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. ReviewedMan
    Apr 26, 2021
    10
    This is my first review, so I'm going to be honest. Half-Life is a video game that surprised me with each moment, the game does not slow down, the story does not stop developing, the horrors and scares aren't going to leave you. Half-Life is a lonely game, a masterpiece that showcases humanity's lust for survival and power. It was a post modern story filled with familiar themes andThis is my first review, so I'm going to be honest. Half-Life is a video game that surprised me with each moment, the game does not slow down, the story does not stop developing, the horrors and scares aren't going to leave you. Half-Life is a lonely game, a masterpiece that showcases humanity's lust for survival and power. It was a post modern story filled with familiar themes and interactions. Half-Life brings the true face of humanity and its actions, Half-Life is a very deep game it needs time to be understood and processed but i think the first sequence is enough for anybody to appreciate this game as an art form.… Expand
  2. GreatUmbasa1
    Apr 27, 2021
    10
    Half-Life is a tour de force. It throws new plot points and surprises that keep you hooked from start to finish. It explores many themes and mechanics while offering an absorbing gameplay and narrative.
  3. HelloMane8
    Apr 28, 2021
    10
    Half-Life even today is at its full life. It didn't age at all (or maybe that's how i feel about it) but Half-Life is one of those things that is so good you don't want to finish it. Although i'd say that the final portion of the game is a bit out of the place but overall Half-Life is a perfect survival experience. It revolutionized the genre and PC gaming in many ways like adding scriptedHalf-Life even today is at its full life. It didn't age at all (or maybe that's how i feel about it) but Half-Life is one of those things that is so good you don't want to finish it. Although i'd say that the final portion of the game is a bit out of the place but overall Half-Life is a perfect survival experience. It revolutionized the genre and PC gaming in many ways like adding scripted moments, different types of weapons, a very intelligent AI i should say and a complex and mysterious horror story that will grab you like a novel.… Expand
  4. Wernyi39
    Apr 28, 2021
    10
    My First video game EVER. Well Half-Life established the idea of great story-telling in video games by introducing Scripted moments, complex narrative and perfect narration. The game feels like a novel and a movie simultaneously.
  5. Hormanee
    May 20, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To me Half-Life is the most revolutionary shooter ever made, it might not be the most important (that title goes to DOOM 1993) but Half-Life's impact was so huge. Not only did it redefine the first-person shooter genre but also changed how we viewed games as an art form. Half-Life showed many across the world (including me) that video games can be true interactive experiences. Half-Life immerses you with its world and characters from the first moment, the tram sequence was so jaw dropping back in 1998. The gameplay was a combination of story, action, puzzle-solving, scripted sequences and platforming; Half-Life even gives away some survival horror vibes too. To be honest Half-Life felt like an interactive novel, each moment felt like i was turning the page for the next thing to surprise me, the game doesn't stop. In many other first-person shooters you are like a super human or something but in Half-Life you are just a scientist late for his work, you are a guy that was betrayed by his fellow scientists, betrayed by the military and stuck in a array of conspiracies, betrayals and horrific sequences. Horror wasn't Half-Life's main goal but Valve succeeded in that regard. The game makes you feel alone and stranded, it tests your survival instincts and challenges you through so many situations. Your arsenal in this game is phenomenal, so many weapons to choose from and so many ways to play the campaign. The game kills it with enemy variety, the enemies have fascinating lores and designs that makes each one of them more interesting. The level design in Half-Life was so revolutionary for its time, and now it is damn smooth and fun to play through. The game's art style is coherent throughout the campaign except for the xen levels (i get to that later). Each counter is memorable and challenging, the story brings so many twists and turns and the narration itself never bores you and always keeps you on your toes. Half-Life is a classic that everyone should own and play, it's a game filled with brilliant mechanics and gameplay; Half-Life broke many laws of video games in 1998 and set new standards; games like Bioshock, Halo, DOOM 3 are all products impacted by this game. I highly recommend playing the original game, the steam version is still great though. The xen levels are still challenging and fun to play, Interpoler and Gonarch's lair are some of my favorites and the final boss is so weird and unique ; it's not just another boring fight but a fight that requires all your skills. The final portion of the game was so memorable and iconic. The ending made everyone so hyped about Half-Life 2 and left a lot of room for interpretation. Half-Life isn't a game that you can breeze through, it's a game that requires all your attention. The game wants you to experience the situations and take it slow. Half-Life isn't an action game, it's a very story-driven title with portions of intense action planted into it. If you haven't played the Half-Life franchsie, or at least the first one you have to do it after reading this review.… Expand
  6. Geronimo33
    Apr 30, 2021
    10
