Half-Life 2

First off, let me clear up a few things. Ignore "A poor game and STEAM is crapware." That person clearly doesn't know what they're talking about. Yes, your forced to install STEAM. But the program is on the CD/DVD (depending how you got it). Second, the graphical problems they're having are a problem with THEIR compputer. Either Matrix29 has a poor video card or outdated drivers. I have a poor FX5200, and I've had no graphical problems. It runs great. Of course, I have it on low settings, but still it runs great. Finally, STEAM (From Valve, not Sierra) is a good program.

Anyway... I'll just talk about my experiences, not anything about the story. Half-Life 2 runs great on lower end systems. I'm getting at least 25 - 30 fps(frames per second). This shows how Valve wanted great graphics and technology while having a large amount of gamers being allowed to play. And the water...well, it's the best looking water EVER. Good A.I. Take note that on easier settings, the A.I. wont be as good. The story is great. It really doesn't require you to have played the original Half-Life to understand the story.

So, in closing, this is a must own for any PC gamer. Just for the fun physics, or tossing stuff and getting your a** beat by metro cops in the train station.

I am a huge half life fan, The game was the beginning of first person shooters. It set the standard for all fps's, everything was compared to to that game. It turn fps games into what they are today.

we have half life to thank for games being what they are today.

did half life 2 do the same thing? Half life 2 was amazing , one of the best games I ever played. Everything about the game was crafted so well and polished up to make it perfect.

GAMEPLAY 10/10 - Know questions ask half life 2 has some of the best most crafted and unique gameplay up todate. There's so many different way to approach combat situations. Most first person shooters its just run around blasting things with your gun. But in half life you can think, you can plan how your going to approach combat. You look around and use your environment and everything around you to help you fight, by setting off chain reactions or shooting the wood from underneath your enemy so they fall to the ground. Through most of the game you don't even need to shoot at your enemy. And the gravity gun just adds to the fun, putting stuff infront of doors watching the combine try and bust there way in. Picking up or moving everything around you. And on top of that just using a gun and blasting peoples heads in is unbelievably fun to.

GRAPHICS 10/10 - Now not everyone will get to see the game how its suppose to be seen. But if you do you will understand. Half life 2 probably has the best graphics seen to this day in any video game. Everything is detailed so much and so polished its amazing, from huge out door land scape's to a small beat up house everything looks amazing. The dynamic lighting adds such a element of beauty to everything giving it that final touch it need. Plus the water, I cant even begin to describe how beautiful the water looks, It reflects everything around you and does it so amazing its hard to put in words.

STORY 8/10 - I loved the story of the original half life and I loved the fact that no one really new the story even more. Half life 2 didn't really give any answers to any of the questions ask in half life 1, which is not a problem and didn't bug me at all. I actually like the overall story I just not sure I loved the way the did it. Alex character I thought was a typical tough girl thing and I was a big fan of her. I loved the part in doctor Kliners lab I thought it was amazing and so well done. I also loved the doctor Breen parts, I just would have liked it if it had been more like the first one where your really not sure whats going on or where you are. Overall I think it had a good story I just think it was missing some element that makes it half life.

OVERALL 9/10 - This game was amazing, no question about it. Definitely one of the best games of all time. It was totally original filled with fun action gameplay. Every element in the game was very well done and half life 2 was probably the first game to put all these amazing elements like physics, Good story, Good action, good graphics, in to one game and do an amazing job of it. The only real thing I didn't like was Alex typical tough girl attitude.

I thought Valve could not top the first Half-Life but I was wrong, very wrong.

While the sequels of a lot of games fail miserably Valve managed to make a game in which the graphics, the characters, the game physics, the enemies were all amazing, but the cherry on the top was the story.

I think there was only one small mistake which was not giving Gordon any voicelines.

This game is so good the storyline and action is really good. Its VERY ahead of its time. I replayed it over 10 times and never get bored of it. This game really needs a movie or tvshow. I think this game might be the best in the franchise. THEY NEED TO MAKE HALF LIFE 3 imagine half life 2 but more modern😮. All the voice acting fits well and what makes me confused that valve was able to get hands correct but rockstar wasnt. I think this game deserves more love. 10/10 physics 10/10water textures 10/10 storytelling 100/10 over all. Half life 2 need s more than 2 episodes it need 20 episodes. If the game was 50$ it will be still worth it.

This game sucks you in and doesn't let go. Every detail has been attended too. See those barrels, that look like they can be moved? Guess what-THEY CAN BE!

The physics engine is nothing short of brilliant. Everything acts as you would expect in the real world.

The facial animations are great, as are the amazing textures (you'll wonder around with your flash light every time you find a new texture to explore).

The game play is fast and fun, but still has puzzles like the original.

I don't know what game these cranks are talking about, but from what I understand they do not know enough to get rid of graphic card specific problems and thus didn't like the game. The problem is their rig, drivers, or setting, not HL2. Plus, HL2 doesn't even have that high a system requirements. It runs better than doom 3 but looks far better.

verdict: **** (four stars out of four)