Review: Half-Life 2
Of all the PC gaming reviews I’ve written over the years. This has been one of the most requested. Back in the summer, I made a random die roll to see what special project I would adopt next when it came to my game playthrough/reviews. The Half-Life series was the winner. Last month I paved the way for this project with a review of Counter Strike: Condition Zero. But, today I’m finally ready to talk about the big daddy: Half-Life 2.
If you’re a PC gamer, there’s no doubt you are at least somewhat familiar with this game. It’s the cornerstone of every Steam user’s library. Half-Life 2 was originally released in 2004 as a regular retail title. However, even retail CD copies required the use of Valve’s (then brand new) Steam service. I remember being very wary of Steam as a distribution platform when it first came out. I was always the type of gamer that wanted to have physical copies stashed away. At the time, the concept of digital distribution seemed gimmicky to me. And to be honest, it’s still a little frightening at times. I have almost one thousand games in my Steam library and I’m often haunted by the possibility that if Steam ever went out of business, I might very well lose access to all of these titles that I paid money for. But, time has proven that Steam is a stable and viable platform. Half-Life 2 was my initial introduction to the service.
The original Half-Life was an extremely popular game. I played it at release and absolutely loved it. Valve (the developer behind the game) knew that the sequel was going to have to be something special. To make this game unique, Valve developed their very own game engine; Source. The idea behind Source was to blend high resolution graphics, state-of-the-art lighting and effects, and a new physics engine in order to provide a level of realism that had never been seen in PC gaming before. The end result was nothing short of historic.
Half-Life 2 became an instant classic on the PC. In fact, it was so popular that it was also ported to the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 in the years following its original release. A year after its initial launch, an extra playable level (Lost Coast) was released for free as a sort of tech-demo for the Source engine. This was followed by two additional playable chapters Episode One (2006) and Episode Two (2007). The game received another major graphical update for its 20th anniversary, modernizing the game even further. Today, players who purchase Half-Life 2 receive all of these updates automatically via Steam. Even though the two downloadable Episodes were released years after the original game, I did decide to play through both of them for this review.
Let’s take a look at the plot. This write-up is going to assume that you are familiar with the events of the first game. Half-Life 2 resumes the story of Gordon Freeman. It takes place twenty years after the events of the original game. In this time, the multi-dimensional entities unleashed during the events of the previous game have taken over the planet. These beings, known as The Combine, have largely enslaved mankind. The game begins when Gordon is awakened from suspended animation by the mysterious “G-Man” and sent to City 17 (the Combine’s capital on Earth). From here, Gordon is recognized by former Black Mesa employees who have been secretly organizing a resistance against the aliens (and the human authorities who align with them). Now heralded as a prophesied savior, Gordon finds himself taking on the task of helping the resistance overthrow the Combine.
The game begins with a short cutscene of Gordon being awakened and placed on a train heading towards City 17. From here, the players controls Gordon in a way very similar to introduction of the original game. These earliest moments serve as a basic tutorial and also set up the storyline of the game itself. Story is really where the Half-Life series shines. Instead of just being a simple run-and-gun type of FPS, Half-Life 2, like the original game, is considerably more intricate. Yes, there’s plenty of standard combat action. But players are also faced with puzzle solving and strategic combat scenarios as well.
What I mean by strategic combat is that certain weapons work better on some enemies than others. For example, when battling individual enemies, a pulse rifle or pistol tends to be the most effective. However, when faced with groups of enemies, a shotgun will often get you out of a sticky situation quicker. There’s other ways to illustrate this idea, but that should give you the basic gist. I’m hesitant to say much more because I don’t want to spoil the experience for the handful of you that may have never played this game. Still all of the basic FPS staples are here: melee weapons, pistols, sniper-style weapons, automatic weapons, etc. Half-Life 2 also features a very unique weapon, the Gravity Gun. This weapon doesn’t fire ammunition. Instead, it works as a sort of magnet. It can draw items to it or push items away, In this way, the Gravity Gun allows to players to make a weapon out of nearly anything: debris on the ground, barrels, wood pallets – you name it. All of these things can be launched as projectiles.
The Gravity Gun is also a very important factor in puzzle solving. Players will often need to use it to manipulate items for progression. To illustrate this, imagine a chasm that blocks the player from their destination. To get to the other side, the player may need to use the Gravity Gun to “suck” a piece of scrap that sits on the other side and lay it neatly across the gap, forming a bridge. Situations like this are common in the game and it forces the player to think outside of the box. To me, this type of thing really enhances the experience and makes the game feel unique compared to similar titles that came before it.
On top of this unique gameplay we have a story that’s riveting and compelling. The game is also filled with really likeable characters. These two things in combination really hooked me and made the game tough to put down. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi set up is the perfect playground too. It’s familiar, yet also very foreign. Often times, Gordon is accompanied by various NPCs. In this way, the single player experience can sometimes feel a bit like a multiplayer game.
