Half-Life: A Place in the West

About

Half-Life: A Place in the West is a single player action game. It was developed by Ross Joseph Gardner and was released on September 29, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

"Half-Life: A Place in the West" is a fan-made comic, playable through a special app or as a PDF, set in Valve's Half-Life universe. The story follows the aftermath of a teleportation experiment gone wrong, leading to a totalitarian occupation by the Combine. A mysterious cosmic tower's appearance in a hidden city presents a potential salvation or downfall for humanity. Achievements are included in the first two chapters, with more chapters to come. Please note that achievements are currently disabled due to a library issue.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Half-Life: A Place in the West screenshot

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 442 reviews

story52 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The comic features stunning artwork and a fresh take on the Half-Life universe, providing a compelling narrative that expands on the lore.
Characters are well-developed and relatable, with a story that effectively captures the atmosphere of the Half-Life series.
The first chapter is free, making it accessible for fans and newcomers alike, and it leaves readers eager for the next installments.

The pacing can be uneven, with some plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped, leading to confusion about the storyline.
Achievements are tied to paid chapters, which has frustrated some players who expected a fully free experience.
The comic's reader interface is clunky and lacks features like panel-by-panel navigation, making it less user-friendly.

story
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The story of "Half-Life: A Place in the West" is a fan-created comic that explores a new narrative set in the Half-Life universe, focusing on the personal struggles of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. While some reviewers appreciate its original plot and character development, others find it convoluted and lacking the essence of the original games, often comparing it to typical zombie narratives. Overall, the comic is praised for its artwork and potential, with many fans eager to see how the story unfolds in future chapters.
- “Amazing story and writing.”
- “The story is engaging and kept me glued to the screen even though I am not a fan of reading comics on the PC normally.”
- “A well-written and drawn comic set in the Half-Life universe, the story gives a refreshing look at the world and would be a good story for anyone craving Half-Life 3.”
- “The story is all over the place and has a large dissonance with what we consider Half-Life 2; people aren't struggling to survive, they are living good lives, with children playing and bizarre parties where they eat ichthyosaurs.”
- “I feel they've overcomplicated the story with too many moving pieces and lost what made this interesting in the first place.”
- “I'm really lost with this story, and it just doesn't feel like Half-Life.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
38%
7%
The graphics of the comic have received widespread praise for their stunning artwork and unique art style, which effectively conveys mood and emotion while remaining visually engaging. Many reviewers noted the artwork's professional quality, comparing it favorably to mainstream comics and highlighting its ability to enhance the storytelling. However, some criticism was directed at the clarity of dialogue and the flow of the panels, suggesting that the artwork occasionally requires the reader to fill in narrative gaps.
- “The artwork is stellar and everything drawn fits within the Half-Life style.”
- “The artwork is great, and works in tandem with the dialogue to explore many emotions - suspense, despair, surprise, heartache, and wonder, without ever drowning the reader in superfluous details.”
- “The art style is very reminiscent of some official Valve comics (L4D's 'The Sacrifice' comes to mind) and it is incredibly faithful to the established Half-Life lore.”
- “One criticism I would have is the fact that, maybe due to the art style or maybe due to the atmospheric use of shadow and light - it's not always very clear who is speaking.”
- “Perhaps its biggest failing (or rather mine as its reader) is that it gives a bit too much credit to the reader filling in details through the artwork alone - I'm not especially dim, but without the commentary some of the finer points would have been lost on me.”
- “Because the artwork (whilst expressive) just isn't enough to bridge those gaps.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment over the soundtrack being sold as a separate DLC rather than being included by default. While some appreciate the 'Half-Life' style of the music, others find the lack of ambient sound and the need to purchase the soundtrack separately off-putting, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, there is a desire for a more immersive experience that includes integrated music and sound effects.
- “With a very 'Half-Life' soundtrack.”
- “Pro tip: listen to the Half-Life 2 soundtrack while reading.”
- “What could make this product even more potent and amazing is a played comic with acting voices, sound effects, and background music.”
- “Worst gameplay, worst soundtrack ever.”
- “This means that you will play the game without any music, unless you spend some extra money on purchasing the soundtrack DLC.”
- “In my opinion, not incorporating the soundtrack by default in the comic and instead selling it as a separate DLC indicates that these actions were specifically meant to inflate sales.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users expressing frustration over the lack of interactive elements, describing it as a "pure comic" with no gameplay. Conversely, others appreciate the rich lore and narrative depth, suggesting that it may appeal to fans who enjoy story-driven experiences beyond traditional gameplay mechanics.
