Half-Life 2

it's Half Life 2. Not much else has to be said given it *is* a 20 year old game, but given I'm stubborn and autistic, I will give my piece on this game regardless. Genuinely one of the best games I've ever played in my life. I've owned the game for years but it took me too many to recognize it for its greatness. After the recent Game Awards, and my immense disappointment over the lack of any proper game reveals, this game has really shined brighter than any other game in my current library in giving me a taste of the past and true design passion. Half Life 2 showed what it meant to make a meaningful and in depth first person shooter, demonstrated amazing graphical accomplishments for its time, and showed how powerful a group of dedicated, creative, and passionate individuals can be. This game is a Masterpiece, play it if you haven't already despite it being out for 20 years.

Absolutely timeless.

If my HL2 mods tracked for how many hours I've actually played this game it'd near 500 at least, always a blast to come back to every so often (once a year or so)

The 20th Anniversary combining all the episodes into one, as well as adding the workshop has made this game that much more replayable too, no more having to scrounge around ModDB and GameBanana for mods and campaigns, all of it can be found and accessed much much easier now.

For a game that came out 20+ years ago, it's still a visual marvel and a testament that consistent and intentional art direction for a game can do wonders for helping it look stunning, even now so many years later with so many advancements in technology. I can only imagine actually playing these titles back when they launched and being blown away by just how good these games look, even with some of HL2 having unfinished art in the later chapters, it never misses the mark in immersing you into this rich dystopian world.

My only gripe with the game in it's base form is that the gun sounds are very outdated and weak. I get this game came out in 2004 so I'm not expecting stellar weapon SFX, but every gun sounds rather puny (which to be fair was a pretty common issue with early 2000s shooters) which is why I'll now be playing with some SFX overhaul mods from the workshop as standard (I played MMoD for a good couple of hours over the base game just for this reason). Thats not to say the rest of the sound design in this game is bad, in fact it's consistently good across the board, they just dropped the ball a bit with the guns...

Voice acting in this game is industry best, and I'm sure top of the line for 2004 with very memorable performances throughout. It is a bit jarring having literally every civilian have the same voice (male and female) but given their 1 year redevelopment of the entire game after the 2003 leak, and I imagine strained budget considering this, they don't sound bad at all and have so much style and flair. Michael Shapiro as GMan, especially in Ep2 knocks it out of the park having the most memorable speeches in any video game (imo).

I hope to see this game get a remaster in Source2 one day given how actually gorgeous HL:A looked, but the RTX project looks like a very promising project, and I'm sure will give us a taste of what HL2 would look like given today's graphics technologies.

10/10, a must have for anyone with £8.50 to spare (and even cheaper on the many sales it goes on throughout the year). Stellar story, fun and varied gameplay and very memorable characters and music.

This is one of the greatest games of all time. The story is excellent, the game play is excellent, and the graphics are excellent. To the point, faces in this game look better then most modern games made 20 years later. The sounds are excellent as well. Overall, a very enjoyable experience, with both episodes included making this one great game.

Workshop support and developer commentary in the main game make this an easy justifiable purchase. Buy the Valve Complete Pack when it's dirt cheap for the best experience.
Poor Laslo.

very peak game made even more peak after the anniversary update

there hasn’t been a better time to replay the game !!!!

Somehow... It still kicks a**
Runs fine on potato

Nominated for Labor of Love award

it's a little late for this review, but i'm very happy that my favorite game got anniversary update! If you haven't played this game, you definitely should try. This is the best FPS game of all time, perfect in all aspects. Moreover, it's now has workshop mods, more features for modern hardware and just prettier look. Thanks, Valve!

The legendary sequel of Half-life, thanks to the recent 20th anniversary update, all 2 episodes including their steam acheivements and lost coast map are now in one package! This old Half-life 2 now look better and complete. It's time to replay this masterpiece again :)

This game never get's old, and if you played this on it's release than you can crealry understand why it has so damn good reviews (then and now too)! Few weeks ago was the game's 20th Years anniversary, the devs added new achivements and made some modern changes on it.

After 2 decades the game still got the real Half-Life vibes, and don't forget the first part of the game, everything started with that, i mean the whole Half-Life era and the video game industry grew a lot on that point (in the early 2000's). Valve need's to be continue that game seriously! Half-Life 3 will be GOTY as well! It Will be!! Right, Mr. Freeman?!!

Rise And Shine... Mr. Freeman!!

