Half-Life 2: Deathmatch

About

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is a multiplayer-focused game set in the Half-Life 2 universe, offering both deathmatch and teamplay modes. Experience stunning visuals and innovative physics-based gameplay, where you can manipulate objects and weapons to your advantage. With the option for co-op and single-player modes, engage in fast-paced action, tossing toilets and other objects at friends or AI opponents, but be aware of occasional bugs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,505 reviews

gameplay58 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Fast-paced and chaotic gameplay that captures the essence of classic deathmatch shooters.
The inclusion of the gravity gun allows for unique and humorous interactions, such as throwing toilets at opponents.
A nostalgic experience for fans of the Half-Life series, with a dedicated community still playing.

The player base is significantly reduced, making it difficult to find populated servers.
Many servers are filled with hackers or have unbalanced gameplay, leading to frustrating experiences.
The game feels outdated and lacks new content or updates, which can make it repetitive over time.

gameplay
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The gameplay of Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic action that effectively translates the mechanics of Half-Life 2 into a multiplayer deathmatch format. While many players appreciate the unique physics and engaging mechanics, some criticize the game for its lack of innovation and the presence of bugs, which can detract from the experience. Overall, it remains a fun and nostalgic choice for fans of classic FPS gameplay, though its player base has dwindled over time.
- “The fast-paced gameplay is great to waste some time!”
- “Timeless mechanics with a towering skill ceiling, plays great in 1v1 and full lobbies so as long as 1 other person is playing there's always potential for enjoyment.”
- “The physics make the combat and gameplay unique, with most things being controlled by physics, your experiences could be new every time.”
- “Too bad it's filled with completely awful garbage, low-gravity servers that defy the whole aspect of this game's premise and gameplay.”
- “There are a lot of small issues and omissions in the game that can be problematic, such as being able to easily distinguish between players in team modes, a lack of server-confirmed feedback due to the lack of hitsounds & hitmarkers, and an entourage of bugs that go from causing minor inconveniences (e.g. invisible weapons caused by players joining) to major gameplay issues (e.g. being stuck inside props on spawn, and the game client desyncing, causing phantom props that don't exist on the server and other players).”
- “Despite this seeming variety in gameplay, the game can feel quite basic in terms of mechanics and tactical options, creating an experience that feels perhaps too generic compared to its more modern contemporaries, especially with the lack of advanced movement tech (rocket jumping, bhopping) present in other, similar games.”
graphics
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The graphics of the game, while not cutting-edge by modern standards, are generally considered decent and have aged well since its 2004 release, with many players appreciating the visuals and sound design. Users note that the graphics run smoothly even on lower-end PCs, although some glitches can occur. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a strong point, contributing to an enjoyable multiplayer experience.
- “The graphics are so realistic that I thought it was a real man running around a real-life area with a camera stuck to his head!”
- “The graphics have aged very well.”
- “Despite that, the game holds up quite well, both in graphics and gameplay.”
- “Firstly, the graphics are terrible.”
- “The graphics have now aged and not many people still playing.”
- “Obviously the graphics aren't the best because this is an old game, but who cares?”
humor
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is widely praised, with players highlighting its comedic elements, such as ragdoll physics and absurd interactions, which lead to hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings. Many reviews mention the enjoyment of playing with friends, where the chaotic and often silly gameplay fosters a lighthearted atmosphere. Overall, the game is described as a fun and funny experience, reminiscent of classic deathmatch shooters, with a unique charm that keeps players laughing.
- “A very funny game, and the best Half-Life deathmatch.”
- “Ridiculously short time to kill, most weapons are unbalanced, and every encounter is somewhat funny because someone is most likely going to ragdoll into the air or crumple like a sack of potatoes.”
- “This multiplayer is just too fun not to give it a try, it's best to play it with friends because of how funny it can be at times.”
story
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The game's story is often described as minimal or lacking, with many players noting that it primarily focuses on gameplay rather than narrative. However, some reviews highlight a connection to the Half-Life universe, mentioning an engaging backstory involving anarchist themes and character dynamics, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. Overall, while the story may not be the main draw, it is appreciated by some players for its ties to a beloved franchise.
- “Overall good story.”
- “Absolutely thriving game, engaging story.”
- “Even after all the years this game has come out, it still has an active community and great storyline.”
