Half-Life 2 PC
  • Publisher: VU Games
  • Release Date: Nov 16, 2004
User Score
9.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 5788 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5,388 out of 5788
  2. Mixed: 102 out of 5788
  3. Negative: 298 out of 5788

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  1. JacekI.
    Aug 5, 2006
    4
    Games are not about graphics and physics engine but fun*. I confirm some oppinions expressed so far - it is tedious, predictible, it is a repetitive sequel. * Compare some desktop java games on www.java.com with HL2 - then it is obvious you do not need realistic graphics, expensive harware and so on to enjoy computer games. That is true that the industry including Valve misses the point.
  2. Yavich
    Oct 6, 2011
    0
    It's too booooring. Only one interesting level - "We Don't Go To Revenholm". In the rest - as though 2d characters, empty locations, long and boring missions on boat and car.
  3. IanF.
    Oct 20, 2005
    0
    Garbage. What's all the hype about. This game was BORING. The weapons were boring, the enemies were boring, but most of all the story was BORING. The whole game all you do is try to rescue one person or meet up with another person, in very cramped environments. That might've been forgivable if this game was fun or challenging, but the fact of the matter is it isn't. Also, the ending is AWFUL. Could it have been worse? What really happened? it felt like they didn't know how to end it so the developers just took a dump and modeled it after that. Half-life is supposed to be about story and this game had very little. If you want to play a good FPS play Far-Cry (for those of you recommending Doom 3 instead of this pile, I'll have you know that Doom 3 was trash too). Far-Cry had great action, audio, gameplay, and a decent story (not great by any means, but definitely better than this connect the dots junk). If you haven't played it you are doing yourself a great disservice. Far-Cry = 10, half-life 2 = (they don't have negative scores) 0.… Expand
  4. LeeCalder
    May 5, 2006
    1
    Tedious. Boring.
  5. MadelineV.
    Nov 28, 2006
    0
    Characters are boring and uninteresting and pretty unattractive. There is no finesse with the weapons like most fps shooters. AI is poor. Storyline isn't too great. Too much physics gimmicks. It's cool at first, gets old very quick and really in most action films or horror, the killing doesn't exactly revolve around this. It's just unrealistic. Despite your so called cheat free environment, i found cheaters in multiplayer and many people called out the same people I saw cheating. Nothing is done. The unreal 3.0 engine even the 2.5, far exceeds this engine and characters. Who wants to play a 4 eyes ugly dude who never talks anyway? The only thing I liked were a few of the maps though when looking at them closer in the editor, again the unreal editor FAR exceeds this game.… Expand
  6. AlyxF.
    Jul 25, 2008
    4
    Pretty good graphics although it could be a lot better, bad ai. and the game is one of the just play once games. When i did play the game i took a lot of time exploring as much as the game allowed me to do, and that isn't pretty much. the game is designed for a just rush through session.
  7. sinadoom
    Apr 23, 2012
    4
    I know all you fanboys will rate this review down but the primary reason why this game didn't impress me AS A SHOOTER is because I played it in the Orange Box on 360. The graphics even with the updated engine- especially the textures- weren't anywhere near as good as far cry 1, which came out at the same time (2004). The shooting/action is very limited and doesn't feel intense at all. You can really tell it's a game rather than the action seeming fluent. The story's nothing special either. Although it's linear, there's no objectives so it's possible to get lost on where to go/what to do. The only way I can see this game is not as a shooter, but an adventure game. Level design is good, I'll give Valve that. But the greatest FPS of all time? You have got to be kidding me. It's hardly a shooter. As a game, as part of the orange box, it's not bad. Infact the experience is actually really good. What REALLY annoys me is how people can class this as an FPS. It's in first person alright, but where's the intense gameplay? OK it's 2004 but I still cannot see why anyone can give credit to the gameplay. It's pathetic. No recoil, no skill, and weapons don't feel like they do damage. They seem too sci-fi ish. In terms of gameplay mechanics, it just feels like it's still in the development stage. It does nothing that a shooter should do. In Portal it's acceptable because it's not a shooter. In this I just laughed the first time I picked up a gun and saw the crosshaire. I laughed even harder when I fired it. Storytelling is good and movement through levels is seemless and fluent, but the story itself, the gameplay- they suck. Other than that it's not a bad game, just one of the WORST shooters of all time. Call it the best PC game if you want. Just don't call it a shooter for the love of God. Don't kid yourself.… Expand
