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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. BONG10
    Mar 30, 2020
    10
    Lo más parecido a catar un buen vino reserva. De esos que no puedes degustar a diario y dejan un gusto que nada tiene que ver con los otros vinos más mundanos.
    Han pasado 17 años sin saber nada del universo de Gordon Freeman y su mundo de Half Life 2... ¡Pero qué regreso! Valve, la desarrolladora, no solo ha vuelto a poner a la saga a la altura de la excelencia. Este Half Life Alyx ha    Lo más parecido a catar un buen vino reserva. De esos que no puedes degustar a diario y dejan un gusto que nada tiene que ver con los otros vinos más mundanos.
    Han pasado 17 años sin saber nada del universo de Gordon Freeman y su mundo de Half Life 2... ¡Pero qué regreso! Valve, la desarrolladora, no solo ha vuelto a poner a la saga a la altura de la excelencia. Este Half Life Alyx ha entrado como un elefante en una cacharrería del mundo gamer tradicional y gracias a la experiencia VR ha elevado la fórmula del entretenimiento interactivo cuando nadie se lo esperaba.
    Corred, insensatos. Volad a por unas Oculus, unas Vive o las Index de Valve si tenéis el presupuesto... y jugad al mejor juego de la década. El que marca un punto de no retorno, el que ha puesto por méritos propios, al resto de desarrolladoras como estudios pequeñitos en un periquete.
    Lo que he vivido no se puede expresar con palabras. Hay que probarlo y tocar, mirar, asombrarse, flipar y llorar de emoción...
    Un Must Play de la década.    … Expand
  2. AlexandrRosca
    Mar 31, 2020
    10
    Absolute terrific delivery from Valve. Graphics are really good and balanced, physics top notch and the story of half-life is unraveled deeper. Even on a cheap WMR headset you can really enjoy this masterpiece.
    Could not recommend more.
  3. rmccle
    Mar 28, 2020
    10
    This game is just amazing. The world is so detailed, when I take the headset off, I get confused whether I am in VR a bit. I can't believe it works so well on my middling hardware. Best game in VR, along with Lone Echo.
  4. dani3po
    Mar 23, 2020
    10
    This is the first time since I tried for the first time Virtual Reality I can say with no caveats this technology is here to stay. One of the most impressive experience I have had with a game, and the most important thing, is fun as hell to play. A must if you own a VR device compatible with this games (sorry PSVR users).
  5. temps
    Mar 31, 2020
    10
    Half-Life: Alyx is one of the most immersive and wonderful game experiences of my lifetime. Atmospheric storytelling is one of the cornerstones of a good Half-Life experience, and the fact Half-Life: Alyx takes full advantage of modern virtual reality has brilliantly put this technology to work improving that classic method of storytelling gamers have come to expect from the Half-LifeHalf-Life: Alyx is one of the most immersive and wonderful game experiences of my lifetime. Atmospheric storytelling is one of the cornerstones of a good Half-Life experience, and the fact Half-Life: Alyx takes full advantage of modern virtual reality has brilliantly put this technology to work improving that classic method of storytelling gamers have come to expect from the Half-Life series. This should easily win the Game of the Year award.… Expand
  6. Shatohin
    Mar 31, 2020
    10
    This is the best VR game of my life and one of the best gaming experiences ever. Hoping they will continue it in the coming years and not decades :)
  7. turbosnail
    Nov 13, 2020
    10
    The best VR game. ever. Period.
    However, it's that scary that you must have some pretty big balls in order to finish it; I didn't.
    It's super realistic. It's a showcase of what future games should look like. It's more immersive than any other game. This is the future.
  8. Qosmo
    Mar 28, 2020
    10
    A masterwork for sure. I'm sure it has set a new standard for storytelling and combat virtual reality experiences. it is a prequel to a beloved franchise and exceeded all expectations.
  9. 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
  10. runbmp
    Mar 23, 2020
    10
    By far the best VR experienced I've ever played. Valve, please make some more...for the love of all that is good. WE WANT MORE!!!
  11. SuperKev
    Apr 14, 2020
    10
    I think this is the best VR game to date and might even qualify as the "must have" vr title. It's quite immersive and the physics aspect is just great. I'm playing with a pimax headset and the immersion the combination gets is just amazing.
  12. T-Opel
    Apr 7, 2020
    10
    Absolutely amazing! First game in VR that is not just a gimmick but is actually a proper game great gameplay and storyline. The visuals are best I have seen on VR so far.
  13. ResonanceCascad
    Mar 23, 2020
    10
    Wow, I just finished. I can't believe that not only is there a new Half-Life game, but it's in VR and 100% lives up to the quality of HL1 and HL2. This is without a doubt the best VR game ever made. It's also one of the best looking games I have ever played (sometimes I would pick up a clock or a hotel card, hold it up to my face, and fail to find any "tells" that I was looking at aWow, I just finished. I can't believe that not only is there a new Half-Life game, but it's in VR and 100% lives up to the quality of HL1 and HL2. This is without a doubt the best VR game ever made. It's also one of the best looking games I have ever played (sometimes I would pick up a clock or a hotel card, hold it up to my face, and fail to find any "tells" that I was looking at a digital rendering and not a real object) and a wonderful example of thrilling game design.

