What’s great about Half-Life 2?

After the events at the Black Mesa Research Facility, humanity demands help, it demands the return of Gordon Freeman… Let’s explore what makes Half-Life 2 great and what new things it brought to the gaming world.

What Makes Half-Life 2 Great?

First and foremost, the game captivates with its diversity, style, and atmosphere. In this shooter, there is no monotonous, boring scenery; events change rapidly. Chases through sewage mazes are followed by flights on airships. You’ll explore abandoned houses, assist priests in fending off zombies, storm prisons – the story is full of vibrant colors.

While other shooter-style games try to emulate movies like “Alien” or “Star Wars,” Half-Life 2 is something entirely original. The architecture and interior design of City 17’s buildings strongly resemble post-Soviet homes, adding realism with native-language signs.

Another plus is the natural locations and their interactivity. You can throw barrels, crates, bricks, and interact with various objects in real-time. During a Journey to the next mission, the hero can suddenly deviate from the path, explore nearby buildings, and discover ammunition or encounter zombies and other surprises. There are elements of an open world that provide a sense of freedom and reward curiosity.

Regarding characters, it’s worth noting the stunning facial animations during dialogues, making them memorable and endearing.

Influence on the Gaming Industry

The main contributions of Half-Life 2 to the gaming world are:

• Diverse gameplay;
• Interesting characters;
• Interactive environment.

Half-Life 2 became a kind of benchmark for the FPS gaming genre. Other developers, such as Naughty Dog and Irrational Games, openly admit drawing inspiration from Half-Life. They strive to make their games equally diverse in terms of storyline with equally dynamic gameplay.

When it comes to character creation, there were also elements borrowed. In particular, the charming Alyx Vance served as the prototype for Elizabeth in the game BioShock Infinite. Furthermore, this 2004 shooter was the first truly interactive game with freedom of choices and actions, paving the way for others.

If one were to look for something to criticize, the weak artificial intelligence could be mentioned. But is it worth it? After all, the game surpassed the original in all parameters. Considering the enigmatic ending, one can expect a continuation of the story soon, which is something to look forward to.