- “If you love Half-Life beyond the gameplay and want some rich lore to tie you over, you can't go wrong with this!”
- “It's just gameplay.”
- “This is a pure comic, no gameplay.”
- “I hate when games do that, so when this digital comic book does it with absolutely no gameplay at all, it is beyond unacceptable!”
- “For lands outside the gameplay.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "A Place in the West" is notably more subdued and self-serious compared to Valve's darkly comedic style, focusing instead on character drama and tension. While some humor exists, it feels half-hearted and contrasts sharply with the more lighthearted tone established by Garry's Mod. The overall experience leans towards a bleak narrative, with a touch of irony in the inclusion of a chapter 3.
- “After Garry's Mod made the Half-Life universe so funny and cheerful to play, we have to come back to the doom and desperation of citadels and human transfiguration... which is a great deal of fun.”
- “I find it humorous they put a chapter 3.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its strong use of shadow and light, contributing to a tone that some reviewers find comparable to the original games. However, the art style can sometimes obscure character interactions, leading to confusion about who is speaking. There is a sentiment that the adaptation could have embraced a more atmospheric and faithful representation of the source material, rather than opting for a more conventional adventure style.
- “One criticism I would have is the fact that, maybe due to the art style or the atmospheric use of shadow and light, it's not always very clear who is speaking.”
- “The tone and atmosphere, in my humble opinion, is almost or on par with the actual games.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it feel disjointed and uninspired.”
- “Despite the visuals, the atmosphere feels flat and fails to immerse the player.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development is enhanced by a non-linear narrative that utilizes flashbacks, allowing for deeper exploration of characters and their survival experiences. The focus on individual growth amidst various threats keeps readers engaged and eager for future plot expansions.
- “The narration is non-linear and often jumps from one storyline to another, back and forth in time, through flashbacks that support character development.”
- “The game focuses not just on a single threat but emphasizes character development and survivalism in each chapter.”
- “The narration is non-linear and it often jumps from one storyline to another and back and forth in time, through flashbacks that support the character development.”
- “The combine is not just a single threat and focuses more on character development and survivalism in each chapter.”
- “I'm very excited to read the following chapters and see what they will have in store in terms of plot expansion and character development.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for this game has been criticized as predatory, with users labeling it a cash grab that offers only a demo or prologue while requiring payment for additional content. Many feel that the pricing is unjustified, especially since similar content is available for free on platforms like YouTube. Overall, the approach is seen as exploitative, particularly towards fans of the original franchise.
- “This isn't even free; it's just a demo/prologue/advertisement intended to sell the rest of this comic as 'game DLC', which is somewhat predatory and unacceptable marketing. Given that these developers have no problem polluting the marketplace with things that aren't games and apparently trying to profit from someone else's intellectual property, this is really just par for the course.”
- “This is a DLC; this entire comic is just a cash grab from Half-Life fans who enjoy the game and want to see some content surrounding the universe of Half-Life. I wouldn't have minded the DLC for the music, but you have to pay for the rest of the comic, which is not really cool. I don't think it's worth your money since you can simply watch it on YouTube and be done with it.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of intense engagement and surprise, such as defeating a zombie through unexpected means. This suggests that the game effectively elicits feelings of excitement and satisfaction.

Skip Game Offers

Buy Half-Life: A Place in the West

Half-Life: A Place in the West
See offer on Steam

2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Half-Life: A Place in the West

91%1.4kreviews

Fault Milestone One

2014

Simulation

$Major\Minor Image$

79%359reviews

Major\Minor

2015

Role Playing

95%608reviews

The Crown of Leaves

2018

Action

91%15.4kreviews

The Wolf Among Us

2013

Casual Action Adventure

+14

75%654reviews

Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos

2013

Casual Role Playing

More games like Half-Life: A Place in the West

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Half-Life: A Place in the West is a action game.

Half-Life: A Place in the West is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Half-Life: A Place in the West.

Half-Life: A Place in the West was released on September 29, 2016.

Half-Life: A Place in the West was developed by Ross Joseph Gardner.

Half-Life: A Place in the West has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its music.

Half-Life: A Place in the West is a single player game.

Similar games include Fault Milestone One, Major\Minor, The Crown of Leaves, The Wolf Among Us, Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos and others.

Half-Life: A Place in the West

Platforms

About

Buy Half-Life: A Place in the West