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Xbox | Action | Half-Life 2

Boxart for Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 72 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 5.0
  • SOUND: 5.0
  • CONTROL: 4.5
  • FUN FACTOR 4.5
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.7
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.6
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

Review: Half-Life 2

Review by Sid Shuman | 11/14/2005 | 11:35:50 AM PST

Half-Life 2 is a stunningly accurate recreation of the PC powerhouse, and is only held back by the lack of Xbox Live multiplayer.

Gordon Freeman, Xbox players. Xbox players, Gordon Freeman. Now that introductions are out of the way, we don't have to waste any more time in describing how Half-Life 2 on the Xbox kicks total ass. If you're an action junkie, have we got a game for you.

Have Crowbar, Will Travel
On the PC, Half-Life 2 titillated players with its mysterious post-apocalyptic storyline, which saw Earth under the control of an unexplained paramilitary force known only as the Combine. But for PC players, Half-Life 2 was not only a great playing game, it was a great looking game, the very definition of a bleeding-edge visual experience.

So one of our first questions was how much Valve had to re-work Half-Life 2 in order to make it perform on the modest Xbox hardware. Valve's Doug Lombardi's simple reply was that "the goal was to deliver the entire single player game in as high fidelity as possible." Boy, he's not kidding: aside from a few tiny changes, Half-Life 2 on the Xbox is the PC game, right down to the last spattered droplets of alien blood. Half-Life 2's graphics set new standards for the Xbox, blowing right past heavyweights like Doom 3 and Halo 2. And we're happy to report that Half-Life 2's framerate stays rock-solid, only crapping out during enormous explosions or massive action scenes. Considering the level of visual decadence on display, these brief lapses are forgivable.

For Sale: $3,000 Gaming PC
History has demonstrated that porting a PC shooter to a console control scheme is seldom a painless process, and Half-Life 2 doesn't get away without a few bumps and bruises. For example, the game's blistering movement speed is awfully fast by Xbox standards--until you get adjusted, it seems like Gordon runs at roughly 110 MPH. And little hassles, like getting snagged when climbing off ladders, add an extra layer of frustration. But otherwise, Half-Life 2 makes the leap to the Xbox controller in surprisingly fine form. Halo players will feel right at home in Gordon's HazMat suit.

Half-Life 2's single-player storyline hops straight to the top of the Xbox FPS heap, but the lack of extra content is a definite downer. If you were hoping for online multiplayer modes or split-screen cooperative play, you'll be disappointed. Still, playing Half-Life 2 for the first time is a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you haven't play Half-Life 2 yet, this is the perfect opportunity. Half-Life 2 is undoubtedly a contender for Xbox Action Game of the Year.

KEY MOMENT: Launching an explosive barrel down the gaping maw of a headcrab shambler. KA-BOOOOSH!


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