Yahtzee needs a new sound engineer. Or a new mic. Or something. These are getting harder and harder to understand with the booming bass clipping with every word.

Or maybe I need new speakers.

Still my #1 game of all time. I've always been a fan of the Twilight Zone, Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, etc., so the idea of an every man unleashing who-knows-what-upon-the-world was really appealing. Not to mention the variety of guns, the variety and originality of the monsters, the way each section felt like a real place. [spoiler]You race to the surface dependent on being rescued only to be driven back down underground, realizing as you wander through areas of the facility that no one normally goes that you're now entirely self-reliant. Top that off with other little psychological tricks they used: passage of time (when you first run into the military it's sunny, the next time you hit the surface it's night time), mortality (getting caught and thrown to your doom in the trash compactor, knowing you're about to become a footnote, only to escape again). I still get tingles when I remember dropping down off the roof into that pit of water, hoisting myself up into the pipe and starting to scurry down it when, at the other end, I see a soldier pop open the door and throw in a satchel charge. (Read: OH SHIT!!! *backpedal* *backpedal*) Hell, I'm pretty sure I even held my breath in real life when I dropped back into the water; that's how engrossing the experience was. [/spoiler]


Unfortunately, I think Valve took the idea of spit and polish to absurd levels in every game they've made since, with it culminating in Portal 2. I'm not talking about the story; that was great. I'm talking about the "Here, let us spoon feed you each level by pointing out that this is the only wall that you can put a portal on, oh good, you did it, see? Aren't you having fun?"-type gameplay. The only way they could have been more direct is by putting a giant, flashing sign that says "DO THIS NEXT". [spoiler]To be fair, I felt a small tinge of it again in Half-Life 2, when you reach the bridge and have to make your way across the under-belly of it. I think this was do to the fact that there was nothing there (ie. a convenient arrow sign) to indicate that's what you needed to do. I remember looking around, seeing the path leading down behind the house, following it with my eye to the bridge and thinking "Are you serious??" Sure enough, 2 minutes later I'm grasping on the rusted metal and cursing under my breath at the developers. [/spoiler]
Regardless, something has gotten lost in the translation since Half-Life. Gone is the wonder and sense of freedom I felt; now I feel that I'm only playing the game the way they require me to, and not on my own. They may have been directing me where to go in Half-Life, but they did it with such slyness that it never felt forced, or blatant.
Sadly, I think their cabal process has become a double-edged sword, allowing them to create some of the most memorable video games, but tailoring it to the lowest common denominator. (A great read if you have a minute or two.)

And on that note, I'm off to hunt down some really, really good weed that will make me forget about everything I liked about Half-Life 1. Just so I can replay it again.

I think hands down my favorite FPS ever is System Shock 2 with Half-Life coming close.

My favorite games ever are all tied though. Planescape: Torment, Bladur's Gate 2, Fallout 1&2 and Alpha Centauri. Half Life and SS2 close and Homeworld close by to there, Thief close as well.

They certainly don't make FUCKING awesome games like they used to, everything is hand fed to a stupid gamer populous. I don't remember the last time I was challenged and simultaneously immersed in a game.

Heh, System Shock 2 is my #2. Great minds think alike.

I would sell my soul for an original story line

Wow that game looks great, I might pick it up.

You know what would be awesome?

...if they made it...

...INTO A FUCKING

TRILOGY

THAT WOULD BE...

JUST

FUCKING

PEACHY

Don't wish for HL3 to be released, because as we all know it's the last seal of the apocalypse.

i like games. They're fun.

I think the game stands the test of time. What Yahtzee says about the first half hour of the game having no action in it is bang-on. It really helps set the tone. As I recall, Half-Life was (one of?) the first games ever to really feel like the real world. It felt like you were in a real place. That's taken for granted these days, but back then, it was a marvel.

>> ^shagen454:

I think hands down my favorite FPS ever is System Shock 2 with Half-Life coming close.
My favorite games ever are all tied though. Planescape: Torment, Bladur's Gate 2, Fallout 1&2 and Alpha Centauri. Half Life and SS2 close and Homeworld close by to there, Thief close as well.
They certainly don't make FUCKING awesome games like they used to, everything is hand fed to a stupid gamer populous. I don't remember the last time I was challenged and simultaneously immersed in a game.


SS2 is the firstonly time I've ever been truly freaked out by a game.

I was walking, creeping more like, into a large storage room, when all a sudden I decide to turn around and a head-slugged dude apparently, silently, followed me out of the corridor I had just "cleared" and screamed "KIIILLLLLL MEEEE!!!!!" and fucked my shit up.

