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
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  1. 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.
  2. ADude
    Jul 27, 2004
    5
    Looked very cool when it appeared, but over time you get to realize how boring it is...
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. Broyax
    Jan 29, 2019
    5
    Un jeu qui a certainement marqué son époque dans le monde foisonnant des FPS, un genre à part entière devenu une mode effrénée en quelques années depuis Doom... j'ai l'impression que ça s'est bien calmé au fil du temps mais tout de même... Mais il faut dire que ce premier Half-Life propose une véritable histoire et pose de véritables questions qui motivent sans cesse le joueur à poursuivreUn jeu qui a certainement marqué son époque dans le monde foisonnant des FPS, un genre à part entière devenu une mode effrénée en quelques années depuis Doom... j'ai l'impression que ça s'est bien calmé au fil du temps mais tout de même... Mais il faut dire que ce premier Half-Life propose une véritable histoire et pose de véritables questions qui motivent sans cesse le joueur à poursuivre son "aventure" ; en même temps, il distille quelques réponses qui amènent d'autres interrogations et ainsi de suite jusqu'au 2 puis jusqu'aux 2 épisodes addtionnels...

    Et c'est comme ça et c'est pour ça qu'on attend toujours Half-Life 3... du moins certains et certains autres qui croient encore au père Noël ou aux soucoupes volantes. Personnellement, j'ai déjà donné (non pas aux soucoupes... quoique avec le père Mulder) de mon temps au Half-Life en son temps et si j'ai été saisi immédiatement par cette maîtrise de la narration, du tempo et des évènements, j'ai aussi subi avec mauvaise humeur pas mal des tics du jeu...

    C'est sans doute à la fois une qualité et un défaut par exemple que de ne jamais lâcher la pression sur le joueur -ou à peine le temps de faire une pause- puis de le faire repartir au turbin, un décidément très sale boulot où l'on ne sait jamais ce qui va nous tomber sur le coin de la gueule... Il faut aussi réfléchir un brin pour se sortir de situations délicates et jouer à saute-mouton et/ou sauter sur des plate-formes et en plus, en plus... gérer ces sauts "longs" très casse-burnes. Ou gérer ses munitions selon les armes, car on manque toujours de munitions dans Half-Life, car ça "augmente la tension" dit-on !

    Or le jeu est déjà assez flippant comme ça... Comme ces crabes qui te sautent à la gueule du début à la fin du jeu, ou la fin elle-même bien pénible (qui a eu raison de mes nerfs, là je crois) ou bien les **** bâtards qui se téléportent derrière toi... ou bien les forces d'intervention qui viennent en remettre une couche (encore une !) rien que pour toi ! comme si le monde entier qui part en morceaux n'était pas déjà suffisant pour "t'occuper"...!

