<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2004	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
(	O
FPS	O
)	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Valve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
first	O
published	O
by	O
Valve	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
through	O
its	O
distribution	O
service	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
original	O
Half-Life	B-Application
(	O
1998	O
)	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
combines	O
shooting	O
,	O
puzzles	O
,	O
and	O
storytelling	O
,	O
and	O
adds	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
vehicles	O
and	O
physics-based	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
created	O
using	O
Valve	O
's	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
developed	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
integrated	O
the	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
engine	I-General_Concept
,	O
which	O
simulates	O
real-world	O
physics	O
,	O
to	O
reinforce	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
sense	O
of	O
presence	O
and	O
create	O
new	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
developed	O
the	O
characterization	O
,	O
with	O
more	O
detailed	O
character	O
models	O
and	O
realistic	O
animation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
announced	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
at	O
E3	O
2003	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
release	O
date	O
for	O
that	O
September	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
November	O
16	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
and	O
received	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
MacOS	B-Operating_System
and	O
Linux	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
free	O
extra	O
level	O
Lost	B-Application
Coast	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
episodic	O
sequels	O
Episode	B-Application
One	I-Application
(	O
2006	O
)	O
and	O
Episode	B-Application
Two	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2020	O
,	O
after	O
canceling	O
Episode	B-Application
Three	I-Application
and	O
several	O
further	O
Half-Life	B-Application
projects	O
,	O
Valve	O
released	O
a	O
prequel	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
:	I-Application
Alyx	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
original	O
Half-Life	B-Application
(	O
1998	O
)	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
(	O
FPS	O
)	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
control	O
Gordon	O
Freeman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
similar	O
mechanics	O
to	O
Half-Life	B-Application
,	O
including	O
health-and-weapon	O
systems	O
(	O
though	O
with	O
less	O
overall	O
weapons	O
)	O
and	O
periodic	O
physics	O
puzzles	O
,	O
except	O
with	O
the	O
newer	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
and	O
improved	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
features	O
use	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
's	O
detailed	O
physics	O
simulation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
of	O
button-oriented	O
puzzles	O
from	O
Half-Life	B-Application
,	O
environmental	O
puzzles	O
are	O
also	O
introduced	O
with	O
makeshift	O
mechanical	O
systems	O
,	O
revolving	O
around	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
new	O
ability	O
to	O
pick	O
up	O
,	O
move	O
,	O
and	O
place	O
objects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
approximately	O
twenty	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
incident	O
at	O
the	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
Research	O
Facility	O
from	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
scientists	O
accidentally	O
opened	O
a	O
portal	O
to	O
the	O
hostile	O
dimension	O
Xen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
Gordon	O
Freeman	O
being	O
awoken	O
from	O
stasis	O
by	O
the	O
mysterious	O
G-Man	O
(	O
Michael	O
Shapiro	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
reveals	O
that	O
the	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
incident	O
attracted	O
the	O
attention	O
of	O
a	O
multidimensional	O
empire	O
called	O
the	O
Combine	O
,	O
which	O
conquered	O
Earth	O
in	O
seven	O
hours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
G-Man	O
inserts	O
Gordon	O
into	O
a	O
train	O
arriving	O
at	O
City	O
17	O
,	O
the	O
site	O
of	O
the	O
Combine	O
Citadel	O
,	O
where	O
Dr.	O
Wallace	O
Breen	O
(	O
Robert	O
Culp	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
administrator	O
who	O
negotiated	O
Earth	O
's	O
surrender	O
governs	O
as	O
the	O
Combine	O
's	O
puppet	O
ruler	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
eluding	O
the	O
Combine	O
forces	O
,	O
Gordon	O
joins	O
a	O
resistance	O
led	O
by	O
former	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
scientist	O
Dr.	O
Eli	O
Vance	O
(	O
Robert	O
Guillaume	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
includes	O
Vance	O
's	O
daughter	O
Alyx	O
(	O
Merle	O
Dandridge	O
)	O
,	O
former	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
security	O
guard	O
Barney	O
Calhoun	O
(	O
Shapiro	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
works	O
undercover	O
as	O
a	O
Civil	O
Protection	O
officer	O
,	O
and	O
another	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
scientist	O
,	O
Dr.	O
Isaac	O
Kleiner	O
(	O
Harry	O
S	O
.	O
Robins	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
failed	O
attempt	O
to	O
teleport	O
