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GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Half-Life: Alyx is out now on Steam, making it a particularly exciting time to shop for the best VR headset. The fact that this is Valve’s first big VR game is only eclipsed by the fact that Alyx is the first entry in the Half-Life series since 2007. Because of that, interest in VR gaming has spiked considerably. Valve’s own Index headset was restocked a little while ago, but if you place a new order now, you’ll need to wait about eight weeks before your headset ships. Unfortunately, that’s the case for most VR headsets these days, most of them being sold out at all retailers.

Yes, the Valve Index is a popular VR headset, but it’s not the only one out there. Each VR headset out there right now has unique qualities like high resolutions, AMOLED displays, or built-in speakers. Most also come with touch and motion controllers, VR headphones, and more. We know it can be an intimidating purchase if you’re not already plugged into the VR gaming community. That’s why we’re on the case to help you figure out which of the best VR headsets is right for you, depending on your needs.

Whether you’re looking for a VR headset you can play anywhere, a high-end headset for the most immersive experience on your gaming PC, or something in between, there are plenty of options to choose from. While the early days of VR headsets had us choosing between the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, more companies have entered the space. Valve stepped out on its own with the Index, Samsung created a Windows Mixed Reality headset with the Samsung HMD Odyssey+, and Sony released its PS4-only PlayStation VR.

Half-Life: Alyx is compatible with a wide array of headsets, so we’ve noted which of the best VR headsets are compatible with Valve’s upcoming game. Please note that all pricing seen below indicates the product’s standard list price and does not reflect any discounts or other price fluctuations.

Quick look: The best VR headsets for 2020

Best overall VR headset

Oculus Quest | $399 for 64GB; $499 for 128GB

Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Completely wireless VR experience
• Capable of wired connection for gaming PC VR
• Easy to set up and use
• Access to Oculus’s store and exclusive VR apps
• Experimental features illustrate exciting future

The Bad:

• Experimental features aren’t always stable

The Oculus Quest is a standalone VR headset that has everything you need for a great VR experience tucked inside the headset itself. You don’t need to connect it to a PC or insert a smartphone into it. You don’t need to set up any sensors, either, as it utilizes four cameras on the front of the headset for inside-out tracking. All you need to do is put on the headset, draw yourself a safe playing area with the included Touch controllers, and start your VR gaming experience. You can also manage your apps and browse the store on your iPhone or Android phone, which makes it even more portable.

As for specs, the Oculus Quest’s combined OLED display resolution comes in at 2880×1600 with a refresh rate of 72Hz and 2-3 hours of battery. The 72Hz is surprisingly low for a VR headset, but throughout all of my testing, it didn’t feel noticeably slow. The Quest’s battery life also felt adequate for the length of my sessions; as long as I charged the headset after every use, I was able to have an enjoyable session the next time I put it on.

The Quest’s store includes some of VR’s best games–and latest releases–and playing them wirelessly feels liberating. In a lot of ways, the Quest is what moving around in a virtual space should be. Being able to turn around and move through your playing space without worrying where your headset’s cable is makes the experience much more immersive. The downside, of course, is that the Quest’s specs aren’t as powerful as your typical VR-ready, high-end gaming PC, which means it can’t play some of the most demanding VR games and content on its own. However, there is a solution for that.

Oculus is working on a number of features that should make the Quest even better. The first is called Link, a feature that lets you connect your Quest to a PC with a high-quality USB-C cable. This makes it so you can use the Quest as if it were any other PC headset, which means you can play more demanding Oculus games and access SteamVR games like Half-Life: Alyx. It may only be in beta, but it’s still impressive. I’ve tested it extensively, and I’m impressed with how good the experience is–it’s nearly flawless and stacks up well against other PC VR headsets. There have been cases where actually starting up Oculus Link has been a little troublesome, or where the VR headset disconnected from the video feed, however. Any blips like this were easily fixed, but they were blips that took me out of the experience nonetheless. Thankfully, since it is in beta and the rest of the experience is so good, there’s reasonable hope these infrequent moments can be ironed out.

