HALF DEAD 2

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 725 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • humor
HALF DEAD 2 Game Cover
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"Half Dead 2" is a futuristic survival game where you, a notorious criminal, must compete in galactic games of survival against other ruthless killers and rebels. The game features up to 16 players in co-op and PvP modes, battling it out in a network of rooms filled with deadly traps and equipped with weapons and protective gear. Customize your character and navigate through multiple floors in this intense and action-packed battle for survival.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 725 reviews
gameplay7 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game is a fun experience, especially when played with friends, providing lots of laughs and memorable moments.
  • Improvements over the first game include better graphics, new traps, and character customization options, making it more engaging.
  • The battle royale mode adds a unique twist to the gameplay, allowing for competitive play alongside the cooperative experience.
  • The multiplayer aspect is severely lacking, with many players reporting dead servers and difficulty finding others to play with.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive quickly, with limited variety in traps and rooms leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
  • Technical issues, such as black screens and bugs, have been reported, making the game frustrating to play at times.
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay in "Half Dead 2" features a unique mechanic of throwing shoes to detect traps, which adds an interesting twist but can become repetitive over time. While the game introduces improved graphics and additional mechanics compared to its predecessor, many players find the gameplay loop simplistic and lacking depth, leading to a quick sense of staleness, especially in solo play. Overall, the game is enjoyable with friends but suffers from limited multiplayer engagement and a lack of overarching goals or story elements.

    • “You toss your shoe into a room as the main mechanic for detecting traps, and you can get new shoes from dead bodies scattered in the rooms along the way.”
    • “Great game with difficult puzzles and fascinating gameplay.”
    • “This is a very interesting mechanic because shoes are a rare item to find and if you lose both of your shoes it adds an extra level of stress and forces players to take 'leaps of faith' into different rooms before finding additional shoes.”
    • “The gameplay boils down to running through identical rooms, throwing shoes to check for traps, and finding other shoes to throw.”
    • “Gameplay is very simple, not much to do; after 30 minutes you've seen it all, and the lack of players means you're limited to playing solo.”
    • “The gameplay gets pretty stale though.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics in Half Dead 2 show significant improvement over the original, featuring enhanced visuals, dynamic traps, and better character customization. While many players appreciate the overall aesthetic and optimization, some report occasional glitches and a basic feel in certain aspects. Overall, the game is praised for its appealing graphics, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “Amazing visuals.”
    • “Also the graphics in this one compared to the last are so much nicer, and the traps much more dynamic.”
    • “It's also a big improvement graphically and mechanically, where the original Half Dead fell short, Half Dead 2 shines.”
    • “Graphics, audio, animations, everything is as basic as you can get.”
    • “Bad graphics, stupid traps that are easy to figure out and avoid.”
    • “As far as the price goes, I've seen more graphical and more developed games go for free.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly when played with friends, leading to moments of laughter and unexpected hilarity. Players enjoy the combination of frustrating challenges and comedic situations, such as absurd traps and chaotic interactions, which enhance the overall experience. While some note minor issues, the game's ability to evoke laughter, especially in cooperative play, makes it a standout feature.

    • “Watching my friends get slowly diced by lasers through an indestructible plate of glass is immensely hilarious.”
    • “This game is insanely hilarious, especially with the right type of friends.”
    • “Running into rooms ever-filling with skulls or noxious gas is hilarious, especially when one of your friends shoved you into it by use of shoes.”
  • story11 mentions

    The game lacks a meaningful story, with players noting that while a narrative is mentioned on the store page, it is not integrated into the gameplay. This absence of a cohesive story detracts from player investment, making the experience feel aimless despite its potential for adrenaline-fueled fun. Overall, the lack of a compelling narrative is a significant drawback for many users.

