Half-Life
Release Date: November 19, 1998
Action, FPP, science fiction, FPS, shooters, splitscreen, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
Steam
An FPS set in a science-fiction world, created by the debuting American studio Valve Software. The story takes place in secret research facility of Black Mesa and begins the main character of the game – Gordon Freeman - arrives at the facility.
Videos and Screens
[1:45] Half-Life Ray Traced trailer
The main pros of the game
- Innovative Gameplay: Players appreciate the blend of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving, highlighting the game's requirement for strategic thinking and resource management.
- Immersive Atmosphere: The game's environment, sound design, and narrative draw players into the world of Black Mesa, creating a unique and engaging experience.
- Historical Significance: Many users recognize Half-Life as a groundbreaking title that set the standard for future first-person shooters (FPS), influencing countless games that followed.
- Replayability: The game is seen as timeless, with many players expressing a desire to replay it multiple times due to its engaging story and gameplay mechanics.
- Nostalgia: Long-time fans express fond memories and nostalgia for the game, often recalling their experiences playing it in their youth.
The main cons of the game
- Aging Graphics and Mechanics: Many reviews note that while the game was revolutionary at its release, its graphics and some gameplay mechanics feel outdated by modern standards.
- Difficulty Spikes: Some players mention frustrating difficulty, particularly in later levels like Xen, where gameplay can become tedious or confusing.
- Lack of Guidance: Users point out that the game sometimes lacks clear instructions, leading to confusion in navigating puzzles or combat situations.
- Clunky Movement: Several reviews mention the character's movement feeling "slippery" or "clunky," which can detract from the overall experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Modern Quality of Life Improvements: Players express a desire for enhancements that modern games typically include, such as improved tutorials, clearer objectives, and more intuitive controls.
- Character Development: Some reviews note that while the game has a strong atmosphere, character development is minimal, with NPCs lacking depth in comparison to the world-building.
- Enhanced Multiplayer Experience: Although the game includes a multiplayer mode, some users feel it could benefit from more robust features and matchmaking options, similar to those found in contemporary games.
Summary
- Overall, Half-Life is widely regarded as a classic that has stood the test of time, with its innovative gameplay and immersive storytelling still resonating with players today, despite some criticisms regarding its age and mechanics.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 5472 votes.
Half-Life Description
Despite the fact that Half-Life is considered a first-person shooter, it is unusual representative of the genre. Even the beginning of the game doesn’t resemble a typical FPS game – we arrive at work as Gordon Freeman, a scientist working in a secret lab called Black Mesa. Everyone is friendly and there is no need to kill anybody, not to mention the fact that we are unarmed. Only after a big disaster the actual action starts.
We don’t save the world in this game, we need to save ourselves by escaping the destroyed complex. Our escape path is blocked by alien invaders, though, as well as human marines tasked with making sure that no one comes out of the lab alive. However, some of our collegues survived, too, and it is possible to cooperate with them.
The atmosphere of horror is much better than in many productions of that genre. Our enemies are very intelligent and even fight among themselves, so we can avoid combat in more than one occasion. Great graphics and sound only boost the suspense and the fear of what’s around the corner. Half-Life is definitely a game worth checking out.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
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8
GAMES
in Half-Life Game Series
Game Series
Half-Life Series
A hugely popular series of first-person shooters (FPS) in science fiction climates. The series was created by Valve Software studio with support from Gearbox Software and Taito Corporation, among others.
8 video games
Half-Life Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows November 19, 1998
PlayStation 2 November 30, 2001
Developer: Valve Corporation / Gearbox Software (PS2)
Publisher: Sierra
Half-Life System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium II 266MHz, 32MB RAM, graphic card
PlayStation 2
Uses: memory card
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