  8. HidetoM.
    Apr 30, 2005
    1
    Over Rated, but hey so was the first one, no surprise here. And all the 10's are no surprise either. It's human nature to simply mindlessly follow the crowd( trust me you had your 'opinion' way before you played this game ). Saying it's 'amazing' and "the best game ever made" is simply proving my point, you cannot explain it with arguments that stand. Oh and please do say that I'm a turd and just being negative for I am. Too much budget does silly things to people who were able to develop a pretty good game the first time around( or film, The Matrix anyone? ). And all the big gaming sites and mags..what can I say, does anyone of them ever give a rating that hasn't been given by the next site or magazine considering the big titles? Go right ahead and check it out, it doesn't make sense that everyone agrees on something, does it now. I can go on for a little while on why and how but I won't. And I believe it's time again for some biased posts now.… Expand
  9. Scritty
    Feb 19, 2012
    4
    On rails shooter. Mindless FPS pap by the shovelful, apparently for a market of mindless drektoids that can't get enough "by the numbers" FPS games. Well, here's another from 8 years ago. Story is meh, Gordon is neither geeky enough to be "neo-cool" nor macho enugh to be "funny" he's just annoying. What distinguishes this game from hundreds of other on rail shooters? Absolutely nothing. A dull dull game. MIght as well play the original Quake or any other FPS from the 99cents bargain bin than fork out for this over hyped stuff. Graphics (even for 2004) are WELL below average, control is exactly the same as 1000+ other FPS, weapons are ok, story is boring, locations are bland. Avoid. Is OOTP2007 a better game than this? You bet it is! What is it that other people see in FPS games? It's sprt of a serious question, becasue from where I'm sat the big producers are remaking the same game over and over and over again. If I want to play a game like this, I'll play Quake WASD to move, left mouse fires, right mouse Alt fire..that is this game, and every other FPS in totality..end of story. I'm beginning to think everyone in gameplay land has had their brains turned to mush to keep buying carbon copy games overt and over again. I played HL2 for about 5 hours (past the hover boat sequence) and sat there wondering what all the fuss was about. Overhyped and just the same - avoid at all costs… Expand
  10. Oookeeek
    Nov 14, 2011
    4
    Most overrated game ever made. Half-Life 2 is not just disappointing, it's really boring. The first one was much better than this. Of course HL2 has some interesting things such as the Source engine (although many really poor textures), the gravity gun or pheropod, but this isn't enough to keep the game alive. And, as this wasn't enough, the game doesn't have a decent ending. I'll never understand why Half Life 2 is so praised.… Expand
  11. hansen1981
    Apr 27, 2013
    2
    Long empty rooms. Long empty landscapes. Easy tasks. Uninteresting story. Plastic heroes. Lack of narrative. Only Oh! Doctor Freeman! Ah! Doctor Freeman! Wow! This is you Doctor Freeman?
    Blah! Boring game. Cure for insomnia.
  12. SeanWar
    Jan 4, 2005
    0
    Really repetitive, nothing changes, doesnt come close to doom 3 when it comes to graghics.
  13. Serious_Gamer
    Dec 3, 2011
    1
    I am a serious gamer and this is what I have to say about Half Life 2. A piece of s**t. What is so good about this game? I don't see the big deal of it at all. The mod database on this game is relatively small compared to other FPS's out there, a stupid storyline which I couldn't even comprehend due to how stupid it was. The graphics.. well.. decent for that time period I have to say but people MOVE ON. This game was made in 2004 and it's a FPS! When you finish it you're FINISHED - there is no other replayability other than playing the whole campaign again which you've already completed. The amount of fanboys of this game is beyond belief and it's only because Valve made it, who cares?! The guns weren't even good anyway and nor was the enemies you had to take on and the ending.. well.. HOW STUPID WAS THE FREAKING ENDING? That's all I have to say on this joke.… Expand
  14. Matthew_Hayward
    Dec 1, 2011
    2
    I am a SERIOUS GAMER. i cannot see what the big deal about this game is. you have TERRIBLE weapons with horrible graphics, yet people still call this one of the best games. the game is terribly unrealistic, and the weapons are just complete SH*T. The game is repetitive and has a boring... long story. i wouldn't reccommend this for serious gamers. but if you are a poser, child or beginner then by all means, start playing this game and start putting foward your one sided reveiws. This game was a hit in 2004 but COME ON.. all games have their day, and i think that the end for this game has come. Valves needs to focus on realising more content that appeals to the serious gamers. Half life 2, does NOT cater for us serious gamers!… Expand
  15. kenozoik
    Dec 22, 2011
    1
    Very disappointing. Personally, I consider HL1 one of the best games ever made, and everything I liked about HL1 is missing in this game. Boring and linear. The story itself is poor. There's no time left to explore the levels because you're constantly being chased, and when you do find the time to look around, it's only to find that the beautiful scenery is in most cases just a cardboard scene placed around a small, single path level, designed so that you don't even think about stepping of the predefined path. I had a feeling as if being a cow which is ran into desired direction through ever narrower paths in a slaughterhouse. It was so repetitive, boring and frustrating that I didn't even finish the game. The only thing I had fun with in this game was the gravity gun.… Expand
  16. Chris
    Feb 24, 2005
    0
    This might be a great game, but I will never know. I gave up after spending over 6 hours trying to install it. Steam was more than just a little irritating to me.
  17. JimF.
    Dec 20, 2004
    0
    Hours spent installing, reinstalling, dealing with Steam, ATI video drivers, and stuttering problems: 7 Hours spent playing the game: 0 I am a very busy person, who at best has an hour a week for relaxing games. I got this game because I had three days off from work and wanted to play the highest rated game out there. I'm still waiting to play the highest rated game out there. I';ll be returning this disaster shortly, and getting something that doesn't raise my blood pressure. - Jim… Expand
  18. WalterR.
    Nov 17, 2004
    0
    This lost me on this game right off the bat. When a game takes 5 hours to install, set up and play there is nothing that can redeem it. Unknown to me, i had to set up an online account to even play the game. No one mentioned this little tidbid to me before i bought the game. I thought the internet connection requirement was for online play not for activation. I can only get phone modem connection in the country and needless to say it took some time. Not even Microsoft does this to its customers. Then the game started and i had to wonder around like an idiot to find my purpose. On the plus side, unlike Doom3, it didn't kill my pc. It ran smoothly on my high res lcd monitor. In the end, this game sucks as did Doom 3... I wish people out there quit hyping up games like this. When Far Cry came out it was a real revelation and that's the way it should be. What a disappointment this last few months have been!!… Expand
  19. RehnH.
    Nov 19, 2004
    0
    Steam unfortunately ruined the game for me. The game at first seemed to be worth it but the game play loses its juice about half way into the game. I also feel like I have been ripped off I bought the Collectors edition of the game, what a joke that is. I GET A SHIRT YAY!!!. Valve needs to get off their trip with steam people are going to pirate games no matter how much time you spend on creating new technology, Hackers are just going to spend more time trying to hack it. I am just glad a real game developer is releasing a game a week after I will be sure to jump on WoW and support blizzard and I wish I can get my money back from this steamy pile of crap. Why do you need an internet connection to play a single player game? Why cant I just launch the gaming from steam and not use the cd? I went through a 3 hour install and I still need the damn game cd to play this sh..ty game. … Expand
  20. David
    Dec 17, 2004
    3
    Steam sucks will never buy another game with this crap attached, ruined a 8 game down to a 4, load time for game and the levels are annoying.
