Very very fun! Fair storytelling ability, and great graphics even now! I like it better than HL-2 because it can lock the gore and has less swearing.

Easily one the best games I played for its time. The game itself and all of the mods based off its engine literally had me playing the game for 4-5 years until HL2 came out.

This is a very good FPS. There's ten years ago when they made this. This game have best storyline in the world. Graphics are not the best but this is old game. I really like it! But Gman is really mysterious, I wanna know more about him.

Without a doubt one of the most ground breaking fps's of all time, brilliant and innovative gameplay from start to finish. I brought this game when it came out, played it to death and i have recently brought it on steam and i am replaying it to death.

Awesome game, I still like it and I don't think I can compare any game with this, In my opinion this is better than Halo 1.

5 years later this game still kicks the ass of any major contendor. Not just in my opinion, but in the eyes of many PROFESSIONAL video game critics this is the BEST GAME EVER WRITTEN! Buy this now! Its like 20 bucks. Plus you get to play counter strike and day of defeat for 10 dollars less than the retail box's are.

This game is a classic that will go down in history with games like doom and quake. Truely a first person shooter pioneer in pc games.

The best game ever made!

I love this game!

Still kicks butt, even after playing farcry and HL 2 before it. lol. awesomeness to the creators.

Best first person shooter of its time. Very addictive!

Excellent game. I have been playing it for over 5 years now and I still love it.

Easily one of the best games I've ever played, it truly recreated the FPS genre.

Best game out there definitely the best game ever fun action!

This was my FIRST FPS and is what got me started in online gaming. I still believe this is the BEST FPS ever made.

Classic. Like Super Mario and Metroid, this game continues to satisfy the FPS gamer. Yes it has aged (quite well) but I still find myself running through the single player often. The mods are amazing as well.

A true testament not just to FPS but to PC Gaming. Set the bar for all FPS's to follow.

This game is the best game ever, so does the multiplayer mode!!

Amazing game! Excellent story, Not as scary as hl2 but excllent!

Even though newer games have better graphics, this game beats them overall. Played it multiple times.

It has great action, story and mysterious nice game. I am very expect it revised edition black mesa:source.

This game is the ability to tell a great story with no cutscenes, shooting many different aliens with every weapon you can imagine, and great graphics for the time with music to boot.

This is the best game ever. No other game can ever beat this game. If you don't already have it buy it of buy Half-Life 2 and get the digitaly remastered version of it. Graphically speaking this game is a 5/10 but with everything else it is a 10/10.

This game is still a masterpiece and makes me proud to be a gamer. Despite being a handsome game for the late 90's Half-Life now looks very dated. However teh brilliant gameplay is still there. You can't call yourself a hardcore gamer unless you've played Half-Life.

A lot of people base their reviews on nostalgia on older games. And while this still is a very nostalgic game it still lives up to this day in terms of gameplay. Half-Life was the first first person shooter that truly did not focus all its attention on the action; it also focused on the atmosphere, story, and puzzle like elements. It laid the footsteps for other first person shooters to follow.

Half Life for me is truly a brilliant game. The level designs were impeccable for its day, and, yes there may be no dialogue, but could you imagine Gordon Freeman speaking?

The weaponry was well placed, due to the best weaponry (Experimental) being placed near the end, with the ammo for the heavy guns particulate not being laden all over, but in places that were believable, and scarce enough so that they couldn't simply be spammed over and over.… Expand

After all these years, Half-life is still just as timeless as ever. Sure, the graphics are dated, but if you can look past that then you're in for a treat. Just be warned, Half-Life 3's release date is still sometime after the rapture. So you might want to prepare for a wait.

I'm kinda mixed up on this game, but I can say one thing: it's a very cured and detailed game. I liked the story, the enemy AI is fantastic and very challenging, and the setting and places are extremely well done: you can see how much time they put into this game. But still...I hated few things. For example, the jumping parts: you can easily lose health by jumping 1 cm more higher than normal (and we talk about 10 hp or more), and so you'll sometimes HAVE TO use ladders or avoid crazy jumps which, in many games, won't harm you. Even if the AI is challenging, some enemies are just far too hard in my opinion and sometimes the game becomes very unbalanced (the soldiers were the hardest m------ers I've ever beaten, while all the other aliens were easier, even the biggest ones). Add also that the explosions are very big, meaning that you can still get hit even if you're far at times (I got hit also when I was hiding behind crates, not too far away, while I shot at some bombs attached to the wall...this still scarred me). And, if I have to be brutal, some parts looked unneccesary and to me they looked like "add ups" instead of real continuation. But still, it's a good game and actually very modern to this day: good puzzles, very detailed settings, interesting story and a well though gameplay: can't say it fails somewhere can I?… Expand

This is probably one of the best FPS experience I've had. The game has a great story and atmosphere and is very fun to play. Graphics were outstanding when it got released. They're not the greatest right now, but you can install an HD pack to improve them. The game is a must buy for those who want to know what FPS really means.

