Throwback Thursday - Half-Life 2

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  While this blog is rated E for everyone's safe and enjoyable viewing, I should mention this week's throwback is rated M for Mature.  Parental discretion is advised for playing this game.

Speaking of which, crawling through the duct space this week: The game of gravity guns and physics fun that is Half-Life 2.

Released on November 16th, 2004, Half-Life 2 is applauded by many as the "Game of the Decade" upon its debut.  Developed alongside Valve's new Steam software and Source engine of the time, the game displayed incredible graphics, animation, and an impressive physics system that ended up being a core feature in the game's many puzzles and firefight moments.  The game centers around silent protagonist, Gordon Freeman, who awakens on a train car pulling into an unfamiliar city under the control of a ruthless police state known at the Combine.  As Gordon pushes forward, he finds himself thrust into an underground war between Black Mesa scientists, the Combine, and your favorite zombie head-crab aliens.  While a fairly linear adventure, there is a certain amount of freedom to be enjoyed still, venturing off the beaten path and finding completely optional areas, such as abandoned homes or hidden camps.  And players are often rewarded for these efforts with extra supplies and memorable encounters, be it with NPC's, enemies, or clever little Easter Eggs, such as the often reappearing and mysterious G-Man or Lambda symbol.

One of many sightings of the mysterious G-Man who drops you into this unfolding turn of events.

You'll slowly acquire more gear during your adventure, from your trusty crowbar to the now fan favorite gravity gun, allowing for a multitude of means to take down baddies and further solve puzzles.  One of the most memorable chapters of the game, Ravenholm, puts this clever weapon to great display as players make use of the environment at every turn to dispose of zombies with their limited ammunition.  Saw blades become deadly projectiles and propane tanks become portable grenade launchers.  But still players must watch their backs in these winding streets for zombies of all sizes and speeds.  It's a strange mix of power for having just acquired this amazing new tool, but dread and fear for walking into such a tense and eerie atmosphere.  It's brilliant.

We don't go to Ravenholm anymore..., but if you do, bring a Gravity Gun.

There are many other memorable moments to be enjoyed throughout this game, from commanding armies of alien, burrowing ant lions to rocket battles with lethal helicopters.  Half-Life 2 is always looking to try new ideas and keep the pace of the game fresh and enjoyable.  And just like that, it will end abruptly, making you wonder when in the world they'll finish the story, as has become the running joke of the internet that any cryptic message means Half-Life 3 is coming.  But perhaps the expectations and pressure to top what is "Game of the Decade" was a little too much to bear (or perhaps Valve just made way too much money from their Steam software to care).  Whatever the case, Half-Life 2 still holds as one heck of a ride to partake on.