Poll: Best Valve game?

[EzraPound]

So we all know Valve are great. But what's the greatest game they've developed thus far, in your opinion?

I go with Portal 2--while the Half-Life series has always been great, I never felt like it exceeded the likes of Deus Ex or GoldenEye. Portal 2, by contrast, is definitely in that league, since even if the single-player is a bit flat compared to its predecessor, the co-op is downright transcendental (and it's no coincidence that marketing materials for the game focused on this mode). Anyone remember Course 3, Chamber 8? At its most challenging, Portal 2 forced you to entirely break down the way the way you were thinking and systematically reevaluate it--if you're as fallible a gamer as I am, that is (though given the preponderance of exaggerated reports of gamers completing it in two hours, this may not be the case for most). In sum total, after finishing Portal 2, it seemed obvious to me it was on at least a long list of the best games ever made.

Beyond Portal 2, and the original Portal, I would opt for the first Half-Life as Valve's third-best outing. It has stellar production values for its time--modified Q1 engine, anyone?-- and the game's challenge often derives from a setup no more gimmicky than facing off against excellent AI. That's a big compliment.

 

[Radeonx]

Half-Life.
Everything else was sub-par to average, where Half-Life was at least above average at its release.

 

[endtherapture]

HL2 - sure it's less clever than Portal and the enemies arent as challenging as in HL1, but it really immersed me the world. You are treated intelligently and aren't railroaded and TOLD WHAT TO DO - even though it's linear you have to work it all out yourself. It has a great atmosphere, and loads of varying styles of gameplay - vehicle sections, zombie section, massive uprising, prison attack. The characters are 3 dimensional, and it still holds up as a great experience nowadays, 7 years after it's release.

Aside from that HL1 was great, Portal was fun, and L4D was actually a stroke of genius. Great multiplayer game.

 

[Dyme]

Half Life.

Story, gameplay everything was so incredibly hot at the time. I didn't have as much fun with all the other (good) Valve games combined. But for me Counterstrike belongs to Half Life. Because it was just a mod.

 

[Spoon E11]

Just playing CS:GO beta and while I haven't played many valve games (L4D, portal 1 &2 and CS:S) I can safely say CS:GO is better than those but. I haven't played HL.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

TF2, mainly for the absolute fun value it brings. Half Life is an AMAZING game to play through once, but if you want to have fun with friends then TF2 delivers in all fronts. It is my most played game on steam, and it is the most balanced multiplayer shooted I have ever played. I know it has got a bit bogged down with hats and all that, but if you dont want to use hats then nothing is taken away from your enjoyment.

 

[Erttheking]

TF2, not really a fan of half life, I spend most of my time ruining around trying to figure out where the Hell I'm supposed to go.

 

[BoredDragon]

I can't decide between Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Left 4 Dead (haven't played original half-life yet)

 

[Puddleknock]

Portal for me. I frequently mention how much I love this game on this site say may have to hold back for once as I don't want to repeat myself over and over.

What I do want to say is that I was late playing both HL and HL2 and as such they had a limited impact on me, they were good sure but I don't see why they are held in such a high regard. I simply fail to see what extra quality they have, I actually enjoyed Halo more and thats a console shooter. Though it may be due to the fact that I don't really play shooters and as such I don't have any real knowledge to draw from, I guess I simply don't get HL.

 

[Woodsey]

Its a split between HL2 + Episodes and Portal 2 for me.

 

[Peteron]

I am a L4D fan and a big one at that.

 

[Trololo Punk]

I really do love the Half Life series. But I think I'll go with Team Fortress 2. So many countless hours played on that game.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Since each Valve game is an improvement from the previous one, I'd have to say that Portal 2 is their best work, since it is a culmination of over ten years of innovation.

 

[Hazy992]

Had to put Left 4 Dead as I haven't played any of the others. That being said I really enjoyed it.

 

[repeating integers]

Of those, I have played Half-Life 2, Portal, and TF2. The first was good, the last two were awesome, but I think Portal is slightly more awesome. It actually uses its minimalist storytelling style intelligently, to create something really compelling and interesting, and the puzzles are really quite fun to work out.

 

[Amgeo]

Really tough one. My instinct is to say Portal, because I am a sheep to Yahtzee's Shepard and Portal is the Shepard's pie. But thinking it over, I'd say Half-Life 2. I just bought it off Steam this past summer, and I've been replaying it ever so often since then. Part of me wishes that it had commentary like Portal and the episodes, just so that I could have another excuse to play it.

 

[Tsaba]

The original Half life for me, so many good memories, tanks, lasers, giant tentacle monster, giant head crab, and so much more.

 

[Shirastro]

I gotta say HL1 cause it's the only FPS that i really liked. Well i liked HL2 as well but HL1 is still better.
It showed me that FPS don't have to boring.

 

[LITE992]

L4D series, as I enjoy team-based combat. TF2 is a close second, though each one is great in their own way.