    Any concerns I initially had about there being too much humor faded after I realized I was playing a pretty scary horror game and that the humor is just there to keep things from getting unbearably bleak. The writing is sharp, the acting is fantastic, and Valve keeps each new area full of interesting surprises.

    Combat is surprisingly challenging. There are a lot of things to juggle, between keeping your guns loaded and accessing you inventory mid-combat while not getting mowed down instantly. Alyx is not Gordon Freeman and does not have a magical bullet suit, so she dies very quickly if you don't retreat or stay in cover.

    The level of immersion is off the charts, even for a VR game, in part because of the absolutely gorgeous Source 2 engine and Valve's top-tier art team and level designers. There is also plenty here for Half-Life fans to enjoy, with familiar characters, enemies, and weapons making appearances.

    Also, the gravity gloves are brilliantly implemented, and strike the perfect balance between utility and being overpowered. They are not the gravity gun, and you will not be mowing down fools by hitting them with a cinder block at Mach 3. They're more for grabbing distant items and to keep you from having to bend over all the time to pick things up.

    All in all, I couldn't be happier with this purchase. Valve did it.    … Expand
  14. 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 !!!!
  15. 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
  16. TIZ
    Mar 24, 2020
    10
    Nothing much to say except that its a great game that feels like a full triple A release for the VR. The valve index controllers make for an even better and more immersive experience. I would recommend to anyone with a compatible VR headset.
  17. blaket81
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Ignore the 0's from all the people that haven't even played the game. It is RIDICULOUSLY good! I wish Metacritic had a way to wean out these sub-humans that just give the game a o for absolutely no good reason.
  18. Lutojar
    Mar 29, 2020
    10
    Valve somehow could repeat the same effect as it was in 1998 and 2004. Though it isn't packed with all possible physical VR interactions (like boneworks does) it is much more comfortable and interesting to play. So I could say it is The First full length single player AAA VR game. It is not a VR demo or some physics sandbox. It is big solid experience. And it is Awesome! Bravo, Valve!
  19. ultraviper
    Apr 2, 2022
    10
    Valve's still got it! This is a great VR game. It's a great Half-Life game. The graphics are the best I've ever seen in VR. The story is phenomenal. There is more comedy than I'm used to in my half-life but that's not a bad thing. Some other parts are downright terrifying and I had to take a break after. The interaction with the environment is done well, from the way you can place yourValve's still got it! This is a great VR game. It's a great Half-Life game. The graphics are the best I've ever seen in VR. The story is phenomenal. There is more comedy than I'm used to in my half-life but that's not a bad thing. Some other parts are downright terrifying and I had to take a break after. The interaction with the environment is done well, from the way you can place your hands against things to the way you can push around objects. The ending hits like a punch to the gut. Please don't make me wait another 13 years for the next one! My only disappointment is the lack of throwing or melee combat. In a game where you can pick up and throw literally everything around you it seems like a huge missed opportunity.… Expand
  20. Dune_Jumper
    Mar 25, 2020
    10
    Valve has once again fundamentally changed the way games are designed and played. Flat-screen FPS games are no longer the best way to experience a story; VR is. While I'm playing I get fully enveloped in the world. The gameplay is revolutionary, the story is awesome & weird, the level of graphical fidelity and world intractability have never been seen before in a videogame. Half-Life isValve has once again fundamentally changed the way games are designed and played. Flat-screen FPS games are no longer the best way to experience a story; VR is. While I'm playing I get fully enveloped in the world. The gameplay is revolutionary, the story is awesome & weird, the level of graphical fidelity and world intractability have never been seen before in a videogame. Half-Life is back and better than ever. Thank you, Valve.
    Comments are disabled for this review.    … Expand
  21. andYi
    Mar 24, 2020
    10
    This is maybe the best game I've ever played. Valve is finally back with Half-Life
  22. Kunstbanause
    Mar 24, 2020
    10
    People who dislike this game because it's VR only are pathetic and disgusting. You known there once were only 2D games, and buying the first 3d accelerator card for my PC in the 90s was hella expensive. That was no reason to hate on the up and coming 3D games.

