Original Half-Life Turns 10

Ten years ago, one of the most influential 3D shooters to ever grace the PC was released. That of course being Half-Life. High-profile 3D shooters were released long before it, but Half-Life was the first to become so critically acclaimed. If you were a PC gamer at the time of its release, then you no doubt recall the incredible amount of “Game of the Year” awards that the game earned in its first year alone.

When’s the last time you saw a game with over fifty of these awards? To my knowledge, the only other PC game to supersede that accomplishment was Half-Life 2. Today, it has the privilege of being one of the top-rated games at Metacritic and even now, it’s still a blast to play. It’s also one game to enjoy Source engine upgrades, so the control is much smoother and today’s resolutions are supported. Not to mention it looks better in pretty-much every regard.

Until today, Valve was offering an incredible deal for the game… just $0.98, but I have a hard time believing that there exist people who still haven’t played this masterpiece. I’ve sunk so much time into this game, that to buy it ten times over, it still would have been worth it. Half-Life 2 Deathmatch is enjoyed by many, but even today, the original Half-Life offers a great multi-player experience as well. It might not be as pretty, but it’s far more fun, in my opinion. If you still haven’t played what’s considered to be a true classic, definitely give it a try.

Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve’s debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.