: Narrative is delivered through scripted sequences that occur around the player in real-time.
The series (1998–2001) revolutionized the first-person shooter genre by using a seamless, unbroken narrative that kept the player in control during story events rather than using cutscenes. While the original game follows scientist Gordon Freeman, the two main expansions from Gearbox Software revisit the Black Mesa incident from the perspectives of its varying factions: the security force and the military. Half-Life (1998)
: During a routine experiment, a "resonance cascade" occurs, tearing a rift between Earth and the borderworld, Xen. Key Features :
: Introduced iconic equipment like the HEV Suit and the Crowbar .
The foundation of the series introduces Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist at the Black Mesa Research Facility.
: Players face both invading aliens and the HECU military sent to cover up the incident. Half-Life: Opposing Force (1999)
