Page 7 of 10
HALF-LIFE
Moving on from one Valve franchise to the next, Half-Life is yet another series that would lose a lot of itself if it ever did design to abandon its linear roots. This is a series that has consistently emphasizing story and storytelling that is blended with incredibly designed linear gameplay in a way that very few other franchises do. Admittedly, there is still a way to make that kind of formula work in a more open ended structure – just look at how perfectly Metro Exodus struck that balance, as an example – but Half-Life feels like the sort of franchise that will always be at its best when its delivering guided, authored experiences.
