evidentemente mucho niño con pasta queriendo justificar la compra de las VR y la supuesta superioridad en la experiencia, nada más lejos de la realidad, es tedioso y convierte un gran juego en una experiencia infantil, mas allá de mi opinión personal al respecto no está doblado y para colmo es exclusivo para VR, lo que lo convierte enBásicamente Half life con VRs, es una pasada, sin duda, evidentemente mucho niño con pasta queriendo justificar la compra de las VR y la supuesta superioridad en la experiencia, nada más lejos de la realidad, es tedioso y convierte un gran juego en una experiencia infantil, mas allá de mi opinión personal al respecto no está doblado y para colmo es exclusivo para VR, lo que lo convierte en un título de una saga tan importante como Half life en un título de nicho y clasista bajo mi opinión por supuesto.… Expand
  15. TixyLix
    Mar 24, 2020
    5
    The Most disappointing game ever......

    I loved Half Life and Half Life 2, I grew up on them and did the whole map making thing, and played thousands of hours of Counter Strike. So you can imagine how excited I was for this game, especially thinking it would be so innovative inside VR. It's not innovative at all though, it has the same problems as every other VR game, and in most    The Most disappointing game ever......

    I loved Half Life and Half Life 2, I grew up on them and did the whole map making thing, and played thousands of hours of Counter Strike. So you can imagine how excited I was for this game, especially thinking it would be so innovative inside VR.

    It's not innovative at all though, it has the same problems as every other VR game, and in most cases of gameplay mechanics, they have been done better. What Valve could have done is bought the Superhot developers and turned that into a full game like they did Portal. I just find Half Life Alyx boring, and not only that it's clunky and horrible to control and play.

    On top of that the writing doesn't feel like Half-Life, it's not even funny like it's trying to be, and has nothing on Portal 2... did all the talent leave Valve?

    WORST of all, Alyx is being voiced by someone else, she doesn't sound like her, and it's so distracting... I feel like I have no emotional connection to the character as a result.    … Expand
  16. Loftin
    Mar 23, 2020
    5
    A great VR game, but its not as groundbreaking as Half Life 2 was. Enjoying my time with it, but at the same time, kinda wishing i was playing a tradition KB/M Half Life game.

    I recommend Black Mesa for gamers like me, It was an excellent fan made redo of the OG Half Life. Half Life Alyx is a great VR game, but i believe if it wasnt in VR it wouldnt hold a light to the traditional    A great VR game, but its not as groundbreaking as Half Life 2 was. Enjoying my time with it, but at the same time, kinda wishing i was playing a tradition KB/M Half Life game.

    I recommend Black Mesa for gamers like me, It was an excellent fan made redo of the OG Half Life.

    Half Life Alyx is a great VR game, but i believe if it wasnt in VR it wouldnt hold a light to the traditional games coming out today as far as content.

    VR competition is non existent, VR software is mostly experimental and not full thought out AAA games. Alyx is indeed a flushed out AAA game for VR, it was guaranteed to score well with critics.

    Its still no where near what i want for HL3 (if it ever does release, if it does, i hope its not VR)    … Expand
  17. CrusaderJP
    Jun 19, 2020
    5
    The best part of the game are the graphics and the physics engine. But It is awkward to play, and boring like all virtual reality games today. This technology still has a long way to go.
  18. CIIAPTANEC228
    Mar 28, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 1) There is no interesting campaign, except for the ending.
    2) Only 3 types of weapons ...
    3) 9 hours of play is simply no use. Very dumb AI.
    4) Monotonous riddles.
    5) No action!
    6) It feels like all enemies are intentionally created stupid, headcrabs wait until they are killed (
    I do not recommend the game! 6 out of 10.
    Not interested.    … Expand
  19. Martillonegro
    Mar 28, 2020
    5
    mi principal problema es con os controles y la visivilidad
    el teletransportarse se hace muy incomodo y las manos parecieran que tiene espasmos cada segundo , y que hablar que casi siempre se las pasa viendo al piso ( y las fisicas de las manos y las armas
  20. Alexandr2001
    Mar 24, 2020
    5
    Playing this game is a waste of time when you have DOOM ETERNAL
    Call me a hater but I never really enjoy Half-life series, it's just decent shooter
  21. GabFire
    Aug 9, 2020
    7
    Eu queria entender qual é o problema da Valve para não trazer o Half-Life 3, invés disso trouxeram um jogo VR, e bem chatinho por sinal, não recomendo.
  22. johnsky
    Oct 13, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a good game for VR. It is a terrible shooter.
    The game mechanics, given that it's VR, are great. It is immersive. You want to go back to it. You feel like you're there. The atmosphere, as with a lot of Valve games, is brilliant.
    As a shooter, it feels like a simple shooting gallery tailored to VR with some additonal logical gimmicks (rather good some of them). Granted, it's understandable. Nobody wants players to hurt themselves in the real environment while dodging the attack of imaginary enemies. VR game design must somehow address the fact that quick reflexes that can be achieved with a joypad or good ol' mouse and keyboard must somehow be transalted to VR without the player breaking a nearby cabinet to pieces along with his/her arm.
    This works very well as a VR tech accomplishment for 2020. One can complete it and enjoy it. But VR still isn't quite there yet. Also, given it's a HL game, did I mention the ridiculously poor script? Never mind.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2020
9
#9 Most Discussed PC Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 69
  3. Negative: 0 out of 69
  1. Areajugones
    Dec 21, 2020
    95
    Half-Life Alyx is proof that Valve is still at its best creatively. This emblematic franchise has been brought to virtual reality; in Alyx we enjoy an immersion never seen before, with comfortable and intuitive mechanics as well as excellent visuals and atmosphere that accompany this interesting adventure within the iconic saga.
    Read full review
  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    May 21, 2020
    92
    It’s a good thing that Valve didn’t add a digit to the title: from Half-Life 3 we expect nothing short of revolution, while Alyx is “merely” an amazing game. [Issue#245, p.50]
  3. Screen Rant
    May 15, 2020
    100
    A special mention should be made of the game's dialog, mainly consisting of Alyx herself and Russel, a scientist who Alex remains in constant communication with throughout the game. Their relationship feels genuine, the conversations between them are enjoyable, and almost all of the intended comedic moments land perfectly, which is something most video games seem to have trouble with.
    Read full review
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