In a way, it's little wonder that Half-life 3 is yet to be announced and may not happen until the technology's there for it to be truly groundbreaking (VR?). The first two games in the series proved to the world that a great story could be told in a first-person shooter, so the third game has its work cut out in making a similarly colossal impact on the medium. Sure, the adventures of the mute Gordon Freeman may not pack the emotional gravitas of far more recent games, but they essentially introduced the idea that first-person shooters didn't have to involve persistent shooting, that you could slow the game down at times to take in your surroundings, or just absorb events happening around you. Wasn't that introductory tram ride in the original Half-life one of the most immersive, engaging video game experiences ever? Half-life 2 built upon its predecessor's story in every way, expanding it out to the totalitarian dystopia of City 17. The expressive faces of the characters, the eclectic, dilapidated environments, and Gordon's stoic silence through it all worked together to make Half-life 2 a landmark of distinctly 'video game' storytelling.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.