to	O
the	B-Application
resistance	I-Application
base	O
,	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
East	O
,	O
from	O
Kleiner	O
's	O
makeshift	O
laboratory	O
,	O
Gordon	O
progresses	O
on	O
foot	O
through	O
the	O
city	O
's	O
canal	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
East	O
,	O
Gordon	O
is	O
reintroduced	O
to	O
Eli	O
and	O
meets	O
another	O
resistance	O
scientist	O
,	O
Dr.	O
Judith	O
Mossman	O
(	O
Michelle	O
Forbes	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
uses	O
a	O
customized	O
dune	O
buggy	O
to	O
travel	O
a	O
crumbling	O
coastal	O
road	O
to	O
Nova	O
Prospekt	O
,	O
fighting	O
off	O
alien	O
antlions	O
,	O
and	O
helping	O
the	B-Application
resistance	I-Application
fend	O
off	O
Combine	O
raids	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
their	O
absence	O
,	O
the	B-Application
resistance	I-Application
has	O
mobilized	O
against	O
the	O
Combine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
began	O
in	O
June	O
1999	O
,	O
six	O
months	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Half-Life	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
n't	O
viewed	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
PC	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
,	O
it	O
's	O
going	O
to	O
completely	O
bum	O
out	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
guys	O
on	O
this	O
team.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
built	O
with	O
Valve	O
's	O
new	O
in-house	O
game	O
engine	O
,	O
Source	B-Application
,	O
developed	O
simultaneously	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Half-Life	B-Application
was	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
single	O
location	O
,	O
the	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
research	O
facility	O
,	O
Valve	O
wanted	O
"	O
a	O
much	O
more	O
epic	O
and	O
global	O
feel	O
"	O
for	O
the	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
this	O
early	O
concept	O
,	O
players	O
would	O
start	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
boarding	O
the	O
Borealis	O
,	O
an	O
icebreaker	B-Application
bound	O
for	O
the	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
observing	O
how	O
players	O
had	O
connected	O
to	O
minor	O
characters	O
in	O
Half-Life	B-Application
,	O
the	O
team	O
developed	O
the	O
characterization	O
,	O
with	O
more	O
detailed	O
character	O
models	O
and	O
realistic	O
animation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
integrated	O
the	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
engine	I-General_Concept
,	O
which	O
simulates	O
real-world	O
physics	O
,	O
to	O
reinforce	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
sense	O
of	O
presence	O
and	O
create	O
new	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
several	O
months	O
,	O
Newell	O
let	O
the	O
team	O
work	O
without	O
his	O
input	O
so	O
he	O
could	O
provide	O
unbiased	O
feedback	O
,	O
and	O
focused	O
on	O
developing	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
Valve	O
's	O
upcoming	O
digital	O
distribution	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
,	O
Newell	O
told	O
the	O
team	O
they	O
would	O
announce	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
at	O
E3	O
2003	O
and	O
release	O
it	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
Half-Life	B-Application
,	O
the	O
team	O
split	O
into	O
"	O
cabals	O
"	O
working	O
on	O
different	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
announced	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
at	O
E3	O
2003	O
,	O
with	O
demonstrations	O
of	O
the	O
characters	O
,	O
animation	O
,	O
and	O
physics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
graphics	B-Device
card	I-Device
manufacturer	O
ATI	O
had	O
arranged	O
a	O
promotional	O
event	O
on	O
Alcatraz	B-Application
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
planned	O
release	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
;	O
Newell	O
,	O
unable	O
to	O
pull	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
event	O
,	O
gave	O
a	O
prepared	O
speech	O
,	O
demonstrated	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
,	O
and	O
left	O
without	O
addressing	O
questions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
19	O
,	O
the	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
source	B-Application
code	O
was	O
obtained	O
by	O
a	O
German	O
hacker	O
,	O
Axel	O
Gembe	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
infiltrated	O
Valve	O
's	O
internal	O
network	O
months	O
earlier	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fans	O
soon	O
compiled	B-Language
a	O
playable	O
version	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
revealing	O
how	O
unfinished	O
it	O
was	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
several	O
months	O
of	O
bug	O
fixes	O
and	O
playtesting	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
completed	O
on	O
October	O
13	O
,	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
made	O
a	O
1GB	O
portion	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
available	O
for	O
download	O
in	O
an	O
encrypted	O
format	O
through	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
August	O
26	O
,	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
day	O
of	O
release	O
,	O
Steam	B-Application
customers	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
pay	O
,	O
unlock	O
the	O
files	O
,	O
and	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
immediately	O
,	O
without	O
having	O
to	O
