Anthony's Film Review - Half-Life 2 (Video Game, 2004)

The sequel to one of the best video games ever made is just as thrilling and exciting...

In 1998, Valve Software released its groundbreaking first-person shooter video game Half-Life. It dramatically took the genre to the next level, with its smooth gameplay, advanced artificial intelligence for enemies, a continuous gameplay environment not broken up into separate levels, and storytelling during the gameplay itself. The game was so awesome that 50 video game publications, if not more, declared it Game of the Year. A game like this ought to have a sequel.

It would take six years for that to happen, but at least it's because the developers at Valve needed time to make the next game a real improvement over its predecessor. There are really just two technical achievements about Half-Life 2 worth mentioning here. One is the graphics. They're breathtakingly realistic. The other is the programming of the laws of physics into the game. This enables things like using heavy objects to activate mechanisms, light refraction in water, and bullet holes in windows at the spots where they are shot.

As for the story, you as the player once again assume the role of physicist Gordon Freeman. It has been years since the events at Black Mesa in the previous Half-Life. In fact, almost nothing is said about what happened in the interim. As Gordon, you are thrust right into the story of Half-Life 2. You are somewhere in Europe in a place called City 17, as the citizens of Earth are passing through checkpoints one by one, overseen by an alien race called the Combine and a villainous scientist named Dr. Breen. However, a member of the resistance meets you, and you are given the task of escaping and meeting up with resistance allies.

Those allies include Eli Vance, a former Black Mesa scientist, and his daughter Alyx. The adventure later becomes complicated as Eli gets abducted by the Combine, and it's up to you and Alyx to save him, in addition to thwarting whatever scheme the Combine have in domination of planet Earth. Gordon's journey will take him through places like canals that require a speedboat for rapid transport, a highway with plenty of obstacles, and a town full of zombies. Speaking of enemies, you can also expect to encounter the familiar Headcrabs, two frightening Headcrab variants, and Antlions that burrow through the ground, not to mention the Combine forces themselves.

Going back to the gameplay, you will find plenty of weapons at your disposal. First and foremost, you have a crowbar, the same initial weapon as in the first Half-Life game. Over time, you'll pick up pistols, machine guns, and grenades. Then there is the coolest weapon of all because of its versatility: the Gravity Gun. It has two basic functions: the pull function to grab something from afar or at least pull it along, and the push function to hurl a grabbed object or push another object. Think of all the things you can do with it: grab explosive barrels and hurl them at enemy crowds, push a wrecked car into an enemy, retrieve a heavy object to solve a puzzle, and much more.

The result is a game that is as exciting, if not more exciting, than the first Half-Life game. The story is very good, the graphics are amazing, and the gameplay experience is just outstanding. I will admit that, although I was dying to play this game upon its release, I didn't actually play it for the first time until several years later. Still, I can understand what it must be like to purchase the game upon release and dive into it for the very first time. The best words to sum it up: awesome, breathtaking, and very satisfying.

(Note: Half-Life 2 is followed by Half-Life 2: Episode One and Half-Life 2: Episode Two, both of which continue the story and adventure beyond Half-Life 2. Consider my review above to also apply to the two follow-up episodes.)

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Half-Life 2, visit the Internet Movie Database and Moby Games.

In addition, check out my reviews of Half Life, Half Life: Opposing Force, and Half Life: Blue Shift.