About this product

Product Information

Enter the fascinating world of "Half-Life 2" and follow the story of Gordon Freeman, the scientist-turned-marine who managed to escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility. In "Half-Life 2," Gordon is brought into the future by the mysterious G-Man. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones all in an attempt to stop the evil Combine. Join and eventually lead the Lambda Resistance as you uncover mysterious secrets that could shape the world.Though the game starts out as a first-person shooter, this 15-hour adventure from Valve offers a lot of variety. You'll drive cars, pilot boats, sneak through abandoned buildings, and solve puzzles. Just when you start to master one activity, "Half-Life 2" introduces something new. Like most first-person shooter games, you'll upgrade your weaponry on a regular basis. Value has given Gordon Freeman his trusty crowbar to start the game. Later, you'll wield shotguns and rocket launchers. However, Valve introduces one weapon that revolutionizes the genre: the gravity gun. One of the standout parts of "Half-Life 2," the gravity gun allows you to pull objects toward you or push them away. For example, you can pull a sharp metal pole toward you and then shoot it toward an enemy. With this gun, anything around you becomes a weapon. Boxes, debris, and even corpses all make high-powered projectiles. You'll use this gun to solve a variety of puzzles as well. You'll frequently need to manipulate the environment to escape dastardly traps or help your friends.You'll be glad you have advanced weapons as the Valve Corporation throws everything they've got at the player. Enemies from the original "Half Life" return along with new Combine forces. You'll fight headcrabs in alien-infested lairs along with giant mechanized forces of death. The play is intense, and you'll be on the edge of your seat throughout the entire game."Half-Life 2" still looks as amazing today as it did after its release date in 2004. This look is due to the Source Engine, the versatile graphics engine on which the game is built. Gabe Newell and his crew developed this engine specifically for the game. "Half-Life 2" features incredible detail, especially when it comes to human faces. When it comes to creating frightening alien-infested environments, this tech will create something that chills you to the bone. The Source graphic technology can also serve up some intense action without comprising the quality of the visuals. The included game editor allows the creation of mods, maps, and level editing using the same technology. The publisher has also added multiplayer modes. There is nothing quite like eight friends running around a map shooting gravity-powered projectiles at each other.The sound quality of "Half-Life 2" is just as good as the visuals. An award-winning soundtrack plays throughout the game, and the ambient sounds add life to every level, especially when you're in the swamp. The voice actors from the original "Half-Life" reprise their roles once again in "Half-Life 2.""Half-Life 2" won multiple Game of the Year awards when it released, and it's easy to see why. It combines an intelligent story with fast-paced action.