Half-Life 2 Reviews

game is fire but whoever designed the puzzles and the vehicle section i hope you never work in games again. also barney thick as hell

Needless to say this game is straight fire. The gameplay is still very good 20+ years later. It's worth replaying this one with game designers' commentary turned on. It was interesting and informative to hear what it took for the developers to create this masterpiece. 10/10

i like how i can throw an empty can at some random officer. This game is truly a masterpiece.

Best first PC game ever. Takes patience to really soak into but once you're in you cant help but explore the ins and outs of the game. It isn't for everyone but I believe it is 100% worth at least one play session from said everyone.

One of the best fps O.A.T., as well as a genuinely great dystopian. Graphics and gameplay withstand the test of time. Shame I didn't play it sooner.

[h3][noparse][Will add in addition details to the review later on. I plan on writing something comprehensive. Review is subject to change, rephrases and rewrites.][/noparse][/h3] I received this through the Orange Box bundle. [h1]Review:[/h1] [list] [*] > Gameplay is excellent. [*] > Story is interesting. [*] > Weapon choices are fun. [/list] [h2]Gameplay:[/h2] The Source Engine has to be some of the best, and one of my favorites, in this industry, though, my knowledge about its inner workings are limited. My coding literacy is lacking. But I find how it functions in-game to be fun, the way it simulates physics is the most realistic, and I feel, hasn't been replicated by any other game besides LittleBigPlanet. The mentioned game is a PlayStation title created by [b]Media Molecule.[/b] The gravity gun showcases how items can interact with the world and against hostile NPCs such as headcrabs. Using blunt force in this fashion isn't something you come across much in other games. [h2]Story:[/h2] I haven't finished the story just yet, but I'm nearly towards the end. So far, it's an interesting story but I'm not a writer so I couldn't give any technical knowledge about its structure or composition. It has Star Trek levels of scientific insight, you can easily tell that collage graduates with multiple PhDs and doctorates wrote all of these sci-fi elements. [h2]Weapon variety:[/h2] I'm not a weapons expert, but I still enjoy the weapon choices. As I've checked from YouTube videos discussing how Half-Life 1 is designed to make you think before you act, I'm sure Half-Life 2 works the same way. These are designed as utilities as well as defensive tools, it's not exclusively about killing hostiles. The multiple options are there to give you different ways to experiment and solve a puzzle.

world's most overrated game oh noooo bulgaria at a bright, sunny daytime with no pollution, what an oppressive and eerie environment! if HL2 wasn't such a landmark for graphics and physics i'm convinced no one would've liked this game, because it's so lame in absolutely every single other regard - none of the cool and funny aliens from HL1 - none of the fun experimental weapons from HL1 like the snarks, tripmines, tau cannon and gluon gun, and nothing interesting replacing them either - complete tonal shift by inexplicably being set in bulgaria instead of HL1's new mexico (actual zero in-universe explanation for the whole cast being moved 10,000km to another continent, topped off by writings, signs and graffiti all in cyrillic despite the game not having a single eastern european person and everyone in the game being american and clearly only knowing english) - every gun feels lame and sounds lame with unexpressive and unreacting enemies who don't flinch or run away when injured, nothing - braindead enemy AI that just runs towards you to die on queue like it's a theater play - long ass cutscenes with people talking where you're most often than not not even part of the conversation and all you can do is walk around and press E on things to pass the time - loss of player agency by making every single friendly NPC completely immortal where you could shoot anyone in HL1, even if it just gave you a game over - the most horrendous lack of full body awareness in gaming, you lift objects with your mind, you drive vehicles without using or seeing your hands, and you can't see your legs ravenholm is the only mildly interesting part of it and even then it's just a trap playhouse styled level where every single run through it is the exact same with no variety anyway