Second, Oculus is working on hand-tracking to round out the already-impressive motion controls of the touch controllers, which currently only works in select VR apps and the Quest’s main menu. It’s in beta and can be a little finicky when selecting menu options, but being able to see and use your real hands in VR feels futuristic and immersive in the best ways.

With Link, the Oculus Quest is an easy VR headset to recommend for both immersive apps and gaming. It’s hard to understate how good the completely wireless experience is, and the fact that you can plug it into a PC and use it with SteamVR games and Oculus’s PC games makes it a lot more appealing. The specs aren’t on par with some of its PC counterparts, but the freedom you gain from its versatility more than makes up for it, and it’s a huge step up from other, smartphone-reliant mobile headsets like the Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream.

Best budget PC VR headset

Oculus Rift S | $399

Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Sensor-free, inside-out tracking
• Access to Oculus’s store and exclusive games

The Bad:

• No wireless option
• Feels slightly unnecessary next to the Quest

The Oculus Rift S is the company’s PC-powered headset, which means it can’t be used wirelessly like the Quest. However, you still don’t need to worry about sensors. Oculus has gone all-in on inside-out tracking, so all of its headsets are free to roam any space that has enough room–or that the Rift S’s cable is long enough to reach.

The Rift S comes with its own Touch controllers and has access to the Oculus Store’s VR apps, in addition to any other compatible game or app from any storefront on PC. This includes the vast majority of SteamVR games. The resolution comes in at 2560×1440 with a refresh rate of 80Hz.

The big question is, why would you go with the Rift S if the Quest can connect to a PC, do everything the Rift S can, and also live as a standalone headset? Well, the main reason is that the Quest’s Oculus Link is still in beta and, while impressive, is not always the most stable experience, especially if you step outside of the Oculus ecosystem of apps. If you want a perfectly stable PC VR experience right now and access to the Oculus Store’s apps, then the Oculus Rift S is one of the best VR systems you can get.

Best high-end VR headset

Valve Index | $999

Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Up to 144Hz refresh rate
• Widest field of view
• Compatible with Vive controllers and base stations
• Includes free copy of Half-Life: Alyx

The Bad:

• No wireless option

In terms of pure technical prowess, the Valve Index is without a doubt the best VR headset on the market. It doesn’t increase the resolution past 2880×1600 on its LCD display, but the Index nails VR where it’s most important: refresh rate and field of view. Boasting a max 144Hz refresh rate and a field of view of 130-degrees, it makes for the best, smoothest-feeling experience in virtual reality. With the higher field of view, you can see more of the game at any one time, as opposed to the relative tunnel vision found in other headsets. And Index and a good gaming PC will provide the optimal VR experience, assuming you’re okay with a few wires and spending big.

Another key aspect of the Valve Index is its unique controllers, which feature individual finger tracking. There aren’t a lot of applications for this yet, but finger-tracking is a great way to make your virtual reality experience more immersive–games like Boneworks use it well. And while it’s absolutely usable in seated or stationary settings, it excels most with room-scale VR. Thus, gamers without a lot of space may find it hard to push the Index to its full potential.

The Valve Index also needs to be powered by a PC with a wired connection. At the moment, there is no option for wireless use, as the Vive Wireless Adapter–made for HTC’s Vive headsets–is incompatible. However, the Valve Index is compatible with the HTC Vive’s controllers and base stations, so Valve offers the Index headset on its own and in a kit. Additionally, the Valve Index’s controllers and base stations are compatible with HTC’s Vive headsets.

The Valve Index VR kit comes with the headset, controllers, and base stations. Every purchase of the Index kit, headset, and controllers also comes with a complimentary copy of Half-Life: Alyx.

