Half-Life 2 News

Half-Life 2's face models include a legendary DJ and an actual dead body

It's no secret that Valve scanned the faces of real people to use as 3D meshes for characters in Half-Life 2. Most of them are credited in the "Thanks to the following for the use of their faces" section of the credits in Half-Life 2 and its follow-up episodes. Thanks to Source Filmmaker and Garry's Mod, many of them have enjoyed a memetic life beyond the Half-Life series too, with even the background citizens of City 17 developing followings in the SFM community...
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Half-Life has better writing than Half-Life 2, for one simple reason

There is a fantastic moment in Half-Life 2, during the 'Water Hazard' section of Valve's FPS game, when you first arrive at one of the resistance outposts, Station 12. Previously, you - or, if you prefer, Gordon Freeman - have been told that communications with Station 12 have mysteriously ceased. Overlooking City 17's irradiated river, the Station is supported on stilts. Immediately, you know that something is wrong. The river is silent. No-one exits the Station to greet you. A large wooden container dangles ominously from a pulley - the grand piano over Buster Keaton's head; some stark realisation just waiting to drop.

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Half-Life 2 Episode One VR gameplay makes the gravity gun fun

The gravity gun in Half-Life 2 has always been a sticking point for me. One of the strongest gimmicks in the Valve and Steam FPS game, it adds an imaginative twist to Gordon Freeman's standard shooting and killing. But in the later levels especially, it feels a bit cumbersome. Without your full weapon arsenal, combat gets a little repetitive. Thank the benefactors, then, for the upcoming Half-Life 2 Episode One VR port, which judging by its new gameplay footage, makes the zero point energy field manipulator look more fun than ever.

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Half-Life 2 VR Mod makers are adding Episode One for free soon

Time to dust off your headset and motion controllers, because a free VR version of Half-Life 2: Episode One is coming to Steam. Created by Half-Life 2: VR Mod’s SourceVR Mod Team, Episode One is the first of Valve’s episodic adventures to get the virtual reality overhaul treatment. It’s planned to follow up with Episode Two at an unannounced, but at a later date. You can take a gander at Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode One in full flow below, without wearing the fancy digital helmet.

Half-Life 2: Update

An update has been released for Half-Life 2 and the Episodes.

- Minor code maintenance, no customer-facing changes.