10 Weird Versions Of Iconic Games You Didn't Know Existed

9. Half-Life On PS2

Half life 1
Valve

The 1990s saw the rise of gaming in mainstream media, with the console war between Sega and Nintendo and the early emergence of 3D graphics on the PlayStation. Whilst consoles fought for consumers' hard-earned cash, PC gaming never really entered the mainstream conversation… until Half-Life.

Valve’s narrative-driven FPS title caught the attention of the gaming landscape and made a lot of people PC gamers for the first time. Famously the game was in production for Dreamcast for a while but was unceremoniously cancelled.

Two years after its original release however, Half-Life was ported to PlayStation 2. Largely, it’s a faithful and enjoyable version of the beloved classic.

What makes it weird however is that it’s the only place to play Half-Life: Decay. This new campaign is a fluid co-operative experience, allowing you and a friend to blast headcrabs and solve puzzles together. It’s also relevant to the story, starring Gina Cross and Collette Green, and taking place around the original campaign. Remember the missing HEV suits from the start of Half-Life? This story ties up both major and minor loose ends like these.

Whilst a version of the Decay campaign was planned for PC, it never happened. Outside of fan-made mods, this unique Half-Life experience is trapped on the PS2.

Contributor

Coming from a content creation background that now spans over two decades, Psy cut her teeth on personal video production and community radio. Originally joining the team as a writer and presenter, she added video editing duties to her responsibilities over time and became the longest-standing editor of the irreverent gaming show Tues Your Own Adventure. Psy has worked on many previews and reviews, long-form editorials (either her own, or supporting as an editor), as a frequent quizmaster and more. Praised for the two-pronged attack of her hard work ethic and light-hearted editing style, Psy is otherwise known as a font of retro video game knowledge which has caused her to rack up many gaming quiz wins. Outside of WhatCulture, Psy runs First Aid Spray Podcast - a long-running channel that focuses on Resident Evil in all of it's forms. You can follow her on BlueSky at http://psywhite.bsky.social and Instagram at http://instagram.com/therealpsywhite