Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Escape From Mount Stupid: Half-Life

By: Danny O'Dwyer, GameSpot UK - Posted on Mar 19, 2012

Danny returns to Black Mesa and City 17 to remind us how Gordon Freeman saved first-person shooters forever.

I remember the first time I played Half-Life. My brother copied it from his university friend's shared drive and bundled the files onto a bunch of zip disks. He went to university 100 miles away in Dublin and came home only on the weekends, so it took three weeks before we had all the files on our home PC. It took me five summer weeks to finish it on the easiest difficulty. Five weeks of blissfully replaying entire levels over and over again. Five weeks in which I learnt most of what I know about first-person shooters. I was in university myself when the sequel came out, or rather I should have been. Instead, I took two weeks off to play the game.

The effect Half-Life had on first-person shooter design from that day forward is often forgotten, so this was a really important series to cover in Escape From Mount Stupid. It feels right to mark the start of the show's second season with a blockbuster. Over the next five weeks we'll have five more episodes going live each Monday afternoon.

As for the zip disks, well, if Valve is reading this, I've since bought the entire Half-Life collection on Steam, so no lawsuits please. Enjoy the show.

300 Comments

  • SKaREO

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 7:39 am GMT

    Quake was much better and much more revolutionary at the time. Half Life uses the quake engine FYI

  • SKaREO

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 7:36 am GMT

    Half-Life did very little for the FPS genere. I think you're confusing this game with Counter-Strike, the most popular, most groundbreaking FPS ever created. Half-Life was the single-player boring game that was modified to be a decent shooter.

  • gamespot2DBOne

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 7:17 am GMT

    btw i really enjoy watching these escape to mountain st00pid videos=)

  • ALLoY1717

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 7:04 am GMT

    The PS2 port of Half Life was amazing. They went above and beyond with it. Co-op, improved graphics AND mouse and keyboard support.

  • gamelover711

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 6:48 am GMT

    Awesome video! Some of my most memorable moments in gaming happened with the Half Life series.....and Half Life 3 has remained at the top of my list of most anticipated games since that huge cliff hanger ending in Episode 2! I can't wait to see how Valve breaths new life into the current day FPS. Whatever they have up their sleeves, I'm READY!!

  • devilscry

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 5:55 am GMT

    always a good watch, thanks danny!

  • fang_proxy

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 5:21 am GMT

    BEST fps of all time half life,stalker,bioshock.....give us hl 3!

  • GriffinBalls

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 5:19 am GMT

    Hipster glasses, lololol.
    No need to apologise Danny, your vids are awesome, the longer the better for that jolly old Irish wit
    Quality show as always. And considering I never bothered in my younger day, it looks like its time for me to playthrough half life 1 and 2, you've got me hyped right up for it.

  • Millst_1986

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 4:45 am GMT

    the new name has grown on me

  • eviloverlord76

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 4:34 am GMT

    Hahah crap question but what's the game he pays out at the beginning about the tutorial...i don't recognise it and its bugging me

  • gamingfrendly

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 4:30 am GMT

    great work game spot have some of the best articles and shows in gaming sites probably the best site too lol

  • itchyflop

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 3:16 am GMT

    quality show!! thanks

  • roy2115

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 3:00 am GMT

    @Apathetic_Prick

    The whole sequence of HL2 following the initial train ride was very similar to how things went in the HL1 intro. Gordon started off on the train into City 17 to pay homage to the original train ride into Black Mesa, but it was cut short because Valve already did that once. Why repeat the same sequence when the game was clearly new and different? It's pretty telling that since it takes quite some time before getting a weapon, like in the first game, that Valve likes doing things differently from most FPSs out there.

  • true_gamer007

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 2:46 am GMT

    Half Life 2. Revolutionary.

  • artooniana

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 2:42 am GMT

    ill wait for the next weeks session

  • guyfawkesbeer

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 1:57 am GMT

    Oh please. The tram ride was anything but a flaw. If all you want is non-stop frenetic action go play Call of Duty or Battlefield multiplayer or watch some Michael Bay movie.

  • Apathetic_Prick

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 1:08 am GMT

    @brunorr: neither. I know exactly what I'm talking about. You also know exactly what I'm talking about, so you're either splitting hairs because you know I'm right, or you're splitting hairs because you know you can't win this argument. And frankly, I don't care. Wallow in your own microcosm, whatever. This video is not just something for the half-life fans, it's something about how one person thinks half-life is great and should be enjoyed by others. All well and good. I gave my two cents. You got all in a tizzy because I pointed there's pee in the holy water. I think you know where I'm going with this.