One word: perfect.
The next games haven't got the same fantastic story and gameplay!
Only one impressed me like Half-life and it is Portal (1-2)....i love this games....LOVE!

Wow I am bored, Anyhow this game was awesome back in the day, Since times have progressed you might find this game boring(I still enjoy it) but your going to want to know the whole story when the final installment comes out so skip a happy meal buy this(along with Half-Life 2, Ep.1 Ep.2) and get up to speed with the story of Dr. Freeman and his best friend the crowbar before the next installment comes out which will probably make game of the year.… Expand

This is far away the best shooter from history of games. Everything changes since its was made.

If you like shooters from todays, you got to know this game!

So, i dont need to explain about the great gameplay, grade awsome context, everything was nice.

GOrdon Freeman is the greatest hero of all times and, he dont need do say a word..

Such a great game! Half-Life is the game that launched Valve into superstardom and they have good reason! It's got action, suspense, horror, twists, and an ever-changing plot that will leave you speechless. What else can I say? It has all the elements that make a first-person shooter great! I can not recommend this game enough!

Surely PC games were made before this, but PC games didn't truly exist until this was made. This is the messiah of PC gaming. This is everything. I have barely even played this, but I can confirm this as true.

If you want to buy this game:
What the **** are you waiting for? DO IT!
The game is extremely fun and paced, it's mostly composed of action and understandable story. Great graphics (for the time it was released anyway).

An excellent and classic game that belongs in the hands of all fps players and adventure lovers. Unfortunately you can not go by the negative reviews on here, because it seems that most of these people started playing games when Modern Warfare 2 came out. Coming from some one who played games since the 90's, you should not even ponder playing this game, its a classic and it will forever be one of your favorites… Expand

the low critics from 2005 to 2011 are becouse you didnt play the game when this came out, and you are a noob. this game is still an EXCELLENT GAME, this game has everything...you will have fun always, and, for playing hl2, you must play this masterpiece!!

Half-Life is a great game developed by a genius corporation which was about 8 years ahead of it's time.
Great storyline, the graphics with design are fun don't forget it had the best game-play you had ever seen.
Once you got off of that monorail you were able to put yourself in situations you would never forget!

One of the first 'mature' games i ever played in my life and instantly became my favorite series. The creepy moments kept me at the edge of my seat and all the characters and actions always kept my attention. I really enjoyed this game. This game was also a high end game for the time that it came out in.

I have played Half Life since the beginning. It is an excellent game that has good replay ability. When I was able to get the Half Life Source on Steam it improved the graphics and game play considerably. I highly recommend this shooter to anyone. It has a great storyline and will bring a lot of enjoyment.

I've played all the Half-Life games since the first and Each and every one is AMAZING! I just cant get enough of it! I Can't wait until Episode 3! I

I seriously have nothing negative to say about it, it's JUST good. Fantastic combat, extremely creative, it's just so addicting and fun. I don't care who you are, get this game. - 100/100

My favorite game so far I have absolutly nothing negative to say about this game it is just WOW! once you play it you will be begging for more no doubt in my mind a 10/10

i just wanna say three words, BEST-GAME-EVER!!! i love the history, the npc, the graphics, weapons, enemies, sequels, extras..... i just love it, awesome work valve!!!

This game is a classic, not only has it basically started valves career into FPS making but it is a good start. Excellent storyline even though it looks a bit dated, but graphics don't make a game, 10 out of -2

Ah this game is so amazing... You could say that all games that came after this took so much inspiration of it. Really it's the best game ever made. I have finished it now 68 times and still I find so much new and cool. If someone hasn't played this I will make him/her to play, because no wonder it has the best single-player experience. PLAY IT NOW!

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is very good, Graphic is best, the old game of taking. Valve makes good games. It's probably one of the best games I've ever played despite it coming out so long ago. Sorry for my bad english.… Expand

This is the first person shooter of the century. It is the greatest. Graphics are amazing for the time period (1990s) and the gameplay is so innovative. Valve is a great company. They haven't released a disappointing game yet. It is the reason for the word 'perfect'. Definitely recommend to everyone.

Half-Life has become the most cool game in the world.
This game love million peoples. Beautifull story line, gameplay.
Must buy, or download!

