I usually don't have to get defensive on this board until you start writing. Have I talked to you before?
Half Life itself was better than Half Life 2 (if you look at both in their contemporary timeframes. Obviously you can't compare games that are seven years apart)
Deus Ex was a better game than Half Life, and far more worthy of the title Best Game Ever.
Farcry is a better shooter than Half Life 2. Well put. I think HL2 was all around better done game than Far Cry, but Far Cry was more fun. What's more important, production values or fun? Depends on the critic.
I have trouble comparing Deus Ex and HL. HL, at the time, was mind blowing, but it's just running around shooting. Deus Ex has much more to do (and I didn't play it until 2003, so I missed the initial shock.)
I'd say HL, Far Cry and Deus Ex are easily the best shooters we've had since the first two Quakes. Maybe throw the original UT with them.
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