10 Perfect Games With Even Better Sequels

Looking back, it's hard to believe there was any cynicism towards Half-Life 2, considering the original was the biggest game-changer in the FPS medium since Doom. 

But when the long-awaited follow-up was delayed for a year and its unfinished source code was leaked online, Valve suffered serious backlash, leaving the company demoralised.

However, this delay was necessary, based on what Gabe Newell was trying to accomplish. Rather than tossing out the same-old, same-old, the Valve president emphasised he wouldn't be satisfied with Half-Life 2 unless it redefined the genre like its former.

It may have been a Herculean task but the Valve team fully delivered. Though Half-Life 2 was praised for its animations, voice-acting, sound effects, online mode, multiplayer, and AI, it was the Havok engine that set it apart from its competition. This system simulated real-world physics, allowing players to experience a level of gameplay that, without a shred of exaggeration, did not exist before. 

Also, the Gravity Gun. No other details necessary.

In the end, Half-Life 2 went on to win 39 Game of the Year awards. More importantly, it secured its reputation as one of the greatest video games ever made.