Half-Life

 PlayStation 2
Half-Life Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

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  • Summary: One of the best-selling games of all time, Half-Life has been completely redesigned for PlayStation2, with advanced graphic upgrades, more characters, and new multiplayer cooperative games. So why not head back into the Black Mesa Federal Research Facility as Gordon Freeman for some moreOne of the best-selling games of all time, Half-Life has been completely redesigned for PlayStation2, with advanced graphic upgrades, more characters, and new multiplayer cooperative games. So why not head back into the Black Mesa Federal Research Facility as Gordon Freeman for some more FPS carnage?… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    100
    Truly an FPS masterpiece. [Dec 2001, p.166]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Electric Playground
    93
    Still one of the great ones all these years later, even with dated graphics, poor voice acting, and the inherent limitations of a gamepad.
  3. TotalGames.net
    90
    Exceptionally well designed, plays on a greater scale and requires more thought than Volition’s pretty baby ["Red Faction"] and so comes highly recommended.
  4. Cloudchaser
    85
    Damn good, and rivals just about any First Person Shooter on a console to date.
  5. Yahoo!
    80
    It's the way the game is laid out and immerses you that makes Half-Life the cat's golden milk-drenched whiskers.
  6. Play Magazine
    80
    Half-Life has matured with style. [Feb 2002, p.61]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Next Generation Magazine
    60
    On rare occasions it does clug slightly for a brief second, but only very rarely. [Dec 2001, p.105]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. VyacheslavD.
    Jun 5, 2002
    10
    Half-Life for PS2 - it is cool! It is also very interesting if you played it on PC before - they (developers) changed some game areas, added Half-Life for PS2 - it is cool! It is also very interesting if you played it on PC before - they (developers) changed some game areas, added coop mod. Very good game ;-)… Expand
  2. [Anonymous]
    Mar 7, 2002
    10
    It ROCKS!!! Never have I seen such devious violence, keep up the good work...awesome storyline also.
  4. Heisenberg93
    May 24, 2015
    10
    I've heard, even before playing it, about Half-Life that was loved and considered a legend in video games. It took 16 years (since its releaseI've heard, even before playing it, about Half-Life that was loved and considered a legend in video games. It took 16 years (since its release on PC), when I finally decided to buy it, and I had to dust off my old PS2, that still works, and I was able to play it during the first months of 2014. What they were saying was true.

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

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

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

    In conclusion, Half-Life is an essential masterpiece. A piece of history. The game that has been the watershed between the old fps and the new fps, revolutionizing a genre. If a lot of games exist today, it is thank to Half-Life.    … Expand
  5. ChrisG.
    Apr 2, 2003
    10
    LONG LIVED HALF LIFE!!!
  6. Rice303
    Jun 28, 2012
    10
    The best version of half-life is on the PS2 and while the game is dated compared to most other later PS2 releases I am still a massive fan andThe best version of half-life is on the PS2 and while the game is dated compared to most other later PS2 releases I am still a massive fan and still play this classic from time to time, a very good game ported even better, pretty much true perfection.… Expand
  7. Mr7Goat
    Mar 26, 2011
    10
    A great game for cheap and its a classic! So many characters, weapons and places to go. The story line is awesome! I recommend this game toA great game for cheap and its a classic! So many characters, weapons and places to go. The story line is awesome! I recommend this game to people who like action, horror games.… Expand
  8. TheQuietGamer
    Feb 15, 2011
    4
    Half-Life is fantastic on PC, but on the PS2 it fails in almost every way, the crappy controls really hinder the experience, but thankfullyHalf-Life is fantastic on PC, but on the PS2 it fails in almost every way, the crappy controls really hinder the experience, but thankfully they give you the ability to customize your own control settings which removes some of the frustration, my other complaint is how everything in the game feels slippery making the plat forming sections incredibly terrible, and the random load times you'll encounter just while walking around are extremely frustrating, while it's still the Half-Life experience the technical problems, and crappy design choices make this version terrible, I would highly recommend this on PC, but if you can get past the flaws the PS2 version should keep you entertained, but I would pass on this version.… Expand

See all 21 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS2 Game of 2001
32
#32 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2001
23
#23 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2001