i always preferred half life 1 to half life 2. i think its because the setting of 1 is more real to me? city 17 feels like a kinda fake linear video game city with barriers to stop you exploring. it's like a real place, but worse. whereas half life 1 is set in a plausible but fantastical place, that you would never get the chance to explore IRL. the big machines vs the realism of the offices and vending machines and microwave ovens is more compelling to me than the 2's tired, grubby dystopia

like there's just something inherently fun about getting to RP as some scientist in some sprawling, top-secret place, full of larger-than-life mysteries, but anchored to reality by all those mundane details. half-life 2 has more of a feeling of "wow, everything here is kind of a bummer"

@jk hey have you seen Abiotic Factor