1. Half-Life 2
In 1998, a newly formed games developer called Valve released a game that would not only set an industry standard for First-Person-Shooters, but also for the whole gaming industry. This game was Half-Life. The game introduced a level of detail and personal involvement that had never been seen in games before, but most surprisingly they achieved these heights by using a character that didn't speak. Half-Life also didn't use cut-scenes like other games, which made its deep story-telling and level of character engagement all the more extraordinary. The game is still fun to play and the only 'dated' feeling to the package are the fourteen-year-old graphics. In 2004, Valve decided to release Half-Life 2, the much anticipated sequel to their 1998 classic. Could it really be any better? Of course it could. Valve went back to their roots, built the new Source engine and made full potential of Havok Physics. The combination of this new technology enabled Valve to make a game that looked stunning compared with the top-selling games of 2004 and gave us a glimpse of what future gaming was going to look like. The graphics on Half-Life 2 were so outstanding that it was only 2-3 years ago that console games began to just as impressive and many games still struggle to look as good. Half-Life 2 was far more than a pretty face though: it had attitude and it had balls; it took you on an adventure that far surpassed the first game and most games that are released today. It had a story that was full of emotion but was also full of action and variety. One of the most impressive aspects of the game sees the player wield a gravity gun which can be used to pick up almost every piece of furniture, object or device and turn it into a weapon; an idea so original that it is sometimes fun just to see what exactly can be picked up and used. Finally, Half-Life 2 is impressive because it shows what exactly can be achieved when a developer takes their time. This brings us nicely back to the original point of this article: sequels can be innovate, they can be original and they don't have to be rushed out every year to be considered good or to sell a lot of copies. Half-Life 2 took six years to make, but it made far more an impact upon the industry than this year's Call of Duty probably will.
What can be learned: It is sometimes best to take your time and develop an outstanding game rather than an average one (hopefully not too long though; after all, it's been eight years since HL2)
Honourable Mention: Portal 2 Another game built off the Source engine and has great connections with Half-Life. The original game was a fairly short experiment by Valve but it proved so successful that it boasted an excellent sequel with a fully-fledged story and more intelligent puzzles. What do you think gaming fans? Are there other sequels that prove originality isn't necessary? Share your own choices below... Please feel free to comment below...