One of the best games ever created.
I can say that confidently.
No flaws.
Must play.
Easy 10/10

Last year I got Half-Life for free during it's 25th anniversary. I had such a good time with it that I decided to try a bunch of other classic FPS games this year. I played Half Life 2 this summer and I had even more fun with it than I did with the first game. You have so many options for how to approach a situation, but so do the enemies, so it becomes a frantic race of who can outmaneuver the other first. The amount of detail put into this game is amazing, and I love how interactive the world feels. Then, as the cherry on top Valve released the Half-Life 2 20th anniversary update, which made this already fantastic game even better. I decided to play through the Episodes because of this, and they're just as great as the original.

Previously I thought that the FPS genre wasn't for me, but 2024 has taught me how much I've been missing out on. Between this game, Doom 1 & 2, Quake, and custom maps for all of the above, I've been having a blast exploring new worlds and challenging myself. I've noticed my reaction times and aim improving, and I've become much better at FPS games than I was this time last year. I wanna say thank you to Valve for doing these anniversary updates and for making Half-Life in the first place; without it I might've lived my whole life without discovering how much fun this genre can be.

Explosive barrels are already cool, so how about explosive barrels you can pull from a distance, then launch at your enemies??
Enemies that then ragdoll, as random physics objects fly everywhere from the explosion! Great times!
The gravity gun is AWESOME! :D

Great movement mechanics, you really feel in control!

10/10 sound design, just remember to turn up the volume to really appreciate it (if SMG isn't borderline deafening, you need to go louder :D).

Episode 1 is my favorite, just ruined right at the end by the worst level in HL2: a boring escort mission :( Speaking of escort mission, well done including a companion without making the whole game feel like one of those! :D

Very interesting developer commentary, too! If you have any interest in game development, this is worth playing just for that!

Some complaints / advice

Holds up incredibly well

Pacing

Truly caring, truly hating

A special shoutout to Kelly Bailey

I know, you know, Valve knows..

Almost everything you see in-game is first and innovative.
It doesn't look too amazing in today's era, but put on some lenses and remember, this is 2004. You're looking at the evolution of gaming itself, and the roots of all Valve titles afterwards came to be. When you listen to the dev commentary, you'll understand what it really means to be a game developer back then, and how much HL2 contributed to all the eye candy we take for granted these days.

You play as John Half-Life2 and your mission is to wreak as much havoc as possible through a lengthy campaign of terrorism, insurrection, biological warfare and animal abuse. aiding you are your fellow anti-government radicals and illegal undocumented alien immigrants with magic powers. Use an arsenal of stolen and unregistered weapons to murder upstanding officers of the law while invading and destroying government property and attempting to assassinate government officials.

5/10 the spas12 doesnt have two barrels.

Pretty essential game historically. The title that got me into PC gaming, taught me how to custom build computers as it was pretty demanding back in the day. Still holds up. I watch blind playthroughs of the game on YT and people who had never played it before seem to really enjoy it so its not just rose tinted goggles :)

Wow half life after 20 years. Workshop and bug fixes and dev commentary, Good for you volvo

One of those games everyone should beat at least once. Brilliant and timeless design. Can't recommend it enough!

Play this while waiting for Half-life³

It now comes with both Episodes as well as many new improvements in quality

Plenty of replayability with all the mods out there

Easily the best game engine that generated some of my top favorites

10/10 One of the best games ever made

This game is obviously a masterpiece. I've played through it to completion several times over the years. It still holds up to this day. If you haven't played this game yet, what are you waiting for?

By combining Episode 1 & 2 into Half-Life 2 with the 20th anniversary update, Valve has increased the total amount of achievements to 69.

lol. nice.

The second anniversary update is so authentic and true-to-original that it even retains the scripting bugs in Nova Prospekt and lowered weapon bug in Anticitizen One. After all these years? Always <3

I'm impressed, Valve. I love you.

Half-Life 2 is a continuation of the original Half-Life which gives it a place in the classic shooter era. The game is surprisingly good on modern machines with its design and updated source engine. The action is well animated.

The game has a wide selection of weapons from a wrench to pistols and assault guns. Hazards like assault helicopters cannot be shot down so the player needs to find cover.

This game works on a very basic machine. The game only needs DX 8.1 which is very simple compared to modern integrated graphics. My Lenovo T14 can play this easily with its UHD 630 graphics.