wait	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
simultaneously	O
released	O
through	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
CD	O
,	O
and	O
on	O
DVD	O
in	O
several	O
editions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Through	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
had	O
three	O
packages	O
that	O
a	O
customer	O
could	O
order	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
basic	O
version	O
(	O
"	O
Bronze	O
"	O
)	O
includes	O
only	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Counter-Strike	O
:	O
Source	B-Application
,	O
whereas	O
the	O
"	O
Silver	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Gold	O
"	O
(	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
)	O
versions	O
also	O
include	O
Half-Life	B-Application
:	O
Source	B-Application
(	O
ports	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Half-Life	B-Application
and	O
Day	O
of	O
Defeat	O
mod	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
engine	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
collector	O
's	O
edition/	O
"	O
Gold	O
"	O
version	O
additionally	O
includes	O
merchandise	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
baseball	O
cap	O
,	O
a	O
strategy	O
guide	O
and	O
CD	O
containing	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
used	O
in	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
the	O
disc	O
and	O
Steam	B-Application
versions	O
require	O
Steam	B-Application
to	O
be	O
installed	O
and	O
active	O
for	O
play	O
to	O
occur	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
demo	O
version	O
with	O
the	O
file	O
size	O
of	O
a	O
single	O
CD	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
in	O
December	O
2004	O
at	O
the	O
web	O
site	O
of	O
graphics	B-Device
card	I-Device
manufacturer	O
ATI	O
Technologies	O
,	O
who	O
teamed	O
up	O
with	O
Valve	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2005	O
,	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
distributed	O
the	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
edition	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Compared	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
CD-release	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
edition	O
also	O
includes	O
Half-Life	B-Application
:	O
Source	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Soundtrack	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
containing	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
music	O
from	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
many	O
tracks	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Half-Life	B-Application
,	O
was	O
included	O
with	O
the	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
"	O
Gold	O
"	O
edition	O
and	O
sold	O
separately	O
from	O
Valve	O
's	O
online	O
store	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
released	O
a	O
deathmatch	B-Application
mode	I-Application
in	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
20	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
reported	O
that	O
Sierra	O
's	O
parent	O
company	O
,	O
Vivendi	O
Universal	O
Games	O
,	O
was	O
in	O
a	O
legal	O
battle	O
with	O
Valve	O
over	O
the	O
distribution	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
cyber	O
cafés	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
would	O
mean	O
that	O
only	O
Vivendi	O
Universal	O
Games	O
could	O
distribute	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
cyber	O
cafés	O
—	O
not	O
Valve	O
through	O
the	O
Steam	B-Application
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
subsequently	O
partnered	O
with	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
for	O
the	O
retail	O
distribution	O
of	O
its	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
forthcoming	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2005	O
,	O
Valve	O
released	O
an	O
extra	O
level	O
,	O
Lost	B-Application
Coast	I-Application
,	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
download	O
to	O
anyone	O
who	O
purchased	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
22	O
,	O
Valve	O
released	O
a	O
64-bit	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
for	O
x86-64	B-Device
processor-based	O
systems	O
running	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
XP	I-Operating_System
Professional	I-Operating_System
x64	I-Operating_System
Edition	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Server	I-Application
2003	I-Application
x64	I-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
x64	I-Application
,	O
or	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2008	I-Device
x64	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
update	O
enabled	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
other	O
Source	B-Application
games	O
to	O
run	O
natively	O
on	O
64-bit	B-Device
processors	I-Device
,	O
bypassing	O
the	O
32-bit	B-Application
compatibility	I-Application
layer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2006	O
,	O
Valve	O
partnered	O
with	O
Taito	O
to	O
release	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
Survivor	O
,	O
an	O
arcade	O
game	O
version	O
for	O
the	O
Japanese	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
rereleased	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
2007	O
compilation	O
The	B-Application
Orange	I-Application
Box	I-Application
for	O
Windows	B-Application
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
26	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
its	O
two	O
episodic	O
