Half-Life 2 (20th Anniversary Update) | Chapter 1: Point Insertion
8This game has been on my mind for a while now. Maybe it's nostalgia, or maybe it's because Half-Life 2 set a new industry standard at the time. Even today, it still looks and feels incredible. The storytelling, the visuals, the level design. It's amazing how such detailed graphics were achieved with the hardware limitations of that time.
Just like the first Half-Life, this sequel had something no other game could replicate. I still remember the excitement when Doom 3 was released around the same time. The whole community, myself included, was split between the two. Despite Doom 3’s impressive technology and atmosphere, Half-Life 2 was the one that stayed with me.
Back in 2004, I was in high school. My friends and I were counting the days until release. We talked about building our own levels in the Hammer Editor and how we would spent hours testing the physics engine. The characters were unforgettable. Alyx, Dr. Kleiner, Barney, and Eli felt alive, with facial expressions and movement that were far ahead of their time. Even now, the ragdoll physics hold up.
It was a huge shock when news broke about the Valve hack and the unfinished version being leaked. For a moment, it seemed like the game might never come out. But in November 2004, it was finally released, and it was everything we hoped for.
Now, (20 years later!!!) with the 20th anniversary update, the game returns with enhanced graphics, lighting, and a refined interface. In this series, we are revisiting the entire experience. This is the full walkthrough of Half-Life 2, starting from Chapter 1: *Point Insertion*, complete with all achievements and fine details to give you the full experience.
If you love this classic as much as I do, make sure to like the video and subscribe to Game of Life for the full journey through City 17.
PS: Backrooms Multiplayer will continue, and Trine is also still on the way. Enjoy!
Achievements
0:00 Point Insertion
6:35 Submissive
Put the can in the trash
10:40 Malcontent
Escape the apartment block raid
*When unlocking the Submissive achievement in this video, you also have the option to get the other achievement named 'Defiant'. Instead of tossing the soda can into the trash as ordered, try throwing it at the metrocop. A small act of rebellion… with an achievement attached!