    Don't defend a game's flaws - that tram ride was one of them, and Valve knew it, too. Otherwise, the intro of HL2 would have been longer Defending flaws proves your blind ignorance. There's nothing wrong with discussing a game's merits and flaws, you should try it some time.

  • boubaker982

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 12:49 am GMT

    yes great great great game a wants the following

  • GunEye

    Posted Mar 21, 2012 12:27 am GMT

    Not much point to this vid but to remind us of the ultimate pioneer of 3d shooters.
    What made Half Life so good (the first one) was it's fantastic AI, which is still great in comparison for today's games. The huge length of the game unlike ANY shooter today. The right difficulty and pacing. And lots of lots of action and diversity. Graphics were top notch too back then. Funny how you look at it now, things looks so different, but you can still tell what made this game such a masterpiece.

  • nonfanboygamer1

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 11:37 pm GMT

    Yeah, great games, but what's the point of this vid?

  • Magnaxilorius

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 10:49 pm GMT

    Half Life 2 was and is still the best fps ever made. And it's still very playable and viable today.

  • kingsi7e

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 10:35 pm GMT

    HL2 was the best shooter ever.

  • Legojake94

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 10:28 pm GMT

    yes we all know that halflife is an awsome game, the problem is, is that the developers wont Friggin make the next EPISODE!!! stop lording how good we already know it is!

  • devastion913 posted Mar 20, 2012 10:01 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    devastion913

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 10:01 pm GMT (hide)

    COD owns Half Life! I'm setting a recond for the amount of thumbs down I get (and so it's spoiled).

  • simboes

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 9:58 pm GMT

    @Xtasy26, you mean HL1 and HL2 are TOP Shooters of all times

  • Xtasy26

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 8:42 pm GMT

    Half-Life 1 and Half-Life 2, one of top 3 shooters ever made in the history of gaming. Nuff said.

  • fightingfish18

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 8:10 pm GMT

    @enesjusufi

    I like both games, but you're right

  • enesjusufi

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 7:32 pm GMT

    QUAKE 1 > HALF LIFE

  • blackadder88

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 7:26 pm GMT

    best pc game ever made i play all abut Half-Life .. and PlayStation one but no more portal .......... ok get me beer and one for Barney Calhoun

  • SpLiTMaN

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 7:18 pm GMT

    One thing to say....DO NOT SCREW THIS GAME UP VALVE....or I'm committing suicide...

  • KUNG-LO

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 7:12 pm GMT

    OK if your doing wrestling games (Yipeee !!!) You better mention No Mercy games and DEFJAM's Vendetta and Fight for NY and how EA craped on those great games by making the dodo that is called Icon. Good stuff Danny O D

  • EliOli

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 7:06 pm GMT

    I'm not holding my breath for the next Half Life, but It's a must buy if it ever shows up.

  • velvetj2000

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 7:01 pm GMT

    I got the Half-Life GOTY edition when I got a new pc with windows 98 to replace my old P1 133mhz windows 95 machine. I spent so much time playing and replaying half-life that I was worried my monitor was going to burn in the HUD on the screen. I decided to give multiplayer a shot and my first HL deathmatch map was the kitchen rats map. I had no idea what to do but I was having so much fun I never wanted to quit. Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Ep. 1 & 2, and all of the mods and total conversions ate up a huge chunk of my gaming time.

  • uglypinkmoose

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 6:47 pm GMT

    so much to think about ;P I love when games do that

  • Garudafarrellmo

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 6:34 pm GMT

    where do i get a head crab like that i want one

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 6:29 pm GMT

    I consider G-Mod to be the greatest contribution the development of Half-Life has given the gaming world.

    It makes terribly amusing videos possible.

