10 Video Games You Only Like Because Everyone Else Does
7. Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 was a trend-setter, a technical marvel when it first released, and the perfectly-paced second game in the historic series was a giant step above the first in terms of quality. Introducing revolutionary physics-based gameplay and a set-piece heavy structure, Valve's title broke the mould of first-person shooters at the time.
But it definitely presented a very specific idea of what a first-person shooter should be. With a mute protagonist fighting off standard aliens through realistic settings, Half-Life 2 lacked the arcade charm of previous releases in the genre, taking a more grounded and linear approach.
And if we're being honest, the shooting itself wasn't the tightest, and without the physics-based gimmicks to distract you, it quickly becomes apparent that playing through the game is actually kinda... boring. The combat in Half-Life 2 isn't very fun, and there isn't much depth beyond pointing and clicking on bad guys until they die.
This is especially the case if you're playing it for the first time years later, as Valve's title hasn't stood the test of time. Sadly, its combat has been ripped off so many times, and the narrative itself has only felt more contrived and wooden as the years have drawn on, meaning that sadly, Half-Life 2 just isn't all that relevant anymore.