Half-Life

 PC
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 5680 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5,113 out of 5680
  2. Mixed: 349 out of 5680
  3. Negative: 218 out of 5680
Buy Now
Buy on

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. DemonicAngel
    Feb 9, 2004
    7
    Just for the fact that it showed the FPS genre was capable of much more than Quake and the like were able to deliver, I award Half-Life a 7. Now let's get down to business. The game is unfortunately very uneven, and whilst the first half is excellent, I soon found myself losing interest around the middle section of the game. The pacing really starts to suffer around this point,with Just for the fact that it showed the FPS genre was capable of much more than Quake and the like were able to deliver, I award Half-Life a 7. Now let's get down to business. The game is unfortunately very uneven, and whilst the first half is excellent, I soon found myself losing interest around the middle section of the game. The pacing really starts to suffer around this point,with too many sections where it's very unclear what you're supposed to be doing. The story, for a game that recieved so much praise for its "deep" storyline, is not developed nearly enough - we're left with just "experiment goes wrong, aliens appear, government soldiers arrive to cover it up, and you have to do something about it all", and that's more or less it. Now System Shock 2, that was a game with a fully-developed backstory that you could really sink your teeth into. With Half-Life, the story was mostly irrelevant and in itself provided little incentive to continue. In addition, the final couple of stages are nothing less than ridiculous. So overall, a game that heralded a (brief) new era for the FPS genre, but didn't quite live up to its own hype. … Expand
  2. lidwang
    Jan 11, 2022
    7
    I understand the influence on the fps genre this game had, and I had a lot fun with it, but I was still a bit underwhelmed. Some part felt like they overstate their welcome in termos of lenght, specially the bzarre plataforming parts that feel out of place. It's still a techinchally impressing game and the shoting itself was preety satisfying tho, so I don't regret playing it.
  3. Tosaver0324
    Aug 17, 2021
    7
    The game has 2 pluses for me, its gameplay and multiplayer. Half life's story is very simple. There is a man, as a result of a wrong experiment, aliens invade the world. The story is just that. I was able to finish the last 2 hours of the game just by cheating. I felt like throwing up every time I played it. Sooooo boring.
  4. StarkAgentos
    Apr 11, 2022
    5
    Наконец, спустя долгое время я смог запустить эту игру, но на старом компе 10-летней давности с 2ядерным процессором. На удивление, даже на таком кирпиче на максималках выдавало 60 фпс стабильнейшие (я их ограничил на 60). Первое время мне даже нравилось играть, потом мне дали пушку, и мне игра надоела. Коридорные локации, подгрузки каждую секунду. Потом, после 1 смерти пушку почему-то неНаконец, спустя долгое время я смог запустить эту игру, но на старом компе 10-летней давности с 2ядерным процессором. На удивление, даже на таком кирпиче на максималках выдавало 60 фпс стабильнейшие (я их ограничил на 60). Первое время мне даже нравилось играть, потом мне дали пушку, и мне игра надоела. Коридорные локации, подгрузки каждую секунду. Потом, после 1 смерти пушку почему-то не вернули. Игра устарела.… Expand
  5. SprityXD
    Mar 27, 2023
    7
    Half-life is undoubtedly one of the best shooters in history, but there are multiple problems with the game.
  6. JordanP.
    Aug 29, 2004
    7
    Let me take you back to 1998. A heated battle between the two big FPS's namely Unreal and Quake II. Now, they were good for their time, but the AI was poor and both had next to no story and little interaction with the enviroment the player was placed in. Then comes Half-Life, and it features good AI and a storyline, plus interaction. With it's features many overlooked the fact Let me take you back to 1998. A heated battle between the two big FPS's namely Unreal and Quake II. Now, they were good for their time, but the AI was poor and both had next to no story and little interaction with the enviroment the player was placed in. Then comes Half-Life, and it features good AI and a storyline, plus interaction. With it's features many overlooked the fact that all were under-developed and the game was repetitive. My point is, it's only amazing due to the timing of it's release. A good game, just overated.… Expand
  7. Moses89
    Nov 11, 2011
    7
    I never thought it was the game changer everyone else did but it was a good game. However most of the mods that came out of it were amazing. So for that I give it a 7 otherwise I would give it a 5.
  8. LonePiper
    Feb 27, 2013
    6
    Half-life is a solid FPS, nothing more. The gameplay progresses at a decent rate, and is fairly well balanced, but that is about all you can say for the game. The cons are that the pacing is erratic, the aesthetics (at least for the first three quarters of the game) are bland and sterile, the story (as praised as it is) is shallow, cliched and irrelevant and there is nothing particularlyHalf-life is a solid FPS, nothing more. The gameplay progresses at a decent rate, and is fairly well balanced, but that is about all you can say for the game. The cons are that the pacing is erratic, the aesthetics (at least for the first three quarters of the game) are bland and sterile, the story (as praised as it is) is shallow, cliched and irrelevant and there is nothing particularly original about the whole thing.
    I don't understand how this game (and its sequel) gets all the praise it does. I suppose it has a lot to do with the average level of FPSs at the time, which is depressing more than anything.    … Expand
  9. sampearl
    Jul 27, 2011
    7
    It's just OK. I found myself lost in a huge maze without ever knowing what is going on or what to do. Killing things didn't really feel satisfying and monsters came without variety. But the weapons did! I think half life 2 is a lot similar, but half life 2 just worked, I think it was just much more enjoyable.
  10. Speed4Runs
    Nov 24, 2012
    7
    Superb game: amazing story and longevity, it hardly ever makes you bored. If you do not like this game, you can't be a real gamer: these are the real games! Not the new ones that you complete in 45 minutes.
  11. DuskSnare
    Nov 2, 2013
    5
    I have never understood why people love this game so much. I've played all the "Half-Life" games currently out and all of them were mediocre to me. The story was fairly uninteresting to me and I just couldn't get into it. Anyway, the graphics (for its time) were good, the mechanics were good, and the story was... meh.
  12. WPCritic
    Jan 25, 2013
    7
    I actually had a lot of fun with this game. The weapons are fair and the ammo consumption is enough to deter you from using the heavy weapons on grunts.