Valve Index accessories

• Valve Index headset + controllers — $749
  • Also compatible with Vive and Vive Pro base stations
• Valve Index headset — $499
  • Also compatible with Vive and Vive Pro controllers and base stations
• Valve Index controllers — $279
  • Also compatible with HTC Vive Pro and HTC Vive
• Valve Index base station — $149
  • Also compatible with Vive Pro

Best display

HTC Vive Pro | $1,199

Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Beautiful AMOLED display
• Capable of wireless VR with separate adapter
• Compatible with Valve Index controllers

The Bad:

• Very expensive

The successor to the original HTC Vive, the HTC Vive Pro is another high-end VR headset, and while the Valve Index features a higher refresh rate and wider field of view, the Vive Pro boasts something no other headset does: an AMOLED display. This means you’ll see brighter colours and better contrast than the Valve Index. The Vive Pro is more expensive than the Valve Index, so you’ll need to decide if that outweighs the Index’s high refresh rate and 130-degrees field of view.

One thing that’s great about the Vive Pro is that the Index’s unique hand controllers will work with it (and the original Vive), so you don’t have to drop the cash to upgrade to the full Index kit–you can simply spend $279 to get the Index controllers. And if you want to go wire-free, HTC does feature a capable wireless adapter–though it is sold separately for $300.

Every purchase of a new HTC Vive headset comes with a six-month subscription to Viveport Infinity, which is a service that gives users access to a library of VR games and apps. Being able to test a bunch of different VR headset experiences before making any purchases is extremely valuable, especially if you’re new to the technology. For example, it can be difficult to know how you’ll be able to handle certain games and different types of locomotion. Some of the games featured in Viveport Infinity at this time include Superhot VR, I Expect You To Die, and Pistol Whip, the latter of which was one of GameSpot’s best VR games of 2019.

Best modular VR headset

HTC Vive Cosmos | $699

Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Sensor-free, inside-out tracking
• Capable of wireless VR with separate adapter
• Headset flips up for easy removal
• Removable faceplate allows for mods…

The Bad:

• …but there’s only one mod for external tracking
• Very expensive

The Vive Cosmos is HTC’s answer to Oculus’s line of VR headsets. Like the Quest and Rift S, it utilizes inside-out tracking, which means no sensors are necessary. However, it does feature greater specs than the Rift S, boasting a 2880×1700 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate–for reference, the Rift S features a 2560×1440 resolution and 80Hz refresh rate.

Another thing the Vive Cosmos has on the Rift S is its modular capability. Its front face-plate can be removed and replaced with different mods, though there is only one announced at this time: the External Tracking Faceplate, which lets you use the Vive’s controllers and base stations with your Cosmos. And like the Vive Pro, the Cosmos can also make use of HTC’s wireless adapter.

One of the greatest conveniences with the Cosmos is the ability to flip the head-mounted display upward, freeing your view for the real world. VR can be an isolating experience, so being able to easily flip it up when your smartphone starts ringing or someone knocks on your door is a feature that’s easy to appreciate.

Unfortunately, the Cosmos comes at a much higher price than its closest competition, the Oculus Rift S. The Cosmos costs $699, $300 more than the Rift S’s $399 price tag. That price includes a six-month subscription to Viveport Infinity.

Best Windows Mixed Reality VR headset

Samsung HMD Odyssey+ | $499

Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Sensor-free, inside-out tracking
• Beautiful AMOLED display
• Often discounted

The Bad:

• Can be uncomfortable to wear, especially for long sessions
• Only recommendable when on sale

Windows Mixed Reality combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into one headset, though the vast majority of its applications are in VR. The best of the mixed reality headsets is definitely the Samsung HMD Odyssey+, however.

The Samsung HMD Odyssey+ features dual AMOLED displays, which produce vibrant colours. Additionally, it boasts a combined resolution of 2880×1600, 110-degree field of view, and refresh rate of up to 90Hz. Like the Rift S and Cosmos, it utilizes sensor-free, inside-out tracking and must be powered by a PC. It’s compatible with the vast majority of SteamVR games, in addition to Microsoft’s own Windows Mixed Reality software.

