Half-Life 2 (Windows)
common sense media says
A game filled with unnerving gore and violence.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this well-produced adult game is not for kids under any circumstances -- hence the "Off" rating. This story turns on the struggle between an alien-installed fascist government and a group of scrappy scientists trying to liberate the human race. It's non-stop gore and violence. From the first scenes, it graphically depicts the oppressive regime and drips with dark dread -- innocent travelers are brutalized by faceless police, citizens cower as their neighbor's homes are searched, and remnants of happier times -- such as a teddy bear abandoned near a swing set -- litter the environment. It's simply too graphic, too intense, and too scary for kids.
Educational value:
Nothing you would want your kids to learn.
Violence:
Gun fights, gore, and frenzied attacks by ferocious aliens and brutal soldiers account for much of the game play. Some of the imagery is extremely disturbing.
Sex:
Not applicable.
Language:
An obscenity sprinkled here and there, but nothing gratuitous.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not applicable.
More on Half-Life 2
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
Silbixia
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Excellent, in-depth game. Just don't buy it for your 8 year-old.
First off: If you don't think your child is mature enough to virtually beat a cop to death with a crowbar, this most likely isn't the game for them. (Or, to be more accurate, for you.) I know that I probably just scared you away from this game, but I'll continue anyway.
This is one of my favorite games of all time, if not my absolute favorite. The game is awesome. (If you're mature enough to play it.) It's just as simple as that.
Now as for the violence, I believe another review already pointed out that their is an option to turn the blood off during gameplay. (You should know that this is only available in the PC version, not the consoles.) Even when the blood is on, it's not really that bad compared to other FPS's. When an enemy is shot/hit, a very small amount of blood actually come from the actual character. Most of the blood you will see will be on walls and floors. It sounds worse than it actually is. If you're wondering, the blood does look realistic. It's a realistic game. That's the whole point. Weapons you use are: A crowbar, a pistol, Magnum revolver (Dirty Harry gun), crossbow, grenades, sub-machine guns, shotgun, rocket launcher. The enemies use sniper rifles, as well as some of the above. Citizens are beaten with stun batons by cops. Enemies are always either trans-human cops/soldiers bearing gas masks and Nazi-like uniforms, zombies, or monster-like alien creatures, including "headcrabs" that latch onto people's heads, turning them into zombies. (Which you then have to kill.) Zombies and blood are usually working together in this game, as they (the zombies) can be found lying down in a puddle of it (a result of the headcrab attack) before getting up and trying to claw at your face. One of the levels is entirely zombie-oriented, as is by far the bloodiest. That level is not for the faint of heart. If your child is easily scared, make sure to tell them not to go to Ravenholm.
Moving on, I'll explain each of the concerns/highlights that I labeled at the top of this review:
Bad messages: Might teach kids that all problems have a simple answer: Hit it with a crowbar.
Good role models: The character you play as is Dr. Gordon Freeman. He is well known for being resourceful in times of extreme pessimism, as well as being a good leader. (Earning nicknames like "the One Free Man") He's also a mute and has a PHD from MIT. This makes him unique from the classic soldier kind of video game hero, and because of this he's a bit of an icon in the video game community. After all, just look at my profile picture.
Educational/Safety Issues: Though these wouldn't normally go together, I'd just like to point out that I know a lot about weapons, and I didn't before playing this game. However, this probably has less to do with the game itself than the fact that this was the first FPS i ever played. (And the first 'mature' game.) If their is any risk of your child (presumably younger) screwing around with guns, (i.e. you keep a handgun in your basement 'just in case') they shouldn't be playing video games in the first place. More importantly, if you have a kid, you shouldn't have a gun at all. But I won't get into that...
As a final note, I would like to discuss the general atmosphere of the game. From the moment you arrive in City 17, you have this feeling that something has changed; something is wrong.
The game takes place in a near-future earth that has been forcefully taken over by an inter-galactic empire known as the Combine. To citizens they are represented by the metro-cops that walk the streets, terrorizing anyone and everyone. Humanity has been completely enslaved, except for Dr. Breen, the (human) figure-head leader of Combine earth, and the One Free Man. Dr. Breen records "Breencasts" which are displayed throughout the city one huge monitors, spewing propaganda in an attempt to shape the minds of the people below. Due to Combine technology, humans can no longer reproduce, ensuring that the current generation will also be the last.
There ain't no rainbows in this game. Just the mood might be too much for some younger players.
Final assessment: Iffy for 12+, Probably fine for anyone 14+, -- Definitely OK for anyone older than that.
