While 1: [WIP]

About

In "While 1: ", play as Sergeant Mitchell, a villain from the "Half-Life" universe, in this fan-made game by Royal Rudius Entertainment. Survive the 7 Hour War with over 2 hours of gameplay, 40 levels, and cinematic cutscenes. Manage your inventory with 26 unique weapons and gadgets, and face challenges with tactical thinking and parkour skills. Experience a any original story in this immersive game, not affiliated with Valve.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+14

53%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,512 reviews

story180 positive mentions

stability136 negative mentions

story
922 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
66%
14%
The story of "Hunt Down the Freeman" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as incoherent, poorly written, and filled with plot holes. While some appreciate its attempts at emotional depth and unique perspectives within the Half-Life universe, the execution is often criticized as a confusing mix of clichés and derivative elements from other games, particularly "Metal Gear Solid V." Overall, the narrative is seen as a significant weakness of the game, detracting from the overall experience despite some entertaining moments in its cutscenes.
- “The storyline is gripping, weaving a complex and intriguing tale that keeps players on the edge of their seats throughout the entire journey.”
- “Hunt Down the Freeman tells us a dramatic story of a man who lost his parents and brother, had his comrade dying in his hands during a war, and after all that, he was sent to Black Mesa during an alien invasion.”
- “In conclusion, 'Hunt Down the Freeman' is a triumph in game design, seamlessly blending compelling storytelling, engaging gameplay, and top-notch visuals.”
- “Honestly nothing about Hunt Down the Freeman makes a lot of sense. The story is poorly thought out, the maps ignore 90% of good level design principles, and the only thing hard about the game is figuring out where the actual hell you're supposed to go.”
- “The story line barely makes any sense at all, moves at a crackhead pace, is insanely stupid, and blatantly rips off MGS 5, yet it is played 100% seriously which makes the YouTuber cameo voice actors all the more funnier.”
- “The pacing just made zero sense, you just seemingly teleport everywhere with no explanation why, characters are introduced then killed off the very next scene, and there were 0 care of the story... however, the cutscenes were definitely the highlight of this shitty game, as they were just really funny to go through because of how bad it was.”
gameplay
492 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
63%
15%
The gameplay of "Hunt Down the Freeman" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the introduction of new mechanics like parkour and vehicle segments, while others criticize the execution as clunky and poorly integrated. Many reviewers noted significant issues with level design, AI behavior, and overall gameplay flow, leading to a frustrating experience that often detracts from the enjoyment. Despite some improvements in later builds, the game is frequently described as a buggy and incoherent experience, with a disconnect between its ambitious mechanics and the actual gameplay quality.
- “The gameplay is in my opinion the best part.”
- “The combat mechanics in 'Hunt Down the Freeman' are both challenging and satisfying.”
- “With its very decent gameplay, oddly engaging storyline, and criminally underrated soundtrack, this is one of the upper-tier Half-Life experiences.”
- “The gameplay is atrocious.”
- “The 'parkour' system is atrocious and the worst thing about the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay in Hunt Down the Freeman is more stale than an old loaf of bread left out in the sun for a while.”
humor
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Hunt Down the Freeman" is characterized by its "hilariously awful" writing and voice acting, leading to moments that are unintentionally comedic. Many players find the game's cutscenes and absurd character interactions amusing, often comparing it to cult classics like "The Room" for its bizarre charm. However, while some enjoy the humor as a source of entertainment, others feel that the overall experience is marred by tedious gameplay, making it difficult to sustain laughter throughout.
- “First of all, the story and cutscenes - they're obviously the best part of the game, and I seriously cannot understate how hilarious it is to hear people give a genuine performance with this ridiculous script they were given.”
- “The voice acting is so bad that it is funny, using YouTubers over professional voice actors was an awful choice.”
- “I bought this game as a funny ha-ha to play with friends, and I can wholly and entirely recommend it as one of those funny things you play together on a Discord call and absolutely rip into.”
- “You've had 3 years, you're no better than one of those guys who tells unfunny terrible jokes and tries to get away with it by just saying 'I'm unfunny haha' and refuses to improve.”