  21. CarlM.
    Dec 27, 2004
    4
    How can you rate a game with a bad rating because of a loading issue? Loading is a part of every game. Rate it on the superior graphic and the blah blah blah that everyone is fasinated with. Obviously as long as the picture is pretty it is a good game. Hey anyone a mortgage rep, If you rated my credit report maybe i could get a $1.3 mill house.
  22. PsiCat
    Dec 5, 2011
    4
    Flat and mediocre sequel to one of the most innovative shooters ever made. Half Life had a depth that is definitely missing from it's overrated sequel.
  23. Dremord
    Aug 18, 2012
    3
    I got to the speed boat part and that's when I had to stop. It was miserable. The monsters were boring, cold boring environment... everything bad. Very disappointing game.
  24. rapidrack
    Sep 25, 2012
    2
    The first Half Life was and remains one of my all time favorite games. It's so great to me that it defies explanation. The short of it is that Half Life 2 just tried to copy the first game, and it came across as a very cheap copy. The only improvements are in things that don't matter. Graphics and animations, guns, sounds, physics. If you're not wowed by those things, and I'm not, Half Life 2 has very little to offer… Expand
  25. FladeIsCool
    Apr 15, 2013
    2
    If this were 2004, I'd give this a 10. But it's not. It's 2013. The gameplay is good for a while, though it's incredibly repetitive. The story is just about as in depth as a description of a missing child on the back of a carton of Father Grigori's Brand Name Milk. One of the most interesting locations in the game, Ravenholm, is ignored and is literally just there to be "the scary level." Level design is all you're left with is the poop tunnels, filled with nothing but fecal matter and other disgusting The protaganist, GORDON FREEMAN, is a He doesn't even have a backstory! This game is and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is better. No but seriously anyone who liked this more than Bioshock Infinite is a and I hope they die of brain cancer.… Expand
  26. BiosaberB
    Jan 4, 2010
    3
    Overrated garbage, the most boring and depressing game i've played in my entire life. The environments such as city 17 (boring), ravenholm (disgusting village), highway 17 (ugly ass beach), and nova prospekt (nothing but corridors) are just depressing and horrible. The main character is...well, there is no main character, just a floating crowbar, gun, gravity gun named gordan. The ONLY good thing valve ever did was make left 4 dead 1 & 2, every other game they made sucked major balls, ecept portal which is average at most). Critics only gave this game good scores because of the gravity gun and the storyline, which is slightly above average. Besides, normal and casual gamers don't play games like these: a game for computer nerds or pc geeks: the only ppl who obsess, or even like this game, or think it's the best, which is NOT. This game is below average, average at the most. It would be an ok game if the environments didn't blow ass. The character development was pretty good though (especially Eli and Dr. Mossman, which were the most likeable characters). The only good part about this game is near the end, in the Citadel. Overall, this game is below average, avoid it and play epic games like San Andreas, Max Payne series, Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2, Metal Gear Solid series, Halo 3, Modern Warfare series. Just not this, unless ur an obsessive nerd. That's why there were a lot of copes sold, because there are so many nerds that want an alien hunting game with science themes.… Expand
  27. JohanG
    Jan 8, 2010
    2
    Overate and boring. Stupid game. Its like lets buy the valve rate team. So we can pwnd all other games. This game is bugged like shit unbalance and you can cheat.
  28. DevinP.
    Jun 20, 2006
    3
    Demo's awsome but when it comes to technical support, you'd have better luck talking to a brick wall, none of the numbers work if you acually get one. If they do work they point to the website were you get to suffer in agony to find a way to get your god damn cd key to work... thanks valve.
  29. AnonymousMC
    Jul 3, 2006
    3
    Simply put, I think Half-Life 2 was one of the most over-hyped, over-rated games this year with frequent long load times, which break the flow of the game, over extended vehicle scenes, and the complete LACK of a plot line. I
  30. AnonymousMC
    Aug 25, 2006
    1
    Quite frankly this game is shit... The whole game is a load of boring nonesense mixed with some pretty graphics, its boring, the AI is stupid, where are the marines??? and the combine arent enemies, they just piss you off. Long scenes of driving vehicles and doing nothing. Boring, easy, shit. Nothing compared to hl1
  31. DavidQ.
    May 10, 2007
    3
    A made it up as they went along storyline coupled with absent artificial intelligence, a gimmicky physics engine license and the most linear level design ever does not justify the price tag of this overdue sequel.
  32. ToniN.
    Jul 6, 2008
    0
    The Technic is realy good and it is worth to play it once (I played it till the end). Why the bad rating. Few things. 1)To much puzzles. 2) To much "Exit-seeking". 3) Steam, why I cant play it without internetconnection? 4) Linear gameplay. 5) To much "Perfect" rating here.
