Half-Life 1

There is nothing in the world like playing Half-Life’s multiplayer deathmatch mode online with 20+ other players in 2012. Which brings me to my subject!

Half-Life was released November 1998. I had an Edge magazine a year or two before which did a big article up and coming style comparing it to the other main contenders – Quake 2, Unreal and Sin. I was greatly anticipating and ended up buying on release Half-Life, Quake 2 and Unreal. The single player of Half-Life was good, at the time introducing a seamless, level-less experience (Unreal did this as well). The AI was really good. There was more story than your average Doom game with its regular scripted sequences and the graphics were really clean. The graphics still hold up well today. A timeless engine. 1980 x 1040 crisp, clean, bright, clear. Simple.

But the best thing about Half-Life is it’s Deathmatch gameplay. There is nothing in the world like it. It has this amazing charm and is such amazing FUN… We used to play on the World Opponent Network, and now, no matter what time of day, whether it’s 2 in the afternoon or 4:30am, I can log onto Steam, click ‘Play Half-Life’, and there will be a server waiting for me with 20+ other players in Deathmatch. Sharing the same fun that I share. 14 YEARS after release. Amazing. What a great game.