Earlier this week, the gaming community was delighted to learn that Valve, that iconic video game institution and birthplace of one Gordon Freeman, had a new Half-Life game in the works. Better still, it'd be along next year. It wasn't Half-Life 3, perhaps, but any amount of Half-Life is better than no Half-Life, right?
Well, depends on who you ask! As it turns out, Valve's Half-Life: Alyx isn't a standard Half-Life title, but a VR one. Don't have a VR headset, or a computer that can handle the tech? Well, then you won't be playing Half-Life: Alyx when it arrives. You can see why this might have caused some consternation among the faithful.
But, hey, whatcanyado? In the grand scheme of things, this isn't the biggest disappointment the gaming community has ever faced (actual biggest disappointment: the ongoing lack of an HD remaster of Demon's Souls), and it certainly won't be the last. Speaking only for myself, I've decided to channel that disappointment into happiness for the people I do know who'll be able to play it.
And by the way, it looks like those people are gonna be very happy.
This is the first trailer for Half-Life: Alyx, and it's absolutely gorgeous. The colors pop, the voice acting is top-notch (is that Rhys Darby?), level of detail is incredible. None of this should come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Valve, of course, but what a wild thing it is to see a new Half-Life game brought to life by 2019 tech. It's seriously stunning.
Stunning enough to get me to buy a VR headset? Eh, probably not! I've futzed around with VR gadgetry several times over the past few years, and while the technology has certainly come a long way from where it once was, I remain unconvinced. Eventually someone will crack the code on it all, and they'll deliver a game that's so goddamn immersive I won't even remember I'm wearing a goofy-ass helmet while flailing my arms at things no one else in my living room can see, but my recent experimentations with VR have led me to believe that game is still a few years in our future. Then again, maybe it's Half-Life: Alyx. I mean, this shit does look super convincing.
What do y'all think? Are any of you VR users? If so, what's your go-to title for convincing others to get onboard? Are you hyped about the return of Half-Life, even if it's not happening in a more accessible format? Sound off in the comments below, and stay tuned for more as further updates become available.