PC Game review - Half-Life 2 review.

The other day I said I would be reviewing various Valve games (as they are awesome) and today I'm reviewing Half-Life 2. This review also applies to the standalone expansion packs, Episode 1 & Episode 2, as they are very similar.

PC Game review - Half-Life 2 review.

Half-Life 2 is an excellent sequel to one of the best shooters ever made.

Half-Life 2 is a first person shooter built in the Source engine by Valve Software. It is so good - even better than the first! Half-Life 2's graphics definitely beat the first's, and are very good, but still not quite up to today's standards. Half-Life 2 has even better music than the first. It is dynamic, so if you begin a fire-fight it puts on action music, or if you start a puzzle it puts on thinking music, et cetera. Half-Life 2's campaign is an even better and more original story-line with even better pacing.

The G-Man in Half-Life & Half-Life 2

The G-Man, a creepy-looking guy in a suit takes you out of Black Mesa and redeploys him in City 17 - a city controlled by the Combine, an alien race that also invaded Earth due to the Black Mesa incident. The citizens rise up against them, et cetera. As for the action, Half-Life 2 has really good controls, and excellent puzzles and fights, with many ways to complete them. It also dripfeeds details about the game world, the history of Black Mesa & new weapons and enemies - like the first game. The levels dynamically change to suit these new additions to the game, so no 2 levels are the same. Also, there is an excellent modding community, so the fun must go on! But what makes this game so good is the gravity gun. You can pick things up and throw them!!!

Now, for the scoring.

Gameplay            10/10

One of the best shooters out there!

Graphics              6/10

Very good, but not up to par.

Sound                   10/10

The music, voice acting & sound effects are very good.

Fun                       10/10

The dynamics of this game make it really, really fun.

Campaign             10/10

Interesting storyline and fun levels make a great campaign.

Replayability        10/10

I've played it twice through now and all the different mods are great.

Multiplayer          7/10

No built-in multiplayer, but there is Half-Life 2 Deathmatch.

Control Scheme   10/10

Simple but effective.

Originality            8/10

I like the idea of not 1 but 2 alien races invading..

Extras                   2/10

No extras, but theres a great modding community.

Overall score: 83/100

 Half-Life 2 is a great follow-up to one of the best shooters you could ever play, especially with all the mods.