    • “There are no gameplay elements that suggest or hint at the story mentioned on the store page.”
    • “The gameplay itself could use an overarching goal of some sort, some sort of story.”
    • “Having a story or setting that makes sense would make it a lot easier to get invested in the game.”
    • “It seems there is a story on the store page, but that does not make it into the game.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a generally enjoyable experience with only minor glitches, while others have encountered significant bugs and crashes, particularly in network co-op and battle royale modes. Overall, while many find the game fun and entertaining, the presence of bugs and clunky mechanics has hindered the experience for some users.

    • “Great game, fun to play and no glitches. Works well on computer and is enjoyable with friends.”
    • “Nice variety of traps and death rooms. Good use of teamwork as you only get two shoes to test a room, and it helps to have others with you. The game runs great and provides a good amount of entertainment.”
    • “It's extremely buggy.”
    • “I played the original with my friend and that was relatively fun, and I thought this would be more so due to the new mechanics, PvP, etc., but it is just clunky and buggy, not letting my friend and I play at times.”
    • “Battle royale mode still needs some work as it's buggy as hell.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it limited and repetitive, especially if they aren't fans of minesweeper, others appreciate the added features like character customization and PvP mode that enhance replay value. Community involvement in content selection could further improve replayability, but many feel the current offering provides decent value for the price.

    • “It's an elongated version of Minesweeper, which in itself is a simple and replayable game.”
    • “This is a fun little game with lots of laughs and replayability.”
    • “Added lots of features for that extra replayability, including character customization, unlockable clothing, and a PvP mode if you get bored of co-op.”
    • “The replay value in this game is limited unless you're already a fan of Minesweeper, but even then it becomes repetitive.”
    • “It's an elongated version of Minesweeper, which is a simple and replayable game.”
    • “They could have the community vote on what content makes it officially into the game, which would vastly increase the replayability.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Players have noted significant improvements in optimization compared to the first game, highlighting better graphics and overall performance. The ability to earn better crates based on in-game performance further enhances the experience.

    • “I liked that you are able to play with people, and based on your performance in the game, you can get better crates.”
    • “Excellent optimization.”
    • “The graphics do look much better than the first game, so I will give credit there, and the game does feel much more optimized than the first.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it hinders navigation and forces them to engage in repetitive tasks without the option to purchase upgrades or items directly.

    • “And it makes navigation, the meat of the game, completely tedious!”
    • “Because they won't even allow you to purchase it in-game, but only through grinding.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely negative, with users expressing frustration over its lack of originality and quality, leading to a disheartening experience. One reviewer humorously noted that even their emotional support dog struggled to endure the gameplay, highlighting the game's failure to engage players on an emotional level.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive dystopian setting, drawing strong comparisons to the "Cube" film series, particularly in its room designs and the tension created by its traps. This combination effectively enhances the overall experience, making it both engaging and reminiscent of the source material.

    • “Quite an enjoyable game set in a dystopian future, very reminiscent of the Cube films; Cube 2: Hypercube in terms of room settings, but the first movie, Cube, in terms of traps and atmosphere.”
    • “The game has a somewhat enjoyable atmosphere, but it heavily borrows from the dystopian themes of the Cube films, particularly in its room settings and traps.”
    • “While the game attempts to create a tense atmosphere, it ultimately feels derivative and lacks originality.”
    • “The atmosphere is reminiscent of the Cube series, but it fails to capture the same level of suspense and intrigue.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game features cosmetic microtransactions, which may deter players who prefer to avoid in-game purchases.

    • “Beware, it's got cosmetic microtransactions, so don't buy if you want to avoid that like the plague.”
    • “The monetization model is aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I feel like the game is designed to push players towards purchasing in-game items rather than earning them through gameplay.”
  • music1 mentions

    The game's music features a lively bass-heavy soundtrack that enhances the menu experience, creating an engaging atmosphere for players.

    • “The bumping bass soundtrack in the menus sets an energetic tone for the game.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “Each track is carefully crafted, making every moment feel immersive and engaging.”
    • “The music in the game feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
    • “The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
    • “The audio quality of the music is subpar, which detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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