Half-Life 2 is comprised of fourteen levels; each level is split into smaller areas with loading zones. This walkthrough will provide you with information on what to do and where to go. This guide is meant to be spoiler-free, so no plot details will be revealed here.
Make sure you know the controls for the Xbox version of Half-Life 2 first (and your assigned keys for the PC version).
Starting a Game
To start a new game, simply select 'New Game' in the main menu. You will be able to choose your difficulty (easy, normal, or hard) in the options menu. Half-Life 2 has no cut scenes and the entire game is presented through the eyes of the main character, Gordon Freeman.
As soon as you start the game, you will be on a train, much like the first game, unaware of your destination. You know nothing of the world around you and are unfamiliar of where you are, just like in the original Half-life.