10 Pioneering Video Games That Were Way Ahead Of Their Time

Released in 1998, Half-Life materialised at a time when the FPS genre was in its infancy, consisting almost entirely of loud, obnoxious games, all of which heavily inspired by the likes of DOOM and Wolfenstein 3D. By comparison, Half-Life was relatively slow-paced, taking the time necessary to construct a comprehensive universe in which the action could reasonably take place. The result was a comparatively realistic shooter which prioritised storytelling and atmosphere over mindless carnage, and in which particular attention was paid to the articulation of certain narrative themes.

In the game, players assume the role Doctor Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist inadvertently responsible for causing a resonance cascade, opening a gateway between dimensions and allowing extra-terrestrial invaders to launch an offensive on The Black Mesa Institute. Gameplay is divided equally between puzzles and combat, and while the latter is certainly emphasised throughout the game, the two are combined to create a remarkably diverse experience.

Wolfenstein 3D may have been the first FPS, and DOOM may have been the most prominent, but Half-Life perfected the formula in ways no one could have possibly predicted. It was something unlike anything that had come before it, and continues to be relevant, as well as tremendously influential to this very day.