sequels	O
were	O
released	O
for	O
Mac	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Valve	O
ported	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
Linux	B-Application
and	O
released	O
a	O
free	O
update	O
adding	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Oculus	B-Device
Rift	I-Device
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
headset	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
NVIDIA	O
Shield-exclusive	O
port	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
12	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2022	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
UI	O
designed	O
for	O
Valve	O
's	O
portable	O
Steam	B-Device
Deck	I-Device
device	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
an	O
aggregate	O
score	O
of	O
96/100	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Maximum	O
PC	O
awarded	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
11	O
on	O
their	O
rating	O
scale	O
which	O
normally	O
peaks	O
at	O
10	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
ever	O
made	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2s	I-Application
PC	O
version	O
sold	O
680,000	O
copies	O
and	O
had	O
earned	O
$34.3	O
million	O
by	O
August	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
review	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Orange	I-Application
Box	I-Application
,	O
IGN	O
stated	O
that	O
although	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
already	O
been	O
released	O
through	O
other	O
media	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
is	O
still	O
enjoyable	O
on	O
a	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
physics	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
are	O
impressive	O
despite	O
being	O
a	O
console	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
graphics	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
were	O
not	O
as	O
impressive	O
as	O
when	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
's	O
review	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Orange	I-Application
Box	I-Application
noticed	O
that	O
the	O
content	O
of	O
both	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
releases	O
,	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
releases	O
were	O
exactly	O
alike	O
,	O
the	O
only	O
issue	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
noticeable	O
frame-rate	O
hiccups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
critics	O
,	O
including	O
some	O
that	O
had	O
given	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
complained	O
about	O
the	O
required	O
usage	O
of	O
the	O
program	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
the	O
requirement	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
account	O
,	O
register	O
the	O
products	O
,	O
and	O
permanently	O
lock	O
them	O
to	O
the	O
account	O
before	O
being	O
allowed	O
to	O
play	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
installation	O
difficulties	O
and	O
lack	O
of	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
earned	O
39	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
Overall	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
at	O
IGN	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
Award	O
for	O
Best	O
Shooter	O
,	O
GameSpot'''s	O
Reader	O
's	O
Choice	O
—	O
PC	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Award	O
,	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
from	O
the	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Game	O
"	O
with	O
the	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Choice	O
Awards	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
also	O
given	O
various	O
awards	O
for	O
technology	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
writing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editors	O
of	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
nominated	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
their	O
2004	O
"	O
Single-Player	O
Shooter	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
overall	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
awards	O
,	O
although	O
it	O
lost	O
to	O
Painkiller	B-Device
and	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
wrote	O
,	O
"	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
everyone	O
's	O
default	O
pick	O
to	O
win	O
this	O
year	O
,	O
is	O
indeed	O
a	O
fantastic	O
roller	O
coaster	O
of	O
a	O
ride	O
,	O
not	O
as	O
great	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
but	O
still	O
leagues	O
above	O
most	O
other	O
shooters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Edge	O
awarded	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
with	O
its	O
top	O
honor	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
with	O
the	O
award	O
for	O
Best	O
Game	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
awards	O
for	O
Innovation	O
and	O
Visual	O
Design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Games	O
Magazine	O
named	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
fourth-best	O
computer	O
game	O
of	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
won	O
the	O
magazine	O
's	O
"	O
Best	O
Technology	O
"	O
(	O
beating	O
out	O
Doom	B-Application
3	I-Application
)	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Writing	O
"	O
awards	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Sound	O
Effects	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
AI	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Voice	O
Acting	O