    The only things keeping me from going higher than an 8 are the minor system discrepancies and the story. It was very confusing, but that's partially my fault for not wearing headphones. It's difficult to hear dialogue without headphones    I actually had a lot of fun with this game. The weapons are fair and the ammo consumption is enough to deter you from using the heavy weapons on grunts.

    The only things keeping me from going higher than an 8 are the minor system discrepancies and the story. It was very confusing, but that's partially my fault for not wearing headphones. It's difficult to hear dialogue without headphones and lack of a captioning system makes it impossible to know what's going on if you're not wearing headphones.
    The saving system is also hard to work with. There was no autosave feature, so I had to force myself to save every 5 minutes or so.
    The last thing (I think this is really important) is the developer console. If you're familiar with the Source engine and the half life commands like I am, then it's just a few keystrokes to give you mac ammo/armor/health. With no achievements to deter the usage of "sv_cheats 1", this option is very appealing for those having trouble in the game.

    Overall, I thought this game was great. I've replayed it about 5 times for a total of 6 playthroughs just because I like some of the combat in it. I would suggest buying this game at full price if you want it because it is worth full price.    … Expand
  13. Stealth_Blade
    Aug 31, 2013
    6
    I kind of like it but after a while of game play it starts to get very repetitive. Doing the same thing a lot killing an alien, solve a puzzle, kill an alien, solve a puzzle. The graphics are good on some things but not others. I would give it a 3 but it was made in 1998 which is mind boggling. Best game of the millennium (1000 years). Thanks for reading!
  14. mr-NachoMen
    Nov 27, 2019
    6
    I've heard wonders about Half-Life for years (specially the second game), I've heard that is the best game ever created and stuff like that and I never had the chance to play it until now, and honestly it wasn't what i was expecting it to be. (AND I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO READ THIS WOULD HATE ME FOR THIS) but Half-Life was a huge disappointing game in my opinion and a really bad game.I've heard wonders about Half-Life for years (specially the second game), I've heard that is the best game ever created and stuff like that and I never had the chance to play it until now, and honestly it wasn't what i was expecting it to be. (AND I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO READ THIS WOULD HATE ME FOR THIS) but Half-Life was a huge disappointing game in my opinion and a really bad game.
    I have to admit in a positive way that even that the story is not ground breaking or anything like that, it was a huge improvement into storytelling, all the game's plot was shown via "scripted sequences" and this made useless the need of use pre-rendered cutscenes or cutscenes in general, so the players don't loose the immersion that this world has build playing as one of the most iconic video game characters.
    It's a shame that the gameplay in general is... well... bad. Let's begun with the combat, one of the very first weapons that the player got their hands off was the iconic crowbar, but... melee combat is awful in this game, it is good to break crates and glasses but combat totally no. Fire weapons are so inconsistent in their damage rate, like, how is it possible that a pistol is more powerful than an assault rifle? or a shotgun? the best gun is the magnum revolver, unfortunately ammunition for this gun is really scarce, this gun is literally one shot kill.
    Enemies are annoying, specially those little alien things that zombies had in their heads, those things appear out of nowhere and can inflict a lot of damage, and the soldiers too, those guys are bullet sponges!!!. In this game you will die a lot, but you die in the most unfair ways possible and this end of feeling like a really cheap move to make the game feels "challenging".
    Even that the levels are lineal, and the game's nature is lineal as well, I end being lost a lot of times wondering "what am i suppose to do now?" there's no objectives tab or anything like that, you have to interact with NPC's that will give hints to were to go next, a good addition from this NPC'S is that some can be useful to unlock some doors or even help you in combat, but they die quickly, even more that what you could expected.
    Platforming sections are terrible and it's a good example of why platforming and First Person Shooters usually don't get along, and the game's implementation of boxes with physics... are awful (good thing this was fixed in the second game).
    Half-Life is indeed an iconic game from the late 90s and calling it the worst game would be fair or perhaps it wouldn't be a very accurate statement. The game isn't entirely that bad as i made it look, it had it's moments of glory, but still, calling it a masterpiece... well, it's not masterpiece.
    Half-Life is a most have game or even one of the game you should play before dying, give it a try, master game, learn it's combat pasterns and you will have a really satisfying experience.    … Expand
  15. TimB.
    May 23, 2006
    7
    fun game. some spots are confusing to get around. wish that shooting the guns would be more realistic.
  16. MatikTheSeventh
    Oct 8, 2020
    6
    I can see the appeal of the game in its early years, but it hasn't aged well. The story is cool and it gets progressively better. The gun play is also quite OK. But I do not see myself replaying it, I liked it the first time and that's it for me. I understand the story of Valversum better now, but some parts I just swung through not even thinking about it and wanting to get done with themI can see the appeal of the game in its early years, but it hasn't aged well. The story is cool and it gets progressively better. The gun play is also quite OK. But I do not see myself replaying it, I liked it the first time and that's it for me. I understand the story of Valversum better now, but some parts I just swung through not even thinking about it and wanting to get done with them as fast as I could.