- “I couldn't bear the game after the unfunny and corny country guy with the mustache (the writing was so bad and edgy I couldn't even remember his name). The only thing that's genuinely funny or memorable is the fact they got Keemstar as the POTUS.”
- “The humor in this game feels forced and lacks originality, making it hard to enjoy any comedic moments.”
graphics
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
45%
19%
The graphics of "Hunt Down the Freeman" receive mixed reviews, with some praising the impressive visuals and high-quality textures rendered on the Unreal Engine 5, while others criticize the inconsistency and presence of graphical bugs. Many players note that while certain aspects, like character models and lighting, are visually appealing, the overall execution suffers from optimization issues and a lack of polish, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a highlight by some, but marred by technical flaws and inconsistencies that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Hunt Down the Freeman is a unique gaming experience that captivates players with its intense narrative, immersive gameplay, and impressive graphics.”
- “Rendered on the beautiful and futuristic Unreal 5 engine with high-quality graphics and lighting, you'll need a monster PC if you want to run this masterpiece.”
- “The graphics in the game are incredibly well-done; the developers pulled no punches when it comes to polygon count and texture resolution, optimizations be damned!”
- “Prepare yourself for broken textures (I encountered a particularly puzzling broken reflection texture which turned the ground purple) and some absolutely horrendous graphics; it's shocking to me that a licensed game can look this bad.”
- “The graphics are awful, the gameplay is clunky, and shooting down zombies through the corridors of Black Mesa is not exactly an original idea.”
- “Even the graphics and optimization are at all-time lows here - it's hard for a 2018 game to not only look so bad, but also run so badly.”
music
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the emotional and atmospheric experience, often describing it as "amazing" or "incredible." However, some players noted that while the music is well-composed, it can feel generic or out of place at times, and there are instances where the game lacks sufficient background music during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is frequently highlighted as one of the game's redeeming qualities, despite criticisms of other aspects.
- “One of the standout features of the game is its soundtrack, composed to perfection to complement the atmosphere and intensity of the gameplay.”
- “The music enhances the emotional impact of key moments, creating a truly immersive experience that resonates with players long after they've put down the controller.”
- “Featuring a Grammy-award winning soundtrack with some of the most emotional, heart-wrenching, and epic tracks of the decade.”
- “Some of the music, dialogue, and voice acting is a bit cringe.”
- “There is some music but it's so generic and so bland that I really don't have anything else to say about it.”
- “This game has great potential to be a first-rate FPS, but the game has a lot to improve ... because in the first few hours of gameplay I noticed some texture bugs, artificial intelligence, slow loading, and a boring silence throughout the game (no soundtrack playing), which disrupts much in the unfolding of the plot and in its involvement with it.”
stability
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users note improvements in recent updates, many still find it unplayable without cheats or workarounds, leading to a consensus that the game remains a "buggy mess." Overall, the stability issues overshadow any positive aspects, making it difficult to recommend.
- “Not to mention I spent 80% of my time looking at loading screens or freezes.”
- “The gameplay is super blocky and buggy, currently running with the newest drivers and the game is constantly on the verge of crashing, making combat very difficult.”
- “Weak story, buggy mess, missing textures, and unplayable at times.”
optimization
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some updates have improved stability and allowed for smoother gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, with broken maps and glitchy elements detracting from the experience. Despite decent graphics, the optimization struggles have led to frustration among players, making it difficult to recommend.
- “Overall, I actually kind of enjoyed it, mostly because the graphics looked good and ran on my potato, decently optimized.”
- “The game now runs smoothly, and I experienced no crashes in my recent replay.”
- “[b]Lovely[/b] optimization”
- “An unoptimized mess of bad fanfiction-level writing and bad game design.”
- “Even the graphics and optimization are at all-time lows here - it's hard for a 2018 game to not only look so bad, but also run so badly.”
- “As everyone else said, it's unoptimized source garbage with some of the worst game mechanics, maps, NPCs, and story ever, not to mention it being very unstable.”