    Intéressant donc le Half-Life mais également énervant et stressant. Hypnotisant, addictif aussi mais très fatigant... Aujourd'hui je ne pourrais plus le refaire, ça me casserait les couilles en moins de deux. Et puis le gameplay a vieilli... on ne veut plus d'aventure linéaire aussi longue même si on salue avec le recul cette mise en scène et ces scripts si inventifs pour l'époque !    … Expand
  7. RyanRetroGamer7
    Feb 28, 2023
    5
    I like a lot of old games, and I played this from beginning to end. However, when I compare this to other games of the time such as Golden Eye 64 or Doom, this game just falls short significantly. For the time, this would have been amazing considering the games that were out. However, today, I do not see much need in playing it. I do want to try Half Life 2, but Half Life 1, II like a lot of old games, and I played this from beginning to end. However, when I compare this to other games of the time such as Golden Eye 64 or Doom, this game just falls short significantly. For the time, this would have been amazing considering the games that were out. However, today, I do not see much need in playing it. I do want to try Half Life 2, but Half Life 1, I continued playing hoping that there would be some sort of a pay off. It was just underwhelming to be quite honest. I hate to say that about such a classic, but time has not treated this game very well. I got though the story, and I still do not know exactly what it was that happened. Was there supposed to be a plot or were there just excuses for levels existing. The only real story that made any sense was the ending. Also, I do not like helicopters. I will give it a 5 in consideration for the time it was released, but if this came out in 2002 or after, then I would give it a 3. I am sorry fans of Half Life.… Expand
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. defenz
    Aug 8, 2021
    5
    ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
  11. 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
  12. jancsiXcarcsi
    Apr 29, 2022
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ba,poate i faina povestea, da ce urat fac aia de sa ma cac pe ei.altfel in rest,tot asa.… Expand
  13. Midyen
    Jun 28, 2023
    5
    Based on the gameplay, graphics, sound, content, and originality of the game, I will give it a rating of 5.
  14. MatthieuR.
    Oct 15, 2002
    4
    I know I'm gonna get flamed for this, but I really didn't care for Half-Life. The game engine and the mods are great, but the game itself? I got bored pretty quickly. I tried, I really did, but the lame ass switch-throwing and door opening just gets old.
  15. DavidL.
    Oct 31, 2004
    4
    Good graphics (for its day, and still servicable today) and balanced weapons are about the only thing going for this game. Level design is counterintuitive, boring and often boneheaded, enemies are poorly balanced, and the much-vaunted "revolutionary" storytelling falls flat on its face - they make the game harder to get into than any other component. Lacks even a speech log, making it Good graphics (for its day, and still servicable today) and balanced weapons are about the only thing going for this game. Level design is counterintuitive, boring and often boneheaded, enemies are poorly balanced, and the much-vaunted "revolutionary" storytelling falls flat on its face - they make the game harder to get into than any other component. Lacks even a speech log, making it possible to miss descriptions of mission objectives completely and permanently. Valve even tried to shoehorn block-pushing puzzles into an engine that was never meant to accomodate them. Bottom line: playable, but by no means enjoyable.… Expand
  16. Erick
    Jun 17, 2003
    4
    This game scares the crap out of me, but it is realy repetitive, same type of monsters all the way to the last level not many weapons, and in some parts it gets realy confusing, its like a maze that does not end but it is ok i guess.
  17. JonE.
    Jun 28, 2006
    4
    Didnt hold interest...never played game but for 2-3 hours max.
  18. psylife
    Oct 31, 2022
    4
    The game throws the player in a maze-like underground facility that will have to be navigated by means of poorly implemented controls and excruciatingly frustrating platforming.

    Most problematic I think, is the manner in which the developers conceived the notion of 'challenge'. Most of the difficulty the player deals with comes from tedium. In that sense, the game was somewhat immature    The game throws the player in a maze-like underground facility that will have to be navigated by means of poorly implemented controls and excruciatingly frustrating platforming.

    Most problematic I think, is the manner in which the developers conceived the notion of 'challenge'. Most of the difficulty the player deals with comes from tedium. In that sense, the game was somewhat immature and outdated - if not retarded - even by 1998 standards.

    For instance, enemies absorb bullets like you wouldn't believe, and some creatures - like the crab-crawlers - perfectly illustrate the tedium based design philosophy of the game . Hazards are also intentionally placed around tight corners and hardly visible areas, so as to procure as much grief to the player as possible.

    It doesn't help that Half-life is a pretty bad looking game, and I think it is fair to say that the game was and remains artistically illiterate. (Keep in mind that Metal Gear Solid was already 2 months old by the time Half-life hit the shelves)

    Some set-piece moments centered around gameplay and the environmental puzzles were somewhat enjoyable, yet the broken platforming and tedious progression firmly cement Half-life into mediocrity.    … Expand
  19. MaKu7
    Apr 24, 2021
    4
    I thought I should play this game, because it is cult classic. Now, after final cutscene I get only another one evidence that "cult classics" are fun only if you have nostalgia for them.

    Mediocre, outdated shooter, that's what it is.

    Thx gaben for wasting my time.
  20. cercisyusuf
    Sep 8, 2023
    4
    this is better than 2 everyone like this because of popular cultuer but i play the game and that was boring mostly people like bc this is childhood game i guess
  21. TinoT.
    Apr 11, 2006
    3
    It's good enough, then you get stuck, you can't find a switch or you're lost in some tunnel that you cant get out of and you end up stuck there for days on end. Well I gave up on it once my hair started falling out.
  22. Serious_Gamer
    Dec 1, 2011
    3
    I don't like this game at all, now don't get up at me for saying it's bad graphics because it was made a long time ago. I just believe this game is a piece of sh*t due to the fact that it's pretty much just a FPS disguised as a great game.
  23. Nekellor_Met
    Aug 7, 2020
    3
    Я не люблю эту игру. И еще больше не люблю, из за всеобщей любви. В ней нет ничего, что заставило бы современного игрока в нее играть. Все что в виде хвалы вы можете услышать, так это только то, что игра РАНЬШЕ была прорывом. Однако уважения к вкладу в развитие видеоигр, не хватит, чтобы получать удовольствие сегодня. В ней ужасный левел дизайн. Постоянно не понятно куда идти. Задачки,Я не люблю эту игру. И еще больше не люблю, из за всеобщей любви. В ней нет ничего, что заставило бы современного игрока в нее играть. Все что в виде хвалы вы можете услышать, так это только то, что игра РАНЬШЕ была прорывом. Однако уважения к вкладу в развитие видеоигр, не хватит, чтобы получать удовольствие сегодня. В ней ужасный левел дизайн. Постоянно не понятно куда идти. Задачки, ужасно не приятные. И как же я был рад что в Black Mesa исправили почти все ошибки + почти в 3 раза урезали момент на железной дороге. Враги в игре не сбалансированы, монстры слишком слабые, а люди слишком сильные. Стрельба не приятная. … Expand
  24. RfewJ.
    Sep 4, 2006
    1
    this game is just poor i cant describe how i feel about this game except the good graphics the story line moving and evrything is just unbelivably redcolus.
  25. picboy2000
    Jul 8, 2011
    1
    The Pros:
    The Colt Python is awesome. AI is not bad at all. Weapons have recoil.
    The Cons: The plot is weak, it unravels very slowly and by the end almost nothing is explained. Doom 1's is better because it's more focused and Duke Nukem 3D's is funnier. The shotgun doesn't pack the punch that other games offer. The graphics don't live to the engine's potential. Even though the game is a    The Pros:
    The Colt Python is awesome. AI is not bad at all. Weapons have recoil.
    The Cons:
    The plot is weak, it unravels very slowly and by the end almost nothing is explained. Doom 1's is better because it's more focused and Duke Nukem 3D's is funnier. The shotgun doesn't pack the punch that other games offer. The graphics don't live to the engine's potential. Even though the game is a FPS, you spend most of your time jumping (and dying because of it) as well as doing other boring monkey business. NPCs are uninteresting, usually don't help that much and you really can't do much for them either, it's a badly implemented feature overall. The worst enemy is not a creature, it's the RLOD (red ladder of death) because of the poorly implemented controls in the game. But most of all, the game is very long (about 15 hours of "play") and extremely boring most of the time, particularly because the soundtrack is missing often. I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone, not even for a "history lesson in FPS".    … Expand
  26. Svytom
    Jun 5, 2016
    1
    THIS game has Extraordinary Graphics,Very Beautiful Gameplay,Movie like Sequences, and Awesome Sound! I hope people who play this game will last a life time in there hearts because this game still ROCKs all others ever made for the PC Valve i love your Work! please keep kickin ass on the best game series you have made in the Years and in the years to come?
  27. AlexE.
    Sep 2, 2006
    0
    This game is pointless, the plot line was ineffective and the programing is shameful; it seems as if this game was made in a short time peroid.
  28. AnonymousMC
    Jul 4, 2008
    0
    That game is awful. Not to mention frustrating. First of all, the parts where you have to ride around in vehicles are horrible. Those parts are long, boring, and frustrating due to the horrible controls. But the vehicle part of the game was only the first thing that made me hate it.
    Then on top of that you have annoying characters. If it were possible, I would have killed all of my    That game is awful. Not to mention frustrating. First of all, the parts where you have to ride around in vehicles are horrible. Those parts are long, boring, and frustrating due to the horrible controls. But the vehicle part of the game was only the first thing that made me hate it.
    Then on top of that you have annoying characters. If it were possible, I would have killed all of my allies within the first 5 seconds of meeting any one of them. And believe me, I tried. Alex is the worst by far. Everyone is useless and annoying. Seriously, every five minutes it's "Oh, look, Freeman's here. He'll do all of our work for us because we're lazy/incompetent/useless." If I was Freeman, I'd just let everyone die. Or better yet, kill them all myself. The only thing that would get me to consider playing the sequels would be if I got to go on a murderous rampage killing all of my allies.

