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Half-Life
Released On: Nov 19, 1998
8.9
All Platforms
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 24 Critic Reviews
96
100% Positive
24 Reviews
24 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 24 Critic Reviews
96
100% Positive
24 Reviews
24 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
A fantastic single player experience, with reliable and customizable multiplayer support...what more could a FPS fan ask for.
It features a fully interactive environment that's a blast to play through. It's really like an interactive movie because it's so immersive. It's easily the most revolutionary shooter since "System Shock."
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 5,747 User Ratings
8.9
88% Positive
5057 Ratings
5057 Ratings
9% Mixed
517 Ratings
517 Ratings
3% Negative
173 Ratings
173 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 5,747 User Ratings
8.9
88% Positive
5057 Ratings
5057 Ratings
9% Mixed
517 Ratings
517 Ratings
3% Negative
173 Ratings
173 Ratings
Nov 30, 2025
Half-Life is, without exaggeration, one of the most influential and impeccably crafted first-person shooters ever released. Even decades after its debut, the game remains a masterclass in environmental storytelling, pacing, and immersion. While many titles from its era have aged into relics, Half-Life endures as a timeless masterpiece—a game that feels just as compelling today as it did when it redefined the **** of Half-Life’s greatest achievements is how it builds narrative without relying on traditional cutscenes. Instead of taking control away from the player, it allows the story to unfold organically around you. From the iconic tram ride into Black Mesa to the chaotic aftermath of the resonance cascade, every moment is experienced firsthand. The player isn’t told what happens—they witness it. This approach creates an unparalleled sense of presence and makes Gordon Freeman feel less like a character you're controlling and more like an extension of yourself navigating a deteriorating world.Black Mesa itself is a triumph of level design and atmosphere. The research facility feels functional, believable, and alive in a way few game worlds had before. Laboratories pulse with alarms, hallways buckle under explosions, and scientists desperately cling to hope as the situation spirals out of control. The transitions between areas are seamless, allowing the game to maintain its momentum while giving players the sensation of progressing deeper into a sprawling complex. The pacing is immaculate—alternating between quiet tension, intense gunfights, environmental puzzles, and encounters with the horrifying creatures spilling in from Xen.Speaking of enemies, Half-Life’s AI was groundbreaking for its time and still holds up remarkably well. Marines flank, suppress, and retreat with surprising intelligence, forcing players to strategize rather than simply rely on reflex. The alien creatures, from headcrabs to vortigaunts to the terrifying gargantua, each bring their own unique threat. Combat is fast, dynamic, and satisfying, and the variety of enemies ensures the gameplay never feels **** weapon arsenal is another highlight. From the iconic crowbar to the experimental Tau Cannon and Gluon Gun, almost every weapon feels iconic and distinct. Valve managed to create tools that not only fit within the world of Black Mesa, but also deliver some of the most memorable gunplay of the era. Each shot carries weight, and the game avoids the pitfall of padding its arsenal with useless or redundant weapons.Then there’s Xen—the final chapters that have long divided fans. While less visually detailed than the rest of the game, Xen deserves recognition for its ambition. It offers strange geometry, bizarre physics, and environments that truly feel alien. More importantly, it breaks the monotony of another lab corridor and gives narrative meaning to the invasion, culminating in a surreal, unsettling confrontation with the **** sound design, voice acting, and sparse yet impactful soundtrack elevate the overall experience even further. Every scream, explosion, and alien shriek contributes to the oppressive atmosphere. The minimal use of music allows each track to stand out, emphasizing tension or victory at crucial moments.What sets Half-Life apart is how well all these elements combine into a cohesive whole. There are no filler levels, no tonally inconsistent sequences, no unnecessary features weighing the game down. Everything is crafted with intention. Everything serves the experience. It is a game born of visionary design, technical innovation, and bold storytelling choices that the industry still builds upon **** me, Half-Life deserves a perfect 10/10—not because it is flawless in a literal sense, but because it is flawless in its impact, ambition, and execution. It is a foundational masterpiece that every fan of the genre should experience at least once.
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PC It isn't everyday that you come across a game that totally revolutionizes an entire genre, but Half-Life has done just that.
Everything in this game is perfect, including the excellent characters and graphics, and the realistic sound effects. Half-Life is not a game, it is an adventure.
It constantly presents you with variety, surprises, and new challenges to keep you hooked. It is a tour de force in game design, the definitive single player game in a first person shooter.
Call in sick at work, unplug the phone, cancel all your plans, and prepare yourself for one of the most intense, exciting, and downright brilliant gaming experiences of your life.
Unfortunately, Half-Life’s puzzle-oriented play leads to some problems. On several occasions, you’ll be forced to make almost impossible jumps. The difficulty of such maneuvers finds you making 10, sometimes 15 attempts. The frustration distances you from a story that should have you absorbed.
Aug 21, 2025
O jogo segue uma trajetória mais frenética ao invés de focar no terror, se focasse no terror seria G.O.A.T.
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PC Mar 17, 2025
Es un clasico que en su momento presento ideas muy novedosas, pero que definitivamente ha envejecido. Vale la pena por vivir ese momento y tambien para jugar al segundo.
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PC Jun 7, 2025
Turns into a terrible game slowly as you progress. Ending and whole last 30% of the game are all terrible. It was promising.
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PC Summary Half-Life combines great storytelling in the tradition of Stephen King with intense action and advanced technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players need to think smart to survive. Half-Life has won more than 50 Game of the Year awards from publications around the world, and was named 'Best PC Game Ever' in PC Gamer...
Rated M for Mature
Platforms:
- PC
- Dreamcast
- PlayStation 2
Initial Release Date: Nov 19, 1998
Developer:
Publisher: Sierra Entertainment
Genres:
