As incredible as it feels to say this, we are just weeks away from the first new Half-Life game in over a decade. Half-Life: Alyx, the upcoming VR shooter from Valve, is headed to Steam on March 23rd. It might not be the massive Half-Life 3 announcement that we've spent years waiting for, but I'll gladly take what looks to be an entirely unique experience set in one of gaming's most immersive worlds.
Announced in November last year to the excitement of fans around the world, Half-Life: Alyx takes place between the events of the original Half-Life and Half-Life 2. While Gordon Freeman is out of action following the events of the original game, we pick up with Alyx Vance and her father Eli as they work together to form the resistance and defend the world against the alien Combine forces.
Now, as a little treat to tide us over in the weeks before the game's anticipated launch, Valve has shared a trio of new videos that dig a little deeper into the mechanics of Half-Life: Alyx. As promised, this is a proper Half-Life experience, with all the puzzles, combat, and exploration you'd expect from such a title... as well as a few delicious VR twists.
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Take a look at all three videos below:
What really stands out to me after watching those videos is just how much effort Valve has put into making this a title that really gets the most out of virtual reality. The fact it's a VR game seems to permeate every aspect of the experience, from using your hands to catch grenades and tip over objects in search of secrets, to having to manually reload your weapon in the heat of cover-based firefights.
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Being able to interact with the Half-Life universe on such an unprecedented level should make for a truly immersive experience - and could even be the push that finally helps bring VR to a larger audience. We'll have to reserve final judgement until we're able to play the game for ourselves, but it really does look far better than I ever could have hoped.
In addition to being able to lay our hands on almost everything in the world, the demo videos also give us a look at few other neat features. Players will be able to choose between typical VR teleportation-based movement and free directional movement. It also looks as if you'll be able to find and collect a special material that lets you upgrade your gun with all kinds of new features. That should really encourage players to get stuck in and explore every nook and cranny of Half-Life: Alyx.
Finally, we were treated to a look at a number of vintage Half-Life elements. Headcrabs, Combine soliders, medkits, and barnacles all make an appearance, as if to remind you that even with all the new VR-specific features, Alyx is very much still a Half-Life game at heart.
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As previously announced, Half-Life: Alyx will work with all PC-based VR headsets when it releases later this month, though Valve will add the game to your Steam library for free alongside a bunch of exclusive in-game content if you purchase the Index headset. Now all that's left to do is wait.
Featured Image Credit: Valve