A lot of people have been recommending it to me. I've seen it described as one of the best games ever. I remember I tried to play it in 2015, but I never finished it. After I finished Black Mesa recently, I decided to give it another go. And I get it now. It's a master class in so many ways. The game design gives you all the hints where to go without holding your hands with quest markers. The game is neither difficult nor easy. A fine challenge. And the writing. So minimal but genius. Eli, Alyx, Barney and Dr. Kleiner don't appear in the first game, yet they're familiar. You believe that Gordon knew those people. They also succeeded at making Judith the odd one out. The way she compliments you way too much and the conflict she has with Alyx is a neat hint that something is wrong, which makes her betrayal believable. The ending is also a great cliffhanger for the middle part of a trilogy. It's kinda sad that it will never be finished (yes, I know the episodes exist; yes, I'm planning on playing them). Also, the gunplay in this game is still one of the best I've ever experienced.