    Half-Life offered me something that i couldn't refuse and that was the novel feeling of it. From the start Half-Life plays like a story being unfolded infornt of my eyes. I loved the action and the guns were too realistic for their time but the final levels as much as i loved the narration of the story in those levels, were a bit weird and unsatisfying.
  7. RenitadU55
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    Thr elements that Half-Life introduced to the gaming are what every game needs to have be considered at least a good game these days; elements such as complex story-telling, a rich open world, layered level design, deep combat, responsive AI and etc. That's why Half-life is an important piece of history and gaming in general.
  8. Beronchers93
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    It's really weird to feel empathy for an AI in a video game, until i played Half-Life i never cared about any NPC or character in any video game but Half-life showed me that characters in the game are important, they can help you, they can give you hints, they can treat you or they can open a path for you to continue your journey, this simple element itself changed everyone's view of NPCsIt's really weird to feel empathy for an AI in a video game, until i played Half-Life i never cared about any NPC or character in any video game but Half-life showed me that characters in the game are important, they can help you, they can give you hints, they can treat you or they can open a path for you to continue your journey, this simple element itself changed everyone's view of NPCs and characters in video games.… Expand
  9. JJMorj
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    Half-Life felt like a Rollercoaster ride that introduced new gimmicks and surprises along the way that kept you interested and invested until the end. Everything in this masterpiece is engaging from its interactive combat to its phenomenal and epic narrative.
  10. Yelson463
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    Whether you are a PC gamer or whatever... Half-Life offers an authentic experience from the very first moment, the game sets its tone and feeling and offers new story elements in each segment. Half-Life is the godfather of First person shooters and the reason why gaming reached this state today.
  11. TGseram736
    Apr 30, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Loved the started sequence and the graphics have something special about them. The story may sound a bit like DOOM (1993) but as you progress you realize there's alot more to the story and it's way more complex and mysterious that you initially thought. A Classic 90's fps that finished the good old days of first person shooters and started a new era of PC games.… Expand
  12. MotherSpore4335
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    Half-Life started a series of revolutionary first person shooters like system shock 2 or Deus X and Bioshock. Bioshock specifically was heavily influenced by Half-Life, its heavy tone and atmosphere and complex story-telling were all inspired by Half-Life.
  13. Lapenoman
    Jan 23, 2021
    10
    HALF-LIFE
    1. Техническая составляющая - 10/10
    2. Искусственный интеллект - 10/10
    3. Музыкальное и видео сопровождение - 9/10
    4. Локализация - 9/10
    5. Сеттинг - 10/10
    6. Сюжетная линия - 10/10
    Итого = 58 баллов (9.6)
  14. yeemasterpro
    Jan 26, 2021
    10
    Very good,one of the best video game,music,gameplay,graphic,excellent fps on PC.
  15. GODvaria
    Feb 1, 2021
    10
    Была и всегда будет топ 1.Ну рили Best game ever.Тут вообще без слов. 10 из 10.
  16. BEG5210
    Feb 9, 2021
    10
    this is an amazing game. it relies on visual storytelling and is incredible to play. you are able to choose how your character acts with no consequences, and it adds another layer of immersion. its linear design is unforgettable, and so are the events that happen, yet, it's just as fun to play through it multiple times. the only annoyance is that you may have to quick save a lot, but thethis is an amazing game. it relies on visual storytelling and is incredible to play. you are able to choose how your character acts with no consequences, and it adds another layer of immersion. its linear design is unforgettable, and so are the events that happen, yet, it's just as fun to play through it multiple times. the only annoyance is that you may have to quick save a lot, but the game is so good, that I'm able to ignore it. half-life is a masterpiece, and I think every gamer, old and new should play it.… Expand
  17. Khaffy02
    Feb 24, 2021
    10
    Half-Life is a 1998 game that revolutionized the first-person shooter genre. At that time, an unknown company, Valve, licensed the Quake engine from idSoftware, in order to significantly rework it and create their own game. No one expected such a success, but HL has become a truly unique project. The game has won numerous awards, and has received high ratings from critics and was warmlyHalf-Life is a 1998 game that revolutionized the first-person shooter genre. At that time, an unknown company, Valve, licensed the Quake engine from idSoftware, in order to significantly rework it and create their own game. No one expected such a success, but HL has become a truly unique project. The game has won numerous awards, and has received high ratings from critics and was warmly welcomed by the usual players. There were many reasons for this: a well-thought-out, interesting, intriguing plot (which, however, in the second part revealed much more than in the first), graphics, which at that time was a breakthrough, advanced AI of opponents and allies, a convenient and at the same time simple interface, excellent voice acting and soundtrack. Also, the HL feature was that the plot developed inside the game space, without any video inserts. Everything that happened in the game, we watched with our own eyes in real time and it made us dive into the game much more. And of course, skeletal animation.

