Half-Life: Alyx – How Valve’s Virtual Reality Redefines Gaming

Many years after the last instalment of the Half-Life series, Valve decided to develop and release a new entry in this beloved franchise. However, contrary to fans’ expectations, it is not Half-Life 3, but rather a virtual reality premiere. This title also characterises a test for Valve, which, apart from the DOTA 2 update and development of a game set in its universe, had not released another major title for several years. In this article, we’ll look closer at Half-Life: Alyx to evaluate how Valve’s latest effort has turned out.

The emergence of Half-life

Before diving into the review, the Half-Life series must be essential. The first entry, Half-Life, was released in 1998 for PC and three years later for PS2. Upon its release, the Game was widely praised for its high-quality level design, innovative narrative techniques, and technical achievements, which made it a popular title. It was one of the first first-person shooters to integrate story elements seamlessly without relying on cut scenes, allowing players to maintain character control during these segments. While not open-world, the Game featured an almost continuous level design with minimal loading times when transitioning between environments. Combined with impressive graphics for its time and high-quality level design, the Game achieved remarkable success. After this, several expansions were released, followed by Valve’s next masterpiece, Half-Life 2.

Half-Life 2, released in 2004 for PC and later for PS3 and Xbox 360, became another shining moment for the series. With an average score of 96 out of 100 and numerous Game of the Year awards, Half-Life 2 is considered one of the best games of that year. The Game introduced physics-based puzzles, a significant technical achievement in using physics processing in gameplay, exceptional level design, solid AI, and an incredible story. These factors made it one of Valve’s best and most unique games. It remains a beloved classic, with many mods and fan-made games still drawing inspiration. In this series, players control Gordon Freeman, now considered an iconic character in the gaming world, alongside Alyx Vance, who was introduced in the second Game and accompanies Freeman in parts of the story. After Half-Life 2, two more titles, Half-Life 2: Episode One and Half-Life 2: Episode Two, were released, both of which were high-quality. After the story concluded on a cliff-hanger, fans have been waiting for the third instalment, which has never materialised. The absence of Half-Life 3 has become a symbol for Valve.

Alyx’s journey

With this background, let’s delve into the review of Half-Life: Alyx. First, we’ll discuss the Game’s story. As the title suggests, the game centres around Alyx Vance, who had previously assisted the main character in the second Game. The story takes place between Half-Life 1 and Half-Life 2, about five years before Gordon Freeman arrived in City 17, making it a prequel. At the start of the Game, Alyx and her father, Dr. Eli Vance, are captured by the Combine, an alien race that invades Earth and serves as the series’ primary antagonists. Eli, a key figure in the resistance, is an important scientist who played a significant role in the Black Mesa incident of the first Game. Meanwhile, a resistance member named Russell rescues Alyx and informs her that the Combine has taken her father to Nova Prospekt for interrogation. Naturally, Alyx sets off to rescue him, and the events of this instalment unfold.

The first important point about the story of the Game is that although this version’s plot takes place between the events of the first and second instalments, it is recommended to experience all the previous entries in the series before playing Half-Life: Alyx for a complete understanding of the events. If you’ve played them in the distant past and don’t have time to revisit them, watching summary videos of the series is an alternative. The Portal series is closely connected to the Half-Life franchise, with both occurring in the same universe. While knowing the Portal story is not essential to understanding Half-Life: Alyx, I recommend learning about the relationship between the two games.

Another point is the character development. Half-Life games have always featured memorable characters; this entry is no exception. Naturally, many characters from previous titles, such as the mysterious G-Man, appear, offering new insights into their stories. Moreover, since the Game is played through virtual reality headsets, you get a closer view of the characters, making it easier to connect with them psychologically and enhance their believability.

Narrative depth

Considering that the Half-Life series is rich in narrative depth, with many fan theories about the events and continuation of the series, we will avoid spoilers. However, it should be noted that Valve has demonstrated its capability to create deeply engaging stories with excellent narration. The Game concludes spectacularly, likely increasing fans’ anticipation for a third instalment. Rest assured, unlike many VR games lacking a solid narrative, Half-Life: Alyx offers a stronger, more compelling story than many single-player titles. If you’re a fan of the series and waiting for Valve to release episode three eventually, you must experience the story of Half-Life: Alyx.

The immersive combat in Half-Life: Alyx

Now, let’s discuss the core element of this title: its gameplay. As you know, and as mentioned earlier, Half-Life: Alyx is entirely virtual reality-based, and it officially requires VR headsets to play (though unofficial methods exist, the Game is designed for VR systems). The best way to experience this Game is with Valve’s own Valve Index headset, which, though significantly more expensive than many other VR headsets, costs over $1000, including controllers. While this might not be ideal price-wise, the Game is compatible with other VR headsets like the Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest (with Oculus Link cable), HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets like Samsung Odyssey and ASUS WMR.

Once you start the Game, you’ll realise this isn’t a simple VR title. As you experience the Game through her perspective, the design of Alyx’s hands shows you this is a high-quality production. Almost all VR games have two key elements: the head and the hands. Naturally, your head defines your main view, and you can see different parts of the Game by turning it. Developers need to employ various techniques to prevent players from feeling dizzy, which will be discussed later. The hands are the other key element, serving as the primary interaction method. Thanks to the Valve Index controllers, which can track individual finger movements, you can naturally interact with the Game’s objects as expected. The movement of your hand plays a significant role in your actions. For example, to push or throw an object, you must position your hand in a certain way, and when firing a gun, you must adjust your hand to simulate holding a real weapon.

