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. bubbagamer
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    I dont write many game reviews but this one deserve it , my mind is blown away.
  2. jakej1097
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    There's nothing I can say which hasn't already been said. I've had my Vive since it first launched, and I've played a lot of VR games in that time. This game makes everything else I've played (with the exception of BeatSaber) seem obsolete by comparison. It is simply the best VR game ever made, and one of the best video games I've ever experienced. The gameplay is intuitive and immersive,There's nothing I can say which hasn't already been said. I've had my Vive since it first launched, and I've played a lot of VR games in that time. This game makes everything else I've played (with the exception of BeatSaber) seem obsolete by comparison. It is simply the best VR game ever made, and one of the best video games I've ever experienced. The gameplay is intuitive and immersive, I never had any issues moving around or grabbing objects. The combat is exhilarating and terrifying, I've never been more scared by a game. The graphics, even on my low settings, are the best of any VR title. In these regards and many others, no other game even comes close. This is the killer app for VR and it is an absolute necessity for anyone with a headset.… Expand
  3. LarsTF
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Wonderful game. A perfectly balanced, optimized masterpiece. I don't know what to add, its the musthave for every fan of HL and Valve. 9.5/10
  4. Indigo128
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    It's a beautiful game. I've finished it in about 19 hours and want more. :) Also I'd like next games in half-life universe to support VR. Thanks, Valve! :)
  5. hwdstener312
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    This game is a real masterpiece if this was released the same year as gow it would have been a BIG competition
  6. Touky
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Like Halfe-Life and Half-Life 2, Half-Life: Alyx is a Masterpiece ! Thank you Valve !
  7. Bobbybae
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    I never been so immersed in any game before. I literally took my hands up to protect myself when he hit me with he's stun gun (11/10) game!!
  8. Qeji
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    This game is a solid 9.5, from start to finish you see Half-Life, you touch Half-Life and in the end you feel Half-Life.
  9. dg_bladee
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    At this moment, best VR game ever

    Я считаю, ради этой игры даже VR купить не жалко, разве потом наскучит, но после того, как стартанула Alyx, пойдут нормальные AAA-проекты на VR, правда, это уже вопрос времени...
  10. withinmyself
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Fantastic over the top next gen graphics. Runs really well even on older systems (I have a GTX-970 i5-6400 with 32 GB RAM) I was concerned that it would struggle but not at all. Great characters. Great story. Great game mechanics. I really don't know what else to say. It's ..... great. If you have a VR this is a no brainer buy. This is what you've been waiting for since youFantastic over the top next gen graphics. Runs really well even on older systems (I have a GTX-970 i5-6400 with 32 GB RAM) I was concerned that it would struggle but not at all. Great characters. Great story. Great game mechanics. I really don't know what else to say. It's ..... great. If you have a VR this is a no brainer buy. This is what you've been waiting for since you bought VR. If you don't have a VR headset then this is a fantastic time to get one, buy this game and stand in awe of what humanity has accomplished.

    Just wanted to add that a lot of people complain about the lack of multiple weapons but I think that adds to the realism personally.    … Expand
  11. Artur4ik228
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    That game is the best game in that year. Half life increase vr popularity and vr gameplay to the next level
  12. Estudiante
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Graphics, characters and animations look so real, story is awesome, gameplay is rewarding and fun. The best VR game in the market, one of the best game ever made. Easily lives up to crazy amount of hype Half-Life games have. This game is just FANTASTIC
  13. tankx2
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Absolutely outstanding from beginning to end. I want to remove it from my memory so I can experience it again for the first time
  14. Dan_gor
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Masterpiece! Valve again made a breakthrough in the gaming industry. Also finally there will be no holes in the plot.
  15. Flastie
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    Valve 1998: "this is how FPS games should look like"...
    Valve 2004: "This is how physics in games should work"....
    Valve 2020: " This is how VR games should be played" ...

