Half-Life was a pretty unique game. No doubt about that. It was a FPS that actually made you think as well. So, when you think about a sequel to a game which mainly consists of running down steel corridors, and fighting aliens with a crowbar, do you think a dystopiaian post-apocalyptic world where the oceans are being drained, aliens have conquered earth, and what is left of humanity being in jeopardy? Well, if you do, step on down because you've won today's round of "Do You Think Like Gabe Newell?"! Now, time for a review.

Graphics: 88/100
This game's graphics are amazing at times, but at other times it can be pretty substandard. Like, the people, and environments look great. But the headcrabs, standard headcrab zombies, and Vortigaunts stand out like a sore thumb. At times, the graphics are a little TOO good...As in, The "scariest thing about it is when you look at anything for half a second you'll be too scared to go foreward" Ravenholm! And the blood, and the bodies that seem scattered around...And the zombies, if you detach the headcrabs...

Sound: 90/100
The sound is almost perfect...Almost. The voice acting if great, the dialogue is good also. The only real complaint I have voice-wise is the Combine Overwatch. Because, even with captions turned on, it rarely shows what it says. And the Overwatch is both a bit staticy, and it really does sound like it comes from the distance it's implied to be from. So it's hard to understand most of the time. There isn't really any music in the game. But like it's predecessor,  has a handful of times where music DOES come on. And those times are pretty fun.

Gameplay: 85/100

The game is fun, and interesting. But...The gameplay gets really repetitive. Mainly the vehicle chapters. They take up a good third of the game. And, well, it's only fun some of the time. It gets pretty boring fast though.

The controls are very basic. Same old WASD to move, E to interact with things, or pick things up. Left click to fire, right click for the secondary function of some of the weapons (Picking things up with the Gravity Gun, zooming in with the crossbow, launching a grenade from the sub-machine gun, or the energy pellet from the Combine Standard Issue Pulse Rifle).

The story is kind of cool actually. Continuing after the very end of Half-Life. G-man has put you in stasis right? Well, he appears at the very beginning, telling you to "Rise and shine", and that his services are required once again. And then you're placed inside a train heading to City 17, home of "Humanity's Representative" Dr. Wallace Breen. Now what that really means is he's the dictator of humanity, and answers to The Combine. An empire of aliens who used the events of Half-Life as a window to invade earth also. They overthrew all of the armies in the world, and started draining the ocean. But Breen convinced them to make him the leader of humanity. Oh yeah, he was also your boss at Black Mesa, which you learn was twenty years ago. Barney, a former security guard at Black Mesa, now is an undercover member of a resistance fighting the Combine. He tells you where their hideout is. Alyx Vance, the daughter of one of the original Black Mesa scientists, and resistance member, rescues you from the Metro Police. Who are encouraged to issue unwarranted severe beatings. Eventually you make it to the hideout in City 17. There, you meet some former Black Mesa scientists, and Vortigaunts, who have been freed from the Combine by you in the first game. But are now in the same situation as the rest of humanity. Alyx decides to help you on your quest to stop Breen, and The Combine. But, there is also suspicion of a traitor amongst your new-found resistance...or is there?!

This game isn't really deep. There are a few hidden boxes with weapons, batteries, and health inside. But outside that, everything is kind of a straight, linear type of game.

Pros and Cons: 60/40

The game is fun to play, and it's got an intriguing story. But, there are a few occasions of cursing. And there is a lot of gore, and dead bodies. Like, really, there are so many that after awhile it just becomes like seeing a pigeon on a telephone wire. But, in a way, all of that stuff kind of helps cement the fact that humanity is basically in shambles, and the awfulness of the Combine.

Overall: 75/100
This game is pretty fun. It's definitely best if you played the first though. Just to understand most of the story. It's interesting, and fun. Although it gets kind of repetitive. Overall, it's a good game...But you should just get it during a sale.

User: This was a very in depth review good job ! You're really making a name for yourself as a reviewer on the Boards here. The story well explained though more spoilers than I would've liked Overall good job man. The game doesn't sound half bad considering it's from the 90's

zeross121 : Only the first one is from the 90's. Half-Life 2 was made in 2006 .

Well, it looks like you made another review and this one looks great. You have done a great job with all of them and you will done with your test in no tiime at all if you keep up the good work.

Dammit you reviewed both Half-Life games before I did.
I guess I'll have to review Opposing Force, that game I really got into.

This review was good like your Half-Life review. It isn't the longest review I have seen but you said what needed to be said and didn't drag out or repeat anything. Good job. 

The only thing I want to comment on is the gameplay part. Out of my opinion I have to disagree on what you said about the gameplay getting repetitive. Half-Life 2 shows a range of puzzles and combat methods. the weapons are found at necessary locations and each one changes the gameplay. The vehicles do the same along with the uniques themes of each chapter/location (Combat = Ravenholm, Don't Touch the sand = Sandtraps, etc.). This is only my opinion.

MechaMento : I'll tell you what, when these threads close, you can review them also. And episodes 1 and 2 can be yours also if you want. lol

User's third review in this forum, three different users replied.  Half-Life 3 confirmed.

OK, in seriousness now, I heard HL2 is a lot easier than HL1.  Is this true?

And did you buy the Valve Complete Pack or something?  Or do you just love Valve games?  I've never tried either of the Half-Life games, since they've never appealed to me, but I LOVE Portal and its sequel.  Unfortunately, I can't get it to run well on my PC.

supernerd117 : Yes, it's definitely easier. The physics related puzzles are a lot less stressful. and you won't explode into giblets if you stand next to a wall in an elevator.

Also, I bought the Half-Life Franchise bundle during the last Summer Sale. Best 7 dollars I've spent. And, I LOVE the Portal series also! Portal 2 barely runs on my computer though. But Portal 1, and all the Half-Life games work just fine. And, I prefer Portal also. But Half-Life is still intriguing. Even if Black Mesa is just a bunch of patient stealing jerks...

So far this was one of the best reviews we had, I'm going to close this now, and you should have already seen that this thread got an A in the review directory.