Unfortunately, it’s not the most comfortable to wear, and the headset and controllers don’t feel as well-made as the competition’s hardware. It’s a hard sell at the regular price, especially when the Oculus Rift S and Quest (64GB) can be picked up for cheaper. Thankfully, Samsung’s HMD Odyssey+ is regularly discounted. We’ve seen it for as low as $230, which is an excellent deal for what you get. If your heart is set on the HMD Odyssey+ and you’re patient, then it’s worth picking up at that lower price.

Best console VR headset

Sony PlayStation VR | starts at $300

Not compatible with Half-Life: Alyx

The Good:

• Great library of exclusive games
• Extremely comfortable
• Compatible with all PlayStation Cameras and PS5

The Bad:

• Low resolution and pixel density causes screen-door effect
• Tracking can be non-responsive at times

PlayStation VR is only compatible with the PS4 at the moment, though PlayStation 5 lead architect Mark Cerny confirmed to Wired that it will also work with the PS5. Nothing has been confirmed as of yet, but it’s likely that Sony will release a new version of the PSVR headset specifically for use with the PS5 in the future.

As of now, PSVR is the lowest-end headset in terms of specs: 1920×1080 combined resolution, 90-120Hz refresh rate, and a 100-degree field of view. The low resolution and pixel density cause a significant screen-door effect–you see the black space between each pixel. It makes it look like you’re viewing the game through a screen door. This can be frustrating for experienced VR users, but with no other VR headset on the PS4, it’s an issue you just have to deal with. But where PSVR falls short in its specs, it makes up for in its exclusive games. These titles feature some of the best experiences in VR and are well worth playing if you own Sony’s VR headset. The PlayStation Move controllers are required for some games–like Farpoint and Concrete Genie–but there are plenty of great titles that use the DualShock 4, including Astro Bot: Rescue Mission and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

The PSVR requires the PlayStation Camera for tracking, but thankfully it’s included with the headset in most bundles. And if you already own a PlayStation Camera for the PS4, then you’re ready to go no matter which version of it you have. The tracking isn’t up to par with PC VR options, especially when turning your face away from the camera, though it does work fine for most gaming. Thankfully, wearing the headset is extremely comfortable, which makes longer sessions much more manageable.

PSVR bundles

PSVR accessories

The critically acclaimed Half-Life series making a return nearly 13 years later as the virtual reality-exclusive Half-Life: Alyx was a shock to some fans. The VR medium is still a bit of a niche market in 2020, whereas Half-Life appeals to a wider audience. There are plenty of VR headsets available to buy now, but there’s still the issue of affordability, accessibility, and the type of open space requirements and commitment that only serious VR consumers may be willing to accommodate. And then there’s the issue that Valve level designer Dario Casali refers to as VR’s “chicken and egg” situation.

In an interview with GameSpot, Casali broke down some of Valve’s priorities when it comes to developing for VR, and how its choice to make Half-Life: Alyx a VR exclusive plays into that strategy.

“[When] we were working on the Vive and The Lab, we really believed in the VR platform,” Casali told GameSpot. “We looked around and noticed that a lot of the content that was available for [VR] was not as we would traditionally see as AAA, completely full games… how we would traditionally define a Half-Life product.”

For Casali, it comes down to two things: hardware and software. “We thought to push this platform, we need to have accessible hardware, but we also need to have the software that people want to buy the hardware for,” Casali explained. “And it’s this awkward chicken and egg situation.”

Before Half-Life: Alyx’s conception, Valve began experimenting with a few of its IPs to find what was the best fit for VR. Casali noted that Portal was more of an “academic exercise” in discovering VR’s limitations, such as motion sickness.

“Portal is fantastic for a third of the way, stepping through portals and stuff,” Casali said. “But as soon as you start flinging yourself through portals…”

Valve even prototyped a Left 4 Dead-themed “exhibition area” with some iconic enemies, like a Smoker and a Tank. (Though despite rumors, Valve is not currently working on a next-gen Left 4 Dead game.)

“I was on Left 4 Dead for eight years, and I couldn’t stand in the room with those things,” programmer Kerry Davis said. “It was horrifying!”

But it was ultimately a 20-minute demo developed with old Half-Life 2 assets that clicked.

“We knew we wanted to make something compelling, and that something compelling became Half-Life,” Casali said. “The theory is that we create something that people can experience and really, really enjoy and feel like, ‘You know what? If I go back to flatscreen games, I’m going to really miss this element. I really want to come back to VR and I really want to experience this in VR.'”

While the need for more high-quality “AAA” level experiences in VR is something Valve is striving for with Half-Life: Alyx, Casali still acknowledged the issue of hardware.

“The other part of the chicken and the egg is that the hardware has to become more accessible,” Casali said. “I think it’s a matter of time. It’ll become more accessible, and then it’s just about the software. So we’re trying to push that side of it at the moment.”

Half-Life: Alyx is out now. Check out the best VR headsets to play it on and don’t forget to read our full review of the game. We also have a guide to Half-Life: Alyx’s accessibility options, including how to play it seated, a weapons guide, and a puzzle guide to get you started.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Developer Infinity Ward has opened up about everything new coming to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One this week. And one of the latest additions is a brand-new Operator who brings along a very good dog that will spice up your finishing move.

Talon is the new operator to join both Modern Warfare and the game’s standalone battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone. He brings along two legendary blueprints and two Battle Pass tier skips, as well as his dog buddy Indiana, which can be commanded via Talon’s Finishing Move. The Talon bundle hits the Call of Duty store on Tuesday, March 24 and Indiana is “one of [the] many items [available to Talon].”

Call of Duty’s free-to-play battle royale experience Warzone finally has a dedicated Solo mode for those lone wolves who want to test their mettle against 149 other players. Sometime in the future, according to Infinity Ward, Warzone’s player count could eventually jump up to 200 per match.

In other Call of Duty news, a leak has appeared allegedly confirming the existence of a Modern Warfare 2 remaster. The details seem murky at the moment, but a South Korean ratings board suggests a “campaign remaster” of the classic Call of Duty title is on the way for consoles and PC.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

In an unprecedented move, the International Olympic Committee has revealed that this summer’s Olympic Games, which were set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, are being postponed. The move is the latest cancellation in the face of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Speaking to USA Today, IOC member Dick Pound said, “On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”

As for when the games are postponed until, that has yet to be decided. “We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense,” Pound explained.

While an official postponement has not been announced by the IOC, Thomas Bach, president of the organization, said Sunday that the fate of the games would be decided over the next four weeks. One thing was for sure, though. Bach said the games would not be canceled.

If they were, it would not be the first time the Olympics have been called off. The Olympics were canceled in 1916 due to World War I, while World War II prevented the games from taking place in 1940 and 1944.

The Olympics are potentially the biggest event that’s been called off due to the COVID-19 outbreak thus far. In addition to the summer games, several major movie releases–including F9: The Fast Saga and Mulan–have been delayed, while WWE will broadcast Wrestlemania in front of an empty audience. If you’re keeping track, make sure to take a look at everything in the entertainment industry that’s been impacted by the coronavirus.

Virtual reality isn’t the most accessible platform. It can be expensive, it’s unfamiliar to the majority of the game-playing market, and it’s more physically demanding than traditional games, with very few ways to accommodate. Half-Life: Alyx‘s developers are optimistic about the future of VR, but they’re also aware of the challenges the platform faces. They have their own ideas about the “chicken and egg” situation when it comes to VR’s financial investment, they took careful measures to make sure Alyx wasn’t an overwhelming experience for new players, and they’ve included some accessibility options for players with disabilities.

GameSpot had the chance to speak with Valve level designer Dario Casali and programmer Kerry Davis about Half-Life: Alyx, including some of the ways they’ve tried to make the game a more enjoyable experience for all types of players.

“We definitely wanted to appeal to as many people as we could,” Casali tells GameSpot.

Beyond introducing VR mechanics in a slow, deliberate way so as to not overwhelm players, the team also tried to design with certain physical requirements in mind.

