This was no ordinary job, to say the least. Although slow, this was packed with so much flavor and lore-content, by the time you stepped off the train to be greeted by Barney the security guard, you had the perfect idea of what type of research facility Black Mesa was.
Let’s not forget that long train ride into work, either. Instead, the story of Half-Life actually unfolded in front of the player, with character interactions, set pieces, and dramatic changes in tone.
Half-Life was, on the face of it, a simple FPS, but once players actually got hold of it, they found a game unlike any they’d played before.įor one, it had an actual story, one that wasn’t consigned to the manual or a couple of load screens. November 19 saw the release of Half-Life, the first game from new developer, Valve. Until the arrival of a landmark title from Sierra, a title that would change the face of the FPS forever. Games like Unreal, Quake II, and Turok were among the most popular FPS titles around, and action was very much the focus. Back then, gamers were more than happy with wave after wave of foes that were obliged to throw themselves in front of their sights, and the idea of a worthwhile narrative wasn’t considered all that essential. 1998 was a much simpler time in the world of gaming, especially that of the FPS.