    You waste more ammo than anything. With any automatic weapon, it seems that at best 1/3 shots hit their mark. It's impossible to aim with them because instead of your spray pattern being affected by how long you hold the trigger, it follows some kind of pattern. Your first shot might hit its target. It might not. It's horribly frustrating.

    I bought the Orange Box back in January after hearing how great it was. Worst $50 I've ever spent, since the only good part of the whole thing is Portal. About 4 months ago I got killed somewhere near the end of the game. After this, I exited the game and haven't played it since. I have no desire to go back and finish it, or play Episode I or II.    … Expand
  29. AnonymousMC
    Aug 5, 2009
    0
    LOOOOOLLLLLLLL! WTF is this? Half-Life? A game with 'half' in the title? It even says that it isn't a full game! LOL! Stupid thing making up words, and speaking of stupid words... Valve? VALVE?!?! Hahaha it's like a bit of metal that made it. I havent played the game but look at the grafics! I no its an old game but thats no excuse when compared with crysis this sucks.LOOOOOLLLLLLLL! WTF is this? Half-Life? A game with 'half' in the title? It even says that it isn't a full game! LOL! Stupid thing making up words, and speaking of stupid words... Valve? VALVE?!?! Hahaha it's like a bit of metal that made it. I havent played the game but look at the grafics! I no its an old game but thats no excuse when compared with crysis this sucks. All of you people who like this game are payed by the makers, its obvius because its rubbish. Best game ever? More like best GAY ever! HAHAHAHA… Expand
  30. MikeJ
    Jan 27, 2009
    0
    This game is just crap. So boring and gay. FF7 is a game with a great story. This was just gay. Everyone was always "Hey Freeman!, you're amazing!!" but not really. Maybe this game was good when it came out but im pretty sure a lot of other FPS games own this one and you shouldnt be wasting your time with this. This game was horrible. Halo 1 and 2 was amazing. 3 blows. COD4 owns This game is just crap. So boring and gay. FF7 is a game with a great story. This was just gay. Everyone was always "Hey Freeman!, you're amazing!!" but not really. Maybe this game was good when it came out but im pretty sure a lot of other FPS games own this one and you shouldnt be wasting your time with this. This game was horrible. Halo 1 and 2 was amazing. 3 blows. COD4 owns this. p.s. this game blows the fatty… Expand
  31. SirDragonClaw
    Apr 18, 2020
    0
    This game has terrible graphics, repetitive gameplay, bad map design, weapon design was pretty decent, a.i. was decent. Xen was a terrible and the game should be removed from steam.
  32. Black_S
    Jan 12, 2023
    0
    Most overrated game of all time. Same way people overrate nonsensical art, they overrate this "game" only to show their own superiority and ego. No surprise. The Bussiness of valve stands on those people.

    - shallow story . shalow npc, blabbering all time - shalow enemies, dead in one hit - easy to play/win gameplay - "Gabe" man image of what gabe tumor newell wanna be, but never be.    Most overrated game of all time. Same way people overrate nonsensical art, they overrate this "game" only to show their own superiority and ego. No surprise. The Bussiness of valve stands on those people.

    - shallow story
    . shalow npc, blabbering all time
    - shalow enemies, dead in one hit
    - easy to play/win gameplay
    - "Gabe" man image of what gabe tumor newell wanna be, but never be.

    No reason to play this, what keeps it alive is nostalgia.    … Expand
  33. Karai
    Oct 25, 2022
    0
    The most exciting game of 90-s with epic plot, different weapons and mechanics. Great experience. You never know how game will surpirse you during playing. I wish i could forget my experience and play it again as new game.
  34. fredijuts
    Jan 31, 2023
    0
    This game is a complete and utter disaster, failure, stinky **** of a game. If one of my friends says that his favourite game is this i would hire a hitman to kill them because they don’t deserve to live anymore.
  35. IniciusV
    Feb 4, 2023
    0
    FPS É UMA MERDA, SHOOTER É UMA MERDA, PRIMEIRA PESSOA É UMA MERDA, SÓ TEM FPS/SHOOTER/PRIMEIRA PESSOA NESSA MERDA
  36. Dhantheman
    Mar 21, 2023
    0
    Friend keeps forcing me to play it and doesnt shut up about it every 2 seconds and for that alone im rating this game a 0/10
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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 »