Some of the greatest art in this world are the pieces that almost didn't happen. Half Life 2 is the ultimate testament to risking it all on a vision - the stress and anxiety, the blood sweat and tears, the lack of security and the dwindling of funds. Putting pride and livelihoods on the line to deliver nothing less than what was intended and what was believed in. Fighting for an experience worth having; for a legacy worth establishing. In a modern world where development teams can't even deliver their proper vision without it being filtered mercilessly through the strainers of shareholder boards, focus groups, and consultant firms, Half Life 2 still stands as tall as the Citadel does looming over the inhabitants of City 17. Yet it stands as a golden monument of passion and culture in contrast to the lifeless and mechanical structure the Combine and their ilk inhabit. Our benefactors would have us amalgamated into a gray blob of resources just to be sucked dry until our purposes as useful idiots are fulfilled, delivering us nothing but works stripped of their identities and filled with condescension and disgust toward their audience.

This is not a movie game. It is a GAME first and foremost but with cinematic sequences that serve nothing more than to truly reward the players for their investment in the characters and world around them. It's an experience filled with real diversity that can't be purchased with promises of guaranteed funding. It has companions with real agency and humanity to them. Half Life 2 is brimming with life and the perspectives of dozens of people who were well read and passionate about their own hobbies and cultures while still putting their all into this one collaborative project - to properly follow up one of the most influential narrative FPS experiences of all time. And even though the odds were stacked against them from start to finish, they still did it. They created one of the most immersive and captivating game experiences there is while making sure to never neglect the moment-to-moment gameplay experience for the players. This is a game where you can tell that everyone who worked on it wanted players to be excited and motivated to keep pushing forward from moment to moment. To explore and to take in the nuance of the crafted levels and baked environments. This is nothing but a celebration of cultural enrichment, but most importantly, truly having fun while playing a video game. I mean, come on, who doesn't love a good physics puzzle?

Happy 20th birthday, Half Life 2. The ashes have never smelled sweeter.

Half-Life 2... one of the greatest games of all time is now free. A game that came out 20 years ago and hasn't aged terribly. Better than any modern shooters.

I still remember seeing the demos and screenshots of this game back in the day and thinking, "There's no way this game is real". Twenty years later, this timeless masterpiece continues to amaze me. It's not just one of the greatest games of all time—it’s one of the greatest entertainment experiences ever created.

If you’ve never played it, do yourself a favor: sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in its brilliance.

A Truly Legendary Game!

Half-Life. I'd be less of a person if I hadn't grown up with this series.

It awakened my interest in tech and software, made me develop better critical thinking skills (from troubleshooting mods and hardware issues, life was hard back in 1998-2004!), and helped me meet some great friends through the endless supply of mods.

The first one melted my brain with the long intro cinematic and "seamless" loading. The second one with the physics engine and sense of life that permeated every map. Oh and they also scared the everliving crap out of me, something they just had to best with Jeff in Alyx.

"hey gamers remember how scary half life used to be as a kid? hold my gosh darn jolt cola and put this VR headset on" - Valve

Bless you Valve (and every modder!) for being the bedrock of my PC gaming life. :-)

Possibly the best bang for buck game ever, and the engine still holds up!

In 2024, Valve gave us what we never expected: Half-Life 2 as an ultra-modern multi-tool for gaming nostalgia and accidental comedy. The update merges the base game with Episodes 1 and 2, letting you seamlessly sprint through all the Combine chaos without pesky menu hopping. It even adds a shiny new developer commentary feature, which is basically a podcast but with more headcrabs.

The changes are wild: restored cut content, upgraded visuals, and better controller aim assist, because nothing says “immersion” like pixel-perfect headshots while Gordon stares stoically into the middle distance. Oh, and the bugs are (mostly) gone, so those unintentional moments of NPCs breakdancing through walls? Rarer now, but still iconic when they happen.

Steam Workshop integration means you can now fight off the Combine with user-made mods — why play as Gordon when you could be Garfield with a crowbar? It’s all hilariously delightful until you realize Valve is STILL trolling us by not even whispering about Half-Life 3 ( hi, HLX). The best part? It's free until November 18, a perfect price for reliving the greatest "physics puzzle simulator" ever made!!

About 20 years ago when my parents separated I would stay at my father's apartment every so often where he would always have the latest newspaper. I used to always grab it and go to the end where there was a section for video game reviews. The games were rated out of 5 stars and the available platforms to play those games were shown next to the ratings at the top. The platforms for each game would be either PS, xbox or gamecube and I would wish that I had one of those to play these games that were rated 3 or 4 stars out of 5, the PC platform was rarely shown. By this time our N64 was gone but there were still computers at both my parents' places.