  33. VeraF
    Mar 22, 2010
    0
    My brother in law recommended this game, unfortunately I thought the main of the point of the game, to tell a story and immerse you in it failed miserably due to disatrous story telling. The pacing is flawed, the gameplay looses grip soon. The experience, just isn't the experience everyone thought it to be. I played Uncharted 2 recently and I think that game will be forgotten soon once graphics become better. Half Life 2 is technically stunning, painfully a bore. I was happy to see Alyx Vance represented so well, too bad the rest of the cast and the storytelling ruins it all.… Expand
  34. CC
    Jul 1, 2010
    4
    Good start and much potential. Needs some balance tweaking, but overall is very fun. Minor issues are dwarfed by moments of brilliance. If you like GTA, and wished, "Hey, I wish I could play this online with my friends with an MMO twist (leveling, gear, etc..)" then you will be very pleased!
  35. AdamH.
    Jul 7, 2005
    0
    From the moment that i heard this game was coming out, i had waited in great anticipation. I bought the game and tried to install it but I couln't play it because of stupid steam. All my hopes were crushed because of STEAM. It took me months to finally get steam working, but when i was finally able to play HL2, it blew me away. It's too bad though, because i would've given this game a 10 if it werent for steam. I hate steam so much!!!… Expand
  36. SheepDip
    Oct 27, 2006
    3
    An average shooter at best. Nice graphics, good texture work and good use of physics...at the start. I'm not sure what everyone loves so much about HL2, and I am left angry and frustrated by the fact it repeatedly gets good scores. The game itself is intensely linear, the playtime is about average for a fps these days, which in my opinion is too short, especially if you're going for the "holding your hand" gameplay, as valve have done. At the start of the game there are some physics puzzles, but they seem to drop the idea after about an hours play. The enemy AI is practically non-existant, that includes the NPC's who "help" you later on. Nothing like any of the video's valve released of combat in late 2003. The weapons in the game also frustrated me. They do little or no damage to the enemies, and any powerful, or accurate weapon is restricted by the fact you can only hold 12 rounds for each (crossbow, magnum). The grenades in the game have a little red light on, and click very loudly making it painfully obvious when one is near you. I do wonder how the combine managed to take over earth using such poor weaponry. Most of the weapons left me with the feeling the player is to always be drawn into always having to engage the enemies at close range. Probably because if you encountered them at range, they'd just run at you and you'd kill them easily. There's a part later on in the game where you have to go down an alley towards a road at the end of the street, naturally there's a sniper watching the street. But, if you thought "Ah, its ok, I'll get out my trusty scoped crossbow and take him down" you would be suprised to find the ONLY way you can defeat this enemy is by manouvering your way up the street, and throwing a grenade into of the window. Again, an example of the "holding your hand" gameplay, and dictating the style of combat. The story too is non-existant, valve decided to go for the overly vague mysterious story, probably because they couldn't be bothered to think of one. My main beef with the game however, is how completely different it is, from what it was supposed to be. A 20 minute video was released at the end of 2003, showing all aspects of the source engine, and gameplay in HL2. Enemy AI ducked to cover, found alternative routes, and did not just run at the player and fire their guns. Friendly AI used cover, moved up and outflanked the enemy. And the area known as Ravenholm was filled with traps and combine, not zombies (something which I believe was introduced into the game just to offer "a scary bit") The whole presentation gave the impression HL2 was going to be something special. Intelligent, variable gameplay. There's nothing new about HL2, it's not realism, and it's not intelligent, in fact to an experience fps player, it's an insult. The source engine is good (even if the game has far too frequent, and too lengthy save & load times), and has enormous potential. Offering nothing upon the original this game seems destined to greatness purely because it is the sequel to one of the best fps ever.… Expand
  37. AnonymousMC
    May 30, 2006
    3
    Buy this game for the mods that may or may not come out. The game sucks, but hopefully like Half-Life 1, the mods will be worth it. I bought Half-Life for the mods. Half-Life and as always any farther Half-Life including the not yet released Half-life Episode One (WTF were they thinking, this isn't Star Wars) will suck. If a good mod comes out, then perhaps get this game. If not don't waste your money. Also EBAY may be cheaper so don't buy inflated prices from greedy untalented developers, k?… Expand
  38. MikeA.
    May 5, 2006
    0
    Steam is terrible. Why reconfigure a high end pc to play one game? I wasn't impressed, should've saved the money.
  39. AnonymousMC
    May 6, 2006
    1
    Würg...Story is the worst i ever experienced for such an overhyped game. Nice graphics and poor physic with an awful stupid ending dont make this game worth spending the time playing it. Ist nice too; to play a silent hero <--sarcasm. by the way halo2 has a equal stupid ending & story;) everyone please buy this game and help industrie create more borring games with best graphics ever.
  40. TimG
    May 7, 2006
    4
    After about 10 minutes the wow wears off. It does not live up to its predecessor, the only redeeming facts are its graphical system and the ending leavings questions and a want to find out what happens next.
  41. AnonymousMC
    May 8, 2006
    1
    The game itself is great! It would even be my favorite of all time, if it weren't for all of the bugs. There are almost 20 pages of help topics on various subjects. My personal problem is that all of the updates hang at 99 percent. I've had more than enough time to try everything discussed in the help topics, some twice.
    What makes this especially annoying, is that it will no    t let me get past a certain part of the game because of this. I even tried updating the other games include, while my update for HL2 was paused, and they updated with no problem... until they reached 99%, then they stopped. I updated Steam with no problem, to 100%.
    Personally, I will never buy another game with Steam on the box again. Not until they start offering their downloads through other sites like Cnet download or filefront. I've had this game for 3 months and I've only been able to play it for 2 weeks. A complete rip-off and total waste of time.
    It does offer the feature of backing up your files for you (so maybe you could save your progress), but, you guessed it, it won't let you do that because the game isn't updated.
