Half-Life

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 164 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 138 out of 164
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 164
  3. Negative: 13 out of 164
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  1. Mr7Goat
    Mar 26, 2011
    10
    A great game for cheap and its a classic! So many characters, weapons and places to go. The story line is awesome! I recommend this game to people who like action, horror games.
  2. Rice303
    Jun 28, 2012
    10
    The best version of half-life is on the PS2 and while the game is dated compared to most other later PS2 releases I am still a massive fan and still play this classic from time to time, a very good game ported even better, pretty much true perfection.
  3. Heisenberg93
    May 24, 2015
    10
    I've heard, even before playing it, about Half-Life that was loved and considered a legend in video games. It took 16 years (since its release on PC), when I finally decided to buy it, and I had to dust off my old PS2, that still works, and I was able to play it during the first months of 2014. What they were saying was true.

    Half-Life represented a real change, compared to the games of    I've heard, even before playing it, about Half-Life that was loved and considered a legend in video games. It took 16 years (since its release on PC), when I finally decided to buy it, and I had to dust off my old PS2, that still works, and I was able to play it during the first months of 2014. What they were saying was true.

    Half-Life represented a real change, compared to the games of the same period like Doom or Quake. The rooms were much more spacious, structures and buildings were complex, Black Mesa seemed a real labyrinth. The attention devoted to the gameplay was impressive: the weapons were beautiful, original and different; from the mythical crowbar to TAU-cannon, from the crossbow to the hivehand. By the way, it may seem obvious today, but the actual operation to reload the weapon at the time was something really new. Fantastic was also the guided missile which could be directed in the direction you want. Another surprising thing was that the HEV suit, that talks and reacts according to the damage suffered, just like it is "alive". I was surprised by the chance to bring a companion for support, or the ability to utilize the rail-truck for travel. The enemies had a good artificial intelligence, and also to the lower level of difficulty, the game represented always a challenge. A lot of stuff for a game of 1998. What else to say? Half-Life has, both today and yesterday, an almost perfect gameplay.

    Another important change that has upset the genre from its foundations was that with Half-Life, the fps genre passed from a simple context as the basis of the game, to a real plot. The plot is indeed incredible, and there has been devoted a lot of care. The final is a little strange, but I personally found it very beautiful and original. The peculiarity of Half-Life then is the fact that there are no cutscenes: everything is narrated and seen through the eyes of Gordon Freeman. A point of honor goes to the realization of sci-fi concept really well done, and to the creation of the world of Xen, Gordon Freeman, the G-Man, and the various alien races and the boss fights, most notably the one against Nihilanth.

    The graphics engine GoldSrc has been used very efficiently, and the technical realization is excellent. Among other things, the PS2 version has some improvements in terms of graphics performance.

