(Spoilers)

I now understand why the Half-Life series has given PC gamers such a boner all these years. I've just finished with Orange Box. Beat portal and all three Half-Life games and I understand. I'm sorry, guys. I'm sorry for doubting you guys.

Now, my title isn't 100% literal. I'm not going to masturbate to pictures of a CG character. I have, however, grow attached to her. I've grown attached to her in a way you would with a character in a book or a good movie. She is my first. The first character in a game that I actually give a shit about. If you haven't beat the games, you won't understand.

The guys over at Valve know how to make character models that come alive and not just by how real they look. I'm talking about their facial animations when they are talking. I almost can't explain the joy I have for buying this game. The joy is matched that to the one I had when I picked up my copy of Halo.

As a hardcore Halo fan, I will admit right now that Half-Life 2 is a better single player game. For the simple fact of making you feel like you're in this world. For making you care for these computer generated characters.

Like, seriously, PS3 owners who haven't played this game, buy this game. Fuck Ratchet and fuck Uncharted. I know you PS3 guys. Not only are your FPS cherries not fully popped, but you, like me before, have never experienced such a wonderfully put together and story driven first person shooter.

My gaming has been so amazing this year and it hasn't even ended. Bioshock was incredible. It made you feel like you were alone in this incredible, beautiful underwater world, and when Atlas' family "died" in that submarine, I was like, "what the fuck!?" in my mind. It was a real heart string puller. Halo to me is just an amazing social game. Me and my buddies sit on that virtual couch and it's hours of games. Customs, matchmaking. It's hardcore customizable. There was that scene in Episode 2 where you see Alyx's dad die and I was whispering, "no, no, no, fuck." In my mind I was saying that, that was fucked up. I cared. I fucking cared! What? No I'm not gay!

There was a momment where I actually had a small chuckle while looking at Alyx's facial expression as Magnusson is trying his hardest to thank me for fighting off the bad gays. She gives you this look of "what the fuck?" It's great.

The weapons, the vehicles, the characters -- ah, damn. I will begin to listen to PC gamers a bit better from now on. I mean, before I thought you guys were all a bunch of elitist assholes who spent hundreds on WoW accounts. I now know that I was wrong and it was ignorant of me to think you guys were all a bunch of forum troll assholes with no friends. I now think of you guys as forum troll assholes with no friends and good tastes. Nah, I'm joshin' yous guys. Respect. That's what you fellas have earned.

Here's a drink to one of the best gaming experiences of my life. That shit is up there next to my first Mario game, Halo, and...that's it. Oh, Bioshock was great, too.

P.S.
Sorry if my spelling and grammar is all fucked. It's late, and I'm dazed from the awesomeness that was Half-Life. Ah, fuck! Can't wait for the next installment.