---{ Graphics }--- ☐ You forget what reality is ☐ Beautiful ☑ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ☐ MS-DOS ---{ Gameplay }--- ☐ Very good ☑ Good ☐ It's just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Watch paint dry instead ☐ Just don't ---{ Audio }--- ☐ Eargasm ☐ Very good ☑ Good ☐ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ I'm now deaf ---{ Audience }--- ☐ Kids ☑ Teens ☑ Adults ☐ Grandma ---{ PC Requirements }--- ☐ Check if you can run paint ☐ Potato ☑ Decent ☐ Fast ☐ Rich boi ☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer ---{ Game Size }--- ☐ Floppy Disk ☑ Old Fashioned ☐ Workable ☐ Big ☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive ☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it ☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data ---{ Difficulty }--- ☐ Just press 'W' ☐ Easy ☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master ☐ Significant brain usage ☐ Difficult ☐ Dark Souls ---{ Grind }--- ☑ Nothing to grind ☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks ☐ Isn't necessary to progress ☐ Average grind level ☐ Too much grind ☐ You'll need a second life for grinding ---{ Story }--- ☐ No Story ☐ Some lore ☐ Average ☐ Good ☑ Lovely ☐ It'll replace your life ---{ Game Time }--- ☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee ☐ Short ☐ Average ☑ Long ☐ To infinity and beyond ---{ Price }--- ☐ It's free! ☐ Worth the price ☑ If it's on sale ☐ If u have some spare money left ☐ Not recommended ☐ You could also just burn your money ---{ Bugs }--- ☐ Never heard of ☑ Minor bugs ☐ Can get annoying ☐ ARK: Survival Evolved ☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs ---{ ? / 10 }--- ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ 6 ☐ 7 ☐ 8 ☑ 9 ☐ 10

Half-Life 2 is quite a game and i don't know what to say about it other than its a personal favourite. I think its one of my favourite of the Half-Life games just for all the upgrades it brings. The physics and all the new graphics and visuals. Its truly a great leap in the series and i love how far the story has come and how everything was ended nicely. The story was more developed and the characters had more dialogue with each other and you saw some past characters return quite nicely. The aliens returned in this sequel to the first Half-Life and once again you had to beat them back. You are led through multiple chapters in the game defeating enemies and playing through some thought provoking puzzles as per the series standard. One thing i miss is that the game ended on an unfortunate cliff hanger and so far there seems to be no sign of a sequel at all. The story needs finishing and has spent way to long without any news at all about its future and will be in limbo for some time. The game without a doubt in my mind is the best in the series and one of my favourites. Its a easy game to recommend anyone try out and play in the future.

"Half-Life 2" is one of the most influential and groundbreaking first-person shooters ever made. Released in 2004 by Valve, it redefined what players could expect from a video game in terms of both storytelling and gameplay. The game’s narrative is immersive, unfolding without traditional cutscenes, which allows the player to feel like they are truly part of the story. The protagonist, Gordon Freeman, is a silent hero who navigates through a dystopian world filled with alien invaders and oppressive human forces. This unique approach to storytelling pulls the player into the game’s world, making every action feel meaningful. The physics engine in "Half-Life 2" was revolutionary for its time. The way objects interact with the environment feels natural and intuitive, and it became a major part of the gameplay. From solving puzzles using physics to creatively using the environment as a weapon, it was an innovation that influenced many games that followed. The gravity gun, which allows players to manipulate objects in real-time, is still one of the most memorable and fun weapons in gaming history. The level design in "Half-Life 2" is another standout feature. The game introduces players to varied environments, from the dark, industrial city of City 17 to the eerie, remote marshlands. Each location feels carefully crafted, with attention to detail that makes the world feel alive. The pacing is also masterful, alternating between moments of intense combat and slower, atmospheric sequences that allow the player to soak in the environment and story. The AI in "Half-Life 2" was also ahead of its time. Enemies behave intelligently, using cover, working together, and reacting to the player’s actions in a way that makes combat more dynamic and challenging. The enemy variety, from the terrifying Combine soldiers to the creepy headcrabs, keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. The interactions with NPCs and the world around you help build a sense of tension and immersion, keeping you on edge throughout the experience. The game's soundtrack, composed by Kelly Bailey, perfectly complements the atmosphere, using subtle but effective music to enhance both the action and the quieter moments. The sound design is top-notch, with ambient sounds adding to the immersion, whether you're in a busy city street or exploring a deserted warehouse. Ultimately, "Half-Life 2" is a masterpiece that still holds up to this day. Its innovative gameplay, storytelling, and technical achievements make it a game that set a new standard for the industry. It’s a game that’s not just fun to play, but one that’s easy to appreciate for the way it shaped the future of video games. Even though it’s been years since its release, "Half-Life 2" remains a classic that continues to inspire both players and developers alike.