    In conclusion, Half-Life is an essential masterpiece. A piece of history. The game that has been the watershed between the old fps and the new fps, revolutionizing a genre. If a lot of games exist today, it is thank to Half-Life.    … Expand
  4. Termin8ter
    May 24, 2017
    10
    Half-Life is one of those early games that took videogames to the next level, providing an engaging story and characters to bolster solid gameplay. Like Metal Gear Solid for the PS1, Half-Life put it's foot down and established the framework for storytelling in modern games. Sure, this game's graphics are lackluster by today's standards, but the masterstroke experience still exists forHalf-Life is one of those early games that took videogames to the next level, providing an engaging story and characters to bolster solid gameplay. Like Metal Gear Solid for the PS1, Half-Life put it's foot down and established the framework for storytelling in modern games. Sure, this game's graphics are lackluster by today's standards, but the masterstroke experience still exists for everyone to enjoy. This game deserves to be in your collection.… Expand
  5. GameBoiColor
    Jul 7, 2017
    9
    Old and this game is still gold! Half Life is nearly one of the best PS2 game I have ever seen in my life, And for Valve's debut product, This is a masterpiece!
  6. Tubie
    Oct 9, 2010
    10
    This game is amazing still to this day on any platform you play it. I originally got it on the PS2 and I was blown away by it. No other FPS game after Goldeneye had the same effect this game had on me. If you have never played this, you must give it a shot some time if you can.
  7. MarkyB
    Oct 17, 2012
    10
    My all time favourite game! Better graphics than the PC version and the co-op mode is good fun.
    Great fun FPS action and a driving story line with a science fiction feel.
  8. TheQuietGamer
    Feb 15, 2011
    4
    Half-Life is fantastic on PC, but on the PS2 it fails in almost every way, the crappy controls really hinder the experience, but thankfully they give you the ability to customize your own control settings which removes some of the frustration, my other complaint is how everything in the game feels slippery making the plat forming sections incredibly terrible, and the random load timesHalf-Life is fantastic on PC, but on the PS2 it fails in almost every way, the crappy controls really hinder the experience, but thankfully they give you the ability to customize your own control settings which removes some of the frustration, my other complaint is how everything in the game feels slippery making the plat forming sections incredibly terrible, and the random load times you'll encounter just while walking around are extremely frustrating, while it's still the Half-Life experience the technical problems, and crappy design choices make this version terrible, I would highly recommend this on PC, but if you can get past the flaws the PS2 version should keep you entertained, but I would pass on this version.… Expand
  9. Travistravel
    Dec 23, 2020
    9
    This is the version i grew up with, it's not the best version, but it's still half-life you know :)
  10. Torment3837
    Jul 12, 2021
    8
    I actually own a copy of Half-Life's PS2 version.
    PS2 was certainly a great console but it wasn't made for first-person shooter games. Geabox's port of this PC classic is janky and unbalanced and also Half-Life: Decay feels like a filler experience rather than an expansion pack. The base game is still great and playable and i think gearbox did a good enough job for the console gamers to    I actually own a copy of Half-Life's PS2 version.
    PS2 was certainly a great console but it wasn't made for first-person shooter games. Geabox's port of this PC classic is janky and unbalanced and also Half-Life: Decay feels like a filler experience rather than an expansion pack. The base game is still great and playable and i think gearbox did a good enough job for the console gamers to enjoy this masterpiece.    … Expand
  11. [Anonymous]
    Mar 7, 2002
    10
    It ROCKS!!! Never have I seen such devious violence, keep up the good work...awesome storyline also.
  12. Bob-oM.
    May 29, 2002
    10
    Don't listen to that top Anon, he blows...the game is awesome!
  13. VyacheslavD.
    Jun 5, 2002
    10
    Half-Life for PS2 - it is cool! It is also very interesting if you played it on PC before - they (developers) changed some game areas, added coop mod. Very good game ;-)
  14. ChrisG.
    Apr 2, 2003
    10
    LONG LIVED HALF LIFE!!!
  15. SnellyAcE
    Jun 1, 2003
    9
    I think this was an excellent game. Great story line, great effects, but the only thing lacking is the multiplayer, but overall a great game that'll have you hooked for hours.
  16. Louismccool
    Sep 12, 2004
    10
    Long live the king!!!
  17. AndyP.
    Dec 9, 2002
    10
    This game is GREAT good storyline, Good Control, Great Sound and graphics. The Bloody realism is a great effect, the AI on humans need some more realism when shot, but i hope more half-life titles will be coming on the ps2 (Counter-Strike)
  18. BenN.
    May 22, 2003
    8
    For an old game it's great, i accualy stopped playing Enter The Matrix 4 this game, brilliant !
  19. ScottM.
    May 5, 2003
    10
    The best game i have ever played. genuinley creepy and great storyline!
  20. Chris
    Oct 1, 2006
    10
    Simply amazing. I've beaten it at least 10 times but I still cannot get enough of it. Long live Half-Life!
  21. SimonY.
    Jun 13, 2007
    9
    Amazing realistic fps with survival horror elements. The far cry of years before.
  22. AnonymousMC
    Mar 14, 2009
    10
    Half-Life is one of the best games ever made, and it deserves a place in every gamer's library. If you don't use PCs for gaming and you only have a PS2, this is the best way to experience the classic.
    The PS2 version of Half-Life is just as good as the PC version because of the addition of the expansion Decay, a 2-player co-op game that delivers quite a few good experiences,    Half-Life is one of the best games ever made, and it deserves a place in every gamer's library. If you don't use PCs for gaming and you only have a PS2, this is the best way to experience the classic.
    The PS2 version of Half-Life is just as good as the PC version because of the addition of the expansion Decay, a 2-player co-op game that delivers quite a few good experiences, especially if you play it beside a good buddy.
    I recommend Half-Life to everyone who reads this. Half-Life 2 and the Episodes are great, too, but be sure to finish up the original beforehand.    … Expand
  23. DuncanJ.
    Nov 16, 2001
    10
    It is a very good game, and it has been upgraded both graphically and in gameplay.
  24. sebastianali
    Jun 25, 2021
    9
    This is the definitive version of Half Life 1 in my opinion. It would even say that Half Life 1 on PS2 is my favorite game in the series! I will not review the base game because I already did it on this page and gave it an 8 by the way, great game, innovative but with many glitches and that it lack more post game content. This port not only solves all the glitches present in the PCThis is the definitive version of Half Life 1 in my opinion. It would even say that Half Life 1 on PS2 is my favorite game in the series! I will not review the base game because I already did it on this page and gave it an 8 by the way, great game, innovative but with many glitches and that it lack more post game content. This port not only solves all the glitches present in the PC version, but also improves many things that make it worthy of a higher score. I will say the things that this port has in comparison to the PC version and why i consider it much better.

