I've been questioning whether to play Half-Life for a while now. I've just recently been, getting into FPS games, and have heard that this is an okay game to play. So I was wondering about everyone else's opinion on the topic, on whether I should play it or not? I've expressed interest, in the series before, but I'm still trying to figure out if I should try it out or not.

Fuck yes.

Yes. I'm not sure how well it has aged, but you still should play it. I think it is required almost. Like, if you are talking about FPS' and say you have never played a HL game then people will no longer care to hear what you have to say about the genre. It is like saying you love JRPG's but never played FFVII. It doesn't matter if you liked the game or not, you still need to have played it.

I think you should. Even if you don't like it, you'll at least know about the series some more. I still think it's a fun game to play (a little outdated in spots, but hey it was 98).

The original Half-Life? You might find it a little dated but I think it's worth at least trying out.

DO IT!

@VSigma100:

Alot of people who never played the game when it was released don't like it at all, mostly because they have already played Half-Life 2 and can't get past some of the flaws in the original. 

I'm gonna say hell yeah you should play it, but when you start to get frustrated just remember this game is 12 years old and it shows.

Yeah, you should play it. I think it holds up pretty well in terms of game play. Graphics are obviously old, but mostly the rest is at least ok by today's standards.

O.O Wow. I wasn't expecting this many replies that quick. LOL But from what other people are saying, I'll definitely try it out sometime soon. I'm hoping to like it, so Valve better have done good with the game.

I didn't play it until like 2005, and I loved it. It is very dated, but its worlds more playable than Quake or something.

It's story telling, while somewhat disjointed at times, is still very unique. That's one of the reasons why, even today, it's still a game worth returning too. 
  
 
Looking back at that sentence I realize that I sound like a goddamn paper-cut-out game reviewer sometimes. 
Fuck.

I think its worth making a conscious effort to play all of Valve's games.

Eh, just watch Freeman's Mind.

Wow, God no  do not play it. I played it all the way through a year and a half ago and it was the most dreadfully boring game I can remember in recent memory.
 
I'm not bashing its influence, but god that game has aged.

If you're unsure, I'd probably pick up the Orange Box. If Half-Life 2 gets you interested enough, I'd pick up the original Half-Life; plus you can mess around with Team Fortress 2 and Portal.

I played through the entire Half Life series early 2008. I had been sitting on a copy of Half Life for years, but when the Orange Box came out, I was finally interested in playing the series (since I at once had the whole run on Steam). It's never too late to jump in, I say. I even played the gearbox expansions! The original game is artifact of a time before the age where fulling-scripted experiences were the norm. It's a little hokey, but that's what makes it so impressive to work your way through the series and see it evolve. I'd suggest playing on easy, though. What's the point of wasting time trying to be all pro.

Try it out and see what you think, it can't hurt.
 
First time I played it was about 3 years ago, and I thought it felt really dated. Especially compared to other similar FPS games at the time like System Shock 2, or Deus Ex, which I feel have aged a lot better.

I don't think it holds up especially well. If you played it when it was new, I can understand still liking it, but for someone going in fresh, maybe not. Don't mean to knock it's importance, but that game is old. To play it now, I think you'd have to go in almost clinically, wanting to see what it did for it's time, and not expecting some great experience.

A resounding yes! The graphics and sound show their age, as anything 13 years old would, but the gameplay is still a shining example of great design. Except the last few levels...

I've not played it either, I was waiting to see if the community HD version of it ever comes out (Black Mesa or whatever it's called), but I'll probably check it out in a while if that doesn't happen soon.

Nah. It doesn't really hold up that well.

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh probably not

" Yes. I'm not sure how well it has aged, but you still should play it. I think it is required almost. Like, if you are talking about FPS' and say you have never played a HL game then people will no longer care to hear what you have to say about the genre. It is like saying you love JRPG's but never played FFVII. It doesn't matter if you liked the game or not, you still need to have played it. "

" Fuck yes. "

Played it for the first time maybe a year ago. I did not have fun--and I adore Half-Life 2. Ended up just turning on console and playing it for the story--which is better recapped on a Wiki page somewhere.

Nah, Half-Life 2 is pretty bad. You drive around a fanboat... It ain't all that.

As long as you go into it realizing that you're not going to get the full impact of how influential it's been, then your expectations should be at a realistic enough level that you'll enjoy it. You likely won't be blown away, though. A lot of games have taken things that were introduced or popularized by Half-Life and improved/built on them, so there's a good chance you'll feel like it's just a run of the mill FPS.
 
Granted, this could be applied to pretty much any classic game. Still, don't let decade old hype build up in your mind and it should be a fun couple of hours; at least until the part where the game goes to shit.

Definitely. Though if you're patient, you may just want to wait for Black Mesa. 
 
I'm not even sure why this is a question. You've got nothing to lose, and the worst case scenario is that even if you don't like it, you've experienced a highly influential and historic piece of gaming history.  
 
Just go at it with the right mindset. 

Do it! 
 
Having played when it came out I don't feel like it has aged that bad. The story is told in a way that isn't very apparent either, I've gone through the game several times now and have picked up interesting bits of story. 
 
I do agree with SBYM though, considering that Half-Life really did change a lot of FPS games it may feel "old" in some spots. I still think the pacing is spot on though with the exception of a few parts. I'm a half life fanboy though, it's my favorite game. 

The first game is still a ton of fun, even with dated graphics and near archaic gameplay concepts. The original Half-Life proves that Valve is able to make games that are fun when they come out, and years after their release.

I'm not a big half life fan, really, after having loved them when they were new. 
 
What you have to understand about HL is that the whole series is built upon the "It's an FPS but if an FPS was a movie!" concept.  
 
THis is frequently boring. 
 
If you're used to shooting badguys and navigating levels, Half LIfe is frequently just watching people talk and hitting things with your crowbar.  It doesn't help that the games main feature is the gravity gun which, while a neat idea, isn't a fun weapon to play with.

" A resounding yes! The graphics and sound show their age, as anything 13 years old would, but the gameplay is still a shining example of great design. Except the last few levels... "

Hell yeah you should ... I agree about the graphics they are indeed dated but the gameplay is still as solid as it ever was  (or maybe my affinity to it) :P Have in mind that I am the type of dude that can still put a NES game and have fun with it

YES! Get Half-Life: Source. Its Half-Life but with updated graphics. Then Play Half-Life 2 and the episodes.. I have yet to play the episodes, but I remember beating HL2 on the original xbox and thought it was fucking amazing!

People seem to have forgotten the On a rail sections and Zen. I'd play it if you haven't but be ready for some frustration and tedium. 

" I'm not a big half life fan, really, after having loved them when they were new.  What you have to understand about HL is that the whole series is built upon the "It's an FPS but if an FPS was a movie!" concept.   THis is frequently boring.  If you're used to shooting badguys and navigating levels, Half LIfe is frequently just watching people talk and hitting things with your crowbar.  It doesn't help that the games main feature is the gravity gun which, while a neat idea, isn't a fun weapon to play with. "

" People seem to have forgotten the On a rail sections and Zen. I'd play it if you haven't but be ready for some frustration and tedium.  "