- “There is no scenario in the game; you just shoot at what comes in front of you. Weapons, location designs, and characters are compatible with the main story, which is better, but I guess the player will get bored after a while because the game always repeats itself.”
- “There isn't a story whatsoever, because that exists in a different game - Half-Life 2, of course.”
- “This game was released before Half-Life 2's story came out and also released the same day as Counter-Strike Source. I would like to call this game a test by Valve to see the beauty of the VPhysics engine.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
53%
27%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be quite tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling it requires excessive effort, often humorously suggesting that a "second life" is needed to manage it. While some mention that grinding can be decent or minimal, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a monotonous and lengthy experience.
- “no grinding needed”
- “decent grinding”
- “a lot of grinding”
- “one long, tedious grind”
- “Monotonous, tedious, mediocre.”
- “you'll need a second life for grinding”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely reported to be quite buggy, with numerous glitches that can detract from the experience, though some players find them endearing or part of the charm. While regular updates from Valve aim to address these issues, they often introduce new problems instead. Overall, stability is a significant concern, with many users advising caution due to the prevalence of bugs and a toxic community.
- “Many glitches and bugs that could probably be easily fixed by Valve.”
- “I wouldn't recommend anyone to play this game because of the many bugs and glitches you can see on servers, plus a toxic community and player base.”
- “Full of bugs and glitches; also, Valve 'updates' it regularly, which breaks even more than it fixes.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the immersive soundtrack and others expressing frustration over the use of popular songs, which can detract from the experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic and engaging elements of the music, others find it jarring, especially when it interrupts gameplay or is poorly curated by server admins. Overall, the music aspect seems to be a polarizing feature, with ratings ranging from 7/10 to 10/10 depending on personal taste and server experiences.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
- “☐ masterpiece music 10/10”
- “The graphics are simply amazing, the soundtrack immerses you in the whole experience, and it's the kind of game where you sit down to play, and the next thing you know it's 4 am.”
- “I have joined in the last 5 minutes of a match on some server, and as soon as the match was over and Katy Perry's music started playing, I instantly closed the game and never touched it again.”
- “Joining some other server: random people, some poorly made custom maps, and terrible music broadcasted right into your headphones!”
- “Fans of multiplayer maps with no gravity that end rounds with copyright-infringing uses of James Brown songs will be thrilled.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's replayability is rated moderately, with a score of 6.5/10, indicating a decent amount of replay value due to its expanded maps and characters. While some players appreciate its classic status and infinite replay potential, others suggest that there are more engaging options available for the same price.
- “This game is still good, and I like it due to its high replay value.”
- “This game expands from the first deathmatch game with more maps and more playable characters, making it enjoyable to play repeatedly.”
- “Replay value: 6.5/10”
- “Just spend your 5 bucks on something more replayable!”
- “Although I prefer playing some of the newer/modern games, Half-Life 2 Deathmatch is a classic with infinite replay value.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is praised for its absence of microtransactions, lootboxes, and special events, allowing players to enjoy a straightforward experience without the pressure to spend money on advantages or cosmetics. This focus on a pure gameplay experience is well-received by users.
- “I like the lack of microtransactions; this way I can play the game without the constant want of advantages or cosmetics that cost money.”
- “No microtransactions, no in-your-face lootboxes, no special events, just selecting a generic character model and running around and shooting your friends with the guns from Half-Life 2.”
- “No microtransactions.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is mixed, with some users reporting good performance while others experience significant issues, including poor connections and unbalanced gameplay. Overall, it appears that while some players find it runs well, others struggle with optimization problems.
- “It runs nicely; it's not badly optimized, so you won't have problems.”
- “Optimization is rated 9.”
- “This is HL2DM; it's still alive and kicking, so try it out if you can handle it. However, the optimization is poor, and people have terrible connections.”
- “It is very, very unbalanced and not well optimized.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for successfully capturing the iconic and immersive qualities of the Half-Life 2 universe, evoking a sense of nostalgia and excitement among players. However, there is a palpable disappointment regarding the potential loss of future explorations in this atmospheric setting.
- “I am deeply upset that we will never get to explore the atmospheric and exciting universe of Half-Life again.”
- “This game succeeds greatly at keeping the same great Half-Life 2 atmosphere and environments.”