PC gamer? You need to play this. Take all the great things that Valve does, like great map design, mood, satire, dark humor, fun humor, emotional pull, good dialog, driving gameplay, award-worthy story telling, guns guns guns, and physics!, and then go back to the roots. Here you are, now go kill some aliens with your PhD, crowbar and shotgun, because you're GORDON FREEMAN.

This game is KING . I spent a good chunk of time playing half life, but most of the time was spent playing all of its mods. CS, DOD, Ricochet,Brainbread, HOSTILE INTENT(favourite, wish it wasn't dead) , the trenches, the specialists, natural selection, action half-life, syndicate, afraid of monsters, the trap, sven co-op, and more. Played so many mods , and many of those mods are more fun than games out today.… Expand

For 1998 this is a very good game with great graphics. (For the date.) What I can't stand is the voice acting, which kills me, but yet again it's a VERY old game and this is what old games were like. It deserves a such high score because Valve was a success with this series, and has always been a success. Remember, for the old date of this game, it's a good game. Everyone who is rating this down due to it's graphics or sound by a lot, is obviously not a old school gamer and use to good graphics.
Great game.… Expand

Half Life is an amazing game that has very few flaws. The games mapping is very good and almost every level looks unique and different. Id give that a 9.5. The Graphics for the time were amazing, now days they aren't very special but i'd give them a 10 out of 10 like they were given back in 1998. The sound is really good for the most part, there are a few lines of dialogue from people that sound to fake, but as for alien howls and guns going off there great. 9.5 out of 10. As for the game play its very good for the most part. The wide variety of enemies from small little headcrabs to soldiers working as a team are great, a few boss fights and platforming sections later in the game bring this score down to a 9.7 out of 10. The final part for my review is the story and what a story it has. While i wont go to deep into a detail about it, here is a small rundown aliens are attacking earth and you need to escape the base black mesa. The best part of this game is its told entirely from the players point of view and there is not a single cut scene in the whole game.… Expand

Half-Life 2 being my favourite game of all time, making this a close contender. Half-Life was the first game I ever acquired on my first computer. I can keep coming back to it as it never gets old.

The best game ever, along with Zelda, Goldeneye, Deus ex, Metal gear, FF7 and (insert your favourite MMORPG here). Basically. Showing it's age but if you download the 'HD' version with nicer visuals, it's still worth a play. Lets hope the endless sequels of today wind down and quality original games become the norm again.

This is the best game i have ever played, yes kids "old" games are sometimes better than the actual games, if you think that a game it's great just for it's graphics there's something wrong with you.
if it wasn't for games like Half-life, Doom and Wolfenstein 3d, games like call of duty or halo would have never existed, that's it we owe all FPS games to Half-life, Doom and Wolfenstein 3d.

I downloaded the demo when this first came out with no real expectations and it was one of a kind and insanely good! It looked and played excellent on my 133mhz 16meg ram and 2 meg graphics card computer... The best thing about Half Life was it's unique atmosphere which every element of the game contributed to.

Amazing game

This game is where it all began. No, it may not be as fancy and adventurous as some of the new games coming out, but if you want to sit down with a classic, here's the one. It's challenging, creative, full of options, pretty well balanced for it's age, and it gets you to think outside the -orange- box, haha.

Si GoldenEye de N64 es el mejor FPS jamas creado para una consola, entonces este es el mejor FPS jamas creado para PC. La historia del juego no ha podido ser igualada, ni siquiera imitada, fuera de la saga. La jugabilidad es exacta y perfecta y se adapta de una manera insuperable a cualquier jugador. El sonido es perfectamente usado, y los gráficos han marcado un pulso en el género que se palpita al día de hoy. Sencillamente, uno de los mejores juegos de la historia.… Expand

For a game made in 1998; it's quite impressive. Story line is unique and keeps the player wanting more. Graphics are a bit more advanced than most game's in the 90's. Completely worth the time and money, especially if your'e a fan of the half-life series.

Just hands down one of the best FPS games ever made. The story captured my interest from the first few minutes and I sat down for three days straight to finish the game. After you beat it, it doesn't have a whole lot of replay value, but man, I really liked this game. It was cool, it showed me how much fun playing on my PC could be. It helped me be more of a PC gamer and it always had me hoping to catch up to that guy in the black suit! It has some "flaws" like the awkward NPCs...there are like 40 of the same scientist and the same security guards, but it just makes it kind of funny and isn't really something worth criticizing in my opinion. Great game.… Expand

The Half-life1 Series of games are storytelling masterpieces!
Still the best fps games ive ever played,There Gameplay/puzzles/Atmosphere really set the mold for all modern fps.

