On November 16, 2024, “Half-Life 2” celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Despite its advanced age, Valve's first-person shooter continues to make players dream.
“When it came out, I rediscovered the genre.” When we question the players of Half-Life 2a feeling constantly returns: it left its mark on those who were able to play it at the time of its launch, as well as years later.
Twenty years after its chaotic launch on November 16, 2004, which came several months late due to a leak of its code, Half-Life 2 remains well anchored in memories. Its arrival in stores also coincides with the start of the expansion of Steam, Valve's PC game distribution platform, which is now essential.
Innovative scriptwriting, even in 2024
Half-Life 2 is the sequel to a cult first-person shooter, and yet it even managed to convince those who had not necessarily adhered to the original formula. We find Gordon Freeman, returning from several years in limbo, and arriving by train in City 17. This capital city is now in the hands of the Cartel, an enemy from another planet, who wants to impose his dictatorship. But quickly, you take part in the local resistance.
“The story seems simple and classic when you start the adventure, but you are very quickly caught up in an unhealthy atmosphere, which resonates even more today. When you think about it, the scenario is still just as modern,” he tells Tech&Co Olivier, who bought the game when it launched in 2004.
Dozens of biomes, endless weapons and sensations never seen before, very advanced facial animations for the time and above all crazy physics, Half-Life 2 and its in-house engine, Source, offer incredible freedom for fans of first-person shooter games.
“Half-Life 2 was also the first game to tell its story beyond dialogue, beyond cutscenes; we actually discover that most of its universe is explained to us via the environment,” explains Grégoire, a big fan of the franchise.
A big return expected thanks to Nvidia
Beyond Gordon Freeman who must save the Earth from a real Cartel invasion, we find here and there essential elements of the franchise's universe, with subtle reminders of the events of the first episode – including the explosion of the laboratory which serves as a start-up Half-Life.
Although since then, many games have taken up the idea of telling the story in another way, such as DestinyValve's work continues to fascinate: “I think Valve showed that you could be a shooter and at the same time tell a real story”, confides Olivier.
If the game has naturally become a bit dated, with very geometric decorations, far from those of a Bioshock, Half-Life 2 offers players great diversity. Infiltration, a little horror, exploration, explosions, hovercraft races, things to destroy, all with a gun playing with gravity… An explosive cocktail that works fantastically.
It is therefore not surprising that, twenty years after its release, Half-Life 2 is preparing for the arrival of a “remaster”, a revisiting of its atmosphere thanks to ray-tracing, which allows modern lighting effects managed in real time.
Half-Life 2 Remixthis is the name of this project which does not yet have a release date but which will be distributed for free if you own the original game. It is the fruit of a small team of amateur developers, who were able to benefit from financial support from Nvidia. The result is breathtaking, and even if textures have also been revised, it will undoubtedly benefit the continuation of the legend that represents Half-Life 2.
The curse of “3”
At the end of the adventure, Valve continued its story with two episodes serving as an extension. Ending with a twist, Half-Life 2: Episode Two never got a sequel, and 17 years later the joke is that Valve never liked the number 3.
No Portal 3, Left 4 Dead 3also no Team Fortress 3the curse of “3” therefore logically affects Half-Life. But 16 years after the release of Half-Life 2Valve nevertheless launched Half-Life: Alyxa spin-off putting us in the shoes of Alyx Vance (who accompanies Gordon in the second opus) and playable in virtual reality.
“Half-Life Alyx comes to kick off the world of virtual reality games, and even if it's nice to be on Alyx's side and to see that Valve hasn't forgotten her saga, that's just one simple appetizer for the fans,” regrets Grégory.
The conclusion of this slightly different episode nevertheless reshuffles the cards and significantly modifies the end ofEpisode Twoas a final wink from Valve to players desperately waiting for a real sequel. Mr. Freeman, it's time to wake up…
