I have played Black mesa, Half Life 2 and the Episodes in their entirety. Good games, but I honestly couldn't relate to those who heralded them as revolutionary masterpieces. Having grown up on games post Episode 2 there really wasn't anything earth-shattering that hadn't already become standard game design. So is it still possible for me to experience that rapturous feeling I read about in those reviews, or did I just have to be there?

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The intro was all it took. It had me stunned like my first time in a cinema. Taking in the Citadel was the first of many times I would find myself gawking at the fidelity of the world. What followed was hours of exploring an eerie Combine run City 17 slowly being eaten away at by pulsating Xen flora.
Right here I originally started rattling off everything that stood out to me but the list grew very long before I realised: I was recanting the entire game. So I'd rather sum my experience in one sentence ↓

The whole game but especially that ending was the most immersive cutscene I may ever play.

I am now one of the many fools waiting for Half Life 3 :)