RETROSPECTIVE: 'Half Life: Opposing Force' AND 'Half Life: Blue Shift'

As we previously established, Half Life was a genre-defining game. Not quite a masterpiece, but one that needs to be remembered for what it achieved and what modern gaming still needs to catch up on. Despite the game ending on an open note, many were pleasantly surprised that Half Life became a franchise. And it started with two expansion packs. 

RETROSPECTIVE: 'Half Life' AND 'Half Life: Source'

The FPS genre has many benchmarks. There were many early first-person experiments, then there was Doom, then there was Duke Nukem, then there was Quake...and then, on the seventh day, there was Half Life.

RETROSPECTIVE: 'System Shock 2'

Once again, the PC Gamer smugness strikes again. The kids these days rave about how Bioshock is a deep, absorbing narrative experience unlike any other. Which confuses me because System Shock 2 is the exact same game only deeper, more absorbing and in space. 

RETROSPECTIVE: 'Thief Gold' AND 'Thief 2: The Metal Age'

  

The Golden Age Of PC Gaming is thus named because it was a time when genres were both defined and created. First-person shooters had been around for a while, but it soon occurred that there could be more to these Doom-clones than just shooting armies of bad guys. For example: What if you take the two basic instincts of a gamer – killing and looting – but get rid of the killing part and make it all about the looting? 

RETROSPECTIVE: 'The Secret Of Monkey Island' AND 'Monkey Island 2' (Special Editions)

 

With the headache that was Grim Fandango:Remastered still not quite gone, I thought that I would look at another LucasArts adventure game that’s been remastered . Well, that and the sequel – because when am I going to get the chance to talk about Monkey Island again? 

RETROSPECTIVE: 'Floor 13 (and upcoming remake)'

 

Thought Papers Please was the first game where you play a small yet important part of a totalitarian regime, and the gameplay revolves entirely around paperwork? Prepare yourself for a history lesson.