One day in that section of the newspaper I came across a review for the game Half-Life 2. The only platform shown at the top was "PC" and it was the first full 5-star rating I saw. The review was full of praise of the game, one of the things I remember it saying was that the characters look and behave very realistically.

I asked my father to buy it for me for Christmas that year and he agreed. Steam says I created my account on December 24, 2004, so it must have been a bit before that time that we went to EB Games and saw the price, from memory it was $60 (Australia). My dad asked me if we should just buy it there or should we try and find it cheaper somewhere else. I said we should see if it's cheaper somewhere else. We then went to BIG W in the same shopping centre and they did have it for cheaper, I think the difference was $10.

The staff member went away and came back with the game asking my dad if that's correct, he said he doesn't know and he should ask his son (me), the staff member showed me the game and I said yes that's correct. Twenty years later I still have it and I've uploaded photos of it here on Steam.

I'm trying to dig into the deep valleys of my memory right now, but I do remember putting the disk in, and it asking me to create an online account. That frightened me a little and put me off installing the game for some time, I don't know how long. I must have ended up doing it on December 24th and now I wish I would have just done it right when we brought the game home so I can get the 'Years of Service' badge on Steam sooner!

Anyway, it was the first mouse+keyboard shooting game I ever played, using the WASD keys to move and aiming with the ball mouse was strange for me at the time but I persevered because the game looked absolutely amazing and the world was so interesting. When there was a loading screen I would just sit patiently waiting even though it took about 10 minutes. I remember one of my dads friends came over with his daughters who were much older than me. I don't remember how exactly but they found out I was obsessed with this game called Half-Life 2 and one of the daughters asked if she could watch me play. She sat next to me watching, I remember her getting spooked by the antlions and me reassuring her it's OK because I have the bait that makes them friendly, and when I held the mouse button to continuously swing the crowbar at the face of the female scientist, we exploded in laughter when that NPC slowly but surely drifted her eyes to us XD

I also remember a puzzle in the game, where you have to swim to one side to drain the water so you can swim to the other side to reach the top? Something like that, but I remember when playing the game for the first time, there was a section I didn't know how to pass so I got pretty much all the barrels from the top, dropped them to the bottom section, and stacked them like a pyramid to jump to the other hole at the top. It took me hours because the barrels kept falling, but when I finally reached the other side, I was stuck and realised I was supposed to do something with the water. I'm sure people who have played it recently know what I'm talking about?

I also told many friends at school about the game, when I was talking about the ending I said "you die but you don't die" and they bursted out laughing at me, one of them kept saying that to me after that. One friend did end up playing it as well and he agreed with me that it was good. When we were talking about the game I mentioned that it doesn't matter how many times the enemy hits you at the beginning, you won't die, and he said yes because you don't even have a health bar.

I remember when finishing the game for the first time, I was reading the credits and trying to memorise the names of the people. Of course I didn't remember a single one but in my child brain I was thinking that if I ever came across any of those people I would thank them for making the game. I did the same for Half Life Alyx after finishing that on my Valve Index but there's still 15 years to go before I review that one.

Thank you for making the game and being a big positive part of my life.

Half-Life 2 is the video game equivalent of a grilled cheese sandwich that somehow turns into a gourmet meal halfway through. It starts with a guy in a suit waking you up on a train, and before you know it, you're smashing robots with a crowbar, surfing on explosive barrels, and engaging in a long-distance relationship with a creepy guy called 'The G-Man.'

The physics engine deserves its own Oscar. I spent 20 minutes stacking boxes and launching watermelons at walls before I even remembered I was supposed to save humanity. Then there's the gravity gun—a tool that makes 'picking up trash' feel like wielding Thor’s hammer. Want to fling sawblades at zombies? Go right ahead. Need a weaponized radiator? No problem.

And let's talk about the NPCs. Alyx Vance is the MVP—smart, funny, and capable of making me feel like the awkward nerd I truly am. Meanwhile, Dog, the robot, made me wish I could adopt a metal Labrador.

The Combine soldiers are terrifying, but not as terrifying as Ravenholm. I thought I was playing a sci-fi shooter, but then the game said, 'Here, have some horror,' and locked me in a town where headcrabs are everywhere. I still hear Father Grigori laughing in my nightmares.

Graphics? For 2004, they were revolutionary, and honestly, they hold up today because everything feels alive. Story? Mysterious and brilliant—like a puzzle box where you only get half the pieces and the rest are hidden in future games Valve refuses to make.