I actually screamed.

You make some interesting points probie! Half-life is my top game of all time too and I'm a bigtime Valve fanboy of course.

I basically agree with everything you said, the games have become more broad, L4D2 and Portal 2, while both excellent, were a little underwhelming... but I guess comparing them to the greatest game of all time is bound to lead to disappointment too...

For the most part though, I think that Valve's overall approach; releasing software for free, bridging the gap between developers and gamers with Steam, and their system of game development in general, is a great approach and it's one that's given me a lot of joy and fulfilment as a consumer.

I'm using their Source Filmmaker software right now to create a short film and all along the way Valve employee's been answering questions on forums, blogging about their favorite videos so far, releasing new content every week etc...

Sure they're just a company and ultimately they want our money but when I look at Valve compared to most other developers/publishers, it's like night and day. Valve releases DLC all the time, for free. Every time I play TF2 (which is now free too) there's always new maps and new weapons. L4D1 and 2 both got new campaigns, in fact another one JUST came out for L4D2, for free! Compare that with almost every other game company and they're charging you for DLC before the game is even out. Or they split their game into 3 separate games! *cough* Blizzard *cough*

I just think there's something they 'get' about where gaming and software is going in general and I for one hope they continue on this ride!

Yes I know I'm a huge fanboy...

>> ^probie:

Still my #1 game of all time. I've always been a fan of the Twilight Zone, Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, etc., so the idea of an every man unleashing who-knows-what-upon-the-world was really appealing. Not to mention the variety of guns, the variety and originality of the monsters, the way each section felt like a real place. [spoiler]You race to the surface dependent on being rescued only to be driven back down underground, realizing as you wander through areas of the facility that no one normally goes that you're now entirely self-reliant. Top that off with other little psychological tricks they used: passage of time (when you first run into the military it's sunny, the next time you hit the surface it's night time), mortality (getting caught and thrown to your doom in the trash compactor, knowing you're about to become a footnote, only to escape again). I still get tingles when I remember dropping down off the roof into that pit of water, hoisting myself up into the pipe and starting to scurry down it when, at the other end, I see a soldier pop open the door and throw in a satchel charge. (Read: OH SHIT!!! backpedal backpedal ) Hell, I'm pretty sure I even held my breath in real life when I dropped back into the water; that's how engrossing the experience was. [/spoiler]

Unfortunately, I think Valve took the idea of spit and polish to absurd levels in every game they've made since, with it culminating in Portal 2. I'm not talking about the story; that was great. I'm talking about the "Here, let us spoon feed you each level by pointing out that this is the only wall that you can put a portal on, oh good, you did it, see? Aren't you having fun?"-type gameplay. The only way they could have been more direct is by putting a giant, flashing sign that says "DO THIS NEXT". [spoiler]To be fair, I felt a small tinge of it again in Half-Life 2, when you reach the bridge and have to make your way across the under-belly of it. I think this was do to the fact that there was nothing there (ie. a convenient arrow sign) to indicate that's what you needed to do. I remember looking around, seeing the path leading down behind the house, following it with my eye to the bridge and thinking "Are you serious??" Sure enough, 2 minutes later I'm grasping on the rusted metal and cursing under my breath at the developers. [/spoiler]
Regardless, something has gotten lost in the translation since Half-Life. Gone is the wonder and sense of freedom I felt; now I feel that I'm only playing the game the way they require me to, and not on my own. They may have been directing me where to go in Half-Life, but they did it with such slyness that it never felt forced, or blatant.
Sadly, I think their cabal process has become a double-edged sword, allowing them to create some of the most memorable video games, but tailoring it to the lowest common denominator. (A great read if you have a minute or two.)
And on that note, I'm off to hunt down some really, really good weed that will make me forget about everything I liked about Half-Life 1. Just so I can replay it again.

SS2 ROCKS!! Not sure where I place it on my list but yah, it's right up there... probably 2.

>> ^probie:

Heh, System Shock 2 is my #2. Great minds think alike.

>> ^direpickle:

Yahtzee needs a new sound engineer. Or a new mic. Or something. These are getting harder and harder to understand with the booming bass clipping with every word.
Or maybe I need new speakers.


Or Yahtzee needs a new schtick.

>> ^shagen454:

I think hands down my favorite FPS ever is System Shock 2 with Half-Life coming close.
My favorite games ever are all tied though. Planescape: Torment, Bladur's Gate 2, Fallout 1&2 and Alpha Centauri.

Heh, all those games are on my list too, plus a few turn based games and MP shooters.

And I completely agree, SS2 is the finest of the PC singleplayer FPS games.