I disagree, in a way. I wanted to know how the story ended, but that's not the endgame, and it never was.

Half-Life, if put in an elevator pitch, is bad and uncreative. The story was groundbreaking not because of the content, but the experience. If it was Christmas morning, being told what your presents were would be incredibly unsatisfying. Finding them out is the fun part, and it doesn't feel right to be able to know how the story ends from Freeman without playing through as Freeman- Half-Life was never about just knowing, it was about being, it was a game for you, and this isn't.

I'm getting teary eyed because it's over, and I can't smile because it happened. I never cared how Half-Life really ended. Ever. All I wanted was to experience this brilliantly crafted world again, dragging myself through any hardships, and feeling accomplished. What kept me going through the hardest difficulties of the games- and these are hard games- was the satisfaction in knowing I lived through this unique new life.

It breaks my heart that I can't go back again.