Verdict: A must-play. If you haven’t played it yet, you’re either too young or somehow missed one of gaming’s greatest masterpieces. Just remember: when life gives you lemons, use the gravity gun to throw them at Combine soldiers.

P.S. Still waiting for Half-Life 3. Gabe, we’re all counting on you.

This game is almost a full year younger than me, and it kinda always hovered above my head as one of those games I would eventually be able to play someday. That day did finally come when I gave myself administrative rights on my windows 7 middle school laptop (they never found out somehow,) and played it on Steam with an account I no longer have. Played it again a little bit today for the anniversary while thinking about how this game has at least been involved in some part of almost my entire life up to this point, whether it be me watching youtube let's plays and videos on grandma's XP dell when i was probably 7 years old or something, or finally getting to play it at age 11. Kinda funny. Happy anniversary HL2.

A timeless classic now over two decades old.
Now comes with both episodes 1 and 2 and lost cost, which also works with Garry's Mod,
and workshop support.

Happy 20th Anniversary

Wow, I can't believe I never reviewed this... the game that got it all started (it terms of me learning about Steam and all that).

Excellent game. Virtually flawless. I can't think of a game that was better, although I have some personal preferences that I enjoyed just as much or more. But in terms of objective quality, this may be one of the best games ever.

Huh? A 20th anniversary update? Seems like a somewhat decent game

The best single-player puzzle FPS ever created.
Happy 20th Anniversary!

Yet 20 years later, the GOAT FPS is still relevant and receiving quality updates from the developers.
11/10 a MUST HAVE for any Steam library.

"Half-Life 2" is an absolute masterpiece and a must-play for any fan of first-person shooters. Released by Valve in 2004, this game has stood the test of time with its innovative gameplay, immersive storytelling, and cutting-edge physics engine that was way ahead of its time. Here’s why "Half-Life 2" deserves every bit of its acclaim:

Story & Atmosphere
The story picks up from the cliffhanger ending of the first Half-Life, placing you in the shoes of the silent protagonist, Gordon Freeman. Thrown into a dystopian future where Earth is ruled by an oppressive alien regime known as the Combine, the game expertly combines action with a deep narrative. The world feels bleak, but every location you explore is full of detail, from the ominous City 17 to the eerie Ravenholm. Every NPC interaction and environmental cue enriches the game's immersive atmosphere.

Gameplay & Mechanics
Valve redefined the FPS genre with the innovative use of the Gravity Gun, which allows you to manipulate objects in the environment for both combat and puzzle-solving. The gunplay is tight and satisfying, the AI challenging, and each combat encounter feels intense and strategic. The game strikes a perfect balance between exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, keeping you engaged without feeling repetitive.

Physics & Graphics
For a game from 2004, the physics engine in "Half-Life 2" is remarkably advanced. It was one of the first games to make physics-based gameplay an integral part of the experience, whether you’re stacking objects to reach a ledge or using the Gravity Gun to throw barrels at enemies. The Source Engine also gave the game incredible graphical fidelity for its time, with lighting, facial animations, and textures that still hold up surprisingly well.

Replayability
"Half-Life 2" is a game that invites multiple playthroughs. There’s a lot of freedom in how you tackle each scenario, and the pacing makes it easy to jump back in without feeling lost. Plus, the modding community has produced countless mods, adding fresh content and even entirely new games using the Source Engine.

Conclusion
If you haven’t played "Half-Life 2," you’re missing out on one of the greatest games ever made. Its influence on the gaming industry is monumental, and even after nearly two decades, it remains as enjoyable and captivating as ever.

the game quality, graphics doesn't matter when it comes to the reawaken memories...

One of the best games of all time. Requires thought, expanding upon HL1 had to offer and it's expansions.. Absolutely amazing game. The intro of the game was much more action packed than the first, and it's only continuing to ramp up as I play along. I am so grateful for the 25th anniversary of Half Life, because without the attention that it received, I would have never went and bought them all on sale. Best purchase I have made with a series in a while. Here's hoping the reason they did the 25th anniversary is that Steam plans to release Half Life 3 soon. I'd be all over it. Cannot recommend this game enough. Blew my mind that Counter Strike is a literal mod of Half Life as well. 🤯