    The good part is, if you do get desperate, you can use the box for toilet paper. I tried using the disk, but I couldn't download anything to it! A game is no good if you can't play it.    … Expand
  42. EvanT.
    Jun 14, 2006
    0
    The worst game ever it is all fake and the guns are crap. do not get this game!
  43. B.A.
    Jun 4, 2006
    0
    No story happened. You shoot in a tower, then you get a credit roll. The physics was bad. Walk towards a chair, get stuck, then the chair launches across the room. Realism. The gravity gun was cool, but all it did was make people dangle from your crosshair. In unrealistic ways. That's it.
  44. KevinT.
    Jul 10, 2006
    0
    Absolute trash, this game is nothing more then your standard made FPS with some flashy graphics and trashy glitchy physics. The AI are horrible, the story is exactly the same as every other "hero" FPS, unlikely hero fights his way to the top with his beautiful cohort and win victory. Give me a break. This games only saving grace are its mods but most of them fall apart or take years before they even come out.… Expand
  45. ShinsFortress
    Jan 20, 2007
    3
    It's good, but not great, and certainly not enough of an evolution from one that is purported to be.
  46. JD
    Jan 24, 2007
    2
    Game play is pretty good, graphics are what i would expect of a game this long in the making. but my biggest gripe is Steam. I hate this program with a passion. It tells me when I can and can't play my own games, it makes me sign in to play my games and if my internet connection is down then I cannot play anything at all! Whoever concocted this idea should be shot. Period.
  47. JenjaN.
    Jan 9, 2007
    4
    I played the game and win the hole game, but I didin't like it soo much becuse chapter 4-5 are boring when you only playing around with airboat! and even more boring is 7-9 when you playing with a jeep that's not fun either! but the start was good and the end that's why I gave it 4.
  48. SimS.
    Apr 10, 2007
    0
    The games takes too much time to load and Steam is the worst platform i ever saw. Also the producer states that it works with all directx 9 and above video card but i tried the game with many pc and definitively works only with ati powered pc at best and not in all cases. Suppor inexistent. A real waste of money if you do not have a system configuration wich likes the game.
  49. MinOh
    Apr 1, 2007
    1
    It was awesome!!!
  50. GNUGamer
    Apr 9, 2007
    3
    Great game, gripping storyline, excellent graphics and just all around fun, the reason I'm giving it such a low score is no cross platform support. Linux and Mac are viable desktop alternatives to windows for gamers Epic Games took notice and so did ID software so why haven't the creators of this game? Seems like money lost to me.
  51. AnonymousMC
    Sep 14, 2007
    0
    Total and utter garbage! Everything we were promised by this game is an absolute lie.
    It is still just an overglorified, badly modified Quake 1 engine with no AI, no plot, the worlds worst control mechanism and no diversity of play.
    An utter shambles that shames the good name Half Life one rightfully made for itself.
    Avoid like th plague!
  52. RyanL
    Oct 1, 2008
    4
    How this game got a good score? no really how? this is prob one of my least favourate games ever made. the bad guys cant shoot u even if they were standing next 2 u and the weapons in it suck. what were they thinking.
  53. FrozenSpirit
    Jan 30, 2008
    0
    One of the worst games I have ever played. The only good thing about the game is the Physics Engine, which was taken from a company named Havok, this game was made by a bunch of overweight lazy developers who wouldn't know how to make a real game if it bit them in the arse. Regardless of story line, which deserves some credit, the technology behind the game is not advanced or original, or even comes close to pushing the boundaries of what was out in 2005. Cheaply made game.… Expand
  54. JayG
    Apr 26, 2008
    4
    I fail to see how this game warrants so many "Perfect" scores. This is not a game, Its a tech Demo for a very beautiful, very versatile engine but entertaining to play... Half life 2 is not, unless you enjoy repeating the same puzzle every 30 seconds and navigating some of the worst level design that I have seen in any game. What could be a very thrilling and engrossing game, is broken up by a repetitive string of physics puzzles with no purpose other than to show off the physics engine. Which would have its own charm, were the puzzles not repeated every 5 mins with an identically puzzle. This is demonstrated best in any level that contains a vehicle for the player to drive, where you will have to move an obstacle out of your way every 30 seconds with the "Gravity gun." Top that off with 90% of the plot being as in depth as Mario's "The Princess is in the next castle, navigate your way to the next location" and you are left with a game that left me "Blue" for a decent story and some thrilling action. Half life 2 is a monumental technical achievement, and the mods that have come out for this game make it well worth the price of purchase, but I would rather pull out and eat my own intestines like spaghetti than call this a "reviting good time."… Expand
  55. AlexeyI.
    Jun 4, 2008
    3
    hi i'm newbie too hard for me, but looks beauty.. sorry.
  56. ReysanD
    Jul 24, 2008
    4
    Linear play, cliche/unnecessary zombies and physics fetish; this game soils what could have been an interesting setting. Frankly, it's boring.
  57. AnonymousMC
    Mar 19, 2009
    3
    HL1/HL2 marked a time when masses were just catching up on the joys of PC gaming. The ratings entirely reflect this. Put into perspective from having played most of the notable FPS before these two came out, they both were at most an 8 at the time of release. Now I'm giving 3 just to make this point visible in the crowd of undeserved 10's.
  58. AkseliP
    Jun 5, 2009
    3
    Okay. I'm giving game rating 3 because enemies could be harder, AI was doing crazy things sometimes , zombies weren't scary and story wasn't always told well. Few good things were actors, rare fighting spots and it was fun to find G-man.
  59. dsgvedvadt
    Jan 19, 2010
    0
    Awful, disgusting game,without somefing new.This is not a real komputer game,only a simulation.
