Half-Life

The Good
Half Life has a lot to like. The way the game begins is beautiful and very cinematic, actually letting you play out the intro yourself which is a very nice touch and adds tremendously to the games feel. There is a constant air of wonder at what the next area will contain and the gameplay is solid and has some great set pieces. Aurally there are some great effects that constantly keep you on edge and the AI on the enemies is of a very high standard.

The Bad
Some of the levels are really pretty average to be honest, particularly the awful alien stages. You get so hyped up to see the alien world of Xen and when you finally get there it's a terrible mess of floating platforms and the whole game goes downhill from there. While the enemies are very smart, the AI on the allies you find in the game is moronic, often they will get stuck in a simple corridor and sometimes even get in your way so the only course of action you have is to shoot them.The story, while well presented is also nothing special. Just the same old aliens coming to our world scenario that we've seen a million times before. It is also not the first game of its type to have a story that carries it. Many shooters have had detailed plots that far outweigh the mediocre story that's here, remember Jedi Knight?

The Bottom Line
Half Life is a good game and definately worth getting hold of, but it's not the wonder game that so many have hailed it as being. First ever shooter with a plot? I think not.