I have not played very much of this game, and I can already see why it's so highly regarded; why it's placed on a pedestal of gold and ascended beyond divinity in the eyes of many, who do not just play it, but deeply understand the intricacies of its sheer perfection. Upon starting this game for the first time and feeling myself basking in the glow of my monitor showing the iconic valve logo, with the sound effect that hit my brain in a way I didn't know was possible, I realized what I was in for. The legendary G-Man wasn't just speaking to Gordon Freeman when he said "wake up and smell the ashes," he was speaking truth into my very soul. He was informing me that every moment of my life before this one, when I thought I could possibly understand just how amazing the format of video games was, I had been mistaken. Now that my essence has been felt by true knowledge that in turn allowed me to enter the vast expanse of wonder in this universe, I have come to know the simple truth: this is simply the best use of the format of video games ever. I do not exaggerate when I say that every single person who doesn't experience this purest of storytelling and interactive artistic masterpiece is committing a heinous act against themselves. To never play Half-Life 2 is essentially equivalent to slathering your own body in the filth and plague of centuries past and to then ask to be allowed a seat at the table of normal human conversation is simply ridiculous. Your every keystroke in this game feels as though an unrestricted surge of otherworldly magic is coursing through your flesh and soul at once and connecting your being to that of Gabe Newell himself. Every mouse click and gunshot in this game is the equivalent to one hundred thousand of the most hedonistic, orgasmic pleasures known to any creature within one hundred decillion cubic light years. The cosmic high of immensely intoxicating positive energy gifted to us by a single screenshot of this game is enough to prevent the heat death of every universe. Valve, i know it sounds like a lot to live up to, your past has been so perfect you can never top it, but if you make a Half-Life 3 that's anywhere close to decent, it will be perfect too just by association. You know what must be done. Thank you.

From the moment you start the game, you're greeted with a gritty and dystopian world to explore. The game's setting is a bleak future where Earth has been invaded and occupied by an alien force known as the Combine. You play as Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who's been tasked with leading the resistance against the Combine.

The gameplay is a blend of action and puzzle-solving, with a variety of weapons and tools at your disposal. You'll need to use your wits and your reflexes to overcome obstacles and defeat enemies.

But Half-Life 2 isn't just about shooting and puzzle-solving. The game's narrative is a highlight, with a deep and engaging story that explores themes of resistance, oppression, and the human spirit. The game's characters are well-written and well-acted, with standout performances from Valve's own voice actors.

And for those who enjoy a more challenging experience, the game's difficulty curve is steep, with tough enemies and challenging puzzles that will test your skills as a gamer.

The game's physics engine is also a highlight, with realistic physics and environmental interactions that make every encounter feel unique. You can use the game's physics to your advantage, such as using explosives to blow open doors or using gravity guns to manipulate objects.

So if you're a fan of first-person shooters and want a sci-fi adventure that combines action, puzzle-solving, and a deep narrative, then Half-Life 2 is the game for you. With its gritty and dystopian world, challenging gameplay, and engaging story, this game is a must-play for any fan of the genre. Just be prepared for a thrilling and sometimes intense journey into a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction.

The best game I ever played PEAK gameplay and atmosphere

I love this game a lot I bought it with the orange box on the steam deck but unfortunately when I got to the chapter follow freedom on the strider it suddenly crashed the game so I’m gonna try and beat them still but pls give me some advice for the steam deck on half life still a great game thought 👍

I played the first one way back in the day and only playing this one for the first time at the end of 2024. Man does it hold up. I haven't had this much fun with too many games on the PS4/PS5 era. This game was released 20 years ago and is better than 90% of the games out since then.

This game is nearly 20 years old. Despite its age, this is one of those games that has set a high standard on how modern games should be made. From story telling, game play, and interaction with the environment, most modern games have struggled or gave up on tying together these fundamental elements and have instead focused on either graphics, 'politics', or both. The graphics from Half Life 2 may not be visually up to par to today's standards, but they nailed the fundamentals so well that a modern player can look past these old graphics and still enjoy this masterpiece 20 years later.
I typically don't play or recommend mature games, but this one deserves an exception.

God blessed Valve when they made this masterpiece. I love the setting, the gameplay, the characters, EVERYTHING. I wish I could live in post-apocalyptic Eastern Europe.

Игра отличная, с крутой на то время физикой ( сейчас тоже крутяк)
Но я не понимаю...
Как какой-то тип с монтировкой вырезал весь альянс с которым не справился весь мир?

This game is fun. It looks excellent to me in 2024(Im especially impressed with the water playing it back) and I really enjoy the slightly ominous story that kind of lurks in the background. I never really understood it back in the day. But playing it again as an adult theres so much to find. A little patience can go a long way in this game.

A lovely classic. Came to this nearly 20 years after release and it still plays very well. Much better mechanics and gameplay than the original half life from a modern perspective.