This game produced one of the greatest Mod's of all time: CounterStrike. And only because of that it well deserved this epic score! But only because i never actually played through the game i can only give it a 9

For the people who hate this game, or think is overrated, stop kidding yourselves. This game really deserves its place. for the people who wished for a speech log, give it some thought: Does your life have a speech log? In this game it is your choice to ignore or listen to people. Some weapons are common, but some of them are exotic, brand new, and fantastic. The story is told without even the need of cutscenes. If you didn't get the story... well, ehmargehrd.

Good points everywhere. Even the Xen zone gave me more than I expected from this game.

The bad point of this game is that it doesn't autosave. I played for 3 hours without saving... yes, right in the heart. You can choose chapters, but it's not the same. You need to press F6 (Quick save) almost every 2 min if you want to play it without trouble.

My two brothers hate the HL series just because the graphics aren't like MW3. If you are like them, and like games just because graphics, you're missing some of the best games of the world.

Games like HL only come once in a lifetime.… Expand

After many years its release, Half-Life is able to amuse gamers,only because is a product really well done;
available on steam, it's crazy let it get away

Half Life is a "one of a kind" gaming experience, the kind that pushes the game industry forward. Thanks to his amazing storytelling, his challenging gameplay and human-like enemies' A.I., Half Life keeps you glued to the screen from the first to the last frame. A must play even after 14 years from his release.

One of the greatest games of all time, the amazing atmosphere still carries through to this day. Revolutionary game play at the time and still fun to this day.

I am sure that this is best game ever made. Best feeling, best music, sounds, environment... Valve should make some similar game with GoldSrc engine...

One of the mile stones for PC Gaming production. Was one of the best innovative game for it's time - especially for game-play IF, graphic and innovative Map design_ In 1998, was really a big jump that has setted new standards in FPS/Game making at least for subsequent 5 years!

Half-Life was the thirst game I've ever played. And now I've realised that it was only GAME.

best ist game in the gender i played.Please can steam make some dungeon dragon type games in the same format.

For its time, it simply couldn't be beat. Even by the graphically superior Unreal. Excellent story progression through "chapters" that never pulled you out of the story. And TFC...man, it was worth the price alone! Never found another online game I enjoyed to that extent. I was still playiing some great SP mods & TCs up until a year ago (2007!). One was, IMO,even better than the orginal. And those mods are all FREE. Never have or liekly will get that much mileage out of any game, period. And it's fun to mess with Worldcraft to see if you can make some interesting levels/encounters. This is perhaps even more fun than the game itself, if such is possible. HL2 was really cool, but HL1 was most definitely the best, most long-lasting fun I ever had.… Expand

Amazing!

The game is 5 years old and it's still rocks!

I found this game extremely entertaining and the ability to surprise me. To me the story of a game is very important, maybe even more important than the gameplay, but this game gave me a new standard to follow, when reviewing games, which new games has a very hard time following up to!

It's quite possibly the best FPS ever. Yes, the graphics are aging, yes the crate puzzles were a bit on the annoying side, but they are minor flaws on a beautiful game. The AI still amazes me now, as the soldiers hide, throw grenades and constantly cause a thread, and then there's the set pieces. I always get excited when I see the G-Man. The story is excellent, people who complain about it clearly can't be bothered to chase after it. Like so much about this terrific game, you have to work at it. You need to discover every clue, talk to every scientist, that's the way to play the game. And what a game it is...… Expand

Simply a classic. Nuff said.

GREAT GAME!

The best game ever made!

i think it one the best and origial games out there. the story is assom and they did a grate job for the time it was made.

Half-Life earns a sure fire 10, and to Jerry H who gave it a 1... your reasoning has nothing to do with HL1, the game is great because it came out many years ago and revolutionized FPS games. Its not great because there is a huge amount of people playing its multilayer mode. Think about it this way, without HL1 you wouldn't even be playing Day of Defeat or Counter-strike- their based on the HL1 engine!… Expand

ive been playing dis game since i bought it back in 2001 (wen i was 9yrs old), and ta tink dat i at dat age could crack da puzzels dat half da guys dat rated da game bad couldnt... , its actually quite sad, really, i'll bet dey didnt even play da game. or dey got bored within a 1st 5min cause it didnt start in a battlefield wit gut and gore flying in al different directions.

P.S. all da guys dat guys dat gave da game a bad rating cuase da reason i just mentioned or da fact dat dey just couldnt play r luzers:)… Expand

The game that set the standard... Has the perfect blend of action and puzzles that makes for a truly unique expierience. Being extremely lengthy, you won't forget about this games for a long time. The ending is absolutely incredible, giving the feeling of a dorky scientist turned epic hero of humanity.