  60. AnonymousMC
    Dec 20, 2005
    0
    Disgusting Half-Life(1) was great and they turned around and made this piece of BS! Everyone seems to just concentrate on Alecs ( correct me if spelled wrong.If the game was more like nIntendo games with the originalaty maby i would of given it a 10 but choice is final.0 out of 5
  61. KlausF.
    May 15, 2006
    0
    Let me see I have Half life check installed it check played it nope. The reason why i'm givinh HL2 as zero is because of steam. I'm sure Half life 2 = 10 but steam = minus ten. What kind of a idiots tick people off by making the go through a living hell but never make it to the other side oh yeah Valve ! I mean what were they thinking or not thinking if I get Half life 2 to work i'll maybe give it a 10.… Expand
  62. AnonymousMC
    Jul 16, 2006
    0
    This is a good game dont get me wrong. But what kills this game for me, and makes me want to throw it out the window is, in a word: Steam. Steam kills this game and any other game that uses it. In my opinion Steam is the worst thing to hapen to gaming since E.T. for the atari. Im a Marine who is on deployment right now. I dont make alot of money so it was a choice between picking up F.E.A.R. or Halflife 2. I had played HL 1 and loved it, and only a demo of F.E.A.R. I chose HL 2 and have had a game that i could not play for 4 months because i dont have access to internet on a navy ship. What Valve didnt realize, or just didnt give a .... about what that not everyone has internet. Yes 'most' gammers do, but not 'all'. Also 'most' gamers that i have talked too or seen on forums are angry or scared about what this means for the future of computer gaming. If someone dosnt have internet access he cant play games on his computer? That right there is reason enough for this game to get a 0. Its not like it helps fight piracy, in my eyes it makes it worse. There are cracks for this game everywhere, it took less time to find a crack then to register the game with Steam. Someone like me who has no problem paying for a game and registering it Is forced to go get a crack because he cant get his laptop to an internet source for the hours it takes to do the initial update, but its easy to take a flash drive and get a 30 second download of the crack. Valve has alienated so many gamers with Steam, and agin in my opinion has given pirates a major victory, by forcing someone who would normaly never download a crack to get one just to play the game he bought. Basicly, I will never buy another Valve game after this. They have lost me as a customer and i will recomend to all my friends who come to me for game advise to stay away from this company and any games they make. I shoulda got F.E.A.R.… Expand
  63. AlS
    Jan 1, 2007
    0
    The last decent game I've played in early '06 was Far Cry. I decided to ask around gaming forums for neat games akin to Far Cry. I was told to get F.E.A.R. and the Half-Life series. F.E.A.R. was an awesome recommendation, bar none. Unfortunately, I feel naive upon spending $60 for the Holiday Half-Life pack. I tried about 15mins. of the original Half-Life and couldn't stomach the graphics. Anyways, I tried Half-Life 2 and I thought the game was getting hung up during loading from escaping the civil police building. I had to do two reboots. I thought if I would re-download the game, maybe some corrupt files would be repaired or what not. Now, I haven't tried it again as of yet. The point of my low rating is this STEAM thing. Firstly, when I pay hard earned money... I do not want to install some 'third party' unknown program onto my computer(-5). Secondly, when I purchase a game... I want all files to be perverbially mine(-2). Thirdly, if I purchase a game... I want the right to have the installation on a separate machine(strickly gaming-no Internet) so I can play regardless of Internet connection or possible connection failure(-2). I am deeply upset about this set-up with STEAM, I had no idea prior and I don't like this what-so-ever(-1). I guess I'm one of many that reviewed the game upset by the STEAM installation. I thought it over and came to the conclusion that it's my right as STEAM is part of the package that I never wanted. As with many game makers, Valve could have joined with GameSpy for online extras. Not all gamers are onliners. Many of us are satisfied and prefer single player games vs dealing with petty drama and idiots over the Internet. All in all, I will not purchase any game that is inbedded with STEAM. STEAM ruined my gaming experience with Half-Life, hence the poor rating. Nice work, Valve... but, the buck stops here.… Expand
  64. MarcelO.
    Oct 10, 2007
    0
    Great Game, wonderful Gamplay. You become a lot for your Money.
  65. ErikK.
    Oct 11, 2007
    0
    Well.. this game sucks... what more to say?
  66. MarshJ.
    Nov 8, 2007
    0
    Wow the main character is retarded. His name is Morgan Freeman and hes black! how pathetic!
  67. AnonymousMC
    Jan 25, 2007
    0
    This game will not perform well at all on my computer. 1.4G Pentium Processor with 1.2G of Ram. I wouldn't waste another dollar on anything this company makes. The steam engine is a joke. If I wanted another browser on my computer I would have downloaded a new one. The steam engine is a resource hog and very unnecessary. Just provide updates for games at your damn website, we will go get them if we want them. Just like the media today, once again we are spoon-fed everything someone else thinks we need. Socialism disguised as Democracy.… Expand
  68. ChristopherS.
    Feb 25, 2007
    0
    Half Life 2 is a marvelous technological achievement. It is beautiful to look at and for the most part enjoyable to play. So why the lousy rating? In one word: Steam. This service is without a doubt the worst thing to ever happen to computer gaming. Implemented as a tool in the war on piracy and as a means of efficient game distribution and praised by such magazines as PC Gamer, Steam is in reality a bloated, poorly conceived and overly intrusive internet portal whose required installation is used for updating and registering games. If you don't have a broadband connection you can literally spend 4 to 6 hours waiting for this ridiculous process to conclude. Even with broadband the hit or miss nature of the overly complex and unreliable installation procedure may require repeated downloading of large files and that can be particularly painful for those of us with limited bandwith usage restrictions. As a result I no longer buy games made by Valve or ones that use the Steam service for activation purposes. In my opinion this is just another example of corporate insensitivity to its customers and a cynical means by which to maximize its profits.… Expand
  69. THunt
    Sep 23, 2007
    4
    Over-rated. Too much filler and defineately not the game it thinks it is.
