HL2
Release Date: November 16, 2004
A sequel to the Valve Software's best-selling game that set new standards for the FPS genre back in 1998. Half-Life 2 is set several years after the events of the first game. Once again, the player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman – a doctor of physics who used to work in Black Mesa Labs, where an unfortunate incident opened a portal for alien life forms to invade the Earth.
A sequel to the excellent FPS from 1998. This new title was created by the same team who gave us the first Half-Life, the Valve Software company. The script for Half-Life 2 was written by the creator of the original story – Marc Laidlaw.
The PC version of the game primarily features a story-driven single player campaign, but also local and online multiplayer modes. Moreover, the developers provided a level editor, called Hammer, which allows for creation of mods and maps.
Gordon Freeman, the protagonist of the first Half-Life, reprises his role as the main character. This time the ex-employee of Black Mesa Labs visits City 17, where most of the story takes place. On the other side of the barricade we have Dr. Wallace Breen – a puppet governor of Earth, ruling under the authority of an alien, Combine, that took over control of our planet. A mysterious person, known as G-Man, tasks Dr. Freeman with overthrowing the invaders, in which he is aided by new allies: the Xen race (his former enemies from Half-Life) and Alyx Vance, a young woman fighting for the human resistance.
The game takes you through a variety of locations in or near the City 17: sewers, suburbs, prison, harbor, etc. While traversing the game’s world you have to constantly fight different types of enemies, starting with your “old-friends” Headcrabs, all the way to Antlions and law enforcers. Just as you did before, you fight your opponents with a variety of weapons: a crowbar, revolver, shotgun, futuristic cross-bow, or the gravity gun.
Half-Life 2 for PC, AND and XBX employs a new game engine, called Source, which generates not only 3D graphics, but also realistic physics. The technology introduces a certain degree of destructibility to the environments – many elements can be broken, destroyed or at least damaged. You can also use the in-game objects as either cover from enemy bullets or as weapons. Thanks to the ragdoll effect bodies of enemies fall down on the ground in a more realistic manner. Opponents are gifted with smart AI and are able to call in reinforcements, take cover, flank the player, etc.
Platforms:
PC Windows November 16, 2004
Xbox November 15, 2005
Android May 12, 2014
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Sierra
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City 17 has never looked better. We can now play two chapters of Half-Life 2 with full ray tracing and in 4K.
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March 18, 2025
The huge Dark Interval Part 2 mod for Half-Life 2 has been released, offering a multi-hour campaign built from ideas abandoned by the Valve studio.
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December 16, 2024
Half-Life 2 spoiled players with an update for the 20th anniversary of its release, but speedrunners had reason to complain. Fortunately, for a short time.
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November 29, 2024
We finally got a demo of Project Borealis, a free fan-made game that is supposed to replace the canceled Half-Life 2: Episode Three.
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November 13, 2024
Valve is busily updating the „test” version of Half-Life 2, which seems to confirm a sizable update for the 20th anniversary of the release of the iconic FPS.
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October 22, 2024
Thanks to an interview with the developers of Half-Life 2 RTX, we learned a number of more interesting things about this quasi-remaster of Valve's classic FPS.
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October 23, 2023
CS 2 debuted in the summer. At least according to the so-called Valve Time, and that, as usual, has little to do with actual calendar.
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September 29, 2023
Fans of Valve and those interested in the history of the gaming industry have quite an opportunity to celebrate. Never-before-released, archival concept arts from series such as: Half-Life, Left 4 Dead and Counter-Strike, have been released on the web.
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A talented user is working on a project introducing brand new graphic modes to Half-Life 2. The old title gains a new quality thanks to his work.
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Top downloads for Half-Life 2 Video Game:
game Half-Life 2 - Half-Life 2: Total Mayhem - September 7, 2004
trainer Half-Life 2 - + 19 trainer - August 29, 2007
demo Half-Life 2 - - December 21, 2004
mod Half-Life 2 - Opposing Force 2: Lost v.1.35 - January 11, 2018
mod Half-Life 2 - Smod: CryLife 1.5.8 - September 25, 2013
mod Half-Life 2 - Human Error v.1.0.6p - March 19, 2017
mod Half-Life 2 - Double Action: Boogaloo v.1.0 - November 22, 2013
trainer Half-Life 2 - +14 trainer - November 23, 2004
mod Half-Life 2 - Black Mesa: Black Ops v.1.0.0 - March 12, 2021
mod Half-Life 2 - No More Room in Hell 1.06 - February 25, 2013
System Requirements for Half-Life 2 Video Game:
PC / Windows
Recommended System Requirements:
Pentium 4 2.4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, graphic card 64 MB (GeForce 4 Ti4400 or better), 4.5 GB HDD, Windows 98/Me/2000/XP.
Android
Requirements:
Nvidia Shield Tablet / Shield Portable
List of Game Expansions for Video Game:
Expansion
October 10, 2007
Action
The second official expansion pack to Half-Life 2 that shows the following adventures of the two characters known from the previous installments – Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance. This time the action focuses on the secret data which the two protagonists obtained while escaping from alien citadel. In this episode the player visits much more varied locations (forests, a military base and an abandoned mine). The developers introduced a new 2-person vehicle and a completely new weapon. Additionally, the distinctive Gravity Gun received some completely new abilities. It can be used for example against Hunters, the new type of small but quite troublesome enemies. As for the technical and gameplay matters, Episode Two doesn’t change anything, instead employing the well received solutions known from previous installments. It is worth mentioning that the in-game riddles have become much harder.
Gamepressure
Steam
Users
Expansion
June 1, 2006
Action
The first expansion to Half-Life 2. Its action takes place directly after the events shown in the predecessor and expands the storyline with new plots. Once more the player becomes the main protagonist of the series: Gordon Freeman, accompanied, once again, by Alyx Vance. The two characters are tasked with escaping from an alien citadel – the place where the basic version of the game ended. During the game, the player meets many characters known from previous installments of the series and has to face not only the soldiers of the Combine, but new types of enemies as well. As for the game mechanics, the game is filled with all the elements thanks to which Half-Life 2 was successful – including a large dose of action, hard puzzles, and narrative cutscenes. The Source Engine was improved with a set of new effects that improved the game's visuals. In contrast to the original game, the expansion is focused mostly on single player experience.
Steam
Users
Expansion
cancelled
Action
The third expansion for Half-life 2, sequel to one of the most acclaimed first-person shooters, developed by Valve and released in 2004. Initially, Half-Life 2: Episode Three was supposed to be issued directly after the previous two episodes, released in years 2006 and 2007, but the project was canceled for unknown reasons. Story-wise, it was to be a continuation of the events presented by its predecessors and to bring a closure to many unresolved plots from the entire trilogy (e.g. events concerning the legendary Borealis ship and the technology found therein, all of which were to be destroyed by Gordon Freeman, the main protagonist). At the end of Episode Two, Freeman and his companion, Alyx, fly to Antarctica to find out what happened in the base located therein and why was it attacked by the Combine. Episode Three was supposed to provide explanations.
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![[1:09] RTX trailer](https://cdn.gracza.pl/galeria/filmy/640x360/1077902265.jpg)
