Half-Life 2 is developed by Valve and released on November 16th, 2004.
It's the continuation of the first Half-Life which was released on November 19, 1998.
The development started six months after the release of the original on June 1999.
Six long years of development that led to an absolute masterpiece and a revolution in PC games.

Half-Life 2 starts around 20 years after the unforeseen consequences that happended in Black Mesa.
Earth is invaded by the Combine, an alien force that has established law and order everywhere, by enslaving humans.
The Citadel is the core and embassy of their empire.
The former administrator of Black Mesa negotiated the surrender of the Earth to end the Sever Hour War.
It all begins in City 17, on the very beginning of the rebellion, the scientist arrives at the right time to lead the resistance.
He's guided by the leaders of the Revolution: a scientist colleague and his daughter,
the owner of the laboratory and a former security guard who infiltrated the Civil Protection.
The "Free Man" is seen as a messiah, he must go to the "Black Mesa East" lab.
He then goes to a colleague's laboratory to teleport to this important destination,
However an unexpected event prevents him from teleporting, so he has to fight his first enemies.
Once arriving at the destination, the scientist must then meet other important Scientists and Rebels to coordinate and organize the Rebellion.
In this laboratory there will be a weapon that changes everything you can imagine: a weapon that manipulates gravity.
This tool is essential for all subsequent events.
A tragedy occurs, the leader of the Resistance is kidnapped by enemy armed forces, the base is destroyed and a huge detour begins in a dangerous city.
The Resistance's leader is detained in a high security prison,
The main protagonist must then take the road of the coast, which is very dangerous because of the giant hostile insects.
Thanks to his allies and their skills, these same insects temporarily become an friendly in ordeer to enter the prison to save the leader of the Resistance
However, this does not go as planned.
The teleportation planned in the laboratory takes place without the rescue of the leader of the Resistance,
because one of our allies diverted his destination to send him towards the Citadel.
The teleporter explodes. Then a week later once arrived at the laboratory, the Resistance learn the news and the final mission begins.
The scientist crosses the ruins of City 17 to get to the Citadel.
Unfortunately an important person was kidnapped and also sent to the citadel.
The city is a battlefield where the Combine and Rebels fight each other fiercely and mercilessly.
Once arrived in the Citadel after immense battles, the scientist infiltrates and advances with great determination.
He has to save the Resistance, destroy the Citadel, and save the World.

The most important characters are:
Gordon Freeman is the character we play in the adventure, a scientist from Black Mesa.
Alyx Vance the daughter of Eli Vance also a scientist chief of the Resistance.
Dog, Alyx's protective robot built by her father.
Isaac Kleiner is a scientist too, He works in a secret laboratory, he's the close friend of Gordon, Barney, Eli & Alyx.
Barney Calhoun was formerly a security agent, is now a spy to help the resistance.
Odessa Cubbage is the head of the Resistance armed forces in the coast area.
Judith Mossman is a double agent whose consequences will go far.
Father Grigori is a survivor in the town of Ravenholm, a guide who helps Gordon escape from the haunted town.
Wallace Breen was the once administrator of Black Mesa, he's now leader of the earth head of the Combine force on the planet.
We have no information about the G-Man.

There is lot of people in game.
Our allies from the Resistance are the Civilians and the Vortigaunts.
Everyone else is hostile.
The Combine Soldiers are determined to annihilate the Resistance.
The Combine have Metropolice (Civil Protection or CP) Soldiers, Elite Soldiers, Snipers, Striders, Dropships, Gunships, Helicopters, Turrets, City Scanners, Manhacks, Roller Mines...
In lost and destroyed areas you'll find: Headcrabs, Zombies, Fast Headcrabs, Poison Headcrabs, Poison Zombies, Barnacles, Antlions, Antlion Guards…
The danger is truly everywhere.
When you think you are in a safe area, you are not.

The places are very diverse and varied.
The weather that accompanies them makes them unique.
City 17 has a brutalist and Soviet architecture mixed with futuristic technology.
Here's the different kinds of scenery you'll met:
Urban ​​environment, a Haunted City, Canals, a Coast, a Prison, and technological places.
The Combine architecture is futuristic, robotic, imposing and impressive at the same time.

You can drive two vehicles:
The first the Airboat, useful to navigate on the hazardous environments of the Canals.
The second is a buggy, with which you will drive along the coast road to Nova Prospekt.

Each place has very distinct interesting sounds, the ambiance is perfect.
All the music composed by Kelly Bailey is perfect. I love each one of the tracks.
Whether it's ambient or combat music, everything fits the situation perfectly.
The combat music gives you chills, you know you're going to have a great time.
Each music offerse an unforgettable moment.
My top 5 favorite tracks are: CP Violation, Dark Energy, Kaon, LG Orbifold, You're Not Supposed to Be Here.
Listen to them on Steam, the musics are free if you have the game.

Gordon will use a lot of Weapons and Tools in his mission.
The first tool is the Crowbar, from Half-Life 1.
The Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator (or Gravity Gun), is a tool which is used to move objects at a long distance,
it's also useful for carrying heavy objects, stacking them, bringing objects towards you in order to protect you, and it's great against the Combine technology.
The USP Match Pistol is the deterrent weapon used by the City 17 militia.
The 357 Magnum, is a weapon of choice: powerful, precise and light capable of killing an enemy squad without the need to reload.
The Resistance Crossbow is as useful as a sniper rifle thanks to it's scope.
The Bugbait is insect bait, used for commanding Antlions, but it doesn't work on the Antlions Guards.
The MP7 is submachine gun, the defense weapon for the Metrocops & Soldiers. It's secondary fire throws a grenade.
The SPAS-12 is the Soldiers' Shotgun. When they hold it, they run in front of you for close combat.
The Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle (AR2), is the assault rifle of Soldiers and Elite Soldiers, it's secondary fire which disintegrates everything in its path.
The RPG is "our best bet for taking down" the Gunships and Striders, the rocket will follow the laser guide.
The Grenade has a red light and make a beep sound.
There are weapons we can use but we Don't have in inventory.
The airboat will have an helicopter turret with 100 ammo, the weapon's energy automatically recharges after firing.
The buggy has the Tau Cannon, an electric weapon. You can shoot it infinitely and the secondary fire if you keep pressing the mouse is a shot that takes longer and is more powerful.
In fortified places there are AR2 playable turrets which have no recoil and infinite ammunition.
There are weapons we can't have and use too.
The Stunstick is the militia's electric baton to suppress rebellious citizens.
The Laser Tripmine, is an explosive which traps the premises thanks to its laser, the slightest contact and the mine explodes.

Half-Life 2 is a huge adventure that takes around 7 hours to play, from start to finish.
The game earned over 35 "Game of the Year" Awards and the it has very low price nowadays.
Every time I beat the game, I get chills and tears in my eyes because the game is so perfect.
Times flies, it's an old game, but my love for Half-Life 2 will only grow as the years go by.
HL2 is my greatest inspiration, this is the game of my heart.
Thank You Valve.