    Idiots somehow have 1300$ for a phone that they use to browse 9gag, but when an emerging technology comes along that promises    People who dislike this game because it's VR only are pathetic and disgusting. You known there once were only 2D games, and buying the first 3d accelerator card for my PC in the 90s was hella expensive. That was no reason to hate on the up and coming 3D games.

    Idiots somehow have 1300$ for a phone that they use to browse 9gag, but when an emerging technology comes along that promises new ways to play, they are suddenly all out of mere 400$.    … Expand
  23. flexy123
    Mar 29, 2020
    10
    It would be pointless to write another review, as there are already tons out there with WHY the game is so great. I am amazed how Valve manged it to bring HL2 (which I played religiously in 2004 and then HL2:DM for a long time) into 2020...and it doesn't feel dated but all new and exciting again. My Rift was literally collecting dust in its box...and this is finally a game I can't stopIt would be pointless to write another review, as there are already tons out there with WHY the game is so great. I am amazed how Valve manged it to bring HL2 (which I played religiously in 2004 and then HL2:DM for a long time) into 2020...and it doesn't feel dated but all new and exciting again. My Rift was literally collecting dust in its box...and this is finally a game I can't stop playing.
    Everything, everything about this game is just awesome.

    To the people who say that "they made it only to sell their $1000 index HMD": Well you can get a used Rift CV1 for €200, less than just an average gamer monitor. Your "$1000 HMD" argument doesn't fly anymore.    … Expand
  24. sherbz
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Valve have done it again. Half Life Alyx is a mind blowing experience. From the opening sequence it is like a learning experience between you and the game. And bit by bit, piece by piece, this wonderful jigsaw begins to emerge creating an image that is both beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. There is nothing currently in gaming which can compare to this game - NOTHING. LikeValve have done it again. Half Life Alyx is a mind blowing experience. From the opening sequence it is like a learning experience between you and the game. And bit by bit, piece by piece, this wonderful jigsaw begins to emerge creating an image that is both beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. There is nothing currently in gaming which can compare to this game - NOTHING. Like its predecessor, Half life Alyx will stand on its own for a long time to come and demonstrates what this medium has the potential to deliver. It isnt my favourite game of all time, but it is certainly one of the most memorable. I played on an Oculus and happy to report everything worked fine. You will benefit from an investment in hardware though. But it is worth saving up for - or camping round a friends who will let you play it. Simply brilliant.… Expand
  25. Zerokx
    Sep 4, 2020
    10
    This half life game, like the older games, really seems to fit into the half life franchise. It has great attention to detail, a lot of variety in gameplay and environments and is just generally really fun and diverse. It's so good that I can look past a few issues like not having the best shooter mechanics, the lack of sprinting, and a few other minor issues. I can really recommendThis half life game, like the older games, really seems to fit into the half life franchise. It has great attention to detail, a lot of variety in gameplay and environments and is just generally really fun and diverse. It's so good that I can look past a few issues like not having the best shooter mechanics, the lack of sprinting, and a few other minor issues. I can really recommend playing this game, especially if you get it for free with any part of the index set or can play it over steam share from a friend.… Expand
  26. CalvinCrack
    Mar 25, 2020
    10
    This is now a post Half Life Alyx world. The only thing that will surpass this is if Valve decides to do it again and give us Half Life 3. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves because even if Valve never made another game, even if no other developer tries their hand at this level of production: we HAVE Half Life Alyx. It is a monument to the entire history of first person shooters and aThis is now a post Half Life Alyx world. The only thing that will surpass this is if Valve decides to do it again and give us Half Life 3. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves because even if Valve never made another game, even if no other developer tries their hand at this level of production: we HAVE Half Life Alyx. It is a monument to the entire history of first person shooters and a link to their future. When you are playing Alyx the future is now.

