That Half Life 2 looks more convincing, more understated, more realistic, more interactive and definitely more stylish than its peers yet manages it with far lower overheads is not only an impressive feat, but commercially a masterstroke. Reports persist from amazed gamers with mid-range set ups that have been blown away by how well the game runs on their systems. Some doubted that the Source engine could match the technical brilliance elsewhere, but it has not only surpassed anyone else's achievements, it has done so without forcing people to invest in ludicrously expensive hardware. If Half-Life 2 achieves one single thing, it's to put into sharp focus how far gaming has come, and more specifically how far behind some of its competitors in the FPS genre really are. Valve's purpose was to take things forward whatever it took, however much it cost, and seemingly no matter how many people it pissed off along the way. Blocking it out of our minds, trying not to spoil it for ourselves, yet filling time and column inches with games barely even worthy of the name, rushed out into the market only to let us down and chip away at our eternally optimistic resolve. An oppressive beginning that gives a small taster of what we're about to experience a world we have been trying hard to imagine for months, years. A downtrodden yet magisterial air as another commuter journey begins. A quickening of pulse, a shallowing of breath.

The G-Man looms large and loud and it takes somewhere in the region of two seconds to realise what all the fuss is about. It's a moot point, and a discussion that's still raging.Д«ut after the roar of take off, a serene silence gives way. As we rocket into the stratosphere we can just about make out the crimson faces of those left behind, venting furious, jealous, indignant anger at Valve for managing to mess up their dream journey, furious that even retail boxed copies fail to authenticate. It's truly a momentous, agonising wait as we cross fingers and toes that Valve hasn't screwed up and underestimated demand we were fearful, but like something approaching the Space Shuttle launches of our youth over two decades past, we have lift off.Д«ut not everyone has such a smooth, seamless ride. Route Kanal surgeryДЄt this point the Internet is quite possibly melting as hundreds of thousands of devotees all around the world simultaneously stress Valve's servers to breaking point. Before the magic numbers up to 100 can appear, we're presented with a black screen. What's going on? We don't get to see anymore. We weren't told about this! Why can't it just work? Why the inexorable torture? We own the game, let us play it dammit! 18%. Predictably it's awash with eager, like-minded souls, posting their progress with the validation (or lack of). We check the forum to while away the minutes. A time before Eurogamer was even a foetus.

A time before Xbox, Game Boy Advance, PS2, Dreamcast. Six years since we finished the first wondrous, eternally memorable game.

Steam has just finished its file validation process for Half-Life 2 the tedious, heinous, torturous delays and drip feed of information is almost over. The rising vapour from a half consumed cup of tea forms into an upside down Y in a circle, or at least that's what it looks like from the perspective of someone who's been up since 5.30 AM getting everything ready.

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