    Especially the Xen levels are just a pain to go through and seem pointless.    … Expand
  17. Haeder
    Jul 14, 2020
    5
    Don't get me wrong, The game is good But on its time, The game now doesn't compare to new fps adventure games.
  18. Antictra
    Mar 10, 2021
    5
    Half Life is strongly overhyped (even when it was just out on the market back in the end of 1990s) , while it has one strong advantage: strong moddability, that entered to the cultural canon of long time computer gamers, it's story has not much of interesting or original quality, the gameworld felt rather empty, not engaging and not that interesting. The interactivity of the game wasHalf Life is strongly overhyped (even when it was just out on the market back in the end of 1990s) , while it has one strong advantage: strong moddability, that entered to the cultural canon of long time computer gamers, it's story has not much of interesting or original quality, the gameworld felt rather empty, not engaging and not that interesting. The interactivity of the game was interesting and it was used extensively by modders. It also gets old badly.… Expand
  19. PodreySanchez
    Feb 29, 2012
    7
    This game is a OK game in my opinion and I see why people love it. I'm not doubting the quietly of the game because yes it is probably one of the PC. But I'm not really into the game, which has repetitive action sets.And a story i don't find interesting enough to carry on playing.
    But I love the character development such as G-Man and Alxy but the for the all the other character i don't    This game is a OK game in my opinion and I see why people love it. I'm not doubting the quietly of the game because yes it is probably one of the PC. But I'm not really into the game, which has repetitive action sets.And a story i don't find interesting enough to carry on playing.
    But I love the character development such as G-Man and Alxy but the for the all the other character i don't care for.
    But I love, and i mean love! The moded story's modes, such as Nightmare house 2. And the fantastic first person shooter war game Counter Strike. And the well respected Sandbox, Garry's Mod which is one of the most funniest game that i have ever played. Overshadowing Half-Life 2 its self. Which ruined my first play-through for me! Because I ask myself "why am I player this when I have Garry's Mods?"
    So Half-Life 2 is a great game because if there wasn't no Half-Life there would be no Garry's Mod Or Counter Strike. But having that I would rather player Gmod than Half-Life 2.    … Expand
  20. BasilZero
    Oct 4, 2014
    7
    Game: Half-Life
    Genre: FPS/Horror
    Developer: Valve System: Steam (PC) Total Score: 77/100 Value Score: 7.7/10 • Story: 7/10 • Characters: 7/10 • GamePlay: 10/10 • Graphics: 8/10 • Sound: 8/10 • Music: 7/10 • Length: 7/10 • Replay Value: 6/10 • Player Value: 7/10 Pros +Great environment design and theme +Great Variety of weapons and the mechanics are nicely done    Game: Half-Life
    Genre: FPS/Horror
    Developer: Valve
    System: Steam (PC)
    Total Score: 77/100
    Value Score: 7.7/10

    • Story: 7/10
    • Characters: 7/10
    • GamePlay: 10/10
    • Graphics: 8/10
    • Sound: 8/10
    • Music: 7/10
    • Length: 7/10
    • Replay Value: 6/10
    • Player Value: 7/10