    If I had to describe the style of this game I’d say it’s a mixture of Half Life 2 and Bioshock. It has the comrade talking over the radio narrative style, the spooky and detailed ruined city, and a much bigger focus on exploring the (gorgeous) environments you find yourself in. But far less combat than Bioshock (and most first person shooters for that matter), because it wants to strike a different balance between exploration, combat and puzzles. It is very linear like Half Life 2, but there’s so much freedom of movement within those rails, you won’t mind. Never has exploration and resource gathering been so fun. And the combat can be approached differently depending on how much you want to get into it. If you are feeling high energy and want to literally be ducking for cover and popping out behind pillars, changing cover, that’s all you. If you want to just stay in one spot and make it a shooting gallery that’s fine too. It’s VR! You’re in the game so it’s up to you how the shooting playstyle will be! But if you bring an adventurous spirit to the combat it adds a lot.

    I could go on and on but I’ll conclude by saying that Half Life Alyx is a masterpiece of game design. Extremely fun to play, beautiful to look at, and so future facing that we may not see another game of its quality for years. But I sure hope people try. HLA is the rosetta stone: the answers for what make a VR game work are here so I hope developers take the lessons they can from the project, and I pray that Source 2.0 will bolster the future of indie VR development henceforth, making Half Life Alyx’s release even more impactful than it already is (and that’s saying a lot).    … Expand
  27. adrenilinmatt
    Mar 23, 2020
    10
    doom eternal and this along with animal crossing all in one month, wow. im spoiled for amazing games, and boy do we need them right now.
  28. Theirlaw
    Mar 23, 2020
    10
    Hands up! The best VR experience to date and a worthy Valve return.

    Interactive, live, playful, thoughtful, deep, dark wonderfulness.

    The only limit is my stomach.
  29. djschaum520
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    As expected, the vast majority of the negative reviews are from people who do not own the game and cannot afford VR. If any metacritic admins are reading this, please implement a check system to confirm that users actually own the game before being able to write a review (i.e. having to login to their steam account via the steam api on this website, which would then check their steamAs expected, the vast majority of the negative reviews are from people who do not own the game and cannot afford VR. If any metacritic admins are reading this, please implement a check system to confirm that users actually own the game before being able to write a review (i.e. having to login to their steam account via the steam api on this website, which would then check their steam library)

    From someone who actually played the game from start to finish and own a VR headset, I can easily say that this game is a 10/10. Best graphics in VR currently, gameplay is entertaining, it is worth it to explore the environments, and 3D puzzles are very interesting. If I had to give any cons it would be lack of weapons, especially any melee weapons in the game. The 3D puzzles were kind of tedious near the end of the game as well, but overall still fun and different.    … Expand
  30. BellinoP
    Mar 24, 2020
    10
    One of the best games of all time, Period. VR or otherwise The graphics are astounding, the game play is revolutionary. Way ahead of its time. As all the things valve has done over the years it is a glimpse of what is possible. No one could have done it better.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
See all critic reviews »