Half Life Alyx is a masterfully crafted game that if you ever get the chance to experience, you should not pass on.

It's fantastic! Recordings on YouTube do not do it justice. The difference between watching a 2D recording of it and actually being in it is immense!

I haven't felt that immersed in a video game in a long long time.

To actually be in the game, for darkness and sounds to completely surround you as you physically aim a flash light to illuminate whatever the hell just made that sound, is surreal!

The scale of everything is truly a sight to behold. To see and hear an enormous Strider slam it's foot right in front of you is both terrifying and amazing!

The way NPC's are as tall if not taller than you and the way they speak to you. You feel so involved in what their saying because they are right there, with you, physically handing you things or employing you to march on. It's so cool!

(again recordings do not do it justice at all)

Oh and they damn well perfected the physics.

I'll also note the game design in general is great. Controls feel right and you learn mechanics naturally without even realizing you just did exactly what the designer intended you to do. There was hardly a time where I didn't naturally know what to do next and I never felt cheated.

Half Life Alyx is great and it definitely gets the Nathan stamp of approval! 👍