  • gsmull

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 6:17 pm GMT

    The original half-life was way ahead of its time. I still remember getting skewered over and over again by the huge plant thing in the beginning. It took countless plunges to Gordon's death down the shaft before I figured out how to work the exhaust fan puzzle properly. I also remember this as one of the first with enemies with decent AI. I remember thinking, did I really just get blown away by a hand grenade thrown on to the platform I was on from somewhere below? Fighting the aliens on the combine homeworld was surreal. Without doubt a classic first-person shooter. What stands out about HL2 in my memory is the feel of the cinematics and the feeling of immersion they generated. While this was also present in HL, the effect was a logarithmic scale bigger in HL2. Looking back on playing the HL2 series I still get this odd feeling like I am remembering a fond vacation experience. Although I can say that walking on those beaches was a bit treacherous. You definitely don't want young children observing you playing HL2 right before a planned excursion to any resort with a beach. I don't think I will look at a crowbar quite the same way again after playing the series. Oh, and that gravity gun rocked! I am waiting with much anticipation to see what they come up with for HL3.

  • torrne667

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 5:36 pm GMT

    My first ever bought pc game, so many memories, i think half life and sin came out around the same time but HL just sounded like an amazing adventure, and it was. have yet to complete episode 1 and 2 tho #embarrassed# but i have other responsibilites that stop me from gaming when i want to...kids eh!

  • penstrol

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 5:06 pm GMT

    Top video Danny. I always loved HL but it's great to hear such an indepth dissection of what made it so great.

  • mled

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 4:12 pm GMT

    @Threesixtyci you and I were the only people to mention that!
    And my comment was thumbed down to oblivion...

  • cornbredx

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 3:59 pm GMT

    You guys make me feel old. I started First Person shooters with Wolfenstein 3-d. Half life was definitely important in the evolution of the genre though. And, If I recall, the first half life was the first attempt at a more engaging story in a FPS.

    I also remember being blown away by the AI ("Dude, what? Their totally talking tactics to each other!"). It's silly I know, and a mask for routines, but it was such an effective way at the time at making the enemies seem smart- something that is still lacking in some FPS' even still.

    Its not entirely that they were smart (although in Half Life (1), and maybe also F.E.A.R as well they kinda were smart enough) but the illusion at the time that they actually knew what I was doing and reacting to it. so mind blowing.

  • keithpalmer

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 3:44 pm GMT

    Couldn't have put it better myself Danny! Still remember playing an early demo version of Half Life at ECTS in 1997 and just being blown away. Definitely the greatest FPS ever, that and System Shock 2!

  • PsychoBear

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 3:32 pm GMT

    Indeed Half-Life really did start the whole shooting genre for myself, it to took me months and months to complete the game. It will always remain the greatest.

    Sure there was Doom and Wolfenstein which are great games but ... dam Half-Life was just huge in.. everything! Just bring Episode 3 already!

  • brunorr

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 3:22 pm GMT

    @Apathetic_Prick

    Nope, you were referring to cinematics as unskippable five minute scenes and the only time that happens is the tram ride. The tram ride sets the mood for the whole game, showing you this is going to be an immersive experience, not just another shooter. Sorry it's not your taste.
    And what you mean by "seemlessly interactive cinematics" is called scripted gameplay. It's what HL does best and it's copied till today by most FPS's like Fear and Call of Duty. How is that purely superficial innovation?
    I still think you didn't play the game.

  • BRiDeath

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 3:17 pm GMT

    Mass Effect 3's ending murdered my euphoria so bad that I had to replay the Half Life series to wash that scum off my brain

  • MichaeltheCM

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 2:54 pm GMT

    half life is hands down one of the greatest games of all time

  • Cryptic_Shadow

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 2:53 pm GMT

    Orange Box was worth every penny. We need to play Episode 3 ALREADY!

  • blaket81

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 2:48 pm GMT

    All I know is that in my opinion half life 2 is way better than 1. I've tried numerous times to play through 1 and lose interest. I've played all the way through 2 and its two episodes more times than I can count though. I don't know what is taking valve so long on episode 3 or half life 3, but please please tell us something!

  • smetloos

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 2:26 pm GMT

    half life 2 is one of the greatest games i have ever played.

  • RuthlessRich

    Posted Mar 20, 2012 2:17 pm GMT

    Half Life is the earliest shooter I can think of that I have played all the way through. Of the classic shooters that came before it Wolfenstein 3D is my favourite but my issue with those games (Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D (I believe) etc) is the lack of story, when you've no knowledge of the character your playing or the situation they're in and your only objective is to explore until you find the exit, killing everything that tries to stop you, then I find there is just no compulsion to keep playing it (like a TV show you quite like but it doesn't matter what order you watch the episodes in). I love them from an academic perspective, they are a record of the six or seven years spent perfecting the game mechanics of the FPS, but Half Life gave us immersion: when I play Half Life I AM Gordon Freeman.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel