Half-Life: Source

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 107 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 107
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 107
  3. Negative: 14 out of 107

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  1. Svenborg
    Feb 4, 2012
    9
    The original Half-Life was a great game, but when they remade it in the source engine I thought it would be with HD models and improved graphics, but instead it was just ragdolls, water, and a few lighting effects like shadows. I didn't like it as much as the original because with the Source engine it takes away some of the nostalgia, but the advantage of it is the ability to get a portalThe original Half-Life was a great game, but when they remade it in the source engine I thought it would be with HD models and improved graphics, but instead it was just ragdolls, water, and a few lighting effects like shadows. I didn't like it as much as the original because with the Source engine it takes away some of the nostalgia, but the advantage of it is the ability to get a portal gun in Black Mesa.… Expand
  2. MegaGamer37
    Aug 19, 2010
    9
    A complete remake of Half Life in the Source engine, it can't be bad. My only complaint is that it isn't as much a remake as it is a shiny new coat of paint. Valve was suprisingly lazy with this one, only adding slightly improved textures, ragdoll effect, water effects, and physics. While no doubt a good game, I would only say you should buy it if you don't own Half Life. I wouldn't giveA complete remake of Half Life in the Source engine, it can't be bad. My only complaint is that it isn't as much a remake as it is a shiny new coat of paint. Valve was suprisingly lazy with this one, only adding slightly improved textures, ragdoll effect, water effects, and physics. While no doubt a good game, I would only say you should buy it if you don't own Half Life. I wouldn't give this a 10 because it's just Half Life only slightly improved (graphicly) but the game is indeed still good so it gets a 10.… Expand
  3. BlacksitePSU
    Oct 6, 2011
    9
    Half-Life: Source is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting and challenging PC titles that you will have the good fortune of playing. It is, in my opinion, much more enjoyable than Half-Life 2. Black Mesa is surprisingly huge and the visuals are rendered nicely. Of course the game runs very smoothly. You really shouldn't have any problems running this game. It features a lot ofHalf-Life: Source is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting and challenging PC titles that you will have the good fortune of playing. It is, in my opinion, much more enjoyable than Half-Life 2. Black Mesa is surprisingly huge and the visuals are rendered nicely. Of course the game runs very smoothly. You really shouldn't have any problems running this game. It features a lot of stuff that you would find with the addition of the Source engine (slightly improved lighting, ragdoll physics, better water effects etc.) The only reason I'm not giving this game a perfect score is due to the fact that the textures remain the same, which might put some people off from buying it if they were expecting a full-fledged remake. Still... it's worth checking out. Exploring the entirety of Black Mesa with the G-Man walking out of sight as you approach the next room can be a lot of fun.… Expand
  4. Kirase
    Jan 1, 2012
    10
    The overall package with its brilliant singleplayer, multiplayer and modability were much more than any other game could deliver back in 98. Every aspect of this game was as good as it gets, only unreal managed to have slightly better graphics and music back then. While its basicly technically superior competitor unreal focussed more on mulitplayer games in future, half-life managed toThe overall package with its brilliant singleplayer, multiplayer and modability were much more than any other game could deliver back in 98. Every aspect of this game was as good as it gets, only unreal managed to have slightly better graphics and music back then. While its basicly technically superior competitor unreal focussed more on mulitplayer games in future, half-life managed to succesfully create a new singleplayer univere and keeps it alive till today. This was the start of a flawless series that still keeps millions of people hooked.… Expand
  5. Marica
    Sep 22, 2014
    9
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  6. Termin8ter
    Apr 12, 2018
    8
    This game isn't a massive graphical improvement from the original GoldSrc game, but it's a decent improvement, with much better skyboxes and some other graphical improvements. The original game is still awesome, and in my opinion, has aged better than Half-Life 2. But only buy HL:S if you never played the original game.
  7. KingJailson
    May 30, 2018
    8
    Mesmo com engine source, não mudou muito o jogo, então jogue o black mesa, que é um remake completo
  8. Nomax
    Apr 22, 2020
    10
    Классика на новом движке, прошел не раз, обожаю эту серию!
  9. Schmchr
    Jul 16, 2021
    10
    It's just as good as its original version, it's basically a version with some improvements, in case you're unsure which game to go with this one.
  10. F4bi4n
    Jan 19, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Magnífico no se puede pedir más de este motor gráfico para la época, muy buen juego lo recomiendo… Expand
  11. Topoide
    Mar 27, 2022
    9
    Un juego perfecto pero un remaster un poco pobre, tiene muy pocas mejoras y algunos bugs
  12. LT_Gruber
    Jan 19, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Still a great game but it did not need this remake in my opinion.

