I wasn't very impressed with Half-Life, but I was eager to check out its sequel. And let me tell you... this game is a GIGANTIC step up from the predecessor. There's pretty much no BS from the first game, the level design is thoughtful, and at times, clever. The gameplay in general is engaging, with a mix of great gunplay with a decent selection of weapons to play with, and some light puzzle elements, and a good mechanical variety, like the Squad mechanic towards the end, or vehicle parts. The game's biggest feature is its physics. The objects react in a somewhat realistic way, I like how you can use some objects such as explosive barrels against enemies, but the enemies themselves can use their surroundings against you. And, of course, there's a Gravity Gun that amplifies the use of object physics, allowing to throw objects with a greater force against enemies and draw the objects towards Gordon. It's not overpowered however, as there aren't always heavy objects around or it's not always convinient to use, and I have to say that the weapon balance is ace, I used every weapon acquired throughout the game. The game features locations that are far more memorable and varied than the first game (like Ravenholm and how it's a legitimately creepy area, a dark and hostile territory you don't want to be in). The story is solid too, I can understand the appeal of the minimalist storytelling of the first game, but I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the presentation, aside from the fact that you don't get to the action as quick. The characters are well animated, and the voice acting is good. Lastly, the ladders aren't jank! This is a game that I can actually see being called a masterpiece. While I had my moments of frustration, they weren't really the game's fault, but mostly me being dumb or my fatigue. I can see this game getting better on repeat playthroughs, I mean this is true for most games, but still. If you didn't like Half-Life the first (which is a minority it seems), I highly recommend Half-Life 2. Heck, I can recommend this game to anyone. It's simply a quality game.

Black Mesa improves on the level design, pacing, and first-person controls of the original Half Life. It's a much more enjoyable experience.

The Xen chapter had the most drastic improvement, although it overstayed its welcome. I wish they had done away with hitscan weapons and enemies. Performance was all over the place, even on a powerful PC.

For those new to the Half Life series, I'd still recommend the original game with some mods installed (like MMOD for example).

A solid improvement over the Chaos Rising expansion, and similar in fun factor to DoW 2.

There are six playable races in total, each with their own campaign. I've only completed the Tyranid campaign in co-op, which was a lot of fun.

They've also improved the leveling system. There are no more incremental stat upgrades. Instead, each skill point spent unlocks a skill. A single galaxy map screen was a welcome addition, as it saved unnecessary transitions between planets.

I'd recommend this game to Warhammer 40K fans and people who are remotely interested in the RTS genre.

Despite being a bit generic, I still have a soft spot for this game. If you're playing on the PC, be sure to download the startup crash fix from PCGamingWiki.

The time manipulation powers are a standout. You can slow down, stop, and reverse time. Expect to use the slow and stop time abilities a lot. The reverse time ability is mostly needed for puzzles. I felt it was a missed opportunity the way it was implemented. I think it would have been more fun if the reverse time ability created a pre-recorded clone of the player, similar to the Blynx games.

Some weapons are interesting and fun to use. Gunplay is tight, but as other players have noted, the game can be challenging. You'll have to rely on save scumming and time abilities quite a bit.

You can tell they were inspired by Half Life 2. Just replace alien portals with time travel, with some cyberpunk aesthetics thrown in. I didn't see that as a negative.

I also liked the graphics. It comes from the era when programmable shaders were all the rage. There are some really cool looking effects and surfaces. Most objects can be affected by physical forces. The lighting is also dynamic. I hate screen space effects and thankfully this game predates them.

If you want a decent shooter from the late 00s, there are worse options.

Half Life 2 hasn't aged a day. I was surprised at how well it held up almost 20 years after its original release. Nostalgia has nothing to do with it - it's just that good.

Every single aspect of the original Half Life has been improved in the sequel. The gameplay is tighter, the visuals are better, the story and atmosphere are more compelling. I could go on and on. It may come across as bitter, but playing HL2 in the current gaming landscape was a breath of fresh air.

I do have a few nitpicks, but they are minor. Mostly pacing issues in some missions and a few frustrating encounters, especially towards the end. Still, it doesn't detract from the overall experience. Everyone should play it at least once.

Half Life set a template for many FPS games to come. It's a seamless experience from start to finish, with very few interruptions. The plot and premise are interesting and are unraveled through the gameplay. The visuals, while dated, still convey a very convincing atmosphere. The soundtrack is excellent, though used very sparingly. The shooting feels good, and the humanoid enemies are a decent challenge. There are a lot of good ideas here.

However, I found the experience very frustrating throughout. The first-person controls feel very slippery, like walking on ice. This wouldn't be such a problem if it weren't for the numerous platforming sections throughout the game. I ended up dying more from failed jumps than from enemy encounters. It can also be difficult to tell where to go or what to do next, as the game does a poor job of communicating this to the player.

This would have been a near perfect game with a few tweaks. I still recognize the pivotal role this game played in advancing the genre, but I cannot ignore its shortcomings. Fortunately, its two expansions and sequel improve upon the original in many ways.