emotional
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its powerful storytelling and a Grammy-award winning soundtrack that deeply resonates with players, often leading to tears and profound reactions. While some critiques mention a reliance on emotional appeal over coherent storytelling, many players find the experience to be immersive and impactful, sparking discussions about its deeper themes. Overall, the game elicits strong emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “The music enhances the emotional impact of key moments, creating a truly immersive experience that resonates with players long after they've put down the controller.”
- “I cried at the ending; it was so emotional when I saw the main character say the line.”
- “When combined with the powerfully-directed cutscenes in which the story is told, it leaves a strong emotional response in players that can spark discussions for days.”
monetization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling it is a cash grab, particularly given the price point of 8.19 euros. The inclusion of ads and mechanics borrowed from other franchises, like Call of Duty, has been viewed as disrespectful to the Half-Life community, leading to a mixed reception regarding the game's identity and gameplay experience. Overall, players are divided on the monetization strategy, with some enjoying the new features while others see them as unnecessary and detrimental to the franchise's legacy.
- “Ads are a questionable inclusion, given this is supposed to be a Half-Life game.”
- “I honestly feel this game is disrespecting the Half-Life community to the fullest and is just a quick cash grab.”
- “The game can't decide whether it wants to be more tactical or like regular HL2, and what you get is a bad combination with ads and some serious recoil on guns.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many reviewers noting that it lacks significant value for repeated playthroughs due to a weak story and minimal improvements in gameplay. However, recent updates have made it more playable and enjoyable, with some humorous elements added, which may attract players for a single experience rather than ongoing engagement.
- “Even after the game was disliked and misenjoyed by many 5-6 years ago, it now looks very tweaked, balanced, and more playable.”
- “I did enjoy the game in 2024, and I think they fixed some things back in 2023 that made the game more playable by addressing bugs. Overall, it's not a bad game, nor have I personally played a bad Half-Life game.”
- “It fixed a lot of problems and added some funny achievements, overhauling parts of the game to make it more enjoyable.”
- “It's a paid Half-Life 2 mod without much replay value.”
- “This game has zero replay value; the story is not that great, but at least it was 'fun' to try playing this mess.”
- “The story still remains untouched and likely will stay that way, so don't expect any improvements there, but it's at least a lot more playable now.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed, with some players finding it tedious and frustrating, describing the gameplay as boring and filled with pointless maps. Others, however, enjoyed the experience, stating that it was engaging and not tedious during their playthroughs. Overall, the perception of grinding varies significantly, with a notable divide between those who find it a chore and those who appreciate it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I can sum up this game in one word: tedious.”
- “The cinematics are hilarious, but the gameplay is too tedious to go through even with cheats.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highlighted by a masterfully composed soundtrack that enhances the intensity of gameplay, complemented by effective sound design. Visually, it is stunning with strong atmospheric elements, although some players note a lack of ammunition during challenging encounters. Overall, the audio and visual components work together to create an immersive experience.
- “One of the standout features of the game is its soundtrack, composed to perfection to complement the atmosphere and intensity of the gameplay.”
- “The audio department is a mixed bag but works for the most part, with nothing to complain about the sound design, and the soundtrack is sufficiently dynamic, fitting into the HL2's original atmosphere.”
- “Visually stunning with great atmospherics, although there are times when ammo is scarce, especially against the big robot enemies.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Character development in the game is widely criticized, particularly for the character Mitchell, who is likened to a poorly executed version of Duke Nukem. Reviewers express disappointment in the overall character design and development, noting that many characters lack depth and are either poorly designed or meet untimely ends, contributing to a negative perception of the game's narrative quality.
- “The character design and model for Mitchell is without a doubt the worst thing I have ever laid eyes upon.”
- “The character design is so painful to look at.”