It is very hard to make a "critic" to H-L, since H-L change my life, in a way, like F1 Racing simulators did. It is not new that H-L change every little thing from the universe of FPS, but, in the other hand.. H-L have changed the point of view of many people, through gamer to developers. The week point of H-L was that you can actually see, that the physics seem to fail in many ways... for example , you can shoot a bow from 10 miles and the impact is instantaneous... anyway... Me, (and I think many people too) didn't realize off that things until we've got H-L 2 to compare. The best game ever... H-L… Expand

I love this game!

Best FPS for its time, don't be shunned away when you see the graphics, it was freakin 1998/9! I used to look at a games graphics first in till i got half-life. I bought the Anthology and was dissapointed with the graphics. But 1/4 way through I suddenly realised I did not give a crap anymore. I was too busy having fun.

Many people this this is one of the best games out there. I would agree. Portal was amazing but this you could get free mods and thats what put it over the edge. I happen to be a fan of Valve's games but I will say if its a bad game. This was the most fun i have had in a long time. A lot of people are just about running and gunning but hate game were you might have to think a little. The puzzle are not impossible and they are fun. I could tell people about this game but most people already know about it. I just wish they put this game into the orange box as well the game would be complete! altogether this IS the best game on the PC and one of the more fun times you will ever have!… Expand

A wonderfull game for 1998, bought when he came out. The voices, ambiance and the storyline are very good. The game play is quite a revolution in the FPS at this time, only deus ex was released and wasnt that fluid. Very nice game, still worth to play ... 10 years later.

U know what Steve M, u must be one of the dumbest people i've ever read about. First of all ur talking about Half Life 2 U DIPSHIT! Second, Halflife 2 doesn't suck, and u should keep your fucking negativity to yourself and third the original half-life doesn't suck either... So if u hate these games soo much don't fucking waste ur time writing stupid reviews...

As for a review, I give this game a 9 and Half Life 2 a 10.… Collapse

This is the game that started it all. The game to end all games. The one, the only HALF-LIFE! Buy it. No, don't ask questions, just buy it now. Don't be put off by the aged graphics, that just makes it all the more "retro." While it's true that some of the game is a little long, the Xen level was a bit rough, it's still worthy of being in the top 5. I remember playing this back in 2000. I was about 10 years old and it scared the crap out of me, but I loved every second of it. After I found out about Half-Life 2, I freaked. I needed the second game; and when I got it the heavens materialized, and I was transported to gaming nirvana.… Expand

Mike J?
I don't think they made it knowing that games like Cod 4/5, Halo and all of them were going to come out, I bet HL is older than you to be honest.
Other than my rant, about Half Life. Brill game, still amazing to this day, pretty fun story line.

Amazing game! Completely changed the FPS genre. This is also a MUST-play if your going to play hl2

You are Gordon Freeman...now strap yourself in for the ride of your life. Seriously.

This game is (as Tony the Tiger would say) GRRRRREAT. Its storyline, graphics, and gameplay far surpass any game made in the same time period as Half Life. And I cant wait to see the upcoming battle between Half-life 2, Doom3, and Halo 2. Its gonna be SWEET!!!

I didn't think this game was going to be a cool one. After about 5 months of playing Counter-strike, I was getting to be bored. I'd see the pre-loaded Half-Life everytime i started steam thinking that there was nothing in Half-Life fun. Then finally, I gave up. Before going to sleep at 10:05, I decided to buy the game. Each step of the buying process lead me to bet me more and more anxious. After I finished buying the game, I immediately got on it. I tried to keep myself form going on anything but the training room at first, so that i may not spoil anything yet. Even that tutiral made me anxious. Forgetting i had to be at school at 8:00, i kept playing. I finally told myself to go sleep, but iIcouldn't. I lay in my bed all night curious,desperate for more Half-Life. I woke up at 5:00 in the morning tp play the game. I found myself "sick" at school and came home to play this great game. I give this game a 100 outta 10, but it could use a graphics improvement.… Expand

This game has everything; I just wanna say to all low- rating people that this game has been made 8 years ago !!! For windows 95/98 !! Of course if you play it now the graphics are less then you are used to. But it still takes HOURS to complete the game. I can't believe some are saying the game wasn't well tought out.It's GENIUS ! And.. DON'T vote low if YOU can't solve a level. If you would end the entire game without dieing a single time, the game would s**ks.… Expand

The mother of all games... -Simply the best game ever made.