“We had to make sure you could play it seated,” says Davis, noting that it’s also playable standing or room-scale. “One of the later options that came in was single-controller mode. We thought–it seems like something we should be able to do, so why not? Why shouldn’t you be able to play the game with one hand?”

According to Davis, the team worked to modify interactions around those additional options so players using them “could have an equal experience.”

“Putting the grenade on the end of a shotgun is a two-handed interaction,” Davis explains. “So we had it so you could just touch the end of the gun to a grenade anywhere and it’ll attach itself.”

Davis recounts how testers actually started interacting with this option in unexpected ways.

“They’d equip the grenade in their hand, toss it up in the air, quickly pull out the shotgun, and catch the grenade on the way back down,” he says. “It was a real cool move to see.”

In addition to seated mode and one-handed mode, Half-Life: Alyx also has a light sensitivity option, height adjustment settings so players can avoid having to physically kneel and crouch, and four difficulty levels.

Learn more about Half-Life: Alyx’s accessibility options in our guide. Don’t forget to read our Half-Life: Alyx review and if you’re getting ready to start the game yourself, check out our weapons and puzzle guide.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

If you’re in need of an extra controller for your Nintendo Switch, then there are some great deals available right now. PowerA’s budget-minded controller line makes it easy to accrue controllers for Players 2, 3, and 4, and at the moment, Best Buy and Amazon have discounted a selection of its best. If you’re looking for solid, cheap controllers, Best Buy currently has a deal on three of PowerA’s wired Switch controllers. They’re discounted to $15, down from $25, and you have your choice between three different themes: Mario, Pikachu, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Some of PowerA’s controllers come with an extra pair of back buttons that you can remap to different inputs, though it’s important to note these wired controllers do not feature said buttons. Thankfully, if you’re interested in a pad that does come with them–or even a GameCube-inspired controller–PowerA has a bunch of different options.

PowerA’s controllers work well with most of the Switch’s games, and with the recent release of the latest Animal Crossing game, it’s the perfect time to get a new one. GameSpot’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons review-in-progress scores the game an 8/10, with reviews editor Kallie Plagge praising its expressive villagers, character customization, and impressive new Nook Miles system.

You can see a selection of PowerA’s best controllers at great prices below. A number of the controllers have different editions that you can view through a drop-down menu

Best Nintendo Switch controller deals

PowerA wired Nintendo Switch controllers

$15 ($25)

PowerA’s standard wired controllers are available at a discount right now. While these controllers are capable of playing most Switch games, it’s important to note they don’t feature rumble, motion controls, or NFC/Amiibo support.

PowerA Enhanced wireless Nintendo Switch controller

Starts at $33.74 ($50)

PowerA’s Enhanced line of controllers feature back buttons that can take on the function of any buttons you map them to. They’re remappable on the fly as well, so it’s easy to switch inputs depending on the game or situation you’re in. These controllers also feature motion controls, though they do not boast rumble or NFC/Amiibo support. On top of that, they are powered by two AA batteries, so you’ll need a pair of those if you want to use this pad.

See more controller styles at Amazon

PowerA wired GameCube-style controller for Nintendo Switch

$25

If you’re looking for a GameCube-style controller that can also double as a proper controller for most Switch games, then PowerA’s wired GameCube option is a good choice. The C-stick and D-pad are slightly bigger than the original GameCube’s controller. PowerA’s pad also features a left bumper button.

PowerA wireless GameCube-style controller for Nintendo Switch

$37 ($50)

PowerA’s wireless GameCube-style pad requires two AA batteries, but other than that, it features everything the wired controller does–with the addition of motion controls to boot. They’re regularly priced at $50, but Amazon has some good deals on a number of the different versions.

