Brought back my faith in First Person Shooters
User Rating: 10 | Half-Life 2 PC
When the original Half Life came out in '98, I went and grabbed a copy. I had been taken in by the magazine ads that claimed that it was a new kind of FPS. One where you had to do more than just run and shoot, open door, run and shoot. After playing for a time, I was able to see why they made those claims, some of the game play was new and fresh, but overall it still seemed like every other FPS I had ever played, and I was growing tired of FPSs. I had some fun with the multi-player for a while, but soon got tired of whiny fan boys and gave that up too. So, for the next six years, I didn't play any FPSs. I was jaded and I didn't know if I'd ever be brought back into the fold. Then I started seeing some video of the new Half Life 2. I wasn't sold at first, but I kept watching and listening to what was being said about the game. Finally, with some extra cash, I decided to go and pick up a copy of the Game of the Year Edition. I didn't have my hopes really high, but I had gotten the game at a bargain price after it had been out for awhile, so I wouldn't be out too much if I had the same experience I'd had with the first game.
To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
To date I have played through Half Life 2 three times. That's quite a record for someone like me who rarely has time to play a game once, but it just kept drawing me back. HL2 to me was what was promised in HL1. The gameplay was new and fresh, the graphics were outstanding for their time, and the characters were of the sort that made me care for them in a way that I didn't think was possible.
I could go on and on about details of game play, but I'd rather sum this up by putting everyone in two categories. If you're an FPS aficionado, you'll love this game, just be sure to put the difficulty high enough that you are challenged. If you're like me and are a take it or leave it FPS fan, you'll still love it, either for the story or for the depth of play. In short, pick up a copy soon if you haven't in the last three years. 