The first important aspect to mention here is the combat system. A common problem in VR games is that many fail to implement proper combat. Some VR games are overly realistic, making combat tricky, while others simplify it too much, ruining the challenge. The developers of Half-Life: Alyx have found an outstanding balance. Shooting feels natural, giving you the sensation of holding a real gun and shooting at enemies. At the same time, the Game doesn’t simplify combat, maintaining the thrill and stress of aiming and shooting accurately.

Additionally, the Game introduces a new layer of realism with the reloading system; unlike many VR games where you press a button to reload, in Half-Life: Alyx, you physically have to reload the weapon using both hands. There’s an accessibility option for players who, for various reasons, may not be able to use both hands, allowing them to reload with one hand in a specific way. However, by default, you need to perform the reload manually, adding an extra layer of tension to the combat, as you have to be cautious not to get attacked while reloading.

Strategic combat

The combat in the Game also has two dimensions: battling the persistent Head crabs and zombie-like humans and fighting the highly armed Combine soldiers. The first type of combat, against Head crabs and their zombie-controlled victims, usually occurs in close quarters, often in narrow hallways. Here, you must be precise in your aiming and careful not to let enemies close in while reloading. The second type of combat is against the combined soldiers, armed with advanced weaponry, which demands careful attention to your surroundings. However, the Game doesn’t simultaneously overwhelm you with too many enemies, maintaining a balanced challenge without overwhelming the experience.

Another key aspect is weapon upgrades. While the Game doesn’t have a large arsenal, you can collect Resin items throughout the Game to upgrade your weapons, increasing their damage or ammo capacity. Some upgrades even offer unique abilities, like auto-reloading for the shotgun. One upgrade that can simplify the Game (making it feel like an “easy mode”) is the addition of a laser sight for better aiming. You are advised not to enable this feature if you want to maintain the challenge.

Exploration and scavenging in Half-Life: Alyx are integral to the experience. While previous Half-Life games had expansive levels, the concern with a VR entry was whether such exploration would still be possible. Fortunately, the Game encourages you to explore the environment thoroughly, and searching for resources, like weapon ammo or Resin for upgrades, is crucial. You’ll have to open cabinets and drawers with your hands, adding to the immersion. This scarcity of resources heightens the sense of urgency and realism, creating an intense experience that makes you feel like you’re truly part of the world.

The Game also makes excellent use of gravitational abilities. While the iconic Gravity Gun from Half-Life 2 hasn’t been invented, a prototype version is integrated into Alyx’s gloves. Using this, you can pull valuable items toward you by gesturing with your hands. If you miss the items mid-air, they won’t reach you, emphasising interaction and immersion. You can even throw objects back into the air and catch them again, enhancing the VR experience.

Puzzle and movement

Environmental puzzles and clever use of objects are still significant features in Half-Life: Alyx. For example, you can use explosives to deal with ceiling-clinging alien creatures. Some puzzles are based on motion controls, like disarming mines by guiding a virtual bullet through rings. There are also larger puzzles where you must manipulate the wiring of a building’s electrical systems, which will dynamically affect the environment. This adds a level of strategy to the gameplay, as activating one part of the system might turn another off, requiring you to think carefully.

Another vital aspect is movement. The Game offers four types of movement: Blink, Shift, Continuous, and Continuous Hand. Blink teleports you instantly to a point, while Shift allows you to move smoothly without sudden jumps. The other two types offer complete freedom, allowing you to move freely with the controllers. Given that VR games can cause Virtual Reality Sickness (similar to motion sickness), these movement options provide different ways to navigate without overwhelming the player.

In terms of graphics, Half-Life: Alyx is a visual treat. The Game offers impressive character and environmental design details, especially in City 17. Technically, it holds up well, too, with a high level of detail and animations, which is impressive for a VR title. However, it does require a robust system to run smoothly, with a minimum GTX 1060 graphics card for optimal performance.

Game pros

High-quality graphics and outstanding art design:

Half-Life: Alyx has been praised for its excellent graphics and detailed art design. The Game’s environments, models, and animations are designed with high detail and exceptional quality.

Realistic and exciting combat system:

The Game’s combat is well-designed and conveys the feeling of shooting and interacting with weapons. The magazine swapping system and the need to properly manage resources in combat add new dimensions of realism and excitement to the Game.

Attractive weapon upgrades and mechanisms:

The ability to upgrade weapons by collecting unique items and upgrades, such as a laser pointer for aiming, has given the Game more variety and depth.

High-quality sound and music:

The Game’s sound and music work well, creating a mysterious and attractive atmosphere in Half-Life.

Exploration and searching in the environment:

The Game maintains a strong sense of searching and exploring. Players are encouraged to explore the game environments and find the necessary items and ammunition.

Unique VR experience:

Half-Life: Alyx is known as one of the best VR games and shows the potential of this technology well.

Negative points of the Game

Requires powerful systems:

To experience the Game in high quality, you need potent systems and graphics cards such as GTX 1060 or better. This may be a problem for some players who do not have access to powerful hardware.

Limited variety of weapons:

The number of weapons in the Game is limited to three types. Although these weapons are upgradeable, some players may feel lacking due to the lack of variety in this section.

VR devices required:

The Game requires VR headsets, which some players may find expensive and inaccessible.

VR control challenges:

The VR controls may be complex for new players and take some getting used to.

The Gameplay may feel long for some:

The Game’s length and gameplay complexities may be frustrating for some players looking for shorter, faster experiences.

In conclusion, Half-Life: Alyx sets a new standard for VR games. Its gameplay mechanisms are well-executed, the puzzle design is creative, and the combat offers a satisfying balance of challenge and realism. The Game delivers an immersive experience that should be a benchmark for future VR titles.