Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter developed by Valve, released in 2004. It is the sequel to the iconic Half-Life and set a new standard for the genre with its physics, storytelling, and interactivity.
The player returns as Gordon Freeman, this time in a dystopian world controlled by the alien Combine empire. Instead of cutscenes, the story unfolds in real time through dialogues, events, and the environment. The major technical breakthrough was the Source engine's physics system: objects follow physical laws, forming the basis for many puzzles and combat situations.
Half-Life 2 blends shooting, environmental interaction, narrative, and drama - from saving allies to driving vehicles and using the gravity gun as a primary weapon. The atmosphere, pacing, and attention to detail made it one of the most influential games in history.
Today, Half-Life 2 remains a foundation of the modding scene. Thanks to the Source SDK, the community has created hundreds of projects - from story-driven mods to total conversions and technical enhancements. Sequels, fan campaigns, and even entirely new games have been built on HL2’s framework, including the iconic Garry’s Mod.
Half-Life 2 is not just a sequel - it's a creative platform that has inspired generations of players and developers.
References
Recommended Files
Half-Life: Vertigo ModHalf-Life (1998)
Half-Life: Vertigo Mod is a total conversion of Half-Life on the GoldSrc engine, recreating the atmosphere of the cut "Vertigo" level from Half-Life 2.
Crack-Life | RemodHalf-Life (1998)
Crack-Life | Remod - HD pack for the Crack-Life mod. It improves some models, textures, sounds, sprites and interface.
The Rise From The AshesCommand & Conquer: Tiberian Sun (1999)
The Rise From The Ashes is a mod for C&C Tiberian Sun that adds a new campaign of 11 missions. The story unfolds years after the First Tiberium War, but before the events of Tiberian Sun: GDI faces a mysterious enemy, while NOD gradually rebuilds its forces. The player will alternate control between both sides of the conflict.
Half-Life: Residual Life - Super Defintion PackHalf-Life (1998)
Half-Life: Residual Life - Super Definition Pack - HD texture pack for the Residual Life mod.
Half-Life Blue Shift: MModHalf-Life (1998)
Half-Life: Blue Shift: MMod is an add-on that allows you to play the Blue Shift campaign with the enhancements and mechanics of Half-Life: MMod.
