Half-Life 1 Anthology - PC

I was hesitant to get this after reading all the complaints, but I haven't had any problems running it. And I am just amazed by this game, considering how old it is. It's a joy to play now in 2012, even though I've never played it before now. The graphics are obviously old, but they're not nearly as bad as some make them out to be. A true gamer looks at the gameplay, the story, characters, etc. Not the graphics, especially on an old game like this. It's long, entertaining, and challenging. I think every gamer should play this just for the experience.

I bought this version of Half-Life simply because I wanted to go back and play it (to the end this time) but had lost my CD key for my older copy. (The older copy was also not Windows XP-friendly). This is a very cheap way to play Half-life, etc. again. You do need a high-speed internet connection, it does take a few steps and some patience to load the games, and the graphics are improved, but still dated. This is my first experience with Steam, and I have no problems to report. My only minor complaint is that the game does not work with a joystick for some reason. You may have to mess with the coding based on what I've seen on the net for this feature. But even playing the game with a hand on the keyboard and the other on the mouse, it is still a great experience overall.

I had to choose one star to write a review. The games do not work due to a key code that has already been activated by its previous user. Steam will not allow access. I played them years ago and should have thought of it.

First, to give credit where credit is due, Half-Life, being one of the originals to start the trend in Alien shooters, had an excellent plot by comparison to some of the other popular shooters. Likewise, it was an innovater of the true first-person shooter concept, there were literally no cutscenes where you the player were somehow capable of traveling outside your own body to look at stuff from different perspectives. Overall, the idea being, that such third-person cut-scenes detract from a little concept called role-playing. Not only was the plot interesting, but the very concept was fascinating to me as I'm something of a Sci-Fi fanatic. Yet, I can say honestly, that I would have been happier if the alien presence in the game simply hadn't been there and it was really all about trying to survive your own government, during a scientific disaster. What I can and will knock this game for is what I knock most PC original titles for. The programmers were lazy & cheap enough, not to include gamepad support. And frankly, this concept being thought of as acceptable or 'okay' by PC elitests is a testiment to the fact that they've lost touch with the very purpose of the PC itself: being a useful tool, which can make life easier. I firmly believe, the play control issues that result in all games that are for the PC and stick with the keyboard and mouse routine, would benefit greatly in terms of simplicity and enjoyability if the program and design section that supplies the PC with games, could be bothered, to allow for a more proper, and more efficent interface tool to be used. Further, I attribute this very issue, almost solitarily as the reason why behind the stats that proove, even though a PC is technically more graphics capable and can provide better sound quality, more people are willing to drop 600 dollars on a PSIII or other console rather than even bother with PC gaming - at all. And sadly, the PC-elitest snobbery that 'game-pad' is a bad word is to blame - as it simply enables the very platform they support, supposedly, to get pwnd in the market. Because while more capability should be a selling point of the PC, it's definitely not in this case, due directly to a lack of pride amongst it's game developers.

good

Got exactly what I paid for

Since the debut of this videogame I was testing the Demo version (Opposing Force), now getting all the versions, I really have to recommend you to buy it. It's really great!

When i saw this Anthology on Amazon for $10.00 i had to get it.This game has all the origional Half-Life games on one disc!It includes the Origional Half Life,Half life blue shift that has you playing as a security gaurd,Half life opposing force in which you step into the boots of one of the Soldiers that is sent in to clean up the Black Mesa area and best of all is Team fortress classic.TFC is the online team based game in which you pick which kind of class you want to be(pyro,medic,spy,demo)and start trying to take over the enemy base with the help of your teammates.This is the most addicting game of them all and will have you lose long chunks of time while playing it.At only $10.00 this is an amazing collection.The only thing missing from this collection is counter strike but at this price that is a minor gripe.