Major Game Anniversaries in November 2018
Half-Life – 20th Anniversary
In all your clamouring for a Half-Life 3 to be announced, it has probably passed you by that the original game turns 20 this month. Originally released by Valve on Nov. 19, 1998, Half-Life is widely considered to be one of the best and most influential first-person shooters of all time.
You play as Dr. Gordon Freeman and must escape the Black Mesa research facility after something went wrong. As you explore, you’re faced with a variety of enemies and puzzles. Technically, Half-Life was ahead of its time, impressing with its visuals and gameplay, but it was the compelling narrative that was woven into the gameplay that elevated it above anything else.
Whether we’ll see another entry in the series is looking unlikely at this point, with Valve’s focus being elsewhere for the last decade, but both Half-Life and its sequel aren’t games that should or will be forgotten.
Major Game Anniversaries in November 2018
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – 20th Anniversary
For many, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the best game of all time. As the first in the series to feature 3D graphics, players controlled Link and explored Hyrule in a way they had never done before.
Initially released for Nintendo 64 on Nov. 21, 1998, the series has only continued to build on what Ocarina of Time introduced, with Breath of the Wild being one of the most expansive and impressive open worlds ever seen.
The gameplay still stands up and the level design was masterful, but a modernized version can be picked up on 3DS if you want to experience it in the most comfortable way possible. It will probably remain forever as one of the best video games of all time and a key influence in many modern adventures.