  70. rarrghgarble
    Oct 15, 2008
    0
    Game is annoying. Starting out with people shooting at you from far away and being given no direction whatsoever as to where to go, only to be on a time limit in areas that are difficult to navigate is annoying. Puzzles within a first-person shooter meant to be a shooter are annoying. Enemies that are killing you from outside of the area where you have to go is annoying. Nothing about this game is fun. Leave it on the shelves… Expand
  71. nickc
    Jun 28, 2008
    2
    The most disgusting, sickening game I have ever played in my life. The gore is unessacary. No one needs to make or see what is in the game. People getting sawed in half... with their eyes bulging out of their head is not what makes a good game. Though the classic FPS and gun fighting is still there, this game is not for the faint of heart. I was 5 years old and could stand up to Half-Life 1. Here I am now, 13 and can barely look at the screen while playing this game. I regret ever purchasing it.… Expand
  72. Someguy?
    Sep 12, 2008
    4
    I bought this game with very high expectations due to it's predecessor, I was horribly ashamed when I started playing Half Life 2. I gave it a 4 because of the graphics, which even now are a little lame and out-dated. Let me tell you why this game is a overrated piece of crap. First of all everyone is pissing out things like "wow the ai are so intelligent and realistic, and wow there is so much interactions with levels." Bullshit, even on hard I had to laugh at the pathetic ai as they stumbled around like retards. They don't try to flank you, they don't try to circle you they just stand there shooting at you with the occasional strafe, and you can take your time killing them as their aim is terrible. As for your team mates, the most pathetic bunch I've ever seen. They do a good job at blocking you, always annoying you with stupid dialogue and always dieing as they are retarded. As for interaction with levels, I think anyone who says anything about it needs some toilet paper to wipe away the shit they are dribbling. You can pick up a box with a gravity gun, uh... so? If you want examples of interactivity with levels try stalker or maybe even crysis. As for level design, it's always the same, complete some stupid puzzle a newly born infant could solve, kill about 6000000 stalkers and shoot at some retarded ai and go through some stupid scenery and lame secrets. As for your weapon choices, the most generic array of weapony i've ever seen, I was bored to tears having to use boring guns with lame animations. As for dying, it's practically impossible to die as every metre there is a health pack or a health thingy on the wall. Another thing on level design it's just cliche move into this area kill everything there whilst using your crate of unlimited ammo and to many health packs then move on to the next area and do the exact same thing, get any more lamer or boring?? This game is overall an over-rated game that is just using all the credit from half-life 1 to make it seem like a good game. Use your damned head man, it's just another cliche to sit and rot on the benches or to be bought by stupid and gullible people who happily ride hype train to idiot vile. This game is a waste of money I suggest sticking to half-life 1, the true guru of games.… Expand
  73. FPSverylongtime
    Nov 4, 2009
    3
    Moves too slow (game engine + your character) Weapon repload too slow weapon damage too poor weapon switching is to slow the weapons are rubbish ID Software do it faster better and more hectic valve do it slow paced and lame
  74. PataC
    Dec 21, 2009
    3
    Even though it was six years ago that this game was released, it is still as much crap as it was back then. Definitely not a worthy sequel to the mighty Half-Life.
  75. ViliL.
    Mar 12, 2010
    0
    This game is even worse than Rogue Warrior, theres no plot and theres no aim down the sights as in call of duty series. And discusting ai and no game music at all. I can honestly say that this game is a very biggest flop in the game industry. Valve isnt good game developer and their games are all such a crap (no tf2). I always laugh when i check page of game that valve is developed and theres a text what says HDR support. It is old tech ya know about 5 years old and they are fancy about that their game uses that tech. Losers i say, overrated and bad company.… Expand
  76. CraigC
    Apr 17, 2010
    4
    Very overrated game. Was a glorified tech demo when it first came out, now its just an incredibly mediocre game. It did nothing all that well, story wasn't really there, gameplay consisted of very bland FPS play and gratuitous physics puzzles. I still can't understand to this day why so many hold it so high when it's really nothing special, and an insult to the first which was a great game.… Expand
  77. AnonymousMC
    Nov 23, 2004
    0
    possibly the worst game ever made. you will most likely never step outside again if you start playing it. you will sit inside your room, mesmerized by it, until monkeys invade your house and begin to eat all of the quaker oats from your pantry. if you manage to fight off these monkeys and regain power over the quaker oat regime, you might realize that the game has cast an awful spell on you that makes you play it perpetually and praise it as if it were a godsend. … Expand
  78. AnonymousMC
    Dec 22, 2004
    3
    Poor storyline and poor gameplay. Allies ai are coded poorly. Game is incredibly easy, even on hard. Online play is the same old, just with better graphics. Now, don't doubt me becuase I beta tested CS Source. Half-Life Source is a waste of money.

    Only good things are: facial textures and water. Valve should have made a jet skiing game with this thing.
  79. PalliN.
    Dec 28, 2004
    4
    Game equals 8, steam equals 0 and that makes the overall 4. Seriously valve, what the hell you were thinking with the steam crap? Or weren't.