Naturally, monumental expectations accompany the first Half-Life game in 13 years, and for the iconic franchise’s return to come in the form of a VR exclusive is undoubtedly bold. But at each step of the way, Half-Life: Alyx proves that almost everything the franchise did best is elevated by VR: the environmental puzzles that require a keen eye, the threat of a headcrab jumping for your face, the cryptic storytelling. The series’ staples are as great as ever here, and in its most powerful moments, Half-Life: Alyx confidently shows you why it couldn’t have been done any other way.

What’s a day in the life of Alyx Vance? In true Half-Life form, the entire game goes from morning to night in a single shot of first-person action in which you, as Alyx, trek through the undergrounds and abandoned zones of City 17. At first, it’s to save your dad Eli Vance from the clutches of the Combine. However, you’re subsequently led to uncover the nature of that massive floating structure that hovers over City 17, referred to as the Vault. With a cheeky sidekick Russell in your ear, and a trusty, prophetic Vortigaunt who comes in clutch, Alyx is more than prepared. A basic premise for sure, but the journey is thrilling, and the payoff is immense.

There’s a newfound intimacy captured in doing the things that Half-Life always asked of you. Because it’s a VR game, the way you look at and process your surroundings fundamentally changes, thus making the solutions to environmental puzzles more of a personal accomplishment than before. Simply finding the right objects to progress was fine with a keyboard and mouse, but when it’s your own hands turning valves, moving junk to find critical items, pulling levers, or hitting switches while turning your head to see the results of your actions, these become enticing gameplay mechanics rather than means for breaking up the pace. Without waypoints or objective markers to guide you, subtle visual cues and calculated level design lead you to the solutions, and progress feels earned because of that.

You may not have the Gravity Gun here, but the spirit of its physics-based interaction lives through the Gravity Gloves, both as a sensible thematic fit and tool for proper VR gameplay. They allow you to magnetically pull in key objects from afar, and catching them midair is always satisfying–especially when snatching a grenade off a Combine soldier to throw it back in their face.

Not only has Half-Life: Alyx made good on its shift to VR, it has elevated many of the aspects we’ve come to love about Half-Life games.

What’s just as important is Alyx’s multitool, which serves as a way to engage in the game’s simple yet enjoyable spatial puzzles. Rewiring circuitry to unlock paths forward is the multitool’s most crucial function, though, so you’ll need a sharp eye for tracing where wires and circuits lead and use the multitool’s capability of exposing the flow of currents. Trying to find solutions can be frustrating at times, but once you understand the rules, how they grow more complex and incorporate the environment as the game goes on, it then gives way to a sense of accomplishment.

Half-Life: Alyx revolves around the balance of the aforementioned puzzle elements and its suspenseful combat scenarios. It may not have many of the bombastic firefights, helicopter chases, or seemingly insurmountable enemies from the series’ past–most of that’s been exchanged for close encounters, sometimes tapping into a horror element that Half-Life had only previously toyed with.

Headcrabs aren’t the annoying pests they were before; at times, they’re terrifying because they will literally latch onto your head or cause the occasional jump scare. The same goes for Barnacles; trust me when I say that you do not want your own virtual body dragged up toward the ceiling by its disgusting slimy tongue. Other scenarios play on navigating pitch-black darkness with your wrist-mounted flashlight as Xen creatures lurk about. There’s also an entire chapter dedicated to “Jeff,” an invincible mutant with sharp hearing who can’t see, and he must be dealt with through clever environmental manipulation. A genuine dread you might not expect from Half-Life lingers throughout.

Combine soldiers may still be knobheads, but when they’re chasing you down in VR and your sick headshot skills aren’t there to save you, their threat becomes imminent and sometimes nerve-wracking. You’ll hear the familiar radio chatter of the Combine, and feel relieved at the sound of the recognizable flatlining ring of a fallen Combine soldier. It’s also nostalgic and oddly comforting to hear those signature old-school techno beats during most of these heated firefights, and then heal up on a health charger that uses the same sound effect since Half-Life 1. There aren’t many types of Combine soldiers or styles of encounters, but I was always eager to face them head-on in each scenario.

