In terms of both storytelling and innovative gameplay, no game pushed the boundaries of the medium like Half-Life 2 did since... well, the first Half-Life. Picking up the narrative where the last game left off, with Gordon Freeman awaking from hypersleep in a dystopian future to end all dystopian futures, fans of the series were rewarded with one of the richest, most immersive and downright playable first-person shooters ever created. Though the game differs in a lot of aspects to Half-Life, Half-Life 2 remains true to its origins. Indeed, in terms of story, there are few games that match up to what Valve's perfect sequel has to offer - the game fuses the mechanics of gameplay with a plot worthy of a great Hollywood movie to seamless and mesmerising effect. Not only that, but the unique physics engine gave gamers an experience unlike they'd ever experienced, as Gordon Freeman finds himself wielding the truly ingenious "Gravity Gun" in an attempt to save mankind.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
