I am conflicted upon finishing this game. As much as I loved being Gordon and gunning down the Combine, I also became much more frustrated with the gameplay than the last entry. It didn't fix the main issues I had with the previous game: pacing and movement. The later chapters felt pretty lengthy compared to the earlier ones, and I still got stuck on geometry a lot. However, it was worse this time because there were also a bunch of physics objects I got stuck on, and the game was much more combat-intensive. They throw so many enemies at you. So when I would attempt to run for cover, I would get trapped in place by a stray paint can on the floor or something. It was obnoxious.

The story is interesting as it's quite the departure from the previous game. Instead of a localized event, it was a sprawling story with just more overall. Major developments happen off-screen, and I think I like that. It makes you feel like an actual time skip happened in how it plops you into the story. The characters received improvement as well. Instead of nameless scientists (whom I still love), we get an arrangement of people. We have the main secondary character of Alyx Vance and her father Eli, both of whom I liked although they weren't my favorite. The main antagonist Dr. Breen, who I found to be a little lacking but fine overall. As well as assorted others, including some of my favorite characters: Barney, Dr. Kleiner, and Father Grigori. There is a lot more variety. Of course, you still got the stars of the show Gordon and the GMan.

I don't know if I think this game is better than the previous one, but it does do some things better. However, it also does some things worse. Overall, it's hard for me to say one way or the other. If I had to choose, I would lean more toward the first game, but that may not be true after I continue with the story.