This review is a little different. Since you almost everyone reading this has likely played Half-Life and knows how good it is anyway, I'm going to take a look at one specific portion of the game so you can see how much attention to detail went into this game.

That portion of the game is the introductory sequence. For most gamers, this is their introduction to the game. People for the most part ignore the training option; they want to jump straight into the game. Valve knew this, so they carefully constructed the introductory sequence in a specific manner.

As you start, the first item of interest you see is the security guard trying to get in the door. As you move past the guard, the natural instinct is to keep looking at him. Now, experienced players will have no problem with this, however new players will start experimenting with the controls to look around. As you go back into the tunnel, the instinct is to again look forward. The next scene entered is a little more complicated. The player is encouraged to look up and down a little as well as side to side. The new player, throughout the monorail ride, gradually learns the basics of first looking around, and then movement, as they start moving around the monorail to better see something that is happening. Think how the robot carrying the toxic waste or the Apache helicopter below the monorail encourages this. And the great thing about it is, the player is absolutely safe - while they are experimenting with the controls in this fashion they have a limited space to move around in and cannot die. There is no frustration in learning the controls.

Once the monorail ride ends, the player is given more opportunity to practice their skills in a larger, but still safe, environment. When leaving the monorail they can probably move around without ending up staring at the ground and can perhaps feel comfortable looking around while moving. The player can now continue to develop these basic skills, and also begin to learn interaction, with other characters, and their surroundings. The gradual introduction of things to learn continues.

Finally the player is involved in the 'accident'. They can by now comfortably move around and interact. After a couple of tries perhaps they get past the lasers and other obstacles placed in their path. Perhaps 30 minutes to even an hour in to the game, the player now acquires the first weapon and is now so comfortable with the controls that this is not a big step.

Contrast this approach with other FPS games you are familiar with. Chances are you are dropped almost straight in the action. Think how a new player would react to that. It often becomes an exercise in frustration. Yet the approach Valve has taken is so subtle people don't even recognize it for what it is. Experienced players may complain a little that it takes a while to get to the action, but for most of us there is still enough going on with the voice over and the little details in the side scenes that this isn't a big problem. In any case, once played through once a player can get to the action in 15 or 20 minutes, not a big investment considering how big the game is.

Touches like this are what made Half-Life such a great game. The smaller, fast loading, object persistent levels are another, as well as the AI, the banter between the scientists, and the lack of cut-scenes that take you out of the action. Almost any company can throw together some levels, a few weapons, and some enemies. Very few companies show that they actually understand game design like Valve does. This is why so many eagerly await whatever comes next from Valve. So while I look forward to getting and playing my copy of Jedi Knight 2 and other upcoming (at the time of writing) games, I'm sure afterwards I'll go back and play Half-Life 'one more time' once again, and see if I notice anything else I missed before.

Even if I don't, I know I will enjoy myself.