    VALVE DID IT AGAIN !!!! Even after 13 years of inactivity in Half-Life world, they put the bar too high, this time in VR world. No words, amazing masterpiece and jewelery among VR games. We want more !!!!
  16. Cassoes
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Visually this game is incredibly gorgeous and realistic, Functionally it's super enjoyable, and the characters and plot really seal the deal for it. One of the best games I have ever played
  17. daedricheart
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Greatest mind blowing physics of all time ! I am truly shocked by the this game certainly the greatest pc game of all time hands 100 !!! Goshhh valve
  18. mberman
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    I've been hesitant to get too excited after so many years. I felt completely immersed and could not stop pausing and enjoying the incredible design and level details. I could not stop saying "You clever f***ers" every time I found myself in a clearly well planned sequence. The story gives a very strong idea of the characters relationship with the setting, without needlessly dumpingI've been hesitant to get too excited after so many years. I felt completely immersed and could not stop pausing and enjoying the incredible design and level details. I could not stop saying "You clever f***ers" every time I found myself in a clearly well planned sequence. The story gives a very strong idea of the characters relationship with the setting, without needlessly dumping information on you. There are several "Chekhov's gun" situations, which keeps the flow of the story and level very clean. I only hope people try the game as it is, I only modding it to being non-VR will break you many of the incredible moments within the game.… Expand
  19. Alifurki1471
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    I didn't play the game, but as far as I can tell from the twitch broadcast, the game is a masterpiece. I hope I can get VR and I can play Half Life Alyx. I hope I play Half Life 3 as it was released. (I am sorry for my English ) :)
  20. praisethesun11
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Absolutely incredible use of VR. Every moment you can tell that Valve put their heart and soul into this game. 10/10.
  21. pi972
    Mar 26, 2020
    8
    A level of polish, attention to detail, beauty, cohesion and writing yet unseen in VR, marred by unfortunately safe (as in not innovative) and repetitive gameplay. Nevertheless, a must buy for all VR owners, as its gameplay, too, gets much better in the second half.
  22. ajhorst35
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    This is the best gaming experience of my life. It’s one of those rare games that raises the bar and blows away everything that came before. It reminds me of when I first played Ocarina of Time or Doom, which both showed the true potential for 3d games over 2D… just like how Alyx shows the true potential of VR over flat.

    Could Ocarina have been made in 2d? Maybe with a ton of    This is the best gaming experience of my life. It’s one of those rare games that raises the bar and blows away everything that came before. It reminds me of when I first played Ocarina of Time or Doom, which both showed the true potential for 3d games over 2D… just like how Alyx shows the true potential of VR over flat.

    Could Ocarina have been made in 2d? Maybe with a ton of compromises, but its almost pointless to ask because the game was designed to take full advantage of what you can do in 3d. This is much like how it’s pointless to ask the possibility of a flat version of Alyx.

    Nearly every critic is rating Alyx a 9 out of 10. I understand their reasoning, but the truth is that this game is far, far better than any other game rated a 9 out of 10. Critics don’t want to give out a 10, which implies perfection, when anyone who plays areas of improvement here and there. The paradox with Alyx is that while imperfect, it is better than any game that has come before. I remember when Doom, Ocarina of Time, (and Half life 2 for that matter) came out, it was difficult to think of a single flaw. As gaming progressed, its now crystal clear that none of those games were anywhere close to perfect.

    In Alyx, there are brief moments when things feel clunky. Certain recent VR games have come out with more advance mechanics. The voice acting doesn’t always match the tone/feel of the player (probably my biggest gripe…I feel like the voice actress for Alyx hadn’t played the game…as everything is far more intense than her tone), you run into some invisible walls, etc.
    That being said, there is absolutely nothing like the core of this game. With VR, you can do things that are otherwise impossible with a mouse and keyboard…and you’re actually doing them! Popping up out of cover with 5 bullets left and one heart of health to take out the last combine soldier is one thing to experience flat…doing it in VR takes it to another level, and you’re left breathless.

    When you run away for cover in a normal video game, t’s a strategy. When you do it in Alyx, you FEEL the need to do it as a fight/flight response. Reloading in a normal videogame involves pressing a button. Your emotional state has nothing to do with the success/failure/speed of the action. In Alyx, all of that comes into play.

    The game is perfectly balanced and paced. They give you the exact amount of ammo you need…no more or no less. Every clip of ammo you find feels critical, and every shot you miss is devastating. I’m not sure if Valve cheats on this by determining how much ammo to place for each playthrough on the fly, but it doesn’t matter. Somehow, I never once totally ran out of ammo, and after every gunfight, I only had a handful of bullets left. Twice I used my last bullet on the last bad-guy.

    The sound is the best of any video game. The music, mixing, sound effects, are all perfect.

    The graphics, art direction, and lighting are the best of any video game. Everything is super detailed, and the world building is astounding.

    The story is classic Valve. If you liked the storytelling in Portal and Half-life games, you’ll love Alyx.

    I feel we will not see anything like Alyx for some time, and possibly the only developer that can pull something like this off is Valve. Think about how much money they’re leaving on the table making this VR only. If they get 100 percent of the addressable market, you’re talking about 2 million in sales. If this were a flat game, with the Half-Life name alone, 20 million in sales would be a disappointment. What other developer would leave over a billion dollars on the table developing a AAA game?    … Expand
  23. Nomadyb
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    The 3rd Revolution was made by Valve again, others will walk like half life 1 and 2
  24. Arestris
    Mar 26, 2020
    9
    Great VR game!
    No, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, no, it's not perfect (but then, I think, that's not entirely possible with current gen VR headsets), but it shows what's possible with the current gen and pushes VR game quality to a new level.
    Also, it brought us a new story in the HL universe and promises even more.
    So, I give it 9 out of 10.
  25. Furkanxg
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is a perfect game I have been waiting for the new series for 12 years and it came with a word, the perfect game is the last part that gives us so much tension, but it doesn't do it in cheap ways, I come very well, but let them take Half Life 3 to VR… Expand
  26. R1seAndShine
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Best VR game! One of the best shooters ever! One of the best game of 2020!
    We Want To Believe! #HL3 #EP3
  27. BFM
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    This truly feels like a game form the future.
    As much as gaming made a leap forward with Super Mario 64 or Half Life 2,
    we now need to add Half Life: Alyx as one of those milestone achievements. It is Valve's best game by a mile, and despite the timeline of it's story, this is the true successor to Half Life 2. This game delivers an immersive experience unlike anything you have    This truly feels like a game form the future.
    As much as gaming made a leap forward with Super Mario 64 or Half Life 2,
    we now need to add Half Life: Alyx as one of those milestone achievements.

    It is Valve's best game by a mile,
    and despite the timeline of it's story,
    this is the true successor to Half Life 2.

    This game delivers an immersive experience unlike anything you have ever seen.
    It is thrilling to the core of your body, and it will make you cheer out loud in joy that you can't hold back.

    This is a deeper, better gaming experience than it would be able to be without VR,
    and hopefully it's not Valve's last one.    … Expand
  28. mddhead
    Mar 26, 2020
    9
    The zero star reviews are only here to push an anti VR agenda, simple as that. Understand that this is a highly polished Valve game (minus some early release tech issues), and a step forward for gaming just like the other Half Lifes.

    The game looks and feels amazing, and the grav gloves are brilliant for the whole 10 hour ride. Alyx is about the opposite of say, Doom Eternal and I    The zero star reviews are only here to push an anti VR agenda, simple as that. Understand that this is a highly polished Valve game (minus some early release tech issues), and a step forward for gaming just like the other Half Lifes.

    The game looks and feels amazing, and the grav gloves are brilliant for the whole 10 hour ride. Alyx is about the opposite of say, Doom Eternal and I really like that:

    --The game here IS the VR. The game is you doing things for real, figuring out how to aim and hip fire and reload and toss things. As opposed to having all that stripped away so you're just running in a circle managing cool downs.
    --The puzzles are actually puzzles; they have consistent logic, visual hints, and build in complexity over the campaign. As opposed to "find the one hidden punchable or climbable thing so you can progress".
    --The game is full of character. The infested Slavic city feels like real life 1990s Europe, the alien tech is creepy and awesome (cow brain computer puzzles!), and the characters and enemies grow on you as you see more of them.

    If you own VR I'm just preaching to the choir, because you've already bought Alyx. Enjoy =)    … Expand
  29. halo_boggle
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Valve's done it again, this time with the handicap of a completely new gaming system that few developers truly understand. Their work here will be a lesson in VR game design for an entire generation, just like DOOM was in the 90s.

    It's an experience you couldn't get playing with a keyboard and mouse staring into a stuck rectangular display. The immersiveness of the environments is next    Valve's done it again, this time with the handicap of a completely new gaming system that few developers truly understand. Their work here will be a lesson in VR game design for an entire generation, just like DOOM was in the 90s.

    It's an experience you couldn't get playing with a keyboard and mouse staring into a stuck rectangular display. The immersiveness of the environments is next level thanks to amazing graphics that perform way better than expected and really lovely audio that makes your skin crawl just enough to set the mood, but not enough to consider this a horror title. The game makes you look around, peek your head through holes, stick your hands in many a gross place; even just grabbing onto a door handle and slowly pulling it open feels unbelievably satsifying. Classic Valve story pacing is also on display here, with wonderful voice acting wit and fun moments to break apart the monotony. Nobody does it like Valve, and certainly nobody is doing anything like this in VR yet.

    This is already the best VR title ever released by virtue of its actual AAA level graphics, voice acting, story, and gameplay. In VR land you absolutely will not find a game as complete, well polished, and fun-- nothing even comes close. This might even be the best all-around single player title of 2020, it really is that good. The fact that VR can rival traditional games was a dream just a few months ago, to have that even be a possibility means Valve did something amazing here.

    There are very few things to actually criticize in this game; a few awkward tasks, a few silly limitations brought on by the new medium (no crowbar? wildly swinging your hand about is probably not a great idea), but all in all this game feels like a full length Half Life release. Sure, it's not Half Life 3, and if that disappoints you, not even an actual release of Half Life 3 would truly sate your unrealistic expectations.    … Expand
  30. mansonwet
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    what could i say... it's AWESOME. better than AWESOME. i was deeply involved in this. deeply.
    i love the game, ilove the plot, i love vr. thanks. thanks again.
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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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