Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8377 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sierra
• Released on: 2005-08-23
• Platforms: Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows Me, Windows XP

Amazon.co.uk Review
There can be few titles in gaming history that were more eagerly anticipated (and more consistently delayed) than Half-Life 2. The original Half-Life was one of the most influential first-person shoot-'em-ups ever made, with its amazing story-led gameplay and incredible artificial intelligence--this sequel follows in the same proud tradition. As with the first game you play resourceful scientist Gordon Freeman as he attempts to fight back against an alien invasion from another dimension. In the years that have passed since the first game the world governments have become ever more despotic in the face of the threat and Gordon once again finds himself fighting both human and alien foes.

Even more so than the original, what sets Half-Life 2 apart from the rest is its incredible technology--stunningly realistic graphics, amazing real world physics and highly adaptive AI. In combining all three elements, the game offers an almost infinite variety. One minute you find yourself being hunted down by Special Forces, using furniture to block doorways and throwing grenades to dislodge container crates and squish unsuspecting bad guys, the next you'll be stalking zombies through an abandoned village or fighting giant War of the Worlds styled tripods with the resistance movement and using a tractor beam gun to capture chunks of masonry and fling it at your enemies.

Half-Life 2 allows all this and more and could very well be the first game to actually exceed its hype, never mind just live up to it.--David Jenkins

From the Manufacturer
1998: Half-Life sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. Valve's debut title wins more than 50 game-of-the-year awards on its way to being named "Best PC Game Ever" by PC Gamer, and launches a franchise with more than eight million retail units sold worldwide.

Now: Half-Life 2. By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around him, from the physical environment to the behaviors--even the emotions--of both friends and enemies.

The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people--people he cares about--are counting on him.

Half-Life 2 defines a new benchmark in gaming with startling realism and responsiveness. The intense, real-time gameplay is powered by Source, Valve's new proprietary engine technology, which provides major enhancements in character animation, artificial intelligence, graphics, and more.

In addition to a limited-edition DVD-ROM version of Half-Life 2, this Collector's Edition also includes:

Customer Reviews

Just so you know
This pack, contrary to what a review a couple down, does NOT come with Day of Defeat Source, and unless you want the tin, and the shirt, (which I have, its a nice shirt) its actually better to get the Game Of The Year edition, as you need less updates, and its cheaper, but thats just my opinion. Either way, Half Life 2 is AMAZING, its simply the best FPS on the PC, or on any format. CounterStrike, which also comes with this is the most popular online shooter out there, and is so adictive it hurts. Also, this game has huge support for mods, so you can keep using it for months, or even years.

rather than giving you the illusion of free choice
from begining to the end this game does not disapoint,from the loading screens that slowly blur into focus to the emotive story and gameplay this game will grip you like nothing else and puts all other pc developers to shame.You will need a internet connection but in the six months i have owned the deluxe package which includes HALFLIFE2,HALFLIFE,COUNTERSTRIKE,HALFLIFE2 DEATHMATH these products have been constantly updated and enhanced by valve via steam.Not only that but unlike a lot of other lazy pc games this game does not require a mega powerful pc to run,mines a amd64 1.8 ghz ati128mb x300 with 512mb of ddr ram and the game runs smoothly with no framerate issues and graphics on par with the xbox360.Anyway back to the game if you loved and played the original game back in 1998 your know what a landmark title this was and how it still holds up today putting a lot of etablished franchises to shame,this sequel carries on that fine tradition and is just as acessible if you are new to the series.Valve have learned from the mistakes of many games in this genre and also have taken all the good points vehicles,ai,physics and narrative and produced a game that does not patronise the player and handleds the plot and structure in a mature way that is fresh and compelling.You can tell valve are huge fans of ico with grand open out door areas that are a joy to look at as well as interact with.I do not want to spoil the game to much as i feel it should be discovered but if like me you have become more dispondent with games this game will remind you why you got into games into the first place with great graphics great sound superb physics and superb plot.Many have bemoaned STEAM feeling it is a breach of there privacy but the love and thought that has gone into this game is breathtaking and i feel it might be another five years till such grand ambition is matched.Buy it this is how all fps games should be made and this game will leave an impression long after the closing credits.SO WAKE UP MR FREEMAN WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ASHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Half life 2 F**KIN RULES!
Wot a game, one of the best games iv ever played, Plus u get counter strike source, which is worth the money itself.

The bonus pack is pretty cool, its quite a big case aswell. The t-shirt is alright, not my thing , so i would never wear it, but its good to own, collecters item :P. The book you get is quite good, it shows the artwork and 3d images of loads of characters and monsters, its pretty cool, especially if you would want to sketch them yourself.

BUY IT! :P