Half-Life 2

 PC
Half-Life 2 Image
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 81 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
9.2

Universal acclaim- based on 12142 Ratings

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  • Summary: [Metacritic's 2004 PC Game of the Year] By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around him, from the physical environment[Metacritic's 2004 PC Game of the Year] By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around him, from the physical environment to the behaviors -- even the emotions -- of both friends and enemies. The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people -- people he cares about -- are counting on him. [Vivendi Universal]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 81
  3. Negative: 0 out of 81
  1. Gaming Age
    100
    Where it goes beyond a typical first person shooter is in its story telling. The graphics engine is so realistic that you feel like you are participating in a movie. The character's facial animation is incredible. It's done so well, you can get a sense of how the characters are feeling.
  2. Eurogamer
    100
    Half-Life 2 has astonished us from start to finish. Valve has done to the FPS genre what restaurants in Chinatown do to ducks; shredded it, smothered it in a delicious sauce of their own devising, and served it up in a way which you simply couldn't have imagined when looking at them in the pond.
  3. 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.
  4. Game Over Online
    97
    It's a beautiful game with fantastic design and writing that's a little short but delivers boatloads of action in what time you do end up playing.
  5. 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.
  6. Electric Playground
    95
    With tasty graphics and gameplay that is sheer madness, Half-life 2 is sweeter than a chocolate-and-honey lollipop coated with sugar, and it provides twice the rush.
  7. netjak
    85
    I think this is probably the worst teammate AI I've seen in an FPS since "Daikatana." It's like every one of your followers are the Redshirt sidekicks from "Star Munchkin."
    All this publication's reviews

See all 81 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,042 out of 2307
  2. Mixed: 153 out of 2307
  3. Negative: 112 out of 2307
  1. SolidSnake
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    The End is not the best, but the Game is one of the best I ever played. The Gafik ist a revolution.
  2. BenF
    Apr 20, 2010
    10
    This game is FPS at its best! No matter how many times you play it, youll either crap your pants or have your mind explode out of the sheer This game is FPS at its best! No matter how many times you play it, youll either crap your pants or have your mind explode out of the sheer awesomeness of this game!! Incredible puzzles, Frightful and disgusting enemies, superb dialogue, and best of all a gun like no other that allows you to turn every day items to super destructive items of terror!!! I dont care if you're the world's greatest gamer, if you havnt played this game...you havnt lived yet.… Expand
  4. Pete
    Aug 11, 2007
    10
    Awsome on-line experience....I have loved and continue to love every sec. of the game.
  5. Goodbadcritic45
    Jun 26, 2021
    10
    Half-Life 2 was hyped with its modern graphics, facial animations, smart AI and etc but was praised for its narrative, story-telling, levelHalf-Life 2 was hyped with its modern graphics, facial animations, smart AI and etc but was praised for its narrative, story-telling, level design and gameplay. Half-Life 2 shocked the world when it came in 2004, it demonstrated how deep and thoughtful a video game can be. From its music to gameplay to characters and setting, Half-Life 2 evoked a sense of uniqness that no other game had captured before, but if you played the game, you would still say that the game is in the same universe as the original Half-Life. Half-Life 2's level design broke new grounds in terms of how developers approached level design in video games, its influence is clearly visible in the titles that came after it. The gameplay is still simple but more complex than the original. This time instead of shoving new weapons down your throat, Valve came up with something that changed weapon design forever: THE GRAVITY GUN. Half-Life 2 played with different themes like Survival Horror, revolution, mystery, alienation, colonialism and etc. It's so fascinating how much content and detail a single video game can pack into its narrative and present all of them via groundbreaking story-telling methods. Half-Life 2 was great and surprised the whole world and showed how video game sequels should be. It set a new standard for video game sequels that hasn't been broken yet. Half-Life 2 might lack the classic charm of the original Half-Life but it certainly offers its own unique taste. My only complaint with the sequel might be the A.I, because some enemies are not as much fun to fight compared to Half-Life and your allies sometimes act a bit stupid but that's okay, Half-Life 2 definitely made up for that little mistake. The game is more complete and coherent than the original game, although the pacing might feel a bit off but the depth and charm of the story will certainly make you forget about that.… Expand
  6. sasfish
    Oct 25, 2010
    10
    I love it, end of story. The story keeps going and changing. When you think you got it something changes and keeps you in the game. GraphicsI love it, end of story. The story keeps going and changing. When you think you got it something changes and keeps you in the game. Graphics are great and the story is compelling. I cant wait for the next installment.… Expand
  7. Yustan
    Oct 28, 2021
    9
    Для своего времени это была просто революционная игра, даже в наши дни графика остаётся приемлемой, а с физикой до исх пор можно играться. НуДля своего времени это была просто революционная игра, даже в наши дни графика остаётся приемлемой, а с физикой до исх пор можно играться. Ну и персонажи интересные, как их озвучка (на русском)… Expand
  8. EvanT.
    Jun 14, 2006
    0
    The worst game ever it is all fake and the guns are crap. do not get this game!

See all 2307 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2004
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2004
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2004

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