I have to admit that I've become a jaded gamer. Things just aren't that exciting anymore, with more and more companies engage in clone wars that sacrifice content for flashy graphics. So, with games seemingly devoid of soul and story, I withdrew to just a few old favorites and resigned myself to being unexcited about the next deluge of 3D shooters.

Then a beta version of the Half-Life: Day One demo arrived in the GameSpot offices. While Half-Life isn't done, it is on track for completion in late October, and release in early November. In the meantime, though, the first half of the game is relatively complete, and the beginning portion of that half has been put together as Day One, showcasing the first few hours of the game.

I've followed Half-Life (and the other promising 3D shooters like Requiem and SiN) for over a year, and have always felt that this was a game to watch. So, when we received the Day One disc, I told myself I should check it out. I'm glad I did. This awesome (yes, awesome) preview of Half-Life restored my faith in gaming. Half-Life: Day One grabbed my attention from the instant I played it and held me enthralled to the finish. It wowed nearly every other editor in the GameSpot offices, and a crowd of editors gathered around my computer to watch me play. How many other games can claim that they are as fun to watch as they are to play? I don't give accolades easily, and I have no qualms saying this game is looking incredible. It blew me away as few games have done in my three years covering games.

Next: The most frightening game in recent memory