At the time of Half-Life 2's release, the community was in an uproar at the lack of a Half-Life 2 Deathmatch multiplayer. Those who didn't enjoy Counter-Strike: Source felt somewhat left out in the cold. But the community's request hadn't fallen on deaf ears. Just weeks after HL2's release on November 30th 2004, Valve released Half-Life 2 Deathmatch together with the full Source SDK. So, what's HL2DM all about? This guide will explain the basics of HL2DM play and how to use the arsenal of weapons to your advantage. Also included are short map strategies for the two official HL2DM maps: dm_overwatch and dm_lockdown.Deathmatch: It's All in the NameThe aim of Deathmatch is to annihilate the opposition using any means at your disposal — whether that means throwing toilets and radiators at your opponent using the gravity gun, or simply shooting them with your conventional arsenal. The person or team with the most kills at the end of the match wins the game and gets the unparalleled honour of their name at the top of the end-game scoreboard. Of course, for most people winning is secondary to the fun factor. Luckily, HL2DM provides this aplenty.
Your Arsenal: Deathmatch's Bread and Butter One of the most important skills in deathmatch is using your weapons effectively and acquiring the deadliest variety. At the start of the match or after you respawn (after being killed), you are immediately equipped with three familiar Half-Life 2 weapons