    You, Gordon Freeman, a researcher at the Black Mesa Portal Research Laboratory, located in New Mexico, are on your way to conduct another planned experiment, but in the course of it, a large-scale disaster occurs. On the territory of the laboratory, portals from other worlds are opened, from where alien, aggressive mutants come, attacking people. The main character's goal is to make an attempt to eliminate the consequences and understand the causes of this tragedy.

    In addition to the classic skirmishes with enemies and shooting monsters, part of the gameplay is involved in the use of physical puzzles. Thanks to the advanced game physics, we could perform various manipulations with objects and objects of the environment, which in other games of those years was almost absent.

    Special mention should be made of the AI system and its allies. We can ask a security guard to come with us and cover us, or call a scientist who will open the door, having access to it. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the engine, AI can not pass everywhere, but even this, not the most perfect system could be proud of in 1998.

    Very well designed environment, the interior of the laboratory, models of monsters and zombies. The result is a very unique and sometimes eerie atmosphere, thanks to the beautiful sound, picture and method of narration.

    The game also features 32-player multiplayer, with multiple modes. The gameplay is very dynamic, interesting and addictive for a while. The servers are not empty to this day.

    Among the minor disadvantages, we can mention the bots (allies in the game), which get stuck in the floor, often blunt out of the blue, can run along an incomprehensible trajectory. Or the AI of the military, who simply run out on you in the open, like cannon fodder, can sometimes ignore the player, without reacting to him in any way.

    Great game, great story, good graphics (for the 98th year), interesting gameplay and great sound.

    This game in my opinion should be for everyone.

