By Sci-Gaming / Stef Verhagen
This is an update to our initial look and technical review of Half-Life Alyx from 2021. Now that I have finally been able to complete the game, I can confidently say it’s nothing short of a masterpiece—so much so that I felt the need to write about it..
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You start the game on a balcony with an incredible view of City 17. Everything feels different when it appears life-sized - (Image Credit: Valve)
Admittedly, I’m a bit late to the VR party. I have always been intrigued by the concept of virtual reality, but it felt like the games weren't there yet. There was nothing that really got my heart racing.
This is probably because the hardware requirements for a truly immersive VR experience—which is what I am looking for—are quite steep, limiting the potential audience for these games. At the same time, the financial investment required to create such an experience is substantial. It’s therefore understandable that few VR game developers choose to aim for a triple-A experience.
The Valve index VR set, for example, has a resolution of 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye (2880 x 1600 pixels combined). According to the Steam Hardware Survey, most gamers still play games at 1080p or lower (Edit: this is still, true even in 2025).
On top of that, it is vital to play VR games at a high refresh rate to fight latency and the resulting motion sickness. The Valve Index runs at 144Hz, meaning that ideally, you should aim for 144fps for an optimal experience, requiring even better hardware.
(To cut down on costs, I reviewed this game on a more affordable headset—the Oculus Rift S, with a resolution of 1280x1440 per eye and a refresh rate of 80Hz combined with a Geforce GTX 1080ti and Geforce RTX 3080 for the initial technical review back in 2021 and a Geforce RTX 4090 for the final review in 2025.)
Despite the challenging circumstances, Valve has demonstrated remarkable boldness by choosing to develop an expensive, high-end immersive game in such a niche market. This game strongly comes across as a passion project, further emphasized by the evident enthusiasm of Valve's president and co-founder, Gabe Newell.
After finishing the game, I explored the interactive developer commentary—a feature Valve added to the game after its release. Further supporting the passion project theory is the fact that Newell included his personal email address in the commentary, inviting players to provide feedback. I tried this and was surprised to receive a response from Newell himself.
Immersive Gameplay That Sets a New Standard
At the core of Half-Life Alyx’s brilliance lies its ability to immerse players like no other game. Designed specifically for VR, it takes full advantage of the medium. The act of physically reaching out to pick up an object, reloading a gun, or solving a puzzle with your hands is intuitive and satisfying. You can clearly see that a lot of work has gone into making these basic things feel as good as possible.
Development time well spend I would say, as these simple interactions make the world feel tangible, pulling you into the game’s universe in a way traditional games simply cannot. Initially I particularly struggled with reloading—something I usually don't think twice about in conventional FPS games.
It sounds so simple, but having to eject a spent cartridge from my gun, grab ammo from my backpack, load it into the gun, and pull back the slide on top of the gun suddenly becomes incredibly nerve-wracking during an intense shootout. And I mean nerve-wracking in a good way, the immersion makes this type of tension unlike anything I’ve experienced in other games, even other VR titles.
Seemingly simple combat encounters in Half-Life: Alyx become remarkably intense, making for an incredibly fun experience - (Image Credit: Valve)
In addition to making basic actions feel incredibly satisfying, Valve also introduced innovative gameplay mechanics. The Gravity Gloves are a perfect example of this innovation. These gloves allow players to manipulate objects from a distance, creating dynamic gameplay possibilities while staying true to the physics-driven nature of the Half-Life series.
Like with basic actions, it takes a little bit of getting used to. To use the gloves you aim at an object you want to grab in the distance, press the trigger on your controller, then quickly tilt your controller towards yourself while holding down that trigger. If you do it well the object will come flying towards you which you can then, satisfyingly, catch. It is hard to convey but whether you're grabbing ammunition from across a room or tossing a grenade back at an enemy, every action feels natural and impactful.
The excellent ‘gravity gloves’ also have a handy display for things such as your health and ammo. - (Image Credit: Valve)
Visuals
Even though the game is now almost 5 years old, the visuals in Half-Life Alyx are nothing short of breathtaking. Powered by Valve's in-house Source 2 engine, the game delivers stunningly detailed environments that are both atmospheric and believable. From the slightly dystopian streets of City 17 to the eerie interiors of alien-infested buildings, every location seems meticulously crafted.
Although Half-Life Alxyx may not hit the levels of technical fidelity found in path traced games such as Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077—as well as the more recent Indiana Jones and the Great Circle— its artistic direction and attention do a lot of heavy lifting to deliver an atmospheric experience that hat rivals those games when judged from a 2D perspective. However, once you put on a VR headset and experience the game life-sized, Alyx delivers an unmatched level of immersion, in my opinion.
A Story Worth Telling
Half-Life Alyx is not just about gameplay mechanics and visuals; it also tells a compelling story. Set five years before the events of Half-Life 2, the game places you in the role of Alyx Vance, a resistance fighter battling the oppressive Combine. I won't spoil anything, but for those who played Half-Life 2, there are also some links between the two games that will alter your perspective on the older game.
The narrative is expertly paced, with moments of quiet exploration punctuated by intense action sequences. The voice acting is top-notch, bringing characters to life and deepening your connection to the story. By the time the credits roll, you’ll find yourself emotionally invested in Alyx’s journey and the world she inhabits.
Frustratingly, the ending leaves you yearning for the now almost mythical Half-Life 3 even more than Half-Life 2 did. Over the years, we’ve seen many rumours, but with the recent surge in speculation about Half-Life 3, I’m still holding out hope that we’ll eventually get what we’ve been waiting for (decades).
Final Thoughts
Going back to the introduction of this article the most significant aspect of Half-Life Alyx is its role as a trailblazer for VR gaming. It demonstrates the potential of VR as a medium for storytelling and gameplay, setting a benchmark for what VR games can achieve. For me, it was the immersive experience I was looking for.
Let’s hope the pool of potential VR customers eventually grows large enough to make these types of games financially worthwhile for more developers. In the meantime, if you’re a fan of sci-fi, immersive storytelling, or cutting-edge technology, Half-Life Alyx is a masterpiece that deserves a place in your library. It’s not just a recommendation—it’s an essential experience for anyone who is into VR, even in 2025.