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Anyboo12
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Perfect for 12 year olds
Yes this game is gory and scary probably nothing a twelve year old couldn't handle. If their really mature and not scared of monsters maybe nine years old.
p.s.the only people reviewing these are kids
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Captain_Ridley
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
One of the best video games ever made
Half-Life 2 is one of the best video games ever made. It's stunning narrative feels like that of a great movie, albeit much more engaging as you are actually part of the action, instead of being just a passive observer. The violence is really not that bad, and should be fine for anyone over 11 or 12. The only people you kill are the evil soldiers working for the Combine regime. They are pretty much completely dehumanized, with stormtrooper-esque uniforms and voice filters that make them sound like robots.You also kill zombies controlled by alien parasites, which aren't really human at all. The only real reason to not let your kid play this would be because of the off-screen violence. As you explore Combine forts and buildings, you occasionally find torture victims and dead rebels, which can be kind of disturbing. These images, however, play a distinct role to show how evil the Combine are, and enforce the idea that you, the heroic freedom-fighter, must stop them. In the end, the game portrays a great message about standing up for the rights and good of humanity, however great the cost may be.
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ellcar_fairjudge
parent of 9 year old
parent of 9 year old
Prior to the player getting the crowbar and pistol are not a good example of gameplay:
...but after the first weapons are obtained and enemy soldier encounters begin, one may begin to judge if the player is capable of handling the game. My 9 year old loves the story of the Half Life series. He knows the violence is not real, but that real violence has consequences. The only trouble younger players might have is some of the puzzles can be a bit tricky. Enemy health and skill can be lowered using the game difficulty settings, but the puzzles are consistent. It is somtimes hard to find where the player needs to go next due to some large open space areas of certain maps, and maze-like buildings and structures. Though it is mostly straight-forward, "point A to point B" navigation. As mentioned in other reviews, "Ravenholm" leans more toward the horror genre than the rest of the games science fiction theme. The town has been intentionally overrun with "zombies" by the main enemy. The single surviving townperson is the priest "Father Gregory" who leads you along with words of encouragement. All-in-all, if the player is mature enough to handle fictional gun-violence, some forboding scenarios, and alien invasion themes, then this game is perfectly acceptable.
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bobodamonkey
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
I think if you like scary fighting games then you should play this.
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Coupon
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Teans Only
I played a bit if it. It was ok, but the story line is a bit grusome. There is also a lot of fighting going on, this is a game for teens. Not for Kids.
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otto555
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
not for kids, but teens? gimme a break.
unless your teen still wears choo-choo PJs, he can play HL2
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Chaotic Satire
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
Should have been Teen
(Please, if you are a parent wondering about this game, do not dismiss my opinion simply because I am a child.)
This Game has nearly any problems that would send any Parent over the edge. Profanity is used extremely sparingly compared to other FPS's such as Call of Duty.
The only possible thing holding younger kids back from playing this game is the "zombies" in the "Ravenholm" Section of the game, which replaces the "sci-fi shooter" genre of the rest of the game with gory Resident-Evil esque "survival horror", mixed with some puzzles. The gore in that section is used frequently, but a kid who understands it's fake should be okay.
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Heimsventus
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Half-Life 2 Review. Courtesy of Jordan Jahnz
Half-Life 2 must be the absolute best FPS ever made. With surprisingly excelling graphics for it's release date of 2004, it remains one of the most realistic looking games ever created. It stands as a pinnacle, a new era of gaming from the lousy graphics of Call of Duty: Classic to incredible, unbelievably awesome sound effects and gameplay. As for the educational value, it teaches players a few things throughout the course of the game. They must learn how to interact with people, though computers, seem like a real person, perfect for the in-door types. Noone wants to transition from their house to the real world with their pants on the ground. Secondly, this isn't a run-and-shoot type of game. Players must put their strategic skills to the test and crack puzzles, whether the puzzles are straight-forward or mind-bending. As for content, parents must know this is an EXTREMELY graphic game. Players came levitate sharp objects such as saws or blades to strategically defeat zombie-like enemies. (head-crab aliens attach to a person's head and control their body) Players can easily shoot the crab off the innocent person's head, or do what most people do: graphically kill them. Head-crab zombies can be lacerated, impaled, decapitated, and even sliced in half. There are multiple bloody shoot-outs between Gordon and the fascist soldiers. On the positive side, you can't kill the soldiers in the same manner as zombies; you can only shoot them. This game sounds like guts and galore, yet it can be easily be made 'child proof'. Simply toggle the graphic content option on/off if you have a young one (say about 11 or 12), and is password protected. The zombies cannot be killed in such a gruesome manner. Even shooting them will result in a bloodless death, and the same with the soldiers. Basically, this game is rated T if the graphic filter is always on. Getting past the violence, this is an extraordinarily brilliant game. With outstanding gameplay, incredible sound and music, breath-taking graphics, and an epic storyline make this one a keeper. At the dirt-cheap market price of $6.99 (U.S), you can have this one in your computer and on your screen in no time.
