It's 2004 and we're getting close to the release of Half - Life 2, the game that redefined the FPS genre by blending seamless environment storytelling, advanced physics, and a deeply immersive dystopian world.
But before the release I was rewatching the pre-release demo footage, over and over again, I was infatuated with it. Everything from the graphics, the physics, the animations, the level design. I was truly blown away and it just added to the hype level - which was off the charts.
Moving onto the release day, I'm heading back home from school, walking through the town, I turned to my right to see the poster hanging in the window of GAME. It was a picture of Gordon Freeman with the words at the bottom saying 'OUT NOW'. I sprinted home and begged my Mum for a few extra quid to make up the cost of the game which I think at the time was £29.99.
I ran back to the store and immediately brought the game, clenching the bag tightly, I ran back home and turned on the PC, registered to Steam and inserted my copy of Half - Life 2 into the CD/DVD tray. The installation was done and it was finally time to dive into the world of Half - Life 2.
Straight away, I was blown away, stepping off that train and looking around I couldn't quite believe it. I WAS FINALLY PLAYING HALF - LIFE 2. And for the rest of that evening I was glued to my CRT monitor just completely enthralled. Every minute of the game I thoroughly enjoyed, not a moment where I felt bored or wanted to stop. It's a truly incredible moment and it's why it still holds the title for my personal number 1 favourite game of all time.