Half Life 2
January 31, 2008
Is this the best game ever for PC? I doubt it–I would be hard-pressed to come up with one, single “best game ever” for the PC. How can anyone compare games as diverse as Half Life, Civilization, Baldur’s Gate, Unreal Tournament, Starcraft, Diablo–the list seems endless. For different tastes and different moods each of these games could stake a reasonable claim to the title of “greatest ever.” For minutes of my life spent, Elder Scrolls Morrowind surely deserves mention, as does Heroes of Might and Magic 2 (and 3), Civilization 2, and Medieval Total War. For pure adrenaline, few games can match Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 4, and what better way to kill an evening with friends than a rousing round of Unreal Tournament, or maybe Command and Conquer Red Alert, or even Diablo 2? Each of these games reminds me of why I enjoy games to begin with–the immersion of playing a character, the escapism of entering a different world and, of course, the fun.
Given this, when I do hear or read a critic or fan proclaiming the “best game ever,” I have to wonder what drives such a decision. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy Half Life 2, despite the embarrassing secret that I never made it all the way through the first game. Half Life 2 shows the potential of technology mixed with story to create a truly convincing world–which, in many ways, is the whole point of video games. Many objects react as one would expect as, for the most part, do the characters. The freedom to interact with the surroundings masks the linear story, making the game feel just as open as “sandbox” games that tout an open-world–GTA and Oblivion both come to mind. Yet, despite the quality of Half Life 2′s execution, story telling, and technology, can I honestly say that I have enjoyed it more than any other game? I’ve spent far more time with Galactic Civilization 2, which sucks up time like no other game I’ve played since Heroes of Might and Magic, or maybe Civilization. Conversely, I’ve spent far less time with Call of Duty 4, despite having played it through numerous times (no multiplayer, though). I find it hard to say that I have enjoyed either of these games any less than Half Life 2.
I don’t honestly believe that any true game can pick a single game out as the best game ever–especially in a constantly evolving world. I remember when I dreamed of Mario, running and jumping along in a two-dimensional world. Think of how much storytelling, technology, and game play have evolved since then, and tell me that there has been–or will ever be–a greatest game ever. I won’t believe you, and I’ll have many, many games to back me up.