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Ph0chiz0
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Meh...
Well, its another traditional FPS. Sorry, it's just not that great... Graphics are good though...
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Llamos
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Well,I think not all the games must to be educatoinal.But this is.When you play it you want to chande somethig and write some plugins for it )
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worstsitever
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
Personally I think this game is fine for boys 10 and up. There are some levels that are a bit disturbing. But I handled it. Believe me,this game really didn't make me want to act violently torwards anyone.
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Mudaquil4ever
teen, 13 years old
teen, 13 years old
Not as bad as the review makes it
This is probably the best game in history. It has amazing graphics, for 2004. And your completely immersed in the game play. You take on the role of Gordon Freeman, an M.I.T. graduate who was helping out at a research facility when this disaster happened. The world is ruled by the combine, an evil universal force who has enslaved the entire human race. The other main character is a young lady who doesn't wear revealing clothing (HA! None of you people can make smart remarks now, can you?) who is on the same mission as you, but also to rescue her father who had been abducted by the combine. There is a bit of blood on the walls but not too bad, a bit of language but not frequent at all (I've only heard "D--n" twice and I'm almost to the last chapter). The most gory part is ravenholm, a zombie infested city (Alien crabs will latch on to the victims head and severely injure them and put them in unimaginable pain, (Read combine overwiki if you want details) that can be scary at times but a surviving priest will help you out. He's motivational and will give you a sense of protection throughout the level. This game is awesome, and should be enjoyed by everyone.
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brieona
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Fascinating game for mature teens
This is a very impressive game that sucks players in almost instantly. There are many excellent role models in the game, despite the violence. Gordon Freeman (the player character) is an M.I.T. graduate who fights for what is right instead of just fighting for the sake of killing people. The deuteragonist is a young woman who uses her head, respects her father (though admittedly not some of the other characters), and doesn't wear revealing clothing in an attempt to get the guys. Even though the two main characters are of opposite gender, they aren't in a relationship (although there are a few teasing comments) and they don't go to bed together or do anything of that nature. Other reviewers have gone over the violence, so I'm not going to go too in-depth with that. Ravenholm can be very frightening if you go into it without knowing what to expect, but a no-blood mod makes it much less scary. As for language, there is one use of "f--k" covered up by a crash, as well as several uses of "h--l" and "d--n." The Lord's name is also taken in vain a few times. If your teen is the kind of gamer who will play for ten hours at a time, this is not the game for them. If your teen is sensitive and they can't tell when it's time to shut the game off because it's freaking them out, this is not the game for them. The mood is eerie and it's easy to keep playing longer than you know you should be because you want to find out what happens next, so this is best for mature teens. This game is not appropriate for anyone under the age of thirteen, and I'd say after that point it really depends on the teen whether or not the game is appropriate.
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Gmanawesomeness
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Violent, But Probably The Best Game Ever Made
I've got a LOT to talk about this one. For starters, it's M. My dad only let me play it because he had already played it and he loved it. It is REALLY violent, but honestly, it's not the kind of violence that will make you want to jack cars, beat up civilians, and rape prostitutes. Get GTA for that action. No, this is the kind of violence that is unrealistic. Sci-fi violence. As for the language, I don't see why people say there's not language. Barney, a CP, says the f word near the end. "And if you see Dr. Breen, tell him I said f*** you!" But the language is DEFFINITELY not frequent. I say positive role models, because one of the scientists (Eli Vance) and his daughter (Alyx Vance) are VERY close. I won't give any spoilers, but in HL2:EP2 something happens to Eli and Alyx's reaction proves how much they love eachother.
Really, I think a MATURE, notice I said MATURE, 11 year old or so could play it. Of course, if they start playing with their friends "scientist guy with glasses that bludgeons people with a crowbar", you might want to choose a different game. Honestly, the story, acting, and just plain depth of the game make it one of the best of all time.
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Bub the ...
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Disturbing, but Ok for Teens.
From a technology standpoint, this game was groundbreaking. It was one of the first games to be cinematic, in the sense of unlike the games before it it focused more on the imagery, story, storytelling, and artistry. I found myself playing it not for the violence or the (rather vanilla) gunplay, but for the story and the art.
