There can be few titles in gaming history that have been 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, and this sequel promises to follow in the same proud tradition with a game that will set the pace for years to come.

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--the preview code we've seen so far displays 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 turn out to be the first game to actually exceed its hype, never mind just live up to it. Here's hoping.--David Jenkins

This preview is based on an incomplete version of the game; features or problems mentioned above may not appear in the finished game.

OK, first things first, if you have an Xbox 360, get The Orange Box, or if you have a powerful enough PC, get the PC version, they're better and offer more.

THAT BEING SAID...

When you consider the system it's running on, this is an amazing achievement. Sure, the frame rate can drop, and it looks worse than the other versions I mentioned, but it still looks very nice, and plays incredibly well.

If you can only play this on the Xbox, please do yourself a favour and get it.

This is a good game, no question, and definitley woerth buying. But the real question is; Is it better than the original.

Things it has (and the original lacks).
- Wide, immersive landscapes.
- Extremly powerfull (Source) physics engine.
- Far superior graphics.
- Real use of vehicles.

Things it lacks (and the original has mastered).
- Use of puzzles in gameplay.
- Really simple, easy to get into, but strong plot.
- Less revolutionary.
- Good (or decent) AI.

Both games are very good, and this sequel is better than most sequels - but it does not outdo the original. A large chunk of the original's charm has been lost, replaced by graphics,

Play the original first, then trey this.

It was just awesome! i just completed it after a total of 12 hours of gameplay and i loved every second. Im not usually patient enough to play long-winded story-lined games, but this is ... exceptional. BUY IT!!!

the first time i put this game in the console i realized straght away this game is going to be remembered like halo and gears of war. the graphics for the time when it came out was jaw dropping. the game play was near to perfection, it was just like as if you are actually in the game real life phychics. full of wonders.

This IS the greatest game ever. Period.
Its a game that has immersion for the player. By that I mean that the charecter you play is called Gordan Freeman, yet you never see him or hear him speak . You feel as if you are the player. Someone mentioed that the loading times are a gripe. Please, see them for what they are. Loading times at 12 seconds for massive, open ended, physics based level. Also, adding to the immersion factor with NO CUTSCENES!!!

Secondly, Valve have implemented one of the greatest FPS levels in a game ever. The level "We dont go to Ravenholm" is a purposeful ode to Survival horror games, and is stunning. Graphically and atmosphercally.

This game is technically superb and deserves your upmost devotion.

Please buy and enjoy.