thrill me this

Beware of those that drop their eggs in one basket, or this case, one protagonist. (small screen unfortunately, so here's a bigger better HD version if you fancy)

Just started Half-Life 2: Episode 2 for the first time tonight on the Xbox 360 (I've long since finished the original HL, HL: Opposing Force, HL: Blue Shift, HL2 and HL2: Ep. 1). I'll not get into the nitty gritty of it (though the links you can click will) but suffice it to say that this is easily one of the finest game series one can ever experience. All the elements are beautifully and elegantly integrated, balanced, and executed. It looks like a high caliber production triple A sci-fi action blockbuster, and feels like a thrilling roller coaster ride on a bright clear summer day and you don't ever want to leave the park (though the reality is that you are nowhere near a park with a roller coaster and instead stuck at home with nothing but an Xbox 360, an HDTV, and the rest of the evening).

But the gameplay video can certainly show more than I can divulge at the moment.