    10/10    … Expand
  18. HarborMan3838
    May 17, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First Review Here. I have to say, the xen levels were a bit disappointing, interpoler was a very good level but other areas like Gonarch's lair or the first area of Xen when you have to wait and jump for 10 times were really simple and lackluster for Half-Life Standards. But the game itself is flawless. Half-Life understood the word "First-person shooter" and created the base of the genre for the next 20 years in 1998. The First moments of Half-Life are some of the best moments in any video game ever after the resonance cascade the game turned into a tour de force and it was non-stop action, story, mystery and puzzle-solving after that. The ending was so fitting and got me hyped for Half-Life 2.… Expand
  19. SadenRedTT63
    May 20, 2021
    10
    Half-Life was one of the best PC experiences that I had in recent years. The story had so many twists and turns that kept me on my seat, the visuals were dated but so unique and memorable, the puzzles were so much fun to solve, the platforming felt a bit dated but it was so realistic at the time. Half-Life is a must-play classic that is definitely worth buying and experiencing, it madeHalf-Life was one of the best PC experiences that I had in recent years. The story had so many twists and turns that kept me on my seat, the visuals were dated but so unique and memorable, the puzzles were so much fun to solve, the platforming felt a bit dated but it was so realistic at the time. Half-Life is a must-play classic that is definitely worth buying and experiencing, it made people realize that first-person shooters are more than shooting, they can have complex stories, mysterious surroundings, unique art direction and realistic combat. Half-Life built upon DOOM's unrivaled legacy and started a new era for PC gaming. Half-Life was the beginning of a new era for first-person shooters and video games in general. The game's so fascinating and well-made that is hard not to like it. Half-Life became the next gem in my video game collection.… Expand
  20. ILostMySanity
    May 21, 2021
    10
    One of the best FPS games I have ever played in my life. Great story. Totally worth playing in 2021.
  21. SneakingTom
    May 22, 2021
    10
    this game is so good that you wouldn't even care about the graphics anymore! everything about this game is just very awesome!
  22. GogglesofCritic
    May 23, 2021
    10
    Half-Life was my first game on a personal computer, so i have a lot of nostalgia for it and this review might sound a bit biased; but nevertheless before Half-Life i basically thought games were for young people but Half-Life changed my opinion. From the very first moment, Half-Life will surprise you. It doesn't give you a gun, it doesn't open with badass music, and you are certainly not aHalf-Life was my first game on a personal computer, so i have a lot of nostalgia for it and this review might sound a bit biased; but nevertheless before Half-Life i basically thought games were for young people but Half-Life changed my opinion. From the very first moment, Half-Life will surprise you. It doesn't give you a gun, it doesn't open with badass music, and you are certainly not a badass; you are just a dude going to his work but that ominous tone and soundtrack is like a warning of something mysterious happening in the facility, a weird suited man continues looking at you as the tram moves on, there's a rocket, you see military action, scientists are running for something and so on. It shows that today something secret is happening. The voice guide feels so real and creepy and tells you about a suit. Back then the H. E. V suit was such a cool thing. Half-Life knows when to use its soundtrack to startle you and keep you on edge. The game never stops for your weaknesses, Half-Life is an intense tale of survival. The gameplay feels so real as it combines Horror, action, mystery, puzzles and exploration. The story never gets boring for it is filled with twists and turns, this game uses true old-fashioned hitchcock suspense and the sci-fi elements of the story are so balanced, Half-Life plays you like a piano. Half-Life is a TRUE classic all the way that changed the gaming industry for ever, and became an icon in the first-person shooter genre.… Expand
  23. BoogieReviewer
    May 24, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Half-Life wasn't a shooting gallery unlike any other shooter at the time, you weren't some huge ass dude with tons of crazy weapons or huge muscles surrounded with girls... No no Valve didn't want to blend in with the ecosystem of first-person shooters in 1996, instead they created a mysterious rich world that offers tons of complexity.
    Half-Life changed the way many people looked at the games back in the late 90's, it revolutionized PC gaming and with 50 goty awards Half-Life proved video games can be as complex or as interesting as novels or movies. The story has enough surprises for you to keep you going for the whole game and the narrative is told flawlessly, Marc Laidlaw used the old ways of story-telling brilliantly and offered an old-fashioned story which is being told through the most modern ways of narration. The level design is unforgettable, the levels will stick with you even after you're done with a certain level. Half-Life never leaves you, the monsters are always lurking somewhere, the soldiers are always coming for you and the intelligent scientist friends of yours betrayed you and made YOU make a mess and you aren't some badass dude with a cigarette in his mouth; you are just some random scientist stuck in a long loop of conspiracies and betrayals. Many other games after Half-Life used this story-telling method to keep you on edge or surprise you like Halo 1, so yeah as i was saying Half-Life is a lonely game; a game that requires all your brains and brawn to get by. There are a lot of puzzle sections in the game that you need to solve to progress, the whole concept of solving puzzles to overcome the problems was established with this game.
    In conclusion Half-Life may be the most important shooter ever made, It balanced and revolutionized many things in the genre and introduced tons of new innovations as well. Half-Life will definitely be a surprising experience with anyone accustomed to the 90's action games because Half-Life has been and always will be the most important shooter of all time. God bless Valve and gabe newell for giving us this masterpiece and they shall burn in hell for not giving us Half-Life 3 (just joking!?) but anyway thank you for reading this post if you made it till the end. Play this piece of gold if you haven't already, i'm sure you'll have a great time at least :)    … Expand