Alyx herself packs light when it comes to weapons, with only a pistol, shotgun, and SMG. However, all three have a few upgrades to make them more effective, which must be done at Combine Fabricator stations at certain points in the game. The only real collectible is Resin, and pieces are scattered about each level. With ammo often scarce and Resin tucked away in corners, scavenging is a core element, further emphasizing Alyx’s scrappy nature. And honestly, the slim arsenal fits the types of combat sequences throughout the game.

It’s as satisfying to take your punchy shotgun to a Combine heavy as it is to ignite conveniently placed explode-y red barrels or clip weak points off Antlions with well-placed pistol shots when four or five of them are fast approaching. That’s plenty to juggle in VR and strikes a balance between being simple enough to handle and complex enough to take advantage of VR’s unique aspects. You’ll physically duck in and out of cover and peek around corners ready to bust shots, and frantically string together the fun reload gestures as enemies barrel down on you–these are the qualities of any good VR shooter, though here, in its distinctly Half-Life form.

When looking at gameplay as a whole, Half-Life: Alyx takes many of the concepts we’ve seen evolve since VR’s inception and distills them to their fundamentals. It executes most of them to a T, thus creating a VR experience that’s a full, cohesive whole. A number of accessibility options are available as well; different movement and turning styles can help mitigate motion sickness, and there’s a single-controller mode that allows you to performing all the game’s necessary actions on one hand. You can also have crouching and standing actions mapped to buttons for height adjustment, making the seated VR experience better.

That said, environmental interaction isn’t perfect. Doors and mechanisms you need to grip don’t always react to your movements the way you’d expect, and sometimes there are just too many unimportant objects scattered about that obscure the thing you’re actually trying to pull in with your Gravity Gloves. Thankfully, these instances are rare enough as to not drag down otherwise intuitive mechanics.

For as well-executed as its various elements are, the front half of the game does settle into a bit of routine. You may start to see through some of the trite aspects of the combat challenges, scripted sequences, and reliance on narrow corridors for stretches. At one point, I wondered where the game was going or why I was putting in this effort to get to this mysterious floating vault. But there comes a turning point, and the practiced routines pay off as you begin to feel the game’s increasingly dangerous atmosphere.

The very concept of VR becomes the core narrative device–your hands, and by extension, Alyx’s actions, are fundamental to the delivery of its best moments.

You’ll be struck by the awe-inspiring sights throughout the journey across City 17, the thrill of firefights that ramp up in intensity while performing the VR-specific mechanics, and the unbearable suspense of some levels. Yet all those pale in comparison to the final hour, when Half-Life: Alyx solidifies itself as the boldest the series has ever been.

The very concept of VR becomes the core narrative device–your hands, and by extension, Alyx’s actions, are fundamental to the delivery of its best moments. In its finality, you’ll truly understand why VR was the only way this game could have even existed–it’s something surreal, revelatory, and incredibly empowering. Half-Life: Alyx has far-reaching implications for the future of the franchise, both in where it goes next and what forms future games can even take. And in true Half-Life fashion, more questions than answers linger, but for good reason and not without a reminder of why you love the series to begin with.

Yes, this game is somewhat of a companion piece to mainline Half-Life games, taking place five years before Half-Life 2, but that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Disappointment you may have felt in its 13-year hiatus will feel like water under the bridge, and in a way, have played into just how powerful Half-Life: Alyx turned out to be. The names, the faces, the iconic objects that have become synonymous with Half-Life have their specific place. And if you weren’t aware previously, you’ll see just how important Alyx Vance–the series’ most infallible personality–has been the entire time.

Not only has Half-Life: Alyx made good on its shift to VR, it has elevated many of the aspects we’ve come to love about Half-Life games. It may not be as bombastic as previous games, but the intimacy of VR brings you closer to a world you might have thought you knew over the past 22 years. Even when familiarity starts to settle in, its gameplay systems still shine as a cohesive whole. And as it concludes, Half-Life: Alyx hits you with something unforgettable, transcending VR tropes for one of gaming’s greatest moments.