When comparing Metroid vs Half Life 2, the Slant community recommends Metroid for most people. In the question“What are the best and the most revolutionary games of all time?” Metroid is ranked 14th while Half Life 2 is ranked 40th. The most important reason people chose Metroid is:
Metroid paved the way for using not only sound and graphics, but level design as an element of atmosphere in games. Its deep, dark, winding tunnels with cleverly hidden passages and non-linear gameplay, together with its foreboding soundtrack and sound effects create a desolate feeling of loneliness akin to the cinematography of the film "Alien".
Specs
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Pros
Pro Atmospheric sound and graphics
Metroid paved the way for using not only sound and graphics, but level design as an element of atmosphere in games. Its deep, dark, winding tunnels with cleverly hidden passages and non-linear gameplay, together with its foreboding soundtrack and sound effects create a desolate feeling of loneliness akin to the cinematography of the film "Alien".
Pro Created a new sub-genre (Metroidvania)
Because of their atmospheric design and non-linear gameplay, Metroid and Castlevania have forged their own sub-genre, original enough to bear their names - Metroidvania.
Pro Encouraged speed running
Metroid's innovation doesn't stop there - Metroid was one of the first games to not only cater to, but encourage speed running, a concept ultimately popularized by one of its sequels, Super Metroid.
Pro Challenged players' assumptions
Metroid uses this mechanic to go step further - upon being completed in under a certain amount of time, it breaks players assumptions and defies gender stereotypes in revealing that the hero they've been playing as is actually a heroine.
Pro Many mods will run with just the free Source Engine installed
A total conversion which does not directly use any assets from Half Life 2 can be played without even purchasing the base game.
Pro Supports total conversions
The Source SDK allows mod creators to build new game content from the ground up, leaving no trace of Half Life 2.
Pro Some Half Life 2 mods were later released as stand-alone games
Examples include Garry's Mod, Dear Esther, and The Stanley Parable.
Cons
Con You have to play in one sitting
No saves, passwords, or retries if you get a game over.