"	O
categories.Guinness	O
World	O
Records	O
awarded	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
world	O
record	O
for	O
"	O
Highest	O
Rated	O
Shooter	O
by	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
Magazine	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
Guinness	O
World	O
Records	O
:	O
Gamer	O
's	O
Edition	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
records	O
awarded	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
book	O
include	O
,	O
"	O
Largest	O
Digital	O
Distribution	O
Channel	O
"	O
for	O
Valve	O
's	O
Steam	B-Application
service	I-Application
,	O
"	O
First	O
Game	O
to	O
Feature	O
a	O
Gravity	O
Gun	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
First	O
PC	O
Game	O
to	O
Feature	O
Developer	O
Commentary	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
Game	O
Informer	O
put	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
5th	O
on	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
"	O
The	O
Top	O
200	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
"	O
With	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Valve	O
redefined	O
the	O
way	O
first-person	O
shooters	O
were	O
created	O
"	O
.Half-Life	O
2	O
was	O
selected	O
by	O
readers	O
of	O
The	O
Guardian	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
decade	O
,	O
with	O
praise	O
given	O
especially	O
to	O
the	O
environment	O
design	O
throughout	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
author	O
commented	O
:	O
"	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
always	O
felt	O
like	O
the	O
European	O
arthouse	O
answer	O
to	O
the	O
Hollywood	O
bluster	O
of	O
Halo	O
and	O
Call	B-Application
of	I-Application
Duty	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
won	O
Crispy	O
Gamer	O
's	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Decade	O
tournament	O
style	O
poll	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2021	O
,	O
IGN	O
named	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
ninth-best	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
SDK	B-Application
,	O
a	O
large	O
number	O
of	O
modifications	O
(	O
mods	O
)	O
have	O
been	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mods	O
vary	O
in	O
scale	O
,	O
from	O
fan-created	O
levels	O
and	O
weapons	O
,	O
to	O
partial	O
conversions	O
such	O
as	O
Rock	O
24	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
Substance	O
and	O
SMOD	O
(	O
which	O
modify	O
the	O
storyline	O
and	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
pre-existing	O
game	O
)	O
,	O
SourceForts	O
and	O
Garry	B-Language
's	I-Language
Mod	I-Language
(	O
which	O
allow	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
experiment	O
with	O
the	O
physics	O
system	O
in	O
a	O
sandbox	O
mode	O
)	O
,	O
to	O
total	O
conversions	O
such	O
as	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
,	O
Dystopia	B-Application
,	O
Zombie	O
Master	O
or	O
Iron	O
Grip	O
:	O
The	O
Oppression	O
,	O
the	O
last	O
of	O
which	O
transforms	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
a	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
into	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
mods	O
take	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Half-Life	B-Application
universe	O
;	O
others	O
in	O
completely	O
original	O
settings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
more	O
mods	O
are	O
still	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
including	O
Lift	O
,	O
The	O
Myriad	O
,	O
Operation	O
Black	B-Application
Mesa	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
episodic	O
single-player	O
mod	O
Minerva	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
multiplayer	O
mods	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Pirates	B-Application
,	I-Application
Vikings	I-Application
and	I-Application
Knights	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
a	O
predominately	O
sword-fighting	O
game	O
;	O
Insurgency	B-Application
:	I-Application
Modern	I-Application
Infantry	I-Application
Combat	I-Application
,	O
which	O
focuses	O
on	O
realistic	O
modern	O
infantry	O
combat	O
;	O
and	O
Jailbreak	B-Application
Source	I-Application
have	O
been	O
opened	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
as	O
a	O
beta	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
its	O
community	O
support	O
,	O
Valve	O
announced	O
in	O
September	O
2008	O
that	O
several	O
mods	O
,	O
with	O
more	O
planned	O
in	O
the	O
future	O
,	O
were	O
being	O
integrated	O
into	O
the	O
Steamworks	B-Application
program	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
mods	O
to	O
make	O
full	O
use	O
of	O
Steam	B-Application
's	O
distribution	O
and	O
update	O
capabilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Sept	O
2022	O
,	O
after	O
a	O
decade	O
of	O
development	O
,	O
a	O
fan	O
made	O
full-VR	O
mod	O
was	O
released	O
titled	O
"	O
Half	B-Application
Life	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
VR	O
Mod	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sequels	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
followed	O
by	O
two	O
episodic	O
sequels	O
:	O
Episode	B-Application
One	I-Application
(	O
2006	O
)	O
and	O
Episode	B-Application
Two	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
canceling	O
Episode	B-Application
Three	I-Application
and	O
several	O
further	O
Half-Life	B-Application
projects	O
,	O
Valve	O
released	O
a	O
prequel	O
,	O
Half-Life	B-Application
:	O
Alyx''	O
,	O
in	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
