This game is the perfect example of a masterpiece. The reasons are simple:

Graphics - The graphics were very very good and ran well on a wide variety of systems at release.

Atmosphere - The look of a post alien invasion Eastern Europe looked hauntingly believable. The art style drew upon classic sci-fi staples (Tripod Stalkers, Zombies, etc.) and made them each unique.

The Gravity Gun - Basically the most powerful weapon in the game was just mundane objects flung at enemies forcefully. Incredibly satisfying to take out a grunt with a radiator.

Storytelling - You're never explicitly told exactly what is going on or who the Combine is. You're never explained the motivations of the enigmatic G-Man. You witness the story through Gordon Freeman's eyes and are given tantalizing clues as to the nature of the overall conflict. The camera actually never leaves Gordon Freeman's control the entire game.

Sound Design - The audio is incredible in this game. From the Overwatch voice to Dr. Breen's musings about "Are all of humanities accomplishments to be nothing more than a thin layer of plastic, sandwhiched between the Burgess Shale and an eon's worth of mud?" The power of the gun sounds and the animal-like otherworldly sounds of the Alien gun-ships are just so awesome.

Every element of the game has been added to make sure that the player has a worthwhile adventure. Theses elements help create the masterpiece that is Half-Life 2. If you're just looking for an opinion then I have to say that Half-life 2 is easily one of my favorite games of all time. It may be hard to notice if you hadn't played it around the time of its original release but it has been highly influencial on the genre. Anyway, I think it's worth far more than its price and highly recommend it to anyone who likes immersive action/fps games.

This game is the perfect example of a masterpiece. The reasons are simple: Graphics - The graphics were very very good and ran well on a wide variety of systems at release. Atmosphere - The look of a post alien invasion Eastern Europe looked hauntingly believable. The art style drew upon classic sci-fi staples (Tripod Stalkers, Zombies, etc.) and made them each unique. The Gravity Gun - Basically the most powerful weapon in the game was just mundane objects flung at enemies forcefully. Incredibly satisfying to take out a grunt with a radiator. Storytelling - You're never explicitly told exactly what is going on or who the Combine is. You're never explained the motivations of the enigmatic G-Man. You witness the story through Gordon Freeman's eyes and are given tantalizing clues as to the nature of the overall conflict. The camera actually never leaves Gordon Freeman's control the entire game. Sound Design - The audio is incredible in this game. From the Overwatch voice to Dr. Breen's musings about "Are all of humanities accomplishments to be nothing more than a thin layer of plastic, sandwhiched between the Burgess Shale and an eon's worth of mud?" The power of the gun sounds and the animal-like otherworldly sounds of the Alien gun-ships are just so awesome. Every element of the game has been added to make sure that the player has a worthwhile adventure. Theses elements help create the masterpiece that is Half-Life 2. If you're just looking for an opinion then I have to say that Half-life 2 is easily one of my favorite games of all time. It may be hard to notice if you hadn't played it around the time of its original release but it has been highly influencial on the genre. Anyway, I think it's worth far more than its price and highly recommend it to anyone who likes immersive action/fps games.