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. daimmonr757
    Dec 23, 2011
    10
    Half-Life has become the most cool game in the world.
    This game love million peoples. Beautifull story line, gameplay.
    Must buy, or download!
  2. wesker2012
    May 27, 2012
    10
    Amazing game
  3. Domain
    Oct 6, 2012
    10
    Half-life is a timeless, genre re-defining classic that will forever serve as an influential template for first person shooters. It has served as a manifesto for countless FPS's in the last decade and a half and raised the storytelling medium to unprecedented heights.
  4. Pedro_V1
    Apr 20, 2013
    10
    A game from 1998 still kicks some newer games' asses! Good old times playing this game! I've enjoyed every single bit of it, good environments, great story line, not that much variety of NPCs or Aliens though its enough. Its funny how it actually costs more than HL2 but well, its really worth it.
  5. RainbowDenix
    Jul 24, 2016
    10
    One of the best games in the world!No words just one of best shooter of the world! 10 out of 10 10 out of 10 10 out of 10 10 out of 10.This is end!!!!
  6. BradleyJumble
    Apr 25, 2021
    10
    Half-Life is an authentic experience throughout. The level design was far ahead of its time, it still holds up today the only thing that doesn't hold up is its graphics. But for me everything else being perfect is more important than the graphics. Half-life is one hell of an experience that everyone should taste.
  7. 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
  8. AidanP.
    Jun 9, 2006
    10
    Awesome, the only game better? HL2
  9. JakubS.
    Jul 13, 2008
    9
    This game Is Very good, clear story, GREAT MODS but graphics are outdated.
  10. Geniasis
    Aug 19, 2011
    10
    After all these years, Half-life is still just as timeless as ever. Sure, the graphics are dated, but if you can look past that then you're in for a treat. Just be warned, Half-Life 3's release date is still sometime after the rapture. So you might want to prepare for a wait.
  11. 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.
  12. 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
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. HaydenJ.
    Sep 17, 2003
    10
    First of all- this game kicks ass. Graphics-good even by todays standards story-best fps story ever gameplay- fun as hell, not to mention counte-strike w00t now for all you n00bs saying the graphics suck-- turn the graphics to Open GL mode on 1600 by 1200 pixels, if your computer can even handle that, then talk to me whether u think the graphics are good or not.
  17. 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
  18. 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!
  19. 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
  20. KevinK.
    Dec 5, 2002
    10
    Well seems how there are not alot of reviews i will just say. Even tho this game isnt that new it is still the best PC game to ever be made. The mods make it even better. You can play the single player thru and then move easily on to the multiplayer with full enjoyment. BEST GAME EVER.
  21. Drunky
    Mar 25, 2006
    10
    It's quite possibly the best FPS ever. Yes, the graphics are aging, yes the crate puzzles were a bit on the annoying side, but they are minor flaws on a beautiful game. The AI still amazes me now, as the soldiers hide, throw grenades and constantly cause a thread, and then there's the set pieces. I always get excited when I see the G-Man. The story is excellent, people who It's quite possibly the best FPS ever. Yes, the graphics are aging, yes the crate puzzles were a bit on the annoying side, but they are minor flaws on a beautiful game. The AI still amazes me now, as the soldiers hide, throw grenades and constantly cause a thread, and then there's the set pieces. I always get excited when I see the G-Man. The story is excellent, people who complain about it clearly can't be bothered to chase after it. Like so much about this terrific game, you have to work at it. You need to discover every clue, talk to every scientist, that's the way to play the game. And what a game it is...… Expand
  22. MartinV.
    Oct 31, 2004
    10
    "sure it set a new standard on its DATE"... What kinda of **** is that, the game is 7 years old? Of course there are "better" games now. That doesnt change the fact that it was the best for its time and continued to influence game development for many years to come. What if all FPS games released the last 7 years had been as boring as Doom3 for instance? Of course we all want nice smooth "sure it set a new standard on its DATE"... What kinda of **** is that, the game is 7 years old? Of course there are "better" games now. That doesnt change the fact that it was the best for its time and continued to influence game development for many years to come. What if all FPS games released the last 7 years had been as boring as Doom3 for instance? Of course we all want nice smooth gfx, but i want GAMEPLAY as well!… Expand
  23. TimB.
    May 23, 2006
    7
    fun game. some spots are confusing to get around. wish that shooting the guns would be more realistic.
  24. PeterB.
    Aug 7, 2007
    10
    The single greatest FPS, and possibly the single greatest game ever made.
  25. AnonymousMC
    Jan 17, 2008
    10
    HL is just the best game with best encheted engine with best platform for mods and HL borns the best gamers on world
    Adrenaline Gamers !
    it made relationships on whole world and it is a reason why gaming & games are so famous today but Valve today is a imperialism crap :P
  26. BradD.
    Jul 14, 2003
    10
    5 years later this game still kicks the ass of any major contendor. Not just in my opinion, but in the eyes of many PROFESSIONAL video game critics this is the BEST GAME EVER WRITTEN! Buy this now! Its like 20 bucks. Plus you get to play counter strike and day of defeat for 10 dollars less than the retail box's are.
  27. potatoes351
    Apr 1, 2012
    8
    Half Life is a game of epic proportions, Valve provided a knock-out game. Good shooting mechanics, great map design, deep and involving story and of course hitting alien zombies with crowbars. Gameplay gets slightly repetitive at times though.
  28. Mike_Morhaime
    Jul 29, 2012
    9
    This game produced one of the greatest Mod's of all time: CounterStrike. And only because of that it well deserved this epic score! But only because i never actually played through the game i can only give it a 9
  29. gstiker5
    Sep 4, 2013
    10
    This is among the best games ever made the story is excellent so is the gameplay, level design everything is perfect except for a few things the dated graphics but back in 1998 is was amazing and the platforming is sometimes really fiddly and it is actually challenging even on Normal difficulty and for less experienced or casual players Easy presents a challenge (i think) but its neverThis is among the best games ever made the story is excellent so is the gameplay, level design everything is perfect except for a few things the dated graphics but back in 1998 is was amazing and the platforming is sometimes really fiddly and it is actually challenging even on Normal difficulty and for less experienced or casual players Easy presents a challenge (i think) but its never unfair it has some interesting setting and that feel of shooting in Half Life and then there is the multiplayer while this isn't the strong point of the game it's decent and paved the way for Counter-Strike and then theres the mods Counter Strike, Team Fortress started out as a Quake mod though), Day of Defeat and is better than Ocarina of Time… Expand
  30. fudgepuddlez
    Jul 9, 2013
    10
    One of the best games ever made. EVEN NOW YEARS AFTER IT IS MADE, PLAY IT nuff said. the only bad thing about the game is the ladder climbing is really obnoxious
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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 »