The combat in this game isn’t blindly chaotic. Many of the battles will require the player to take cover and plan their next move. Enemies will often hide behind obstacles, toss grenades, or work together to flank the player. The enemy AI in this game is some of the best I’ve seen up to this point. You’re not just going to be able to blast your way through Half-Life 2.
Another fun feature in this game is the extensive use of vehicles. They’re not exactly a focal point, per se. But more than once during the course of the game the player will be able to operate a variety of vehicles each with a slightly different control and feel. Often, these sections of the game bring a faster pace to the action and help to break up the monotony.
Take all of these things that I’ve mentioned above and match them with some of the best level design that I’ve seen in an FPS and you’ll quickly understand how Half-Life 2 earned its reputation as one of the greatest PC games ever made. Even now, more than twenty years later, it’s still a masterpiece.
The two downloadable chapters are just as good as the original game. They continue the main storyline, while also offering their own unique spin on the gameplay. Episode One seems to focus a little more heavily on puzzle solving than the main game did. On the other hand, Episode Two seems to focus a bit more combat tactics and environmental strategy. Originally, there were plans for a third downloadable episode, but for reasons I cannot fathom, this never manifested. The sad result of this is that Episode Two ended on a MASSIVE cliffhanger that hopefully will eventually be resolved by a proper sequel.
Even though Half-Life 2 is mostly known for its single player scenario, it’s important to note that it also contains online multiplayer deathmatch. I experimented with the multiplayer, but honestly, the community is not very active anymore. Most players who are interested in playing the Source engine online are naturally going to steer towards Counter Strike or other online-focused titles. Still, none of these games mentioned above feature a standard “deathmatch” experience. So, there’s still some value in Half-Life 2‘s multiplayer.
When looked at as a whole, Half-Life 2 and its two additional chapters make up some of the best FPS gaming I have experienced to date. Yes, I know I’m behind the times. But still, when looking at things chronologically, there’s no doubt how impressive and influential this game was upon release. If you’ve never experienced this game, you owe it to yourself to carve out some time and see what all the fuss is about.
Version Reviewed: PC
Difficulty: Variable– Half-Life 2 offers three difficulty options, Easy, Normal, and Hard. The difference between the three is mostly scaled damage (dealt and taken). I experimented with all three and found Normal to be the most balanced option. It certainly feels like the standard gameplay experience. On normal, there’s still plenty of challenge. But it’s not unfair either. It’s important to note that there is a multi-player option. As always, when competing against other players, your experience will vary greatly depending on their skill level.
Multiplayer: Yes. (Deathmatch)
Story: Half-Life 2 continues the trend started by the first game. It’s a shooter with a real storyline. The story is told mostly through in-game actions and dialogue. The story surrounding the series is quite unique and very well crafted. It’s a highlight of the game for me.
Originality: This game takes many of the core elements from the first Half-Life and builds on them using new technology and capabilities. The gameplay here is not just “run and shoot”. There’s plenty of strategy involved. Everything from level design to weapon design works in tandem with this philosophy. Even today, few games seem to have mastered this concept.
Soundtrack: The music for the game is well composed and fitting. The score is dynamic and will often ramp up when certain events occur to help drive the sense of action/anxiety. The voice acting is a little wooden by today’s standards. But overall, very well done.
Fun: I had a blast playing this title when it was still relatively new. But real life captured my attention and I never managed to finish the game until I sat down to make this review. Even now, all these years later, Half-Life 2 was nothing short of breathtaking. It’s the most fun I’ve have with an FPS shooter in a long time.
Graphics: The Source engine was a technological marvel when it was released. Modern updates to the engine keep it feeling fresh and relevant even today. Sure, it’s no Unreal Engine. But it still looks crisp and modern thanks to its innovative lighting effects and a unique physics code.
Playcontrol: This game uses the standard WSAD control scheme on the PC. It’s responsive and makes sense. Regardless, the controls are still customizable, so whatever you prefer, there is no real issue.
Downloadable Content: Two additional official chapters, and free mods.
Mature Content: Violence, Blood, Horror
Value: Half-Life 2 is sold on Steam for $10. However, it frequently goes on sale. This price not only nets you the main game, but it also includes Lost Coast, Episode One, and Episode Two. Even at regular price, this is a steal.
Overall score (1-100): 100 – Half-Life 2 is truly worthy of a perfect score. Everything about this game provided nothing short of a jaw-dropping experience at initial release. And it has only got better with time. Even today, this game manages to impress and marvel players. There’s a reason many consider this to be the greatest FPS ever released.
Original System: PC
Available today on: PC, Xbox X/S – (Updated as of Early Winter 2026)
Best Modern Experience: PC – (Updated as of Early Winter 2026)
Other Reviews In This Series:
Half Life: Alyx