    Pros
    +Great environment design and theme
    +Great Variety of weapons and the mechanics are nicely done
    +Well designed puzzles and scenarios
    +Console mode enabled lets you play the game differently than it should (i.e. NoClip, Godmode, etc)
    +Multiplayer allows you to do PvP type matches against other players
    +Choice of 3 different difficulties

    Cons
    -Sometimes certain NPCs that killed make it inaccessible to certain areas unless you use cheats
    -The game tends to be glitchy at times such as enemies going through walls, etc (very rare though)
    -This is the original - the source edition is considered to be the superior version due to some changes such as the engine, the sound effects, etc.    … Expand
  21. DeusXCom
    Aug 5, 2014
    7
    After 16 years, until this day, I still don't remember what was all that hype about and the funny thing is that the same hype train continued with Half-Life 2. Don't get me wrong, both games are a good solid FPS games, I liked them and enjoyed both, but they never took my breath away, they just never got me or gave me something to value them so highly, I never understood their massiveAfter 16 years, until this day, I still don't remember what was all that hype about and the funny thing is that the same hype train continued with Half-Life 2. Don't get me wrong, both games are a good solid FPS games, I liked them and enjoyed both, but they never took my breath away, they just never got me or gave me something to value them so highly, I never understood their massive appeal and I feel there are much much better titles in this category out there. Maybe I'm just immune to that supposed positive Valve vibe everyone else seems to get, I never even liked Steam, so it's pretty possible. 7/10… Expand
  22. Pomornik
    Jul 23, 2011
    6
    This is where the trend of puzzles in FPS games have started? I must say i prefered the old(er) school where we just shooted things instead of pushing crates around. Probably a good game, i just didn't feel it.
  23. 1nSaNe!!!??
    Nov 11, 2003
    6
    The good points of the game are the awesome story and creepy moments. The bad points are more conspicous. For example, as the game goes on it degenerates into one boring jumping or crate-pushing switch flicking puzzle after another, although it does have a great final boss.
  24. aLe1X1
    Feb 18, 2011
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Half Life was a good game at his age ...I try IT recently and is very boring but I still play Counter Strike and because IT was the engine of Counter Strike you can say I LOVE IT!… Expand
  25. CoreyA.
    Jun 5, 2006
    5
    This game is overrated, it's fun but I'd rather not waste my time with this when I can play HL2.
  26. ChrisB.
    Jul 3, 2006
    5
    The sequel provides the other 5 marks. Half Life 1 was a great game, and still is, however it proves too tedious and slow running after having played through Half Life 2 a few times.
  27. ADude
    Jul 27, 2004
    5
    Looked very cool when it appeared, but over time you get to realize how boring it is...
  28. BenH.
    Oct 11, 2004
    5
    MP is bulky slow and unrefined... how people continue to play this is beyond me.. sure it set a new standard on its DATE. but many games have surpassed it in the MP area. I can understand the score becoz of the date.. but thousands of people still playing this game online are misingout on much better MP games now. I dont hold any hopes for half life 2 being a big hit.. this one jsut got lucky.
  29. GhettoGarden1
    Feb 3, 2011
    7
    Ok, so, everyone, i understand all of your reasons for disliking this game. First of all, buttons. I agree, this game gets rather boring fast because of the extremely large use of buttons. But all games have their ups and downs. And graphics, its very aged. If you dont like aged graphics, wait for black mesa source to come out. Next, Vehicles, I find these very very very annoyingOk, so, everyone, i understand all of your reasons for disliking this game. First of all, buttons. I agree, this game gets rather boring fast because of the extremely large use of buttons. But all games have their ups and downs. And graphics, its very aged. If you dont like aged graphics, wait for black mesa source to come out. Next, Vehicles, I find these very very very annoying too, and i am a huge fan of half life. I prefer the later games, and the only thing that prevents me from rating this a 5 or less is the enemy variety, the final boss, and the beautiful graphics for its time.… Expand
  30. KulakxRatings
    Nov 26, 2010
    7
    I thought that his game was a realy great game, it has a much better experience than the 2nd one, not that half life2 was bad, but this game had a pretty fun element, and a good story. A fun fps. It is definatley a classic and will not be forgotten.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 1998
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 1998
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 1998

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. All Game Guide
    100
    It isn't everyday that you come across a game that totally revolutionizes an entire genre, but Half-Life has done just that.
    Read full review
  2. My Gamer
    94
    The storyline runs in perfect harmony with the action and acts as a conduit not a stopgap, or a padding device. Each gaming element compliments the next and the entire presentation is nothing short of, well…dare we say it…revolutionary.
    Read full review
  3. PC Gamer
    97
    This is The Big One, and it's even better than we could've hoped. [Jan 1999, p.166]
See all critic reviews »