    After completing the original game, I was wondering what the “Source remake” was all about. When playing, it was fine, but I did not notice that much of a difference.

    You still play as Gordon Freeman, the silent protagonist that is late for work at his job in the Black Mesa Research Facility. As part of an experiment, you casually put some sort of unknown crystal in a device called the anti-mass spectrometer. This goes horribly wrong, and everything explodes and a portal to another dimension, called Xen, is opened. Immediately, Xen aliens are going through the portal and attack every living soul in sight. The US military is also alerted and sends a special force called HECU to cover everything up, including you and the personal of Black Mesa.

    Gordon learns of a way to close the portal and makes his way to the surface. He battles a giant tentacle monster, kills a lot more new alien species and tries to make his way to the other side of the facility. He gets captured by the HECU, is left for dead by the garbage compactor, escapes and makes his way to the Lambda Complex. He then learns that the portal is controlled by a mighty entity in the Xen world that keeps it open. He gets teleported with the aid of the scientists there to Xen and searches for the beast. He encounters the thing, called the Nihilanth, kills his ass and is then greeted by a slim, creepy figure of a man called G-Man. He is offered employment for G-Man and his buddies. If you refused, you get obliterated by a thousand soldiers. If you accept, you are put to sleep in wait of your next assignment.

    The mechanics in Half-Life are unique. In the first place, it is your standard FPS, you collect different weapons, find ammo, kill enemies and move forward. But then you got the puzzle mechanics in which you need to stack boxes to reach a higher platform, navigating mazes, or figuring out what the best path will be to reach a certain area, without falling to your death. In the Source remake, the physics are a lot better for stacking crates.

    You also use the terrain a lot more than other games. When facing a strong enemy, you can use the environment for cover while fighting, something that is impossible in games like Doom and Duke Nukem.

    Lastly, you got a badass HEV suit that grants you more protection and offers a ton of neat tools like a build in flashlight, oxygen for swimming sections, a compass, and your HUD. The suit absorbs a lot of damage and runs on an energy meter. When the suit is depleted, functions like the flashlight do not work anymore. You can recharge your health and suit energy at special stations scattered throughout the game.

    The combat mechanics are fluent and feel very responsive and satisfying. It is fast paced, accurate and a ton of fun. You can use various weapons and choosing which weapon works best for each fight is a must. And of course, your most iconic weapon is your good old crowbar.

    The graphics are nice and solid in Half-Life. It is a little polygon like, and some enemies and characters have some square shapes edges, but it is smooth and the textures on them are fine. The weapon detail, bullet impact and explosions are great.

    The animations are a little stiff when looking at it today, but for the time, they were excellent. The physics and water effects have improved in the Source remake but other than that, there are no new polished graphics or details.

    The sound is also excellent. Weapon fire sounds realistic, the fancy sounds your HEV suit makes are great and the voice acting is spot on.
    In terms of controls, the game plays fluently. Everything is responsive and feels natural.

    Overall, Half-Life: Source is the same game as the masterpiece Half-Life, with some polished water and physics. It is still a great game, but in my opinion, the new release of this game with “: Source” at the end was not entirely necessary, this should be reserved for games like Counter Strike: Source.

    Still recommend it to everyone though.    … Expand
  13. Generic_M_User
    Feb 2, 2023
    10
    10 out of 10. The game is very serious and super realistic, their are hardly any bugs, and the fact that all the floors have been waxed is amazing. Blackmesa can suck my **** cause this is the best source remake of half-life. I also think the third game is phenomenal.
  14. uhik
    Jul 19, 2023
    10
    I too float more than a yard above my chair when inputting preciese and complicated into a NASA super computer.