  80. PRF
    Sep 29, 2005
    4
    Very Poor AI for a start laughable I am not sold by graphics and or the amazing physics I never have been and never will be. What does catch me is what I have to do and this as with all FPS is the same old collect weapons 1-8 (8 being the best weapon) which you get near the end then be lead around the game although what makes HL2 poor is the restricted linear way it shoved me about. Non access to certain map parts that could and would have been interesting if valve coudl have been bothered.… Expand
  81. CWilson
    Jun 13, 2006
    1
    Brilliant game, until I hit the buggy final two levels. It went from fun entertainment, to annoyance and frustration and anger. It took over 50 relaunches, and numerous saves, just to get anywhere near the end. If the purpose of this product is entertainment, then it is most certainly unfit for purpose!
  82. Sami
    Nov 23, 2007
    2
    Boring, stupid lineup, exactly the same game as Half-Life was, only better graphics, and so annoying Static envirement, stupid AI, ARGH.
  83. LordC.
    Mar 15, 2007
    1
    A bug riddled average game with problems still outstanding from its release date. Support is poor at best and Steam is beyond irritating.
  84. DougYount
    Sep 11, 2007
    0
    Steam is stupid and unwieldy. What could be a fun game is marred by the fact that it won't run on a system (even though it ran yesterday and nothing has changed with the computer) that it has every right to run on.
  85. UberGamer101
    Oct 25, 2009
    0
    This game was ok at best, however i may have just got it and yet it is already beaten, this game may have had alright graphics when it first came out but now it deserves to be knocked down a peg because it should not have a score higher than such games as left 4 dead and team fortress 2 because it is unimaginable boring and has a long storyline which may keep you distracted from the lacking interface department..… Expand
  86. AnonymousMC
    Feb 21, 2009
    2
    When I first bought this game, Steam bit me. It locked me out of the game after install, and Valve was so swamped with support complaints and fixes that I was forgotten for almost 2 weeks. After finding out another recent purchase was "Steamed," I had to re-install Steam. I figured I'd give it another go, as they're supposed to have worked the bugs out of Steam by now. Nope. Locked out again. As I legally purchased the game via retail, I shouldn't have to ask, and await permission from Valve's support team to play the game.… Expand
  87. AnonymousMC
    Nov 29, 2008
    1
    i dont agree with this game because the rebels(team) just look the same the graohics are good thats all the only good wep is ar2 and i just dont get how you get so much blood out of one body its like resi2 but much worse cutting people in half its more like a horror game then anything and im not even gonna talk about ravenholm the loading in game takes to long luckily my pc didnt freeze :( im rating 1 because its utter crap… Expand
  88. lexgamer
    Jan 25, 2013
    0
    Tried to like it, really did, but despite the hype, the game just, well, sucks, sorry... There were no cool guns, and the levels were waaay too long for how bland they were. If I wanted a shooter this plain I'd pick up Call of Duty.
  89. kl77
    Mar 15, 2011
    1
    awful what a piece of **** this game is so bad.the story is awful and the ending a cliffhanger the controls for me are good i like them but the story and characters arent interesting at all is boring the level design always looks the same and the missions are this way kill people escape solve puzzle kill zombie kill people escape solve puzzle kill zombie i mean is the same there isnt any change i give this game a 1 of how awful it is… Expand
  90. crazychicken
    Jul 5, 2011
    4
    This is hands down, THE most over rated game of all time. It shouldn't even be allowed to use the title Half Life, it is that insulting to the truly awesome Half Life 1. The graphics are ugly, seriously, until the later updates to the Source engine that weren't part of HL2, the engine put performance on low end machines ahead of looks, and the result was urgh. The game itself is only rated highly by reviewers for 2 reasons; 1) they are paid off by valve or valve fanboys and 2) the blue balls story of Alex. The entire plot revolves around a moderately attractive female and all the teenage kids cant stop drooling. There is no exploration, it is utterly linear, go here, do this, go there, do that. No freedom or choices to make. The weapons are awful, terrible. they are the same stupid weapons from HL1 they held on to purely for nostalgia and they suck. 10 years later and no personalisation, no new weapons of any note, no customisation, no free roam, no open maps, no interactivity with the exception of a gravity gun that lets you - wait for it - pick up a box. Holy Crap! Wow! A box! The AI of enemies blows and of squad members (which was a much praised addition) sucks so hard its hard to even put into words. Their only contribution is to get in the way and block you. The levels are generic, ugly and totally bland with no imagination or originality. The only thing they have is a few parts ripped from Hollywood films like The Matrix. the ending sucks, the characters are all vanilla and forgettable, the G-Man appears like a caricature of a bad guy. The game is short, aimed so they can throw out more DLC at a price, it is probably half the length of HL1. This game is at best a 6/10, but I'm giving it 4 because of the obscene reviews posted that are just blatant lies.… Expand
  91. DanMcMan
    Apr 15, 2013
    3
    Lack of story telling; leaves you with a mindless fast paced shooter that gets old after a few hours of gameplay. Cutscenes are non existent as well which only enforces the lack of story this game has, which is unfortunate because with a simple google search you can discover how in depth it truly is.
  92. FKGABE
    Mar 30, 2013
    0
    Giving this game a 0 just to piss off the valve fans who are going to bioshock infinite giving it a 0 because it has as good of a score as half life.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 81 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 81
  3. Negative: 0 out of 81
  1. CPUGamer
    100
    Nothing less than a revolution in the gaming industry that will keep gamers busy for years to come, just as the original did.
    Read full review
  2. Play.tm
    95
    An ephemeral and controversial ending, along with the few issues described above, means that for me, Half-Life 2, while a compelling and highly enjoyable game, falls short of the size of impact that the first title had on the gaming world.
    Read full review
  3. Playboy
    100
    A graphics overhaul delivers detailed facial animations and sophisticated physics that leave battle zones strewn with debris after intense shootouts with shuffling corpses, overfed curstaceans and other assorted foes. [October, p.37]
See all critic reviews »