In short; not Half-Life 3, but a worthy addition to the series and sets an impressive example for VR.

Feels like Half-LIfe 2 - plays like Arizona Sunshine x Boneworks. Thoroughly polished, engaging, and rewarding gameplay leads you through a fluid story and detailed world. Controls are fairly intuitive (even on WMR - I can only imagine how much better Index controllers are at the moment), story is ever-present but not forced upon you, and the world is detailed from rooftops to sewers.

It doesn't feel right calling it a masterpiece of any description. It's a little disappointing not to be back in Gordon's HEV suit yet the tools given to Alyx are both familiar enough and still fresh.

It's easy to see the effort put into making it an accessible VR title - little touches like wearing hats, cones or masks that will get snatched by hidden barnacles instead of the player getting grabbed and panicking. The inclusion of smooth movement is extremely welcome, but moreso is the ability to use it in tandem with teleport movement. Arguably a standing-VR experience at its best, it loses very little if you choose to sit down to play.

Visually, it's the most impressive title I've played so far - but that's not to say it's for ultra high end only. It scales very well, and even mid- and low-end VR-capable PCs will make it look good. It's balanced and (in my experience) extremely well optimized.

I'm happy to have bought it during the sale, but now I'm back at work I rather wish I'd bought it earlier!