While I will not say that the G-Man's speeches were not creepy (and beautiful), or the desolate Soviet landscape with the Combine raiding houses or the Metropolice harassing citizens disturbing. I will say however, the story is profound both in the sense of it's Orwellian mastery and in its excellent methods of creating a solid story that has so many mysteries which enable it to always have more questions to answer in a sequel.
It is however disturbing, and I would advise against giving it to anyone under 12.
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Zephonic
kid, 10 years old
kid, 10 years old
Half-Life: A review by a smart 10 year old
If you (Or your child, for that matter) can't handle a dark atmospheric game with blood and a tiny pinch of swearing, then this game isn't for you.
Story: Half-Life 2 is set 10-20 years after the first game. The Combine, an alien race which really doesn't show themselves, has taken over Earth after Dr. Breen, the administrator of Black Mesa in the first game, announces Earth's surrender after a gruesome 7 hour war. You play as Gordon Freeman, after fighting through swarms of alien creatures (Note these aliens are not the same as the Combine) following the Black Mesa Incident, is put in stasis for many years by the mysterious G-Man, a pale, thin man with a tuxedo and a briefcase, and wakes you up in a Eastern-European city named City 17, The Combine's centre of operations. After meeting familiar friends, you set out on a journey to save the world and rid of The Combine scum! Sounds generic in my words, but it isn't, trust me.
Review: The main concern with me, and other reviewers on this site, is the chapter "We Don't Go To Ravenholm". In short: blood, gore and zombies. While it isn't an issue to kids who have been desensitized to blood, like me, it is an issue to the more younger kids. There's blood EVERYWHERE. I'm not joking. Blood on the walls, blood on the floor, blood on the ceilings. Limp, lifeless bodies, BURNING, limp, lifeless bodies and people cut in half. Not to mention the terrifying (Well, not terrifying TO ME) zombies in this chapter. The normal zombie is one of the most disturbing enemies in a video game. Not because of the appearance, but because of the sounds. Play the zombie being burned sound backwards and you get "GOD HELP ME!" "HELP GOD, HELP ME!". Very disturbing. The fast zombie gave me the most shocks. It will jump out of dark corners and run at you before you could shoot it. It has a skinned body, so skinned you could see the bones! The poison zombie is probably the least scary one of all, but it could kill you in 2 hits. I think you're now scared of this game. Don't be. It is a MASTERPIECE, the greatest game of its generation. The story is GREAT, the graphics are GREAT, the gameplay is GREAT, not your average run-and-gun FPS. Even if it was made in 2004, everything about it beats any Call of Duty game. Well, there is a little bit of swearing, such as "bulls--t", "f--k" and "d--n" but only one instance of each word. I think it's a GREAT game. Buy it if you think your child is ready. I certainly was! ***** stars!
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KwikDraw13
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Really? Not for Kids?
The review that is currently up honestly saddens me. The fact that this, and many other games are instantly demonized as "Not for kids" is near depressing, especially when movies that are far worse are given much nicer ratings. Obviously, it all depends on your kids. This is a very violent game, yes, but that's about it. There is no sexual content, no real language, no drinking or drugs, none of that. The review above says that it is full of language, but upon closer inspection says "Nothing Gratuitous." Are people nowadays just biased against new forms of art? Because that's what this game is: Art, Thank you Valve, for this and all your other games. This is not the first game with a "Not for Kids" rating, either.
Actually, come to think of it, I think I understand the reason: Videogames have always been targeted towards kids, and like many other mediums before it, any video games not targeted towards kids are considered offensive. Luckily this trend is dying down, just like it has with mediums like cartoons and comics. But, none the less, the ignorance of people is the real problem, not the content itself.
Anyway, the game itself is very gory, and some of the aliens you must face are very disturbing. I recall one level, right after you got a gun that can pick up/launch anything, that took place in a lumber mill filled with zombie-parasites. That was a very fun level, but also very gruesome. That is about it, though, so If your kids ca handle violence, than it's probably okay for them.
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cerealkiller189
teen, 13 years old
teen, 13 years old
A very well produced game that manages to pull you into the same environment.
Violence is pretty bad especially in the We don't go to ravenholmes part which is probably the most gruesome section of the game but if you can't stand blood you can turn it off if you have a weak heart i could handle it very well in fact I didn't sweat in the entire game although it totally Freaked out my younger brother who is 10 now but I started playing this game when I was 6(he was 3 Lol) it's not very scary except for above mentioned part and if your child is very mature he can play it.Language is ok but if your kids get influenced by that sort of stuff,definitely,NO WAY.
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