  24. Politicalgamer7
    May 26, 2021
    10
    For me Half-Life is the most important shooter ever made, if you go into Half-Life expecting Doom you will be disappointed, Doom (1993) was an awesome fast-paced action phenomenon, but Half-Life was more satisfying to play. Half-Life's complex world, fascinating narration, exciting gameplay and simple but twisted story makes it a perfect video game experience for every type of gamer. It'sFor me Half-Life is the most important shooter ever made, if you go into Half-Life expecting Doom you will be disappointed, Doom (1993) was an awesome fast-paced action phenomenon, but Half-Life was more satisfying to play. Half-Life's complex world, fascinating narration, exciting gameplay and simple but twisted story makes it a perfect video game experience for every type of gamer. It's a classic like Fallout, and it will a great experience.… Expand
  25. ToldmeHam
    May 29, 2021
    10
    You just have to take a look at some of the first-person shooters that came before and after Half-life to realize how revolutionary this game was. Back in the late 90's Half-Life revolutionized video games forever. It introduced several aspects to video games and changed the way first-person shooters were made. Half-Life has one of the richest legacies in video games and Half-Life 1 & 2You just have to take a look at some of the first-person shooters that came before and after Half-life to realize how revolutionary this game was. Back in the late 90's Half-Life revolutionized video games forever. It introduced several aspects to video games and changed the way first-person shooters were made. Half-Life has one of the richest legacies in video games and Half-Life 1 & 2 are considered to be two of the most important video games ever made but is Half-Life still worth playing in 2021?
    Well, yes.
    Half-Life offers an experience that you won't ever forget. Half-Life was a serious risk in the 90's because Valve's ambitions were too high for the standards in those era. Just like when the movie the godfather came the expectations for a gangster movie were really different but the godfather changed that but it also changed cinema forever. Just like that movie, Half-Life played the same role; it changed fps games forever but it also revolutionized the industry. Half-Life is a true classic.    … Expand
  26. Ka3rA_freeman
    Jun 8, 2021
    10
    یکی از بهترین گیم هایی که پلی دادم و هیچ گیمی هنوز اون حس خاصی که هف لایف یک بهم داده رو هنوز نداده بهترین گیم تاریخ...
  27. 1Shorzz
    Jul 12, 2021
    10
    SHORZZ / Half-Life: Hi I'm Shorzz. If you haven't played this game yet, I think it's definitely a game you should play. I think it would be unfair not to see what this production has accomplished and the innovations it has brought to the game world. A game that every player must have finished once.
  28. Goodbadcritic45
    Jun 26, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What can i say about Half-Life? The game pulled me into the world of video games. The whole idea to experience a story in this way made me realize how immersive video games are. Half-Life puts you in the shoes of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who works in Black Mesa Research Facility. As the game's famous ominous soundtrack, Black Mesa Inbound, starts playing, it contrasts with the smooth robotic voice that is going through the facilities rules, creating a sense of dread and insecurity. Everything turns upside down when an experiment goes wrong and opens up a portal into a mysterious dimension. It's now up to you to escape from the facility and unravel the mystery behind the experiment. Black Mesa is a weird place, as you're going from place to place to survive and fight back against the enemies, there's a mysterious man following you and watching you, suddenly soldiers start attacking the scientists that they were supposed to rescue, huge weird monsters appear in the facility that seem to have specific behaviors. Half-Life presents the story like opening a box. Its slow yet fascinating; your objectives change, your allies change, with each step that you take, the world around you changes as well. There are no cinematics or cutscenes. Half-Life is a work of art that combines traditional story-telling methods with innovative aspects. It pioneered the idea that a video game's story can be as complex as a novel.
    Half-Life's gameplay is simple yet so fun. The game's main focus is story and environments but the gameplay doesn't have anything annoying that ruins the experience. I didn't encounter any bugs in the game and it ran as smooth as possible.
    The final episodes of Half-Life which take place in Xen are a bit weak in the gameplay department yet still having strong story-telling.
    Half-Life pacing is also something so brilliantly-balanced; The game knows how to manage the fun without sacrificing either gameplay or story. Half-Life may feel a bit overlong due to its dated graphics but you will get accustomed to them after some time or you can play the fan-made remake BLACK MESA which i will play in a few days myself. Don't miss the Steam Summer sale. Have Fun!    … Expand
  29. Correspond76
    Jun 27, 2021
    10
    My video game journey started with Half-Life (1998). From the very start, Half-Life felt like a tour de force. Half-Life will challenge you with its complex story-telling, heart-pounding action, horror themed elements and a world that is hard to gasp. Half-Life used the elements that the previous icons, like doom and wolfenstei, n established and created its own art. The game didn't useMy video game journey started with Half-Life (1998). From the very start, Half-Life felt like a tour de force. Half-Life will challenge you with its complex story-telling, heart-pounding action, horror themed elements and a world that is hard to gasp. Half-Life used the elements that the previous icons, like doom and wolfenstei, n established and created its own art. The game didn't use any cutscenes instead it presented its story with maximum coherence. If you think you will be disappointed by a 23-year-old video game, you're wrong. Even if the graphics annoy you and you can't play with them, i still recommend going through the game because Half-Life delivers a real first-person shooting experience. A classic that changed our industry forever.… Expand
  30. Tromble
    Jun 28, 2021
    10
    Half Life is one of those few games that came along and pushed the entire medium forward.

    However the most mind bending part is that this title would not be the last time this franchise revolutionized gaming.

    Half life is on the of the greatest games I have ever had the pleasure to play.
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 »