    -Better textures and models
    -Split Screen deathmatch and coop (Half Life Decay has a clever level design, a great adittion to the game and in my opinion, my favorite HL expansion)
    -Now the assault rifle has its own ammo!
    -Exclusive Deathmatch levels
    -Exclusive alien cheat (you can use on Coop mode or in the story, and if you finish the game with Alien mode there´s a secret ending)
    -New elements in HUD (a red aim along with the orange that helps you with the aiming and a icon than indicates if you are moving or jumping)
    -Extended Levels (for example Hazard Course)
    -Long Jump with sound effect and easy to use (only jump twice)
    -Bug fixes (yes, even more than 2021 PC version)
    -The best Gordon Freeman model in game i have ever seen (Half Life 2 box doesnt count)

    This version is very underrated, it has a lot of content and is polished... And i say again, Half Life 1 in PC is awesome, but in PS2 is almost perfect... And if you dont like the joystick, you can even connect mouse and keyboard to the PS2!!!! One of the few games on PS2 that allows that.
    Half Life on PS2 is a upgrade in everything to the original game. It has some faults, like the lack of more content for the multiplayer like 4 player split screen along with more variety of game modes, it would be nice also the Blue Shift and Opposing Force expansions included (although you can play Blue Shift by a mod that you can found in moddb), also you can play Half Life Uplink if you have a special disc... So rich in content! Totally recommended for the people who didnt play Half Life before or the people who play the PC version and wants to experience more.    … Expand
  25. AmadeusE
    Sep 26, 2022
    8
    A high quality experience. What time can never take away from this game is how good it is. Simply a very good game to play forever. And the fact that, after over 20 years, it's still better than most modern games. Especially with the standards continuing to only go down. This is also a very long game and the amount of different environments and situations it manages to bring one afterA high quality experience. What time can never take away from this game is how good it is. Simply a very good game to play forever. And the fact that, after over 20 years, it's still better than most modern games. Especially with the standards continuing to only go down. This is also a very long game and the amount of different environments and situations it manages to bring one after another without losing any momentum is also impressive and completely unparalleled by today's games. And you never leave your character's point of view, it's mostly like a long adventure from point A to point B with nothing that would really break up the experience, which is an underused way of making a game. It makes an adventure so memorable and you'll often think back about the earlier moments and how you ended up where you are now. This experience was even better in the sequel with a larger variety of environments and even more distance traveled.

    I'd give it a perfect rating but I have to remove some because of the absolutely terrible Xen part of the game. I find it quite disastrous and easily the worst part of the game. Take me back to Black Mesa, please. Such a contrast to the excellent Black Mesa part.    … Expand
  26. Van_Shtir
    Dec 13, 2020
    8
    The game is awesome! But playing it on ps2 is not convenient for me (ps2 slim, last revision) I think any pc in 2020 can run it much better)
  27. Joe340
    Dec 24, 2020
    9
    This game has aged well, brother. Go play thid masterpiece. This game alongside DOOM and Halo defined fps genre.
  28. Hikayeci
    Sep 3, 2021
    10
    Çok ama çok güzel bir oyun. Özellikle PS2 de oynayınca daha da zevkli oluyor. Herkese tavsiye ederim.
  29. CloudStrife05
    Aug 29, 2021
    9
    Ported over from the PC, Half-Life on PS2 did not run as smooth and it took some getting used to not having a mouse and keyboard at the time, but everything else was still there and it is still a great game.
  30. Thisjfk66
    Nov 5, 2021
    10
    Best half life port ever included half life decay and keyboard and mouse. !!!!
  31. Yojimbo2015
    Jul 22, 2023
    10
    First person adventure with that oozes atmosphere and requires thought and guile as well as an itchy trigger finger. The great storyline gives it a real "what happens next?" addictive quality and it contains a variety of well thought out puzzles, devious traps and environments that reward exploration. One of the first truly cinematic first person shooters and the best of its type on the PS2.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS2 Game of 2001
25
#25 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2001
23
#23 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Cloudchaser
    85
    Damn good, and rivals just about any First Person Shooter on a console to date.
    Read full review
  2. TotalGames.net
    90
    Exceptionally well designed, plays on a greater scale and requires more thought than Volition’s pretty baby ["Red Faction"] and so comes highly recommended.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    91
    A brilliant game from head to toe.
    Read full review
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