Half-Life 2

Going into this game, I had some pretty high expectations as I was expecting it to be the best first-person shooting game in its genre.  Not only did Half-Life 2 met my exceedingly high expectation, it destroyed it and made me realize on what gaming can do.  The world that the game sent me felt as real as any video game I've ever played through.  The graphics is simply timeless and the physics are top notch, as it opens up a lot of gameplay elements that no other game could provide, especially when I'm in control of the gravity gun. The gameplay control is smooth, the levels are well thought out, and the enemies are well varied and smartly designed.  To add it all up, I cannot recall a single moment where I'm not completely engaged into the game.  Half-Life 2 is easily one of the best video games I've ever played.

Metroid Prime

When I first heard that they’re making a 3D Metroid game and the direction that the game is gonna go through, I thought the game was going to bomb.  But to my pleasant surprise, it is one of the strongest games I've ever played for its generation, let alone, in the history of gaming.  It was able to capture everything that’s great from Super Metroid and translate it perfectly to the Gamecube with its amazing atmosphere, a very balanced difficulty level, and awe-inspiring enemies and bosses.  The world of Tallon IV is an amazing place to explore and the puzzles and level designs is one of the best in gaming.  The gameplay is also top notch as I feel that I'm in complete control of Samus Aran, making me feel like as if I am the main character